blue Posted 9 January , 2004 Posted 9 January , 2004 I am trying to compile a list of ASC service number prefixs Does anybody have any knowledge of websites books or anything else that can help?????
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 9 January , 2004 Posted 9 January , 2004 M/ Mechanical Transport R/ Remounts S/ Supply T/ Horse Transport A (HT) Horse Transport Special Reserve B (HT) Horse Transport Special Reserve TF C (MT) Mechanical Transport Special Reserve T1 & 2/(SR), M1 & 2/(SR) Enlisted Special Reserve for New Armies Special Enlistments MS Mechanical Specials SS Supply Specials TS Transport Specials RS & R/TS Remount Specials 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies T1, 2, 3, 4 Horse Transport S1, 2, 3, 4 Supply (S4 Labour) R4, RX4 Remounts M1, 2 Mechanical Transport DM2 Mechanical Transport Learners F Forage (not paid from Army Funds) E Forage (ordinary rates of army pay) PET Petroleum Dept Cheers - Ian
Doug Lewis Posted 9 January , 2004 Posted 9 January , 2004 Blue I had a look at SDGW and noted these down, hope they are of some use. 4S/ A/ Canteen/ C.M.T/ CAT/ CHT/ CMT/ D.M.2/ DM/ DM/2/ DM2/ DN2/ E/ M1/ M2/ M.S./ M/ M3/ M4/ NAC/ Petrol/ RS4/ RX4/ R/ R4/ RTS/ RX4/ S/ SS/ S2/ S2SR/ S3/ S4/ SI/ SISR/ SRS/ T1/ T1SR/ T2SR/ T3/ TR/ TS/ T/ T/S/ T2/ T4/ TISR/ TISR1/ TR/13/ TR/7/ TR/8/ TR10/ TR5/ TSR/ TT/ WS4/ WT4/ Regards Doug
Doug Lewis Posted 9 January , 2004 Posted 9 January , 2004 Ian Well I've learnt something from your list,went boggy eyed doing mine. Regards Doug
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 9 January , 2004 Posted 9 January , 2004 Goes to show the ASC wasn't just about driving lorries or horses! Ian
Yorts Posted 10 January , 2004 Posted 10 January , 2004 Hi, Could we have a go at making a definitive list of Service number Prefixes and the meanings. If we use the ASC numbers to start us off I'll throw in as many as I can remember. I've cut and pasted the last list into mine so that you can just cut and paste it ino another document for future reference: M/ - ASC Mechanical Transport R/ - ASC Remounts S/ - ASC Supply T/ - ASC Horse Transport A (HT) - ASC Horse Transport Special Reserve B (HT) - ASC Horse Transport Special Reserve TF C (MT) - ASC Mechanical Transport Special Reserve T1 & 2/(SR) - ASC Enlisted Special Reserve for New Armies M1 & 2/(SR) - ASC Enlisted Special Reserve for New Armies MS - ASC Mechanical Specials SS - ASC Supply Specials TS - ASC Transport Specials RS & R/TS - ASC Remount Specials T1, 2, 3, 4 - ASC 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Horse Transport S1, 2, 3, 4 - ASC 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Supply (S4 Labour) R4, RX4 - ASC 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Remounts M1, 2 - ASC Mechanical Transport DM2 - ASC Mechanical Transport Learners F - ASC Forage (not paid from Army Funds) E - ASC Forage (ordinary rates of army pay) PET - ASC Petroleum Dept WT4 - ASC Welsh ????? I was once led to believe, but am not sure it is correct, that DM prefixes were issued to qualfied drivers in mechanised transport. Does M2 also cover electrical mechanics? I can add to this: A - ASC Old Army Special Reserve CMT - ASC Corps of Motor Transport CHT - ASC Corps of Horse Transport L - Prefix given to some Lancers H - Prefix given to some Hussars CH - Chatham Division Royal Marine Light Infantry PO - Portsmouth Division RMLI PLY - Plymouth Division RMLI DEAL - Deal Division RMLI DEPOT / D - Permanent staff at Deal Division RMLI (instructors) RMA - Royal Marine Artillery RME - Royal Marine Engineers RMB - Royal Marine Band S - Prefix given to some Scottish Regimental Numbers K - RN Stokers F - RN Air Service J - RN Seaman M - RN miscellaneous enlistments (e.g. writers etc.) R - RNVR Royal Naval Division Prefix AA - RNVR Anti-Aircraft Prefix B - RNVR Bristol Division RNVR BZ - Bristol Division RNVR wartime enlistment (?Z applies to all divisions) C - Clyde Division RNVR E - RNVR Birmingham Electrical Volunteers KP - RNVR Crystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies KW - RNVRCrystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies KX - RNVR Crystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies L - London Division RNVR M - Mersey Division RNVR MB - Motor Boat Reserve MC - Mine Clearance Service PZ - RNVR Crystal Palace Enlistment from civilian life S - RNVR Sussex Division SWS - RNVR Shore Wireless Service T - Tyne Division RNVR W - Wales Division RNVR Y - Deferred enlistment service number RNVR (replaced by different prefix on actual enlistment) A - RFR prefix denoting first period of enlistment B - RFR prefix denoting second period of enlistment C - RFR prefix denoting third period of enlistment J - 38th, 39th, 40th Bns. Royal Fusiliers (The Judeans) Numerical Prefixes on medals to the BEF: 3/ - 3rd (Reserve) Bn. DCLI 15/ - West Yorkshire Regiment Prefix denoting 15th Service Bn. (Leeds Pals) Numerical Prefixes on medals to the NZEF: 1/ Samoan Advance Force 2/ Royal New Zealand Artillery 3/ New Zealand Medical Corps 4/ New Zealand Engineers 5/ New Zealand Army Service Corps 6/ Canterbury Infantry 7/ Canterbury Mounted Rifles 8/ Otago Rifles 9/ Otago Mounted Rifles 10/ Wellington Rifles 11/ Wellington Mounted Rifles 12/ Auckland Rifles 13/ Auckland Mounted Rifles 14/ Army Service Corps Divisional Train 15/ New Zealand Expeditionary Force Headquarters Staff 16/ Maori Battalion 17/ New Zealand Veterinary Corps 18/ New Zealand Chaplains Department 19/ Samoan Relief Force, Infantry 20/ Samoan Relief Force, Mounted Rifles 21/ New Zealand Army Pay Corps 22/ New Zealand Nursing Service 23/ 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 24/ 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 25/ 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 26/ 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade I've loads more at home, but I'll retire now to let someone else add a few. Alex.
CROONAERT Posted 10 January , 2004 Posted 10 January , 2004 Could we have a go at making a definitive list of Service number Prefixes and the meanings. Here's an earlier thread on this subject... PREFIXES Dave.
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 10 January , 2004 Posted 10 January , 2004 We certainly did do it before - did a list ever go onto the mother site (Chris)?
