Calling All Royal Fusiliers Experts

[Chris_Baker]

I am studying a Royal Fusiliers soldier with the very short regimental number of 293, and trying to pin him down to a battalion.

From Soldiers Died I can see men with similarly short numbers but there does not appear to be a strong pattern to their battalions. Many were in 9th Bn, but by no means all.

To complicate matters even further, a different soldier with the same number appears in Soldiers Died, identified as being with 3rd Bn.

Can anyone offer any insight into this?

[Paul Reed]

The Royal Fusiliers was a regiment that widely used a prefix in conjunction with the issue of regimental numbers; without the prefix it is very difficult to work out a mans battalion as the same sequence of numbers would be used over and over again - with only the prefix to differentiate it from another.

A possible clue would be the date overseas if hes a 1915 man?

The Royal Fusiliers medal rolls normally give exact dates of overseas service, as well.

Hope this helps Chris!

[Chris_Baker]

Blimey Paul, that was quick! I didn't see you lurking there in the bushes!

[Paul Reed]

Quick or the dead mate, quick or the dead!

[Chris_Baker]

Just to round this off, the soldier with number 293 was initially assigned to the 5th Bn RF ( a Reserve Bn), and at some point renumbered 47803. I am still trying to determine which front-line battalion he was posted to, but I know he was wounded on the Somme on 4 August 1916 so that will narrow it down a little.