Special Reserve: recruitment

[chris miles]

Replied to PM. Thanks.

Hi Everyone, this is my first posting and I am very new to armies etc history, I have a certificate of transfere to reserve ( again with Home Defence written on) for Sgt William Middleton. I am not sure of the unit it looks like it says Aoy! Wet! Central Seige Sch! Royal Garrison Artillery.

Enlisted on 16th September 1914 transfered to army reserve on 9th March 1919 .His number is 275065.

Does that make sense to anyone. Can anyone tell me anything about the regiment. Thanks

[kevinrowlinson]

Hi Chris and welcome to the forum,

Your best bet is to go to the Long Long Trail, which is linked beside forum rules above, and navigate to the sections on reseaching a soldier and the pages on the Royal Artillery. If you ask another question, it is better to create a new thread as some of us do not read older ones.

Gunner Middleton actually enlisted at Hull with the number 63. You are correct in that he was a Special Reservist and his number was later changed, early 1917, to 275063. He would have gone to Newhaven on the 17 Sep. 1914. He spent most of the war at A Siege Depot, finishing at Central Siege School, Lydd, before being sent to Ripon for demobilisation. His original enlistment into the RGA was on the 24 Feb. 1888 as 66313, where he put his ocupation as waterman. He served in India and Aden and finished that term of service on the 13 Jan. 1906.

If you PM (private message) me you email address I will forward his records.

Regards Kevin

[Graham Stewart]

Probably a bit late with this one, but I've been through my 1915 copy of Army Orders and the 'Special Reserve' do not feature at all in any Orders. This leads me to conclude that recruiting for the SR was put "into abeyance" during the current embodiement. The SR Battalions though would still function in the way they were meant to and that is 'train & draft' recruits to be sent as and where needed among both Regular & New Army Battalions. These recruits would now be classed as soldiers in the 'Regular Army' and as such come under Kings Regs rather than SR Regs.

[Keith_history_buff]

On 16/03/2008 at 15:24, Muerrisch said:

As a spin-off to the regimental numbering project, I need to know if Special Reserve enlistments continued throughout the war. I cannot believe they did, but have no documentation...

The SR did its job magnificently in 1914, the men poured out their blood in Flanders.

But once the New Armies were recruiting, the 3rd battalions grew rapidly from all sorts of causes, and, with the army overwhelmed with '3 years or the duration' volunteers, it can scarcely have needed men on the 4 year SR commitment. This was particularly so after conscription was introduced in 1916.

So, as the army was a pragmatic organisation, why bother with men on SR engagements?

And if they did not, when did they stop?

I would be grateful for comment .... 'last known dates of SR enlistment' would be most welcome, also an AO or ACI reference ending the process.

For reasons that are not apparent, there are subsections of both the 1914-15 Star roll and the BWM & VM roll of the South Wales Borderers that contain solely SR recipients. (These are archive references WO 329/2694 & WO 329/1090 respectively.) The rolls themselves were compiled by Shrewsbury (J) Infantry Record Office; it seems odd this approach was not applied to the rolls of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Welsh Regiment, KSLI etc. This has made it easier to identify those men who enlisted under Special Reserve terms of service in the regiment.

SR enlistments and service number sequences

 

 

 

[Keith_history_buff]

SR enlistments and service number sequences - part one
During August 1914, 11628 Josiah Evans had enlisted on 4 August 1914, with 11993 William Micklewright enlisting on 17 August 1914. The 12000 series of numbers was unallocated. 13002 Alfred Meredith had enlisted on 19 August, with 13355 Edward Mills enlisting on 30 Aug 1914. The subsequent numbers in the sequence 13370 up to 13799 do not appear to have been allocated.