Jock Bruce Posted 10 January , 2004 Posted 10 January , 2004 I think a list of prefixes would be a very useful addition to the mother site. Information in individual threads gets lost. Surely there must be someone willing to take on the job of collating the knowledge that exists here for Chris to publish, much as happening with the POW index. I happy to contribute to such an effort the little I've worked out about various prefixes. BUT I'm not volunteering to lead this since I'm currently putting together details of the 1917 TF renumbering for posting on The Long, Long Trail - I hope to have this with Chris in a couple of weeks. It looks simple, just some lists of numbers, until you start to read the ACIs. Jock Bruce
Yorts Posted 11 January , 2004 Posted 11 January , 2004 I think a list of prefixes would be a very useful addition to the mother site. Information in individual threads gets lost. Surely there must be someone willing to take on the job of collating the knowledge that exists here for Chris to publish. I agree, especially about information being lost when being spread over individual threads. In order to combat this I will cut and paste the information from the previous thread into this one. Prefixes have been covered before, but I can't find a comprehensive list. Certainly this thread has added some new ones since the last time this topic was approached. I'll give compiling a list to send to Chris a go if everyone keeps on adding examples they are aware of to this thread. Any clarification to existing entries would be welcome. Best Regards Alex. From the previous thread: A - A.S.C. prefix denoting Old Army Special Reserve ,or A - early wartime recruits to the K.R.R.C.,or A - some Royal Scots Fusiliers,Scottish Rifles & A.O.C. B - "Bankers" the prefix for 26/Royal Fusiliers or B - some K.R.R.C. and Scottish Rifles C - 16th Bn onwards K.R.R.C. or 1st Garrison Bn.Royal Munster Fus. (also some Middlesex Regt. & Rifle Brigade. D - Dragoons prefix E - "Empire battalion" (17/Royal Fusiliers) F - "Football batallions",( 17th & 23rd Middlesex) G - Garrison batallions (1st,2nd & 3rd )Royal Irish Fusiliers G - British home county regiment's prefixes denoting New Army men &later H - Hussars J - "Judean" or "Jewish" (38th, 39th,& 40th Bns R.Fus.) K - "Kitchener battallion"??? L - Lancers L - Home counties regiments (regulars),some 3/South Wales Borderers and possibly also stands for "line" for some line regiments L - there is also a suggestion that it could mean "local" N - some R.A.M.C. O - Rifle Brigade P - "Police" (Military Foot Police etc.), also found on some Dragoon Guards numbers PS - "Public Schools" (18th,19th,20th&21st Royal Fus. & 16th Middsx.) PW - "Public Works" (18th,19th &26th Bns Middlesex Regt.) R - Army Remount Section,A.S.C. also K.R.R.C. later recruits up to the 16th Bn. RX - also the Army Remount Section,Army Service Corps. S - "Supply" A.S.C. S - wartime enlistments in Highland Regiments, 3rd Bn.men in Home Counties regiments and some Rifle Brigade,Dorset R.,Royal Munster Fus.,A.O.C, Royal Artillery & R.A.M.C. SPTS - "Sportsmans" (23rd & 24th R.Fus.) T (T1,T2,T3 & T4) - (horse)"Transport", Army Service Corps T - some territorials and A.O.C. W - "Wirral" (13th Cheshire Regt.) W - "Welsh Artillery" (38th Division) WR - "Waterways and Railways" (R.E.) Y - early wartime recruits in K.R.R.C. Z - some Rifle Brigade TF - Territorial Force SD = South Downs battalions of Royal Sussex Regiment (11,12,13 Bns). K = Kensington Bn of Royal Fusiliers (22nd) STK = Stockbrokers Bn of Royal Fusiliers (10th). 3/ = 3rd Bn. Special Reservists of the Seaforth Highlanders With thanks to Dave, Andrew, Paul Reed and Jock Bruce.
blue Posted 11 January , 2004 Author Posted 11 January , 2004 What a fantastic response! Thanks everybody. I certainly agree that a full list of prefixes would be a very valuable asset. Blue
Jock Bruce Posted 11 January , 2004 Posted 11 January , 2004 Some time back I started playing around with SDGW, looking at prefixes - not because I'm THAT interested but rather because I'm the type of saddo who can't resist looking for patterns in data. I stopped because it was obvious that it was in danger of becoming a serious effort and doubtless has all been done before. What little I did is attached for anyone who wants it. References to OC are to the (now defunct ??) Old Contemptibles website - the list of prefixes that appeared on this website seems to keep getting recycled whenever this subject is discussed, with a danger of false confirmation. I have already shared my blinding insights about AVC prefixes here Jock PREFIX.rtf
Yorts Posted 14 January , 2004 Posted 14 January , 2004 It is unique to the Royal Sussex; it indicates a soldier who was a member of the Special Reserve. There are two types of prefix: 'LSR' and 'GSSR' or sometimes 'GSR'. I think the difference between the two is that with the LSR prefix the soldier may have still been under the terms of his regular army enlistment; GSSR may indicate a soldier enlisted under the terms of 'Duration of War only'. Thanks Paul, a very useful addition. Please keep posting prefixes if you know them as I'm still compiling the list. Rgds, Alex.
