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Thank you both.  Even more for me to think about now.  What would be the reason for being in a regiment so far away from Wales?  I know from the 1911 census nobody in his home spoke English, only Welsh, so he must have learnt it along the way.

My Gt Uncle was from London, and had previously been in the Army Veterinary Corps!

Soldiers were sent as to where they were required after 1916.

It was only the Kitchener Pals bns of 1914 that had some semblance of local affinity, even then they had many from other areas of the country,

Sadly its a fallacy that soldiers only went into their county regiments.

Look on the 1918 absent voters list for him...bearing in mind not all are online and you may have to consult the county record office of where he was living when he enlisted.

I suggest that you look for a medal index card that matches the family
name...and has Northumberland Fusiliers on it 

Hello 
I haven't posted much/before on Armed forces.
I have just come across my Grandfathers army records  dating from 1925- 1945.
I suspect he lied about his age. On his army record his Birth date is 11/2/1907, however I have his original birth date 11/2/1908. All other details about him are correct i.e. his father , his wife, date of marriage and where they lived, so I know I have the correct Information.
I have a photo of him and my grandmother in an army camp , I know he originally enlisted with the Highland Light Infantry. The photo looks like the the HLI  uniform.
Is thre any one out there that could pin a possible date to it.

The shoulder title that is visible is too large for a regular bn of the HLI.

He is in a Territorial unit so either the 5th 6th 7th or 9th bn.

Summer  and indeed weekend camps encouraged the family to come along for a Field Day where the troops showed off drill, shooting etc. It is from the late 1930s and may be even the summer camp before the war.

The Territorials took lads from the age of 14 (school leaving age)

This uniform didn't see an end date until the 1960s and was worn throughout WW2 by various units and most bands. It is the "New Pattern Tunic" issue from 1923 and as such, somewhat different from the WW1 Other Ranks Service Dress.

They can be seen worn by the returning troops from Dunkirk in a number of period photos.
"Battledress, Serge" was certainly not on universal issue even in 1941 to 1942!

The RAMC number that ShaunJ has quoted, i.e. 7254869, is a post war service number. Seven digit service numbers were introduced in 1920. This would suggest that his service record has survived and is with the Ministry of Defence. Such records are being handed over to the National Archives to be digitised and (eventually) put online (probably via Ancestry).

Just to clarify...

There were no such things as "Service Numbers" in the British Army. From the 18th Century to 1920 they were Regimental Numbers as they were admin'd by the regt and given a number by them on enlistment.

In 1920, Army Order 338 decreed the use of the term "Army Number" and block allocations of numbers were given to the Regt and Corps.

During Regt Numbers you could get up to 100 with the same number.
The 1916 attempt to rationalise the Territorial Numbers failed.
So Army Numbers with block allocations came in.
Sadly there were still repetitions.

There is no period documentation that uses the term "Service Number" form 1800 through to ...at least ...1950...And Im sure I was given docs with the term "Army Number" and not Service...I need to dig through the paperwork!"
It changed for me as I got an "Officers Number" a bit later on after being in the ranks.

In 1916 the Territorial Force Regimental Numbers (no such thing as a Service Number in the Army) were reoriganised.
The top number on the MIC clearly states TF.

Add to this the problem of the huge size of the RA at this time...

And then add that any soldier injured was not necessarily returned to his original unit....He was sent as to where he was required.

This is why you can see up to FIVE different Regiments and Corps on one MIC