Letters before regiment numbers

[avacuppa]

Hi there, I am trying to figure out what the letter G meant before my soldier's regiment number. It is, G/32746. I read that in 1920 the G would have meant General Serivice. Would this have been the same for 1916 when my guy went overseas? Thank you for your help.

[Guest]

From The Long Long Trail

" In 1920, the army introduced a new system of issuing numbers to its men and women. Each soldier would have a unique number, an army number. Before that, each regiment (and in some cases, the units in a regiment) issued its own numbers. This meant that when a man changed regiments, he usually had to change number. Some of those regimental numbering schemes included letter prefixes. These can offer useful clues. "

So after 1920 each soldier would have a unique number. So the G would apply before 1920. Does it have the G prefix on his MIC?

Mike

[avacuppa]

Hi mike, Thank you for clarifying about the 1920 rule.

Yes the G is on his MIC card, what does that signify?

[Guest]

Yes the G is on his MIC card, what does that signify?

" G Many regiments General service "

Not sure it's anything to get too hung up on avacuppa (great name by the way)

Post your man's name, and any other details you have, and others might be able to help you more than I can.

Cheers Mike

[avacuppa]

Hi Mike, yes I wont get hung up on it, I think your right,, it just means General Service. Thank you for your help.

[Ron Clifton]

It seems to be more common in the regiments based in the south-east, so it may have been a peculiar practice of one or two of the infantry records offices. I have always assumed it referred to general service: my maternal grandfather, a conscript, served in the Queen's Own Royal West Kents and has a G prefix.

Ron