Army Numbers WW1

[millymcb]

Hi Tom - thanks for all that.

I've been looking at his attestation papers which I was lucky enough to find at Kew.   It gives an original number of 2303.   But there is no mention of 5th Bn anywhere.   All references are to the 6th.

First page -

Territorial Force
(One year's embodied service at home)
Attestation of...
No 2303 John Lovatt Knight Corps 6th BnThe Sherwood Forresters.
No previous military service
No 14 - (Received Notice from Capt ?? of 6th Bn Sherwood Forresters.
Dated Sep 1914.

The Description of Enlistment page also says 6th Bn Sherwood Forresters.

He went to France with the Expeditionary force June 1915

Regarding injuries - you are right in saying he was wounded. We have a photo and he has 3 wound stripes.  His records give

(from his military history sheet) Shell Shock June 1917

Also - only half the Casualty sheet remains but I can make out

Wounded in the field 15-11-15  B213 Ex A36 
(unreadable)   27/11/15
(unreadable)  8/9/16    01810
(unreadable) 23/8/17 (I think)
(other unreadable entries)
...
17/11/17   Killed in action  Field

And papers end...

Enlisted at Bakewell on 1st September 1914
Joined on Enlistment 6th Notts & Derby Regt 2303
Transferred to..(nothing written here)

The papers regarding return of his personal possessions give his new service number of 240512 Lance Cpl John Lovatt Knight of 1/6 Bn Notts & Derby Regt


Does any of that make sense - pose any more questions?

Thanks for info on the new book - I'll certainly look out for it.  And will check out war diaries next time I go to Kew.   Someone at the Notts& Derby Museum did send me relevant pages around the death date which may have come from the war diaries (I'll have to go and check). But I didn't have he wound dates when they did it so will certainly check the diaries at Kew for those dates too.

The other thing about him as that he was apparantly some kind of lay preacher.  Grandma always said he was killed whilst actually giving a sermon but I think that may just be family myth.   

Cheers

Milly

[johnmiles]

I am afraid most of the postings have missed the point about numbers. First:- Army numbers did not come in until 1921 so all the numbers used in WW1 were regimental numbers.

Most Regiments started the war with three series of numbers - one for regulars started in 1881 - this series was also used for men who volunteered (the Kitcheners) and those who later were conscriupted.

The second series was for Territorials and each Territorial battalion had its own series starting in 1908.

The third series was for reservists and should have been prefixed by the reserve battalion number - eg 3/2457 but in practice few used the prefix.

In 1917 all the Territorial numbers were replaced by six digit numbers, usually the 4th Battalion(TF) got 200001-239999 and the 5th Battalion TF got 2400001 onwards with the 6th Battalion getting 280001 etc But many regiments used a slightly different system of number.

Large - all-Territorial regiments like the London Regiment used the battalion prefix eg 14/4765, but again many men dropped the prefix.

Also with Territorial units they were divided into three lines for WW1, the 1st line was for men who signed the Imperial Declaration to serve overseas, the second line was for men who didnt sign and served in the UK until conscription came in and the thrd line was a reserve and training line. These were generally treated as one and the same battalion eg 1st/4th, 2nd/4th and 3rd/4th by their Territorial Associations and had a common numbering system but as seperate battalions by the War Office.

In 1919 all men holding Territorial or Reservist numbers had to sign on again if they wanted to remain in the Army and they were given new numbers in the Regular series. This also applied to men rejoining their original regiment after service in the Labour Corps or Machine Gun Corps or who had signed on for the period of the war. Then when that was done they all received a seven digit Army number  (except cavalry and officers etc who got lower numbers) which they then retained for the rest of their service regardless of where they served. These are now eight digit numbers.

John

[millymcb]

Thanks John

that's really interesting

Milly

[anthony pearson]

hi all

i have been looking for my ggrand father's war record for some time
i have found it on an-----y
i have some questions on it
he was in the territorial force from 1915 to 1919
1 what is unit 838 a e c  labourer
2 it has on it northen (theatre of war ) were ?
3 he was in st Luke's hospital Halifax what was it for (he had shell shock we think) ?
4 there are two numbers on the record (no 5127) (no 32144) and privet
5 he had two medals (victory ) and (British war ) ?
6 what it medical 13
7 the victory medal was awarded for hes services in the heroes in the field what is that
8 it had on the records that he was in the northumberland fusiliers ?
he was living in blaydon on tyne but joined in Lincoln ?
most of his records are hard to read

any help welcomed and thanks

[corisande]

I think you have put your request on the wrong thread