13809 William John Morgan had enlisted on 2 Sep 1914, and 14832 George Morgan had enlisted on 30 Sep 1914.

14862 Frederick Haberfield enlisted on 3 Oct 1914,

15130 Walter Ruscoe enlisted on 2 Nov 1914, 15278 Robert Johnson enlisted on 30 Nov 1914

15287 Robert Derry enlisted on 8 Dec 1914,  15301 Ernest George Russell enlisted 11 Dec 1914

[Keith_history_buff]

SR enlistments and service number sequences - part two
15302 William John Brooks enlisted on 14 Dec 1914, 15341 Ivor Albert Hillier enlisted on 29 Dec 1914, 15348 Joseph Bevister is assumed to have enlisted at the end of Dec 1914.

15349 Alfred Minchin enlisted on 1 Jan 1915, 15464 George Higgins enlisted on 28 Jan 1915, 15471 Thomas James Griffiths is assumed to have enlisted at the end of Jan 1915.

15472 Mark Allen enlisted at Newport on 3 Feb 1915, 15514 Harold James Wheeler enlisted on 26 Feb 1915.

15515 Joseph John Morris enlisted on 3 Mar 1915, 15541 Timothy Crowley enlisted on 31 Mar 1915.

15542 George Henry Ross enlisted on 1 Apr 1915, 15562 James Murphy enlisted on 29 Apr 1915, 15563 Frederick James Pardner is assumed to have enlisted at the end of Apr 1915.

15564 Francis Jones enlisted on 1 May 1915, 15600 John Sexton enlisted on 28 May 1915, 15602 Alfred John Clarke is assumed to have enlisted at the end of May 1915.

15604 Henry John Harris enlisted on 1 June 1915, 15624 Edward William Norris enlisted on 16 June 1915. 15626 Michael Sullivan enlisted on 19 June 1915 at Tralee, arrived at Brecon on 23 June 1915. 15627 William Martin is assumed to have enlisted at the end of June 1915 and no higher service number than his has been identified.

Where further information has been identified for those SR enlistments, with numbers in the range 15302 to 15627 inclusive, further info will be made available via FindMyPast from late 2023 onwards.

[Keith_history_buff]

That I am aware, there has been no document identified from June or July 1915 which formally documents the end of the Special Reserve. Trawls have been performed in the past by the late Charles Messenger, the late Martin Gillott, Muerrisch, Graham Stewart, Ken F and ss002d6252 (Craig). I have also trawled through and to no avail on a path clearly well-trodden. Neither the ACIs for the first half of 1915 (archive reference WO 293/2) nor the Army Orders for 1915 (archive reference WO 123/57).

The Special Reserve does appear to have been transformed as a conduit with which to suck up the remaining older soldiers with prior military experience, with new recruits being enlisted under regular terms and thereafter steered to the New Army formations.

To this end, the following AOs have been mentioned in prior posts by Muerrisch

From earlier in the thread

On 20/03/2008 at 11:51, Muerrisch said:

Charles:

AO 295 of 6th Aug 1914 'Re-enlistment of ex-regular soldiers in the Special Reserve' offers SR enlistment for one year or the duration. Conditions: at least 'fair' character, not less than 30 or over 42 , and otherwise eligible in all respects.

  

On 25/11/2013 at 16:22, Muerrisch said:

AO 341 of 30th August 1914 which I do not think has been posted on the forum and which had the effect of putting all men enlisting with previous service of at least one year either as a regular, Militia, SR or TF and with character FAIR or better TO BE ATTESTED FOR THE SR and will be appointed to a corps or regiment of the arm in which previously served. Does not say what terms, however.

Men without this qualification were to go to the New Armies.

Also worth mentioning is the raising of the age limit for the SR.
'The age limit.. was subsequently raised.. for enlistment in the Special Reserve from 42 to 45 years in the case of ex-soldiers, and from 45 to 50 years in the case of specially selected ex-non-commissioned officers above the rank of serjeant (A.O. 341).'

A general observation from the late Martin Gillott

On 10/07/2015 at 19:23, Guest said:

Grumpy and I [Martin Gillott] have researched this in some detail. There is a three part article in Stand To! that covers the Reserves in some detail.

The main reason that the SR men were not replaced is that their terms of service were no longer offered after Sep 1914. The only source of SR men would be men in training and re-enlisted men (under SR terms but clearly a different kind of soldier)....

