Pal's Battalions came about as part of Kitcener's New Army. The mass 'Your Country Needs You poster campain. The result was many 'groups' such as sports clubs and factrory workers joined as groups and at the time had a choice of unit. The result was disasterous. The Jersey contingent, attached to the 7th Royal Irish Rifles lost 100 men out of 360. the Royal Gurnersey Rifles lost even more.
During world War Two the Royal Militia Island of Jersey went as a group just before the Occupation to join the parent regiment, The Hampshires. They became the 11th Battalion (RMI J) The Hampshire Regiment. The battalion became a holding battalion. They were not allowed to fight as a unit. As a concesion Jersey men wore the title Jersey under the Hampshire shoulder tab, and were allowed to transfer to combat units and keep their original cap badge.