Ww1 british army service numbers. Uncover your ancestry with Findmypast UK today.

Ww1 british army service numbers. The regiment was established as the county regiment for Berwickshire, Edinburgh (Midlothian), Haddingtonshire (East Lothian) and Linlithgow (West Lothian). This is a guide to the records of British Army soldiers who served in the First World War. See full list on greatwar. However, I have seen many other letters used as pre Did your ancestor serve in the British Army between 1760 and 1939? Search service records by name to uncover their story of sacrifice. Before the formation of the Labour Corps The Army Service Corps Labour Companies Among the earliest such units formed, the ASC Labour Companies originated to provide manpower to unload British ships and operate the docks in France. Discover service numbers by year and when it was first issued to a member of the British Army. As with anything involving the administration of an organisation as complex and idiosyncratic as You are in The National Archives' catalogue WO - Records created or inherited by the War Office, Armed Forces, Judge Advocate General, and related bodies This record (browse from here by hierarchy) Sep 15, 2013 · The Army Service Numbers website is exceptionally useful in some instances, for example I've checked it's reliability on Victorian service numbers and found it to be very accurate, but nobody has definitively proven that service numbers were allocated to the same pattern in the Great War. Uncover your ancestry with Findmypast UK today. This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the units of the Army Service Corps. Jan 16, 2020 · The WW1 Regimental Number system was replaced by Army Service Numbers in 1920 and the block allocation of numbers to Army Regiments/Corps was introduced at that time. A seven-digit service number may indicate such post-First World War service. I also came across a Abel James Moore of the Royal Field Artillery born in Birmingham These are digitised records from collections held at The National Archives but you can search and download them from ancestry. Suddenly, German May 25, 2017 · The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem written by a World War I brigade surgeon who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield. The Royal Engineers Labour Battalions The RE raised 11 Battalions for labouring work: Royal Engineers Labour Catalogue description War Office: Officers' Services, First World War, Long Number Papers (numerical) Search within or browse this series to find specific records of interest. Aug 26, 2010 · This post will look at numbering in the two regular battalions of The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) between 1881 and 1914. Aug 31, 2009 · In the Great War the British Army comprised a number of different Army groups - eventually five Armies were fighting in Europe. For example Scottish battalions often have numbers beginning with an 'S' - which I assume stands for Scotland. When looking up the World War one records on ancestry. The regiment was formed on the 1st July 1881 from the 1st, or The Royal Scots Regiment. All service record information on these Army Service Numbers posts is taken from WO 363 (The so-called 'Burnt Documents') WO 364 (Pension Records), WO 97 (Chelsea Pensioner records Many army numbers carried letter prefixes, a lot of these being introduced during the First World War. Others A number of other letter prefixes were used during the war but the above description covers most instances. Dec 19, 2012 · Here's a snapshot of Royal Irish Rifles enlistments from 1881. This collection contains World War I service records from 1914-1920. uk (charges apply). Apr 17, 2024 · The 1920 numbering scheme New numbers were created for this scheme, and for men already in service it meant replacing their existing number. uk This is a guide to the records of British Army soldiers who served in the First World War. May 21, 2025 · "Thankful Villages" List of villages who had all their WWI and WWII military return home safely The Long, Long Trail : The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918] Requesting Service Records First World War Websites Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 Regiments of Foot A historical record of all the foot regiments of the British Army British Jan 12, 2006 · The following list might be of some use, hopefully. An online database to search for named individuals provides the archives Accession number, a date of birth and regimental number for that person, together with a downloadable image of the Learn how to find First World War service records for soldiers who served in the British Army and how to access them. co. All recruits underwent a physical exam by Army medical officers to ascertain whether they would be suitable for military service which used a number and lettering system to categorise the health of each recruit. Jul 10, 2009 · This post will look at army service numbers issued to men joining the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The King's (Liverpool Regiment) between the regiment's formation in 1881, and the day Britain went to war with Germany: 4th August 1914. Learn more about World War I combatants, battles and generals, and what cau Apr 8, 2021 · This World War I timeline of battles outlines the most important engagements of the 1914-1918 war, from the first Bat Apr 6, 2021 · World War I, which lasted from 1914 until 1918, introduced the world to the horrors of trench warfare and lethal new technologies such as poison gas and tanks. Jan 13, 2012 · Not for the first time, I am indebted to my pal Graham Stewart for supplying the following scans of ACI 611 which in turn reference The Royal Warrant of 21st February 1917 (issued as Army Order 85 of 1917) which sanctioned the formation of The Labour Corps. These can offer useful clues. Service records for all of the sample numbers and dates below survive in the series WO 363 and WO 364 at the National Archives (and also online at Ancestry. Can anyone tell me what T4 means? Dec 22, 2006 · The prefix in front of the service number varied from battalion to battalion and often by type and date of enlistment - it wasn't based on religious grounds. Some of those regimental numbering schemes included letter prefixes. A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 Aug 27, 2007 · Hello again, I am researching my grandfather Alec Fletcher's war record. All Army Numbers were scrapped from March 1950 and replaced by the new Service Numbers, which are allocated sequentially, starting at 2000000. It started numbering from 1 Jul 1, 2025 · Discover common regiments in WW1 and where they fought with our detailed guide. If a soldier served in the Army after 1920, the records should be held by the Ministry of Defence. Canadian WW1 Military Service Records Canadian Service Records for 600,000 Canadians who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War are held by the Library and Archives Canada. [5] A Able to march, see to shoot, hear well and stand active service conditions. The records that survive are those which were kept as a supplementary file. You should be aware of a few constraints and limitations. By the First World War, the British military forces (i. Each Army contained two or more Corps. ’ In 1940 there was a World War Two bombing raid on the War Office in London where the records were held. 5 million records was destroyed by A service record consisted of a number of different army forms used to record information about a soldier during his military career. Service numbers ranging from 2200 onwards. Why use this guide? Use this guide for advice on how to find records of airmen and officers of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The officers and men of the ASC – sometimes referred to in a joking, disparaging way as Ally Sloper’s Cavalry – were the unsung heroes of the British Army in the Mar 29, 2006 · I have our great grandfathers Army medal card and now Service Record. Introduction Many people know that “in early 1917 all TF soldiers were allocated new 6 digit numbers”. The following list are the categories used by the British Army in 1914. Note that the ASC is the same as the RASC: it received the Royal prefix in late 1918. Those that did survive have been digitized and can be searched. Aug 30, 2011 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 Jun 24, 2017 · Army Service Corps drivers, machine-gunners and artillerymen were all combed out of their units to join the newly-formed Tank Corps, and there are certainly patterns of former service to be found in the subsequent issue of regimental numbers to this corps. Each soldier would have a unique number, an army number. Sep 15, 2017 · This index to British Army regimental numbers comprises two sections: SECTION 1 which deals with individual regiments and battalions, and SECTION 2 which deals with other, largely non-regiment specific articles. These are the number blocks allocated to the British Army in the pre-war years but was used right Discover First World War in First World War/Armed Forces & Conflict Records. A1 Fit for dispatching A service record consisted of a number of different army forms used to record information about a soldier during his military career. A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 I have made an extensive study of British Army regimental numbers and published much of my research on another blog: Army Service Numbers 1881-1918. Read our guide on British Army soldiers of the First World War for more information about these records. At 5 a. This page should help you understand what it all means. 1. There is a good We hold a vast collection of documents, letters, diaries, maps and photographs from the First World War, many of which have been digitised and can be searched and downloaded online. For details, see The 1920 numbering scheme To illustrate the effect of the 1920 is this example from the roll of the India General Service Medal. In this guide, we’ll explain how WWI British Army service numbers worked, what they can (and can’t) tell you, and how to use them to trace a WWI soldier from the UK — even if other records are scarce. reorganised so the entire database is sorted by MGC service number making it easier to identify a soldier’s probably unit based on surrounding service numbers (more to come of how to do this) It is noticeable that many of the surviving pages of Part II Orders related to WW1 (the specific sets of unit WW1 Pt II Orders were destroyed in the Arnside Fire in September 1940) preserved in surviving British Army service files focus on issues such as soldiers hospitalisation, leave and sickness as well as the company transfer/more routine General Annual Reports on The British Army (including the Territorial Force from the date of Embodiment) for the Period from 1st October 1913, to 30th September, 1919 During the period October 1913 to 4th August, 1914, recruiting had been proceeding in a normal manner, and the numbers taken into the Army indicate that if war had not broken … Continue reading "WW1 Recruiting" Interpreting Great War army service records – general advice