The War Office allowed the SR to recruit under different terms for a brief period. It is unclear when this stopped exactly, but probably sometime in Sep 1914. There was a short window of opportunity for men to enlist in the Special Reserve. By end of Sep 1914 all Regular Army recruiting terms of engagaements were being narrowed down.

The SR battalions had to improvise with their approach. ..

A specific observation from the late Martin Gillott, in respect of the Loyal North Lancs 

On 25/01/2015 at 19:15, Guest said:

Here is something of interest:

Army Order 341 dated 30th Aug 1914: Enlistments for the Regular Army and Special Reserve: "...except in the case of Cavalry and Foot Guards, all ex-regular Non-commissioned Officers irrespective of age and all men under 35 years of age will be posted to units of the new 6 Divisions of Army Troops. Other men will be posted to Reserve units of the Regular Army...."

What this means is that every re-enlisted ex-line infantryman under 35 was diverted to K1, as well as every ex-NCO. The Regular Army had to make do with the 35-40 year olds (later 35-45 year olds). Interesting on a number of levels. In proactical terms this meant that (generally speaking) the cohorts of 1897 to 1902 who re-enlisted were sent to bolster K1. The Regular battalions were left with men who first enlisted in 1896 or earlier.

On a separate thread I am exploring the re-enlisted men. 64,000 re-enlisted in the Line Infantry between 6th Aug and 30th Sep 1914. A simply staggering figure - enough men to man over four-and-a-half Divisions of Infantry (assuming they were fit enough). Another 28,000 joined in the subsequent 12 months. Far more filtered through to the Regular battalions in France and Flanders than I would ever have expected. Some 32% of the 1st Bn Loyal North Lancs were re-enlisted men in April 1915.. If the AO 341 instructions were adhered to, that would mean nearly a third of the 1st Bn Loyal North Lancs were aged 35 or more and prior to enlistment had probably not picked up a rifle in 18 years.

I suspect the AO was slightly relaxed, but it perhaps illustrates the lengths to which the Army was prepared to go to in order to maintain their multiple objectives of keeping the Regular Army manned while raising a New Army.

MG

Older men were being accepted into the Special Reserve. From what I have seen, they were being sent to the regular pre-war battalions to replenish their losses, whilst men who enlisted under regular terms were now posted to the New Army and undergoing preparation for a later deployment to a theatre of war.

[Keith_history_buff]

For the service number sequence from 15302 to 15627 inclusive, I have been able to positively identify 245 distinct soldiers. The December data is incomplete.

It can be seen that the SR enlistments are low in number, after the peak during January 1915.

Among the 245, 173 were to leave the reserve battalion in 1915, either to be posted as a reinforcement in the field, or to deploy with a New Army battalion of the Regiment.

 

[Keith_history_buff]

Example of the one "Deployment" in June 1915
15616 John Henry Broomhead
From: The Manor, Sheffield, Yorkshire - born 1881
Enlisted under SR terms of service on 8 Jun 1915. Disembarked in France on 24 Sep 1915 with the 6th Battalion. Medically discharged on 11 Jan 1919, rheumatic fever. Issued a SWB, appears on List J/1271/1. Correspondence address: 15 Navigation Hill, Duke Street, Sheffield.

Example of the last "Reinforcement" in June 1915
15627 William Martin
From: Badbury, Highworth, Wiltshire - born 1861
Enlisted under SR terms of service late June 1915. Disembarked at Gallipoli on 15 Oct 1915 to join 4th Battalion, according to the medal roll. Transferred to the 2nd Garrison Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 49510. Transferred to Class Z in 1919. Correspondence address: Neuadd Arms Hotel, Llanwrtyd Wells, Brecon.

 

[Keith_history_buff]

The "quickest Reinforcement" in June 1915
 

15623 Patrick Dyke
From: Hastings, Sussex - born 1893

Enlisted in the South Wales Borderers under Regular terms on 1 Aug 1912, 10881, served with 1st Battalion, discharged by purchase on 9 May 1914. 

