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Remembered Today:

Regimental numbering: an overview


Muerrisch

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Update:

It is becoming likely that the article will be published as a serial in the Military Historical Society Bulletin.

The Editor wants it!

I am looking for a way to make the article available to non-MHS members, particularly the many Pals who have helped the project.

Grumpy

There should be no problem in printing extra copies by the MHS provided I get an estimate of numbers beforehand. Actually it might be simpler to join the MHS - cost is only £15 pa and you will get three bulletins a year as well as the 'specials'

anyone interested send a cheque for £15 made out to MHS (£20 air mail) and your details to

John Chapman

Membership Secretary MHS

5 Cecil Aldin Drive

Tilehurst

Berks RG31 6YP

regards

John

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Purley, thank you for that. Events have moved on since my quoted posting.

MHS will serialise my work, probably in three parts. Meanwhile the work, as a booklet, is in its third edition and still the letters are arriving.

Helps to pay for my research!

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Being printed as I write.

Mailout might be delayed ....... I will be aware from Mon. to Thurs. next. Depends how quick printing is.

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Thank you Charles ....... I realised I had made a mistake, but it was on the right side .......

I shall keep the text amended as data comes in, but I have a big 'Trade Badges' paper to finish first, and the garden is getting rather demanding.

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David

Also -

Thank you for my update. :)

You are so well organised!

Kate

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Belated thanks for the updates - excellent stuff - as usual.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I received my copy on Saturday, and cannot recommend it enough. Very well-written and organized, and will be a very valuable resource to researchers. My hat's off to the authors on a job very well done. :)

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  • 2 months later...

The C Prefix was organised in bands of 3000, the first C Prefixes being introduced for the 16th KRRC. The 17th Bn was C/3000 and up, 18th Bn was C/6000 up, 19th Bn was a training bn, 20th Bn was C/9000 up, 21st Bn was C/12000 up. This can be seen clearly in 'Soldiers Died In The Great War' listing all the KRRC dead from WW1. With a battalion having one thousand men approximately and its own reserves, the higher numbers in the bands were rarely reached. Could not see any in the C/2000s. 17th Bn - there are lots of men numbered C/3000s and C/4000s, but could not find any in the C/5000s - C/4745 the highest I could find. 18th Bn - highest C/8075. I have only had a quick look, so there may be higher. Will have a closer look when on holiday.

Continued…

Re the C Prefix. I have had another look at 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. You will notice that the bands I suggest are not the same as those in Post 6.

16th Bn. - first band up to 3000 - C/1770 Andrews

17th Bn. - band 2, 3000 to 6000 - C/4745 Devoney

18th Bn. - band 3, 6000 to 9000 - C/8101 Foulstone (Soldier C/8131 Thornton died with the 16th KRRC)

19th Bn. - was a training battalion.

20th Bn. - band 4, 9000 to 12,000 - C/9954 - Bailey

21st Bn. - band 5, 12,000 to 15,000 - C/13032 - Brannen

These numbers show the highest recorded deaths. Someone with a CD of 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' may be able to check these figures more easily - I was working from the KRRC book.

Mortensen's suggestion that the Church Lads Brigade had problems filling out its establishment of the 16th KRRC is a conclusion that I feel is not warranted. In my research of CLB history I have found references which indicate that by the time the War Office had accepted the proposal to set up the 16th KRRC, many who had been waiting to join had grown impatient and had joined other units. It is estimated that 250,000 former members of the CLB served in the First World War, 20,000 were killed, another 20,000 were wounded. Over 1,000 military distinctions were awarded, including 21 Victoria Crosses - an incredible record.

Will you please note that I do not claim to be an expert - I am just adding to the debate. Johnny Conn

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The C Prefix was organised in bands of 3000, the first C Prefixes being introduced for the 16th KRRC. The 17th Bn was C/3000 and up, 18th Bn was C/6000 up, 19th Bn was a training bn, 20th Bn was C/9000 up, 21st Bn was C/12000 up. This can be seen clearly in 'Soldiers Died In The Great War' listing all the KRRC dead from WW1. With a battalion having one thousand men approximately and its own reserves, the higher numbers in the bands were rarely reached. Could not see any in the C/2000s. 17th Bn - there are lots of men numbered C/3000s and C/4000s, but could not find any in the C/5000s - C/4745 the highest I could find. 18th Bn - highest C/8075. I have only had a quick look, so there may be higher. Will have a closer look when on holiday.

Re the C Prefix. I have had another look at 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' for the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. You will notice that the bands I suggest are not the same as those in Post 6.

16th Bn. - first band up to 3000 - C/1770 Andrews

17th Bn. - band 2, 3000 to 6000 - C/4745 Devoney

18th Bn. - band 3, 6000 to 9000 - C/8101 Foulstone (Soldier C/8131 Thornton died with the 16th KRRC)

19th Bn. - was a training battalion.

20th Bn. - band 4, 9000 to 12,000 - C/9954 - Bailey

21st Bn. - band 5, 12,000 to 15,000 - C/13032 - Brannen

These numbers show the highest recorded deaths. Someone with a CD of 'Soldiers Died in the Great War' may be able to check these figures more easily - I was working from the KRRC book.

Johhny,

My understanding is that the range reserved for 18/KRRC was C/6001 to C/8000 and for 20/KRRC was C/8001 to C/10000.

Your scheme above would have anyone in the C/8xxx range as being enlisted into 18/KRRC not 20/KRRC.

In addition to C/8101 Foulstone above, can you give us a handful of further examples in this range to demonstrate this?

Cheers,

Mark

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Johhny,

My understanding is that the range reserved for 18/KRRC was C/6001 to C/8000 and for 20/KRRC was C/8001 to C/10000.

Your scheme above would have anyone in the C/8xxx range as being enlisted into 18/KRRC not 20/KRRC.

In addition to C/8101 Foulstone above, can you give us a handful of further examples in this range to demonstrate this?

Cheers,

Mark

Hi Mark

C/7999, Cargill; C/8004 Holcombe; C/8006, Hornsby; C/8016, Gibson; C/8064, Hammond; C/8075, Smith H; C/8100, Smith W; C8101, Foulstone.

As for the 20th Bn, the dominant numbers are C/9000s. Can you show me several C/8000s in the 20th?

Johnny Conn

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I am just trying to make sense of the numbers. If you can show me where my interpretation is wrong then I will hold my hands up and admit that I am wrong.

Post 6 says C/1770 to C/2999 was for CLB drafts.

Can you give me examples of any numbers in the C/2000s?

18th is given as C6001 to C/8000.

The following men served with the 18th Bn...

C/7999, Cargill; C/8004 Holcombe; C/8006, Hornsby; C/8016, Gibson; C/8064, Hammond; C/8075, Smith H; C/8100, Smith W; C8101, Foulstone.

20th Bn is given as C/8001 to C/10000.

20th Bn clearly shows the predominant numbers to be C/9000s. Can you show me an appropriate number of C/8000s?

I am fully prepared to accept that I do not have the full picture and therefore am not correct with my figures. Please explain where I am wrong.

Johnny Conn

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