If you have followed the advice on this site you will have found some documentary evidence of your soldier’s military service. Nov 26, 2016 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 Men serving in the Territorial Force got new numbers in 1917 and a great deal can be determined about their service from these numbers. May 11, 2018 · Because Germany was one of America’s adversaries in the war, many Anglo-Americans began to fear that German Americans were still loyal to the Kaiser, or German emperor. The numbers and types of forms in a man’s record vary greatly from soldier to soldier, as does the quality and legibility of the information they contain. This index to British Army regimental numbers comprises two sections: SECTION 1 which deals with individual regiments and battalions, and SECTION 2 which deals with other, largely non-regiment specific articles. The term "serial number" is often seen as a synonym of service number; however, a serial number more accurately describes manufacture and product codes, rather than personnel identification. The main files on each individual officer were destroyed by enemy bombing in the Second World War. During this raid, a large portion (approximately 60 percent) of the 6. Mar 10, 2010 · At the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, World War I ends. He was a driver in the RASC and has T4 before his service number. In fact the Long Long Trail has this to say of the 1917 renumbering of the Territorial Force, and how the new numbers were allocated: The surviving 2 million “Burnt Documents” Service Records are for soldiers who were discharged, demobilized at the end of the war, who died between 1914 and 1920 and who were not eligible for an Army pension. The prefix 'T' also seems fairly common which I assume stands for transport. Held by The National Archives and the Scots Guards, these records may reveal key details about their time in the military – their enlistment date, where they served, and the duties they performed. e. If you are researching a soldier and you know his regiment, have a look at the Army Service Numbers' index. There were about 6-7 million soldiers (Other Ranks and Non-Commissioned Officers) who served with the British Army in the First World War. m. In fact the Long Long Trail has this to say of the 1917 renumbering of the Territorial Force, and how the new numbers were allocated: May 21, 2025 · "Thankful Villages" List of villages who had all their WWI and WWII military return home safely The Long, Long Trail : The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918] Requesting Service Records First World War Websites Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 Regiments of Foot A historical record of all the foot regiments of the British Army British Jan 12, 2006 · The following list might be of some use, hopefully. uk) and WO 97 (on line courtesy of Find My Past). See our page on Service Records for more information: British Army WW1 Service Records (Soldiers) British Army WW1 Service Records (Officers) A service record consisted of a number of different army forms used to record information about a soldier during his military career. Before that, each regiment (and in some cases, the units in a regiment) issued its own numbers. Information Contained in Officers' WW1 Service Records The Service Records of officers who served in the First World War, and which have survived to date, number approximately 217,700. Jan 16, 2020 · The WW1 Regimental Number system was replaced by Army Service Numbers in 1920 and the block allocation of numbers to Army Regiments/Corps was introduced at that time. Tip: did your soldier have a seven-digit number? If your soldier has a seven-digit number (not including any prefixes) he was serving when these numbers were issued in 1920 or at a later date. […]. Dec 20, 2023 · The clues held within, like an army number or regiment and battalion, can help you target other military records, such as service records or casualty databases. A1 Fit for dispatching Jan 4, 2007 · The following is a breakdown of the number of troops that fought, died, and were wounded in World War I, as recorded in Michael Clodfelter's Warfare and Armed Conflicts: A Statistical Reference to Casualty and other Figures. Approximately half the records were destroyed during the Second World War. Other ranks who were killed in action, died or left the British army before 1920 (including the British West Indies Regiment, the West India Regiment and European non-commissioned officers of the West African Field Force, but not those of Commonwealth armies such as Canada). Many of the service records of soldiers who served in the Great War were destroyed during the bombing of London during the Blitz. It contains records from two publications in the National Archives: WO 363 (War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War "Burnt Documents") and WO 364 (War Office: Documents from Pension Claims, First World War). The result was some of the most Apr 6, 2017 · The United States entered World War I in 1917, following the sinking of the British ocean liner Lusitania and the sho May 20, 2024 · Here are some of the essentials the typical American infantryman carried with him on the battlefields of World War I. uk I couldn't find him but I found his half first cousin Philip Edwin Olorenshaw. The British Army World War One Service Records are War Office (WO) records also known as the WO363 records and the ‘Burnt Documents. Sep 13, 2018 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 1950 onwards: Soldiers in the British Army are currently given an eight-digit Service Number. Craig Jun 18, 2009 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 Aug 31, 2009 · In the Great War the British Army comprised a number of different Army groups - eventually five Armies were fighting in Europe. RAF service records created since the beginning of the Second World War are currently being transferred from the Ministry of Defence. Search our extensive database of First World War military war service records, genealogy information & documents from original sources Most men serving in the army got new numbers in 1920 and a great deal can be determined about their service from these numbers. Some soldiers who were in the regular army before the outbreak of war in August 1914 may, however, be included in this class of records. Aug 19, 2011 · This post will look at numbering in the two regular battalions of The Black Watch between 1881 and 1914. The newly formed regiment was established as the county regiment for Antrim, Down and Louth and started numbering from 1 in 1881. In the Canadian military, a "serial number" referred to a unique number assigned each unit that mobilized for the Second World War. Did your ancestor serve in the British Army between 1760 and 1939? Search service records by name to uncover their story of sacrifice. This meant that when a man changed regiments, he usually had to change number. Can anyone tell me what T4 means? Jun 20, 2011 · This post will look at numbering in the regular battalions of the Worcestershire Regiment between 1881 and 1914. They were given the additional prefix “K”. A soldiers disk would show service number, name and an abbreviation for religion (RC, CoE etc) but the religion abbreviation was seperate to the service number. These are predominantly records of service prior to 1939. Some prefixes, like the letter “G”, used to prefix the numbers of men in various Home Counties battalions who enlisted during 1914-1918 for General Service, were very common; others less so. Oct 29, 2009 · World War I started in 1914, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and ended in 1918. May 29, 2011 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 Dec 27, 2018 · A reference resource for regimental numbers in use in the British Army 1881-1918 This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the units of the Army Service Corps. Search 3: Is there a Service Record? Approximately 40% of the First World War Army Service Records survived the Second World War bomb damage. The Royal Irish Rifles was formed on 1st July 1881; the 1st Battalion from the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot, and the 2nd Battalion from the 86th (Royal County Down) Regiment of Foot. They are held in WO 339 and WO 374 and can browsed on their catalogue. The trouble is, you are likely to find it difficult to understand. Some First World War veterans continued to serve with the army after the war and for the Although the majority of records were destroyed, The National Archives hold over 217,000 service records for British Army officers for the First World War. that morning, Germany signed Oct 31, 2018 · On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, fighting in World War I halted-but it would not be until Oct 29, 2009 · World War I started in 1914, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and ended in 1918. There are a number of different medal index cards (MIC) which were used to record a man's First World War medal entitlement, but this post is just concerned with those which also show his enlistment date. Each soldiers’ record of service was stored by the War Office after the First World War was over. that morning, Germany signed Oct 31, 2018 · On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, fighting in World War I halted-but it would not be until Our databases allow us to investigate almost the entire Army records and we can conduct research into any officer or soldier of any British Army regiment. Two railway labour companies were also formed. Perfect for tracing British Army ancestors through service records, battalion histories, and British military genealogy research. Aug 5, 2023 · Certainly I've seen both ways mentioned above used when looking at the WW1 medal rolls and the renumbered 1917 Territorial Force service numbers. Links A soldier’s life Common British Army acronyms and abbreviations Army Service Corps Infantry regiments May 6, 2004 · I have seen many regimental numbers with a letter prefix. For soldiers in the Household Cavalry, the majority of the surviving records mainly cover casualties (invalided or discharged dead). Whether you’re at the beginning of your research journey or a seasoned pro, medal records are always of great interest and value. During the confl World War I was fought from 1914 to 1918. Establishment and Strength of the British Army (excluding Indian native troops stationed in India) prior to August, 1914. Jan 9, 2004 · According to ‘Army Service Corps 1902 – 1918’ by Michael Young (P13) the MT section of the ASC was authorised 1st April 1902 and there were two MT Companies created 1st April 1903 the first being 77 MT Company ASC. , those raised in British territory, whether in the British Isles or colonies, and also those raised in the Channel Islands, but not the British Indian Army, the military forces of the Dominions, or those of British Jan 10, 2010 · This post will suggest some tips for finding army service numbers and their corresponding date of issue using medal index cards. vuyeqz utevf efedy dzlkth gmuwmtz fefux kkased lpvgy yojjuhz uyrrtly