It consisted of men aged from 34 to 49 who were considered too old and insufficiently trained to serve in an active or reserve regiment.
The Territorial Army was created by law on 27 July 1872 which established the principles of the military reserve.
[1] This law established a military service obligation of twenty years for French men as follows: On 1 August 1914, France decreed a general mobilisation of its armed forces.
In addition, the Territorial Army formed cavalry squadrons, artillery groups, engineering battalions, and logistics units.
However, territorial units in the northern and eastern regions were engaged in battle to defend their towns and villages.