Army numbers

I'm trying to assist an ex Signals family who are looking for friends and photo's of their dad .. he is supposed to have served at 20 Armoured Brigade in Munster (York Barracks) at the same time as me (1952 - 54) but nothing jives. They say his number started 2296 ..
does anyone know when that series were in effect. I was a Regular and enlisted in 1951, my number stated at 2256. NS men at the time were using 2249. When 2296 came about has me stumped.

Len (Ciphers)

I joined Boys Service in 1954 my No was 2322......
Bob

No good to you Len...I`m a 236

Gordon. wrote:

No good to you Len...I`m a 236

Blimey, I was 242 and just a sprog but there was a sale on at the time!

Getting nearer ! My NS OR No. was 23020931. Issued 22 April 1954.

I seem to remember that Regular Numbers were from a different batch and a Reg. joining on the same date would have had a much higher number. Which gave conscripts some satisfaction !

If you want to work it out, about 6000 conscripts joined up every 2 weeks, but some of those went in the RAF, & a few in the Navy.

BobG wrote:

I joined Boys Service in 1954 my No was 2322......
Bob

I'm confused my old man did NS '57 - '59 and his number began 2320 did the numbering system differ according to the different Battalions/Corp you joined?

I can remember a debate on this on another site some time ago..All that came out of it was the system was forever changing..When i joined as an apprentice the intake numbers started at 2369757? and went through to 2369761?.a definate block.of the last three..

6 (Boys) Training Regt and Junior Leaders Regt Royal Signals army numbers

22776XXX = 1953/54
22983XXX = 1954/55/56
23473XXX = 1956/57/58
23537XXX = 1958
23666XXX = 1958/59
23696XXX = 1959
23722XXX = 1959
23749XXX = 1960
23820XXX = 1961
23827XXX = 1960/61*
23849XXX = 1961
23878XXX = 1961/62
23895XXX = 1962
23911XXX = 1962
23927XXX = 1962
23944XXX = 1963
23956XXX = 1963
23963XXX = 1963
23975XXX = 1963
23986XXX = 1964
23998XXX = 1964
24010XXX = 1964
24018XXX = 1964
24030XXX = 1965
24055XXX = 1965
24069XXX = 1966
24087XXX = 1966

*Some joined Jan 61 and had a lower number than those joining Sep 60 understanding using up spare blocks of national service numbers

Regards
Steve 24018XXX

steve wrote:

6 (Boys) Training Regt and Junior