Joe Sweeney Posted 14 January , 2004 Posted 14 January , 2004 FYI, As of the end of September 1914 GRO 147 lists the following as the only ASC number prefixes in use: S. T. M. S.S. T.S A.S.R. A.S.E. S.R.M.T. S.E. C.M.T. B. All other number prefixes post dating these. Unfortunately, the prefixes aren't exmplained and many are not accounted for in Young's "Army Service Corps, 02-18" Joe Sweeney
Yorts Posted 26 January , 2004 Posted 26 January , 2004 I'm trying to add new ones all the time, so please keep posting those additions. This especially applies to numeric prefixes if people know them. I seem to recall the Northumberland Fusiliers having numeric prefixes for soem battalions. The current list is as follows, however, there are mistakes so anyone wishing to make polite corrections feel free to do so Best Rgds, Alex. /X - Royal Navy & Royal Marines After divisional letters indicates new pay code enlistment 1/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Samoan Advance Force 10/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Wellington Rifles 11/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Wellington Mounted Rifles 12/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Auckland Rifles 13/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Auckland Mounted Rifles 14/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Army Service Corps Divisional Train 15/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Expeditionary Force Headquarters Staff 15/ - West Yorkshire Regiment 15th (Leeds Pals) Battalion 16/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Maori Battalion 17/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Veterinary Corps 18/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Chaplains Department 19/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Samoan Relief Force, Infantry 2/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Royal New Zealand Artillery 20/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Samoan Relief Force, Mounted Rifles 21/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Army Pay Corps 22/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Nursing Service 23/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 24/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 25/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 26/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3/ - Seaforth Highlanders 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Medical Corps 3/ - Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - Royal Berkshire Regiment 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - Gordon Highlanders 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - Royal Highlanders 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 3/ - Cameron Highlanders 3rd (Reserve) Battalion 4/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Engineers 4/ - Royal Irish Rifles 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion 5/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand Army Service Corps 5/ - Connaught Rangers 5th (Service) Battalion 6/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Canterbury Infantry 7/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Canterbury Mounted Rifles 8/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Otago Rifles 9/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Otago Mounted Rifles A - Army Service Corps Old Army Special Reserve A - King's Royal Rifle Corps Early wartime recruits A - Royal Scots Fusiliers 3rd (Reserve) Battalion A - King's Own Scottish Borderers 3rd (Reserve) Battalion A - Highland Light Infantry 3rd (Reserve) Battalion A - Scottish Rifles 3rd (Reserve) Battalion A - Army Ordnance Corps A - Royal Fleet Reserve First period of enlistment A - Royal Navy Alexandria (WW2 Only) A - Australia Silver War Badge Prefix A (HT) - Army Service Corps Horse Transport Special Reserve AA - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anti-Aircraft ARMR - Army Ordnance Corps Armourer ASE - Army Service Corps ASR - Army Service Corps B - Royal Fusiliers 26th (Banker's) Battalion B - Royal Fleet Reserve Second Period of Enlistment B - King's Royal Rifle Corps B - Highland Light Infantry Service No. 21000 onwards all ex-RA / Cavalry B - Highland Light Infantry 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion B - Scottish Rifles 4th (Special Reserve) Battalion B - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Bristol Division B - Unknown