Enlisted under SR terms of service on 15 June 1915. Posted to 2nd Battalion on 30 June 1915, according to the medal roll. Deserted 7 Aug 1915. Enlisted as a Stoker in the Royal Navy, K27866, on 27 Aug 1915. Discharged from the Royal Navy, 'services no longer required' on 17 Dec 1917.

Transfers to France are straightforward, but the dates for Gallipoli are somewhat fluid.

[Keith_history_buff]

Of the 214 for whom a year of birth has been identified, the seven youngest men

 

[Keith_history_buff]

Below is a screenshot of the twelve oldest men, amongst the 214 for whom a year of birth has been identified.

Michael Mines had served with the 18th Foot, and was a Zulu War veteran. Enlisted under Special Reserve terms of service in Jan 1915. Died of pneumonia at the Brecon barracks's military hospital on 15 Feb 1915. Commemorated by the CWGC.

William Samuel Prosser (1859-1939) was also a Zulu War veteran. He, with a draft, embarked the Orontes troopship on 1 May 1879, and their troopship arrived at Durban on 4 June 1879. This draft of reinforcements joined 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot.

Obituary for William Samuel Prosser
Sourced via: British Newspaper Archive
Licenced from: Reach PLC

South Wales Gazette
28 April 1939
REGIMENTAL BAND AND FIRING PARTY AT FUNERAL
A military funeral was accorded Mr William Prosser, aged 79, of Nantyglo, whose re-mains was interred at Hermon Burial Ground on Thursday.
Deceased joined the Army in 1878, served with the 24th Foot Border Regiment in South Africa in 1879, and from 1885 to 1889 served with
the 2nd South Wales Borderers in Burma. He took part in the Zulu and Burma Wars.
[Archive references WO 100/46
& WO 100/70 + 73]

He also served throughout the Great War at Brecon and Oswestry, but despite his repeated requests to be allowed to serve abroad he was told that he was too old. He held a first-class certificate for a gymnastic, feat in India in 1882. Mr. Prosser had served as a steward at the ex-Servicemen's Club for some years and the members were to have celebrated his 80th birthday, which would have been last Saturday. [22 April]
He was a vice-president of the British Legion Branch and a member of the Ebbw Vale South African War Veterans' Association and the Old Contemptibles. [Not possible]
He is survived by a widow, [no, she died in 1938] two sons and two daughters. A son, Private Trevor Prosser, was killed in the Great War.
REGIMENTAL BAND PRESENT
The Rev. W. T. Hughes officiated at the funeral. The Brecon Regimental Band. under the leadership of Mr, D. Stephens, played the Dead March as the cortege proceeded to the graveside. A firing party, under Sergt. Instructor T. Shea, attended and the "Last Post" was sounded Mr. I. C. Gregg.
There was a squad of Brecknock Territorials present. and many old members of the South Wales Borderers, members of the British Legion and ex-Servicemen, South African Veterans' and members of the Old Comrades' Association. The parade was under the command of Captain F.G. Lee (Ebbw Vale).
The mourners were Messrs Reginald Prosser and Harry Prosser, sons: William Lewis, son-in-law; Harry Prosser (Blaina), Fred Webb, Ernest Jenkins, Herbert Jenkins, William Furber, nephews.

[Keith_history_buff]

Ages averaged for the month of enlistment, amongst the 214 for whom a year of birth has been identified.

[Keith_history_buff]

Of those 245 distinct and positively identified soldiers, I looked to see which soldiers had evidence of prior military experience, and came across the following exceptions. What was interesting is that a fair few men with surviving service records had tried to enlist in 1914, were subsequently honourably discharged as unlikely to make an efficient soldier, yet they reenlisted in the Special Reserve, determined to serve.

 

[Keith_history_buff]

A quirky find, the special reservist who never was, and who has a surviving service record.

John Gibbin
From: Warrenby, Guisbrough, Yorkshire - born 1881.

