denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 Good Afternoon Can anyone help clarify this for me please as I have found two entries in LG Archives for the service number 21588 which relate to different soldiers and I had assumed that a service number was unique to an individual. 21588 Pte. J. Banks, E. York. R. (Hull). Mason, 21588 Pte. J., 9th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment Thankyou for your time.
ralphjd Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 Good afternoon, Numbers unique within each regiment, but not unique within the Army has a whole. Many soldiers on Soldiers Died Great War CD have the same number.Cheers Ralph.
Terry Denham Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 The numbers were issued on a battalion basis so duplicated numbers are common. The unique number system did not come into operation until after WW1. One of our number experts will come along to give exact details.
denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Author Posted 4 February , 2008 Thankyou Gentlemen - another assumption scuppered !! My thanks for your time and help.
Muerrisch Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 a single series beginning at 1. in 1881/2 for all the battalions within a regiment comprising a. regulars and b. 'Kitchener's Army, ie. the Service battalions. a series for the 3rd and sometimes 4th Special Reserve battalion a series for each Territorial Force battalion. So that Royal Welch Fusiliers had 1 plus one plus 4 series, with many duplications. There was no rule about using a prefix [a number or a letter] pre 1914, but an order [often ignored] later laid down that regiments should do this. RWF ignored it. Minefield. Find another hobby, numbers are not for the fainthearted.
denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Author Posted 4 February , 2008 Find another hobby, numbers are not for the fainthearted. Thankyou for your time and this more detailed explanation - I appreciate it. I am wondering if you are a numbers expert ?? I "believe" that 21588 Pte J Mason of 9th Service Bn South Lancs Regiment was probably my Grandad. Family memory is extremely scanty. We have no medals, no service record (paid for TNA at Kew to tell me it no longer exists (gulp !!)). I have a copy of his marriage certificate from Aug 1919 so I have an address and occupation post WW1 and it is likely that this is where he lived when he enlisted. Family recall Salonika and that he was MID and I found a reference for a MID for a soldier of name J (for James) Mason with a Lancashire Regiment (he was born & lived in Widnes all his life) in LG Archives which is where I got 21588, Regiment and 9th Bn details from. Medal Record index for this soldier shows SLR and BWM and VM. Regimental History for 9th Bn SLR supports that it might be him. I haven't done the Salonika War Diaries as there are at least 22 which mention 22nd Division to which the 9th Bn SLR was attached and chances of him being mentioned by name are too slim. My question is - can it be determined from the number 21588 when this soldier enlisted and if so, would you be able to point me in a direction that I can pursue ? I'm trying not to be fainthearted - but ......................................... Thankyou for any help you are able to offer.
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 Ive 2 medals both in the Coldstream Guards with the same number. One enlisted say 1895. he left the army, number got reissued next time it came round, 1 st man gets called up for ww1 and gets his old number back! Medal card of Large, Arthur Corps: Coldstream Guards Regiment No: 8702 Rank: Lance Corporal... Medal card of Garnett, James Corps: Coldstream Guards Regiment No: 8702 Rank: Corporal...
Muerrisch Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 that number may well be 9th S Lancs. You need a S Lancs expert. Try a new thread with S Lancs in the title, and good luck.
denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Author Posted 4 February , 2008 Try a new thread with S Lancs in the title, and good luck. I already have. http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...mp;#entry847177 Nothing regarding tracing the number yet - but thankyou.
denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Author Posted 4 February , 2008 Thankyou - seems duplicate numbers are common - so no mileage in pursuing this for my own research.
Coldstreamer Posted 4 February , 2008 Posted 4 February , 2008 wouldnt say common but it did happen in the same regiment also noticed some coldstreamers in these circumstances, the one who had the number first was given a B number later on ie 899 became B 899
denny26355 Posted 4 February , 2008 Author Posted 4 February , 2008 wouldnt say common but it did happen in the same regiment I'm sorry - on reviewing your post I can see the point you were making - let's hope instances such as the one you referenced aren't as common as the 'generic' issue or we will all end up "fainthearted" !!
laughton Posted 5 February , 2008 Posted 5 February , 2008 The colonials also messed up your system. Both my grandfathers attested in Canada and both later served as officers in the BEF, as noted in my signature below. They carried their CANADIAN regimental numbers throughout the war so if you tried to search them on the UK system I would have to assume you would be in a real mess. They were 82130 and 51288.
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