Silver War Badge Prefix B - Army Service Corps Special Reserve B (HT) - Army Service Corps Horse Transport Special Reserve TF BZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Bristol Division wartime enlistment C - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Clyde Division C - King's Royal Rifle Corps 16th Battalion onwards enlistment C - Royal Fleet Reserve 3rd Period of Enlistment C - Royal Munster Fusiliers 1st Garrison Battalion C - Middlesex Regiment C - Rifle Brigade C - Royal Fleet Reserve Chatham C - Royal Navy Chatham C (MT) - Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Special Reserve CAT - Army Service Corps Caterpillar Mechanical Transport CH - Royal Marines Chatham Division Royal Marine Light Infantry CH - Royal Fleet Reserve Chatham CH/RMP - Royal Marine Police Chatham CHT - Army Service Corps Corps of Horse Transport CMT - Army Service Corps Corps of Motor Transport CZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Clyde Division wartime enlsitment D - Dragoons D - Royal Fleet Reserve Devonport D - Royal Navy Devonport DEAL - Royal Marines Deal Depot DEPOT / D - Royal Marine Light Infantry Deal Depot Permanent Staff DEV - Royal Fleet Reserve Devonport DM2 - Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport Learners, discontinued 11/16 E - Royal Fusiliers 17th (Empire) Battalion E - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Birmingham Electrical Volunteers E - Army Service Corps Forage (ordinary rates of army pay) EX - Royal Marines Exton Division (WW2 Only) F - Middlesex Regiment 17th & 23rd (Football) Battalions F - Royal Naval Air Service F - Army Service Corps Forage (not paid from Army Funds) F - Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm FAA - Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (WW2 Only) G - Royal Irish Fusiliers 1st, 2nd 3rd (Garrison) Battalion G - Home Counties Regiments New Army men and later GOA - Royal Navy Goa GS - British Army General Service Enlistment GSR - Royal Sussex Regiment Special Reserve, enlisted under hostilities only terms GSSR - Royal Sussex Regiment Special Reserve, enlisted under hostilities only terms H - Hussars H - Hussars H - North irish Horse Given to all on strength in mid-1917 I - India Silver War Badge Prefix J - Royal Navy Seaman branch Prefix J - Royal Fusiliers 38th, 39th 40th, 42nd (Judean) Battalions J - Royal Navy Seamen and Communications K - "Kitchener battalion"??? K - Royal Navy Stokers K - Royal Fusiliers 22nd (Kensington) Battalion K - Royal Navy Stokers and Mechanicians KP - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Crystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies KW - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Crystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies KX - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Crystal Palace Enlistment from Kitchener's New Armies L - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve London Division L - Lancers L - Home Counties Regiments Regulars L - Royal Artillery Wartime enlistment L - South Wales Borderers 3rd (Reserve) Battalion L - Lancers L - Royal Navy Officers' Stewards, some Officers' Cooks L - Royal Navy Lee-on-Solent (FAA) LSR - Royal Sussex Regiment Special Reserve, enlisted under regular terms LT - Royal Navy Lowestoft (WW2 Only) LT - Royal Navy Lowestoft (WW2 Only) LZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve London Division wartime enlistment M - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Mersey Division M - Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport M - Royal Navy Miscellaneous enlistments (e.g. writers etc.) M - Royal Navy Others -Artificers, Electrical, Supply etc M1 & 2/(SR) - Army Service Corps Enlisted Special Reserve for New Armies M1, 2 - Army Service Corps Mechanical Transport MALTA - Royal Navy Malta MB - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Motor Boat Reserve MC - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Mine Clearance Service MN - Merchant Navy Silver War Badge Prefix MS - Army Service Corps Mechanical Specials MZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Mersey Division wartime enlistment N - Royal Army Medical Corps N - Royal Navy NAAFI staff (WW2 Only) NZ - New Zealand Silver War Badge Prefix O - Rifle Brigade O - Unknown Silver War Badge Prefix P - Military Foot Police Police P - Royal Fleet Reserve Portsmouth P - Royal Navy Portsmouth P - Dragoon Guards PET - Army Service Corps