Commenced military service with the Yorkshire Regiment 1st Volunteer Battalion. Enlisted at Redcar under Regular terms of service on 24 Jul 1899 in the Grenadier Guards, 8173, served over 3 years with the colours, transferred to the Army Reserve on 10 Oct 1902. Boer War veteran. Extended his service to run from 21 Jul 1911 to 20 Jun 1915 in Section D Army Reserve, was mobilised on 5 Aug 1914.

Transfer request processed on 24 Dec 1914, SR service number issued on this date, with the Lieutenant Colonel requesting 'that the transfer be ante-dated 26 Oct 1914.' Promoted to Sergeant and transferred on 26 Dec 1914. In Jan 1915 issued new number of 11305, from a batch issued to Time Served regulars, given he was mistaken in December for Special Reserve as opposed to Army Reserve regular. Interestingly, the new enlistees under Regular terms of service were issued service numbers in the 20000 series.

Disembarked in France on 23 Sep 1915 with the 6th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers). Service record is marked as 'continued in the Service under the Military Service Act 1916 (Session 2)' with an effective date of 21 Jul 1916. Announcement of being awarded the Military Medal is in the The London Gazette, Supplement 29981, Page 2483 dated 9 Mar 1917. Demoted to Corporal, owing to drunkenness on 14 May 1917. Presented with Military Medal on 27 Nov 1917 at Middlesbrough. Transferred to Class W on 29 Jul 1917, to be employed on munitions works at Dorman, Long & Co steelworks, Redcar.  Discharged on 25 Feb 1919, 'being surplus to military requirements'.

Interestingly, Gibbin appears on a subsection of the 1914-15 Star medal roll that is specifically for Time Serving soldiers, and is annotated as such.

Image courtesy Ancestry
 

[Keith_history_buff]

  

On 25/11/2013 at 16:51, ss002d6252 said:

On 17 Sep 1914 Kitchener made a statement in Parliament which included "The whole of the Special Reserve and Extra Special Reserve units will be maintained at their full establishments as feeders to the Expeditionary Force."

Craig

  

On 25/11/2013 at 17:30, ss002d6252 said:

The whole statement is here http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1914/sep/17/the-war . It doesn't specifically state how he intended to achieve the establishments.

Craig

  

On 02/10/2013 at 10:48, Guest said:

"The Edwardian Army: Recruiting and Deploying the British Army 1902-1914" by Timothy Bowman and Mark Connelly is a very meticulously researched work with some relevant material.

They state that the Home Service battalions used up such a large proportion of the Army Reserve and Special reserve to come up to War Establishment that there were few trained reservists left. They also comment that the SR battalions were "stripped of their best men...to bring the original battalions of the BEF up to strength an to provide trained NCOs for the New Armies" and also note that not a single SR battalion served overseas as a unit during the Great War. This is all consistent with the comments on this thread.

For a detailed assessment of the Edwardian Army it is essential reading.

MG

  

On 16/12/2013 at 16:28, Muerrisch said:

One point worth emphasising. The Black Watch statement " "A syllabus of work was bought out by the War Office for a course of twelve weeks' training and for the average recruit this was found sufficient" is either disingenuous or economical with the truth.

The training period referred to was for the INDIVIDUAL, and the syllabus required a total of 6 months to complete [AO 324 Sept 1914]. These convenient 12 week men would be like lambs to the slaughter, having done no collective training, even at section level, never mind platoon or above. When they arrived at the unit they would find many of the senior ranks, and the exemplars among the old soldiers, dead and buried, or long gone.I wonder how many lads were sent out for other regiments, wet behind the ears?

Contrast this to the New Armies, held back until well into 1915.

[Muerrisch]

Keith this is a massive piece of work on one of those early war procedures and expedients which nobody has hitherto had the stamina and skill to pursue properly. To use the late and great Martin Gillott's phrase, you have shone a light in a dark corner. 

The fact that the Holy Grail of an Order terminating/tapering recruitment on SR terms has not emerged is not to say it does not exist. It may, for example, have been a telegram "to whom it may concern" but then we would expect to find some reference in the informal War Diaries that were maintained by some Reserve battalions or Depots. The only one that I am familiar with, 3rd RWF, fails to help.

