Since both vessels were regarded as second-line units by the time of World War II, wartime modifications were minor.

In March 1915, in common with most TF units, the battery formed a second-line unit to take over home defence, thereby releasing the parent battery for overseas service.

On 20 January 1954, 706 Squadron, a second-line unit, flew aboard to conduct trials of the anti-submarine version of the Whirlwind helicopter.

Towards the end of the war, the surviving vessels were increasingly obsolete and were retained as second-line units.

The 89 Mauser rejected by Germany in 1884 entered service in 1940 with the second-line units of Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Even though it was phased out, several second-line units were issued the weapon in 1905, when war between Norway and Sweden was considered imminent.

It became the 1/1st in 1914 when the TF created its second-line units.

In 1907-1908, Richard Haldane, Secretary of State for War reorganised these second-line units of the army as part of a larger series of reforms.

Each second-line Territorial unit formed at their original depots were scattered across London and the Midlands, and then had to assemble on the east coast to form the division.

The Royal Signals was to lose 13,000 soldiers by reduction of second-line units.