1st Garrison Battalion (United Kingdom)

The 1st Garrison Battalion was a short-lived garrison infantry unit of the British Army formed just before the Napoleonic Wars and disbanded shortly thereafter.

History
In 1803, the Additional Forces Act of July 1803 was announced in Parliament which required 50,000 men to be raised for five years service within the United Kingdom only. Enlistment was by ballot although substitutes were allowed. These units were placed on the Army Establishment in December 1803.

On 9 July 1803 the 1st Battalion of Reserve was formed in Chatham using volunteers from the City of London, County of Middlesex, and the Tower Hamlets. Later that year, the battalion deployed to the Channel Islands and were based in Jersey on war service assignment to defence the islands during a threat of invasion. On 25 December 1803 the battalion was placed on the army establishment, effectively making it an official part of the British Army. On 30 October 1804 the battalion along with the other reserve battalions were renamed becoming the 1st Garrison Battalion. Finally, on 24 February 1805 the battalion was disbanded on the island and the personnel were transferred to the new 2nd Garrison Battalion.

On 25 February 1805 the new garrison battalions were formed out of the former battalions of reserve under the same conditions of service. On that day, the new 1st Garrison Battalion was raised in Portsmouth from NCOs and men from the 4th, 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, and 15th Garrison Battalion. In December the battalion received more limited service personnel from the; 2/6th, 2/31st, 2/43rd, 2/50th, 2/83rd, 2/88th, and 2/90th Regiments of Foot. In February 1807 the battalion was sent to Ireland on war service where and by April 1814 the battalion was reassigned on Home Service in Cork. Finally on 5 December 1814 the battalion was disbanded.

Commanding Officers
1st Battalion of Reserve & 1st Garrison Battalion


 * 1803—1803 Colonel John Leveson-Gower
 * 1803—1805 Colonel Hildebrand Oakes
 * 1805—1814 Colonel George Henry Vansittart