The truth is out there, but for the moment rests as a known unknown.

For those unfamiliar with SR matters, the battalion [not the individual soldier] ceased to exist as "SR" very early in official correspondence, becoming "Reserve" as it coped with unfit, underaged untrained regulars, the rump of the pre-war SR enlistments, the new SR enlistments, returned wounded and sick regulars, and those assorted awaiting posting to a regular battalion at the Front. These Reserve battalions reached huge establishments for a while, but that is another subject.

I congratulate and thank you most sincerely and have added all your thread to my archive.

David

[Keith_history_buff]

David, thanks for your kind words.

By June 1915, I think that the pool of ex-soldiers had been fully drained from civvy street, and it was the norm that new recruits with no prior military experience were then posted to the legacy line battalions, in addition to the New Army battalions. This would require per-battalion analysis of the 1914-15 star rolls, and is not something that I would willingly undertake, given it is such a big task.

Given that the age limit for the Special Reserve was raised, I did wonder whether enlisting this route was perceived as having a less stringent medical examination requirement. The following seventeen men were discharged from the army, but reenlisted in the South Wales Borderers under Special Reserve terms of service.

Archive reference	Box	Attestation service number	First name(s)	Last name	Birth year	Birth parish	Birth town	Birth county	Birth country
WO 329	2694	15302	William John	Brooks	1879	Abertillery	Bedwellty	Monmouthshire	Wales
WO 363	3089	15421	Edward	Cushen	1863	-	Merthyr Tydfil	Glamorgan	Wales
WO 329	2873	15450	Samuel	Pugh	1887	Newbridge	Newport	Monmouthshire	Wales
WO 329	3098	15451	Charles	Newton	1875	St Lukes	Cannock	Staffordshire	England
WO 329	2925	15495	William	Watkins	1873	Llansamlet	Swansea	Glamorgan	Wales
WO 329	2756	15511	Henry Joseph	Burke	1890	Brixton	Lambeth	London	England
WO 329	2861	15542	George Henry	Ross	1884	Freshwater	Isle of Wight	Hampshire	England
WO 329	2694	15561	Edward Alfred	Jaycock	1896	Acton	Brentford	Middlesex	England
WO 364	2641	15562	James	Murphy	1875	Llangattock	Crickhowell	Brecknockshire	Wales
WO 329	2842	15576	Henry	Moss	1887	-	Manchester	Lancashire	England
WO 329	2692	15579	Henry Walter	Horton	1877	-	Mile End	London	England
WO 329	2694	15605	James	Ling	1879	-	Cork	Cork	Ireland
WO 329	2860	15609	George Thomas	Allen	1876	St Georges	Kidderminster	Worcestershire	England
WO 329	2694	15616	John Henry	Broomhead	1881	Manor	Sheffield	Yorkshire	England
WO 329	3099	15617	William	Jones	1872	Llanberis	Carnarvon	Caernarvonshire	Wales
WO 363	S2688	15626	Michael	Sullivan	1878	-	Tralee	Kerry	Ireland

 

Edward Cushen had enlisted under Territorial Force terms in the Welsh Regiment, and was discharged. James Murphy had enlisted under SR terms in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Henry Moss was in the SR of the Liverpool Regiment, and was discharged following a medical examination upon mobilisation. Henry Walter Horton had enlisted under SR terms in the Royal Fusiliers and was discharged. 

As I understand it, the other 13 enlisted under regular terms, were duly discharged and then reenlisted.

[Keith_history_buff]

There's more info on those men in the following link, which can be accessed if you are a FindMyPast subscriber:

 

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/results?sourcecategory=armed forces %26 conflict&keywords=enlisted under sr terms&regiment=south wales borderers&sourcecountry=great britain&sid=999

[RussT]

An interesting case study, thanks for posting.

I've been trying to find some SWB Service Records for the men you have quoted as having enlisted under SR terms - but I'm not coming up with many and those that I do find seem to be attesting under what appear to be normal war-time short service attestations.

I note that Paul Nixon on his Army Service Number site has made some relevant comments with regards to SWB numbering during this period - copied below.

