Territorial Renumbering

[trin1054]

Good evening,

if a medal card contains only one 6-digit number, e.g.

Medal card of Buckle, John F

Corps Regiment No Rank

West Riding Regiment 203576 Private

which I believe places this man in the 1/4th Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, does it mean that he arrived in a theatre of war some time after December 1916? I'm assuming this is right but would appreciate any advice here (if only to save me £3.50!)

Cheers,

Marc

[Andrew Hesketh]

Renumbering from 4 to 6 digits took place March-April 1917 (it varies a little between regiments) so, with no 4 digit number, his arrival in theatre cannot pre-date March 1917.

[MelPack]

Hello Marc

The six figure renumbering came into operation March/April 1917 so if there is only the six figure service number on the MIC then the date of entry into the theatre of war would have been after that date.

Regards

Mel

[trin1054]

Wow, fast response! Thanks for clearing that up for me - didn't realise men were still joining the territorials in 1916/17.

Cheers,

Marc

[Andrew Hesketh]

They would have, but not by choice. The introduction of conscription had ended the freedom to choose.

[Graham Stewart]

Marc,

The information seen on the MIC and Medal Roll Sheet only refers to service abroad and not service at home. He could possibly have served at home with a third line T.F. battalion and could also have had a four figure number depending on when he either enlisted or was conscripted. If serving at home when the numbering change came, then only his service records would record it, once the new number was in place he could be sent overseas and no-one would be the wiser as to whether or not he had a four figure number.

Recently I had the privilege of being sent extracts from a Platoon/Company Roll Book for the 1/7th Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers pre-September 1916, and not all of those present were shown on the MIC's with their former four figure number. Also a number of them had been transferred in from other NF(TF) battalions and it was clear their old battalion pre-fixed four figure numbers had been written down and then over the top new 7th Bn four figure numbers. In some cases neither old Battalion or new number could be traced through the MIC's. So beware the on line MIC's are not the "be-all and end-all" when it comes to tracing soldiers.

Graham.

[trin1054]

Graham and Andrew - thanks again for your input. Inetresting to hear the warning about the MICs. It's never simple is it? Of the relatives I've found so far I've got RFA, MGC and this Territorial guy (although I'm not entirely sure of this one), all of which seem rather difficult to trace. Keeps me busy though...

Thanks again,

Marc