The 1st Administrative Battalion, Herefordshire and Radnorshire Rifle Volunteers was formed in 1861.

(In this instance Corps refers to a Company-sized unit of around 100 men, not the more modern use of the word.

)[1] In 1880, it was re-designated 1st Herefordshire (Hereford and Radnor) Rifle Volunteers, the Corps were renamed Companies, and in 1881 it became the volunteer battalion of The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry).

In 1908, it was transferred to the Territorial Force as the Herefordshire Battalion, The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry) (without the Radnorshire companies) with its headquarters at Harold Street in Hereford and in 1909 was renamed as the 1st Battalion, The Herefordshire Regiment.

[4] The 1st Battalion formed part of 159th Brigade in the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division[5] until 159th Brigade joined 11th Armoured Division in May 1942 and participated in the invasion of Normandy and Northwestern Europe.