Is your work being posted here reenforcing those comments, contradicting them or amending them in some way?

Regards

Russ

[Keith_history_buff]

11 minutes ago, RussT said:

those that I do find seem to be attesting under what appear to be normal war-time short service attestations.

The devil is in the detail.

With effect from 6 August 1914, there were 'war-time short service attestations' covered by both Special Reserve and Regular terms of service. As ever, the big hope is that the service record has survived, and that it is made clear as to whether the soldier concerned is enlisting under (i) Special Reserve or (ii) the new General Service terms of service. Similarly, the hope is that the paperwork sees SR men attesting on Army Form B.111, whereas the others are attesting on B.2065

AO 295 gets a mention in this thread. AO 296 (amendment to Regular terms, to recruit New Army soldiers) gets a mention in the William Huxley thread.

[Keith_history_buff]

Attestation for Charles Edward Townsend. This man enlisted under GS terms, and therefore had not enlisted under Special Reserve terms of service.
Image courtesy FindMyPast.

[Keith_history_buff]

Attestation for Thomas Horgan. This man enlisted under Special Reserve terms of service.
AO 295 revised terms of one year are stated on the attestation, shorter than the three year period for the New Army men.
Image courtesy FindMyPast.

[Keith_history_buff]

40 minutes ago, RussT said:

An interesting case study, thanks for posting....

I note that Paul Nixon on his Army Service Number site has made some relevant comments with regards to SWB numbering during this period - copied below.

Is your work being posted here reinforcing those comments, contradicting them or amending them in some way?

Regards

Russ

I would say that the delving that I have done is reinforcing the comments:

Para 1:
Yes, definitely. This is echoed by my post on this thread about John Gibbin. Whilst the two number sequences in use for Regular and Special Reserve were similar, no numbers in the 12000 series were issued to Special Reserve men.

Para 2:
Agree.

Para 3:
The "3/" comment from 2011 has been superseded by what Paul has come across, namely that the use of these non-unique regimental numbers resulted in the requirement to have the battalion suffix added. Yes, in general, most soldiers in a "not large" county regiment that have the "3/" prefix added are Special Reserve. But, you could have a regular soldier, wounded at First Ypres, still not fully recovered, and spending time in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. They are not a Special Reservist, but happened to be with the 3rd when the prefix ruling came out.
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/army-number-prefixes.html
 

Quote

On 18th May 1915, Army Council Instruction 144 attempted to deal with the problem of duplicate numbering by instructing that where such duplication existed, a soldier's regimental number would be prefixed by the number of the battalion in which he was serving thus, for example, 5/3492

Para 4:
Do not agree, as there were the two similar number sequences that continued to be used until mid-June 1916, as evidenced by the medal rolls and surviving service records. As per earlier comments made today in the thread, 'men who were joining up for war-time service only' were enlisting under two terms, not a single term, AO 295 & AO 296 refer. What I have noticed is that sometimes the wrong enlistment form is used. The date of attestation is important in confirming whether the soldier had enlisted under the specific terms of service.         

Para 5:
Yes, echoed by para 1 and John Gibbin.

 

Since I did the initial research in the summer, one very useful dataset that is now widely available via FMP is the N&MP medal roll transcriptions. They are of some use where the clerks have set up the Special Reserve medal rolls for the South Wales Borderers. By playing around with FMP search, it is possible to fetch Special Reserve men back in the search results. I have not tried to see if this is possible for other regiments.

 

[RussT]

32 minutes ago, Keith_history_buff said:

Attestation for Thomas Horgan. This man enlisted under Special Reserve terms of service.

Are you certain? I note his Medical History From AF B178 is made out on the basis of him being in the Regular Army not the SR - see image (courtesy of FMP).

AF B111 was normally for 3 years - see an example of a man joining the Salford Pals on 16/09/1914.

I have noted frequently that during the managed "chaos" in the massive influx of new recruits at the war's beginning, many recruiting offices did not have a sufficient supply of the correct paper work and tended to use whatever was at hand at the time.

Regards

Russ