6 digit service numbers.

[BillyH]

I know all about the renumbering of the Territorials in 1917, but I suspect that some infantry units may have had 6 digit numbers before 1917.

Is this correct?  

If I am wrong, then if an infantryman had a 6 digit number does that categorically mean that it was issued in 1917 at the earliest (hope that makes sense).

 

BillyH.

[ss002d6252]

13 minutes ago, BillyH said:

I know all about the renumbering of the Territorials in 1917, but I suspect that some infantry units may have had 6 digit numbers before 1917.

Is this correct?  

If I am wrong, then if an infantryman had a 6 digit number does that categorically mean that it was issued in 1917 at the earliest (hope that makes sense).

 

BillyH.

I've seen cases where the new 6 digit numbers seem to have been issued late 1916.

 

Craig

[Chris_Baker]

The renumbering of Territorial infantry was promulgated in Army Council Instruction 2414 of 1916, published on 23 December 1916 and to take place from 1 March 1917.

[Muerrisch]

Interesting question which I cannot answer ............... regular army numbers were supposed to have limited caps [King's Regs] but I have seen those in the 90,000 range. [Service battalions also used the regular series. Have a look at Paul Nixon's magnificent blog, or contact him.

http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/

Edited 15 April , 2019 by Muerrisch

[BillyH]

Thanks for the three replies.

 

BillyH.

[Graham Stewart]

However the Infantry six digit service numbers that you may be referring to issued in 1916, may actually be those that were given out to members of the Training Reserve Battalions during this time and I have come across quite a few of them. The problem arises within the Medal Rolls and the actual putting together of these Rolls by the Clerks of the Regimental Depots and in quite a few cases I've come across six digit numbers issued to the N.F., but not within the N.F. numbering sequence, nor are they the later issued T.F. Numbers.

 

The numbers often come in the 100,000 series, but because of the way the Rolls were put together the Clerks often missed out the preceding part of these numbers, which is the "TR/?/" part which tells us that these men were from the Training Reserve. It does your head in when you come across them, but when you've put together a Nominal Roll of over 106,000 members serving within a single Regiment then know exactly what is going on.