Petroleum Dept PLY - Royal Marines Plymouth Division RMLI PLY/RMP - Royal Marine Police Plymouth PO - Royal Marines Portsmouth Division RMLI PO - Royal Fleet Reserve Portsmouth PO/RMP - Royal Marine Police Portsmouth Prefix Unit Designation PS - Royal Fusiliers 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st (Public Schools) Battalions PS - Middlesex Regiment 16th (Public Schools) Battalion PW - Middlesex Regiment 18th, 19th & 26th (Public Works) Battalions PZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Crystal Palace Enlistment from civilian life R Royal Navy Rosyth (WW2 Only) R - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval Division R - Army Service Corps Remounts R - King's Royal Rifle Corps Later recruits up to 16th Battalion R - Army Service Corps Army Remount Section R4, RX4 - Army Service Corps 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Remounts RAF - Royal Air Force Silver War Badge Prefix RM - Royal Marines Silver War Badge Prefix RMA - Royal Marines Royal Marine Artillery RMB - Royal Marines Royal Marine Band RME - Royal Marines Royal Marine Engineers RN - Royal Navy Silver War Badge Prefix RS & R/TS - Army Service Corps Remount Specials RX - Army Service Corps Army Remount Section S - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Sussex Division S - Army Service Corps Supply Branch S - Scottish Regiments Wartime Enlistment S - Army Service Corps Supply Branch S - Royal Army Medical Corps S - Royal Artillery S - Highland Regiments Wartime Enlistment S - Home Counties Regiments 3rd Battalion S - Rifle Brigade S - Royal Munster Fusiliers S - Army Ordnance Corps S - Dorset Regiment S1, 2, 3, 4 - Army Service Corps 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Supply (S4 Labour) SA - South Africa Silver War Badge Prefix SD - Sussex Regiment 11th, 12th & 13th (South Downs) Battalions SE - Army Veterinary Corps 9th Section SF - Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (Short Service) SK - Royal Navy Stokers (Short Service) SM - Royal Navy Miscellaneous (Short Service) SPTS Royal Fusiliers 23rd & 24th (Sportman) Battalions SR - British Army Special Reserve ? SRMT - Army Service Corps Special Reserve Motor Transport SS - Army Service Corps Supply Specials SS - Royal Navy Seamen and Communications (Short Service) STK - Royal Fusiliers 10th (Stockbroker's) Battalion SWS - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Shore Wireless Service SZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Sussex Division wartime enlistment T - Army Service Corps Horse Transport T - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Tyne Division T - Army Ordnance Corps T - Territorial Force T1 & 2/(SR) - Army Service Corps Enlisted Special Reserve for New Armies T1, 2, 3, 4 - Army Service Corps 1st/2nd/3rd/4th New Armies Horse Transport TF - Territorial Force TS - Army Service Corps Transport Specials TT - Army Veterinary Corps Territorial Force ? TZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Tyne Division wartime enlistment W - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Wales Division W - Cheshire Regiment 13th (Wirral) Battalion W - Royal Artillery 38th (Welsh) Division WR - Royal Engineers Waterways and Railways WT4 - Army Service Corps Welsh ????? WZ - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Wales Division wartim enlistment Y - Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Deferred enlistment (replaced by divisional prefix on actual enlistment) Y - King's Royal Rifle Corps Early wartime enlistment Z - Rifle Brigade
Ed Matthews Posted 13 February , 2004 Posted 13 February , 2004 I was interested to see Alex's prefix list. As a collector of Silver War Badges, I would be interested to know if you can confirm the 'RM' and 'MN' prefix for Royal Marines and Merchant Navy respectively? I am aware of the 'MS' prefix for a very small number of SWB's (approx. 160) issued to the Mercantile Marine but I think that most fell under the jurisdiction of the Royal Navy and were consequently issued with 'RN' prefix badges. For your information, I can also confirm 'N' prefix SWB's for Newfoundland. Best wishes Ed
Yorts Posted 15 February , 2004 Posted 15 February , 2004 Thanks Ed for the Newfoundland prefix. I've never seen a RM / MN, badge so I can't confirm or deny their existence, maybe someone else has one in their collection. If anyone has a RM badge I'd be interested to see a scan of it, and any details of the recipient. Rgds, Alex.
