4 digit regimental number

[Pykett]

There appear to be many threads regarding the change from 4 to 6 digit numbers but I have not found an answer that seems to match the circumstances of my Great Grandfather, Harry Pykett.

He served in the Army Veterinary Corps, arriving in France 29/9/1915 and was transferred to the reserve 2/7/1919.

His Medal Index Card and discharge documents cover page both show a regimental number of SE9557. I imagine the SE relates to his rank of Sergeant. Through the help of others on this site I have found he became a Sergeant in 28/12/1916 having enlisted as a private (Horsekeeper) and progressing through Lance-Corporal and Corporal.

Harry Pykett was a civilian prior to the war and I have no record or evidence of any Territorial Force involvement. Harry was born in 1876 so was close to 40 in 1914.

Can anyone help shed light on how Harry had a 4 digit number and how it remained past the re numbering to 6 digits?

Thanks,

Stephen

[Graham Stewart]

Probably the simplest answer being that he was never a Territorial in the first place and had 'voluntarily' enlisted at a time, when his Terms & Conditions were related to a 'Regular' enlistment into the A.V.C., which had always been a small 'Corps' and so the numbering wouldn't have been high anyway and so there would be no need for a numbering change - the same number remaining with him throughout the War.

Again another answer would be - did he have any previous pre-War service with the A.V.C.? If so and he was called back as a 'Reservist', his old number would have been given back to him on him being mobilised. However you have his pre-war family history in which no previous service is recorded, which would firmly discounts this.

Corps numbering isn't really my field, but I can assure you that the letters 'SE', within the number do not relate to his rank. It will relate to some form of trade or perhaps just imply "Special Enlistment" - but only an A.V.C. numbering specialist can help there.

In 1920 the A.V.C. like all units within the British Army, began a new phase of renumbering in which a block system was used - in the case of the A.V.C. they were allocated a new numbering 'block', which ran;- 7,757,001 through to 7,807,000.

[Blackblue]

Spot on Graham,

AVC Special Enlistment (General Service).

http://www.1914-1918.net/prefixes.html

Rgds

Tim D

[Graham Stewart]

Cheers Tim - to be honest I had no idea that the L.L.T. had a list of the lettered prefixes and therein lies the answer 'SE' = "Special Enlistment(General Service)".

[Pykett]

Graham and Tim,

Thank you, the SE just goes to show never assume anything, especially when it comes to Army protocols!

I am amazed at the depth of knowledge and willingness to share I have found on this forum.

This also goes some way to explaining the acceptance of an older recruit, at almost 40.

Stephen

[purley]

just as a slight addition - up to 1913 almost all regimental numbers were limited to four digits and after 9999 they were supposed to go back to 1, but the huge expansion in numbers made this a bit silly and regiments were allowed to go to five digits. However they had lots of different series which caused endless confusion with men forgetting to add their battalion prefix in many cases so by 1916 it was decided to get rid of all the battalion number which applied mostly to the territorials and special reservists and go to six figure numbers for all the men except those in the regular series which were allowed to go as high as they liked. This took effect in spring 1917. and then army numbers with 7 digit numbers came in in 1920/21 Don't even think of looking at RAMC numbers!!!!

[Graham Stewart]

True up to a point, but in actual fact the five figured numbers were introduced as early as 1904 for the Line Infantry, with '1 - 19,999' being the new figures and as a whole numbering was reorganised throughout the Army. Because of the South African War some Regiments had surpassed the original 9999 numbering and were already well into a new series beginning at '1'. It's those units - with probably a slower recruitment rate - that began introducing 'five figures' well before the War actually started.