J.H.Hamlet service No 16754

[Mccoy]

I have been trying to find my great grandads service record in the national archives, he served in the royal fussiliers during the boer war 1901/02. He also served in the royal garrison artillery 1914-1916. He had a different service number during the boer war to the one he had during the first world war, ww1 service number was 16754.

I typed this number in on the search in the national archives and it gave me a big list of different people. Did they use the same numbers for soliders but in different regiments?

[HarryBettsMCDCM]

Yes!

Numbering was not unique in WW1,this 16000 Number would have been an Infantry Kitchener Volunter Number & used by virtually all Infantry Regiments as well as previously by Artillery,ASC,RE Etc Units,consequently one finds the same number used & appended to many different Men{with TF Battalions one is further hampered as pre 1916 you find Men in the Same REGIMENT with the same number}However if you know your Grandfather's Name you should be able to find him,relatively easily,using Surname & Number even if you dont know the Regiment