olive murphy Posted 10 August , 2006 Posted 10 August , 2006 Hi everybody. I am a new member researching my family tree. It would appear that 3 of my great uncles served in the ASC. they were James Montague Threadwell ( S4 / 125268 ), Sydney John Threadwell ( M2 / 270455 ) and Arthur Cyril Threadwell ( T4 / 07764 ) Can anyone help me identify which units they were in. I know that Arthur was in France and James in Egypt. Also can anyone tell me what the prefixes S4, M2 and T4 stand for.
delta Posted 10 August , 2006 Posted 10 August , 2006 Welcome to the Forum, Threadwell The M, S and T prefixes tell us the trade group in which you uncles were employed. S stands for Supply, M stands for Mechanical Transport (i.e. vehicles) and T represents horse transport. The nubmer which follows indicates that the individuals was enlisted at the tiem the 4 new armes were being established, M2 relates to the MT support to the 2nd New Army; T4 and S4 means that there were (initally) in Horse Transport or Supply units supporting the 4th Army. The Long Long trail website will give more info on the formation of those Armies. Units however were switched between formations and individual between untis so it is highly likely that they may have served in a number of units Realise that this raises as many questions as it answers so please come back Stephen
Laird of Camster Posted 27 September , 2013 Posted 27 September , 2013 I see its been a few years, but can I try and revive this thread and ask.... With regards to ASC prefixes, I have seen some examples, of A (Clerks), but believe that at some point A became B, and E (workmen) became A. Can anyone shine any light on how I could tell an A (Clerk) from an A (workman).
Waggoner Posted 27 September , 2013 Posted 27 September , 2013 As there hasn't been much work done on researching the EFC, I suspect the only definitive way to know would be to find the soldier's service record. All the best, Gary
Laird of Camster Posted 30 September , 2013 Posted 30 September , 2013 I feared that might be the case Gary. Strange why they decided to do it like that anyway?
Gardenerbill Posted 10 August , 2017 Posted 10 August , 2017 During my research into my Grandfathers ASC MT Company, particularly looking for other men who served alongside him, I compiled a list of ASC numbers and some details of each man. I was puzzled by the different variants of MT numbering and began to try and make some sense of them. Once I started I realised that this was going to be a difficult and time consuming task, so I decided I would ask for help from forum pals with a similar interest.  Mechanical Transport first M series  Original Mechanical Transport Company numbers from the first MT Companies created in the early 1900s. According to ‘Army Service Corps 1902 – 1918’ by Michael Young (P13) the MT section of the ASC was authorised 1st April 1902 and there were two MT Companies created 1st April 1903 the first being 77 MT Company ASC.  Examples with service records: M/20719 M.S.M. Alfred George Woodhams, original member of the first 77 MT Coy mentioned in Michael Young’s book, entered theatre (1) France 14th August 1914. M/23018 a/Sgt William Crummett, attested Beverley 3rd April 1905, transferred to reserve 2nd April 1908, Mobilised Aldershot 7th August 1914, entered theatre (1) France 3rd November 1917. M/27009 Cpl. William John Bullock, attested Swindon 2nd August 1908 entered theatre (1) France 13th August 1914.  MIC only: M/17796 MS (WOI) Charles blakley Neal (lowest number found) M/36422 a/CSM C H Williams MID LG 29/5/1917 (highest number)  2 questions on these numbers:  1. Was there one set of numbers for the ASC at this time but with a different prefix for horse transport (T)? 2. When did they stop allocating these numbers (the M1 series begins at the start of September 1914).  More on the MS and CMT series to follow.
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 10 August , 2017 Posted 10 August , 2017 9 minutes ago, Gardenerbill said: I was puzzled by the different variants of MT numbering and began to try and make some sense of them. Once I started I realised that this was going to be a difficult and time consuming task  Yes. Quite a task. Good luck with it. Sorry... Don't know the answers to your starter questions. I fear I may not be much help with the bonus questions either.
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