Regimental Number Series in the Regular British Army 1881-1914

This article will look at Queen's and King's regulations regarding numbering in buy meridia online regular battalions of British Army infantry regiments between the years 1881 and 1914. Although the majority of regiments started re-numbering from number 1 in 1881, not all did so. Furthermore, whilst recruiting could often be midphase web hosting painfully slow business, some regiments recruited faster than others and, before the regulations were amended in 1904, had to apply to the Adjutant-General to commence a new series of numbers.

As a starting point let us look at Section XXII of the Queen's Regulations for the Army 1895. It reads as follows:

31. The regimental series of numbers will commence with 1. The numbers will be given in sequence, according to the date of application. When the series approaches 9999, application should be made to the Adjutant-General in sufficient time to obtain authority to commence a new series. In the Royal Artillery the series will extend to 99,999, in the Royal Engineers to 29,999, and in the Army Service Corps and Medical Staff Corps to 19,999.

Fast forward nine years to the King's Regulations for the Army 1904 (Provisional) and paragraph 2144 reads:

The regimental series of numbers will commence with 1. The numbers will be given in sequence, according to the date of application. The series will extend to 49,999 in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery, and to 49,999 in the Royal Garrison Artillery; to 29,999 in the Royal Engineers and Army Service Corps; to 19,999 in each regiment of foot guards, infantry of the line, and Royal Army Medical Corps; and to 9,999 in cavalry regiments and in corps not named above. When these numbers have been reached, a new series will be commenced.

The point about commencing a new series of numbers is important. For the most part, recruiting in infantry regiments impotence help a desperately slow business but there are a number of regiments which, having reached 9999, started a new series of numbers and I'm going to note those regiments here.

The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

By June 1906 this regiment had passed the 9999 mark and was numbering at 10125 (issued on 18th June that year). By 1908 however, a new series had commenced, number 152 being issued on 6th November that year.

The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

This regiment reached 9981 by September 10th 1904 and by 1905 had commenced a new series of numbers. Number 209 was issued on 2nd May 1905.

The Gordon Highlanders

Like the A&S Highlanders, men in the two regular battalions of this regiment were already numbering in the 10,000s when they commenced a new series. On 27th April 1908, number 10717 was issued to a new Gordon Highlanders recruit but by March 2nd 1909 a new series was already under way with number 274 issued on this date.

The King's Royal Rifle Corps

The KRRC reached number 9981 by March 1897 and two months later, on May 14th, was already well into a new series of numbers with number 274 issued on this date.

The Lancashire Fusiliers

The Lancashire Fusiliers had reached 9504 by March 12th 1903 and on September 8th 1904 issued number 445 of a new number series.

The Manchester Regiment

The Manchester Regiment started a new number series in 1904. Number 9992 was issued on 8th June and on July 8th, number 39 was issued to a new recruit.

The Northumberland Fusiliers

Started re-numbering in 1903 (but almost certainly would not have had to do so had the regiment not created two additional regular battalions during the Boer war). Number 9998 was issued on December 1st. By April 6th 1904, numbering had already reached 165.

The Rifle Brigade

The Rifle Brigade did not compare car insurance numbering from 1 in 1881 but continued with the numbering sequence already in place. By 18th November 1881 the Rifle Brigade had reached number 5043 and four years later by 12th January 1889 it had reached 9919. Number 12 of a new number series was issued on 13th February 1889. By August 1903, this regiment (which had four regular battalions) was again approaching 9999 (number 9932 was issued on 15th August) and it applied to commence a new series. Number 27 was issued to a Rifle Brigade recruit on 7th January 1904.

The Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Reached 9608 by 19th September 1908. Number 262 in a new series of numbers was issued on 22nd November 1904.

When trying to trace an enlistment date by a regimental number, it is important to take cognisance of those regiments which had repeat numbering series. Taking a hypothetical example, a Rifle Brigade man with the number 5000 could have enlisted in 1881, 1897 or 1913. Also, bear in mind that whilst this article deals with regular infantry battalions in the British Army, the same numbering quirks would also apply to some Special Reserve and Territorial Force units after they made an appearance in 1908.

Article by Paul Nixon. This was originally published as armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2008/08/regimental-series-of-numbers.htmlarmyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2008/08/regimental-series-of-numbers.html -Regimental Number Series on the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 blog.