Does army number change?

[Leyther1]

Good evening All

Just a quick question to see if anyone knows whether it was possible during WW1 for a person to sign up 3 or 4 times to different regiments and be given different army numbers?  Was an army number not meant to be the same throughout?

I have found records for my GGrandfather between 1914 & 1915 and it shows him joining 3 times, but he only lasted 3 days, 12days then 16days (Or very similar going from memory).  All the details about the man seem to match my GGRandfather from Address / name / age / /spouse / children etc.

The final  mystery was an entry I found in a 4th set of  WW1 records in Ancestry which was a letter dated 1919 (based upon a rubber stamp mark)  whereby the army had written to his Wife asking her to complete his last known address, then a letter showing her reply saying he was with her and had been discharged but had lost his papers???

All very interesting as the last record I could find was where he came out - or rather was "discharged"  in 1915.

What do you think ? is it possible he tried several times to get in but each time be told "incapable of becoming an efficient soldier"?

Your opinions are much appreciated

Thank you
Leyther1

[mmm45]

Quite possible...back then there was a wave of patriotism and lots of lads who were initially turned down changed names moved to a different recruiting centre etc in order to enlist

Ady

[Leyther1]

thank you Ady - I suppose without computers etc it was impossible to check people in detail.
I am glad to know this as someone once told me it was impossible so it really confused me as the records HAD to be him really.  H was a tryer I suppose haha - just need to find the record between 1915 and 1919 now when his wife finally got the letter saying he was missing but he told her he was discharged.

thanks again
Lorraine

[mmm45]

Lorraine a tip with the records.on the arrow top right which takes you to next Page of records,try going backwards instead Ancestry sometimes starts records in the wrong order

Ady

[Leyther1]

Many thanks Ady - I shall try this on all records - I only did it on one by chance at the time to find that letter of absence sent by the army to his Wife...but you are right, they are sometimes mixed up and often include totally different mens records slotted in : (

Cheers
Lorraine

[Viktoria]

Nothing like as many as your relie but my dad had two army numbers in WW1.
Clever RootsChatters explained that the first was his Terrritorial number, the second his Army number proper.
 This does not fit your  information  but perhaps others reading your post will find it useful .
What an interesting man.
                                            Viktoria.

[Leyther1]

Thank you Viktoria...this is useful as one of the print out IS a Territorial number, now unless all the records are mixed up, the TA is the LAST application I can find for him in 1915 (he lasted a whole 6months this time instead of the few days he was used to) and I would have thought it would have been the first?  I wonder if it was possible to fail two applications in the regular army then to decide to try for the TA in those days?

All seem to link his discharge to a bad leg and his inability to march properly
My Great Aunt told me her Father said he did serve in Ireland for a while, now whether this is a made up story who knows!?

Thanks Viktoria - I never thought of separating TA to regular army

[ainslie]

Numbers were allocated by a battalion or equivalent in 1914, so many shared the same number, even in one regiment or corps.  In 1917 the Territorial Force was renumbered, so its members all received new numbers with six digits.  If a man changed units he would be given a new number, so very many ended up having two, three or more numbers on their medal index cards.
Full renumbering of the army did not happen until the 1920s.
2246....

[Leyther1]

That's really helpful and interesting - I have zero knowledge (as you can tell) on this subject but it is all making a lot more sense now   

Many thanks Ainslie