Soldiers Service Numbers

[SMG65]

I have a query regarding the service numbers of Soldiers serving with Territorial Units.

I understand the initial numbers ie 5/2129 and I understand that at sometime in 1917/1918 the soldiers got six digit service numbers.

But I have noticed a number of soldiers in DLI Territorial formations with five digit service numbers (my relatives number was 40054).

Does anyone know when soldiers stopped getting numbers with the battalion prefix first and changed to five digit numbers and when did they change to six digit numbers?

Did soldiers with the initial numbers (5/2129) get renumbered with six digit numbers?

Is there any pattern to the issue of numbers?

I have noticed that soldiers with numbers 43000 onwards are casualties three months before soldiers with numbers 40000 onwards in the DLI.

Sean

[Graham Stewart]

Sean,

Paragraph 3 of ACI 1245 of 11th August 1917 explains why you're finding five figured numbers in your DLI(TF) Battalions. They're conscripts/volunteers who are given regular army five figure numbers on posting to TF units.

Graham.

PS - Sorry about other night it was the bairns Xmas concert.

Edited 17 December , 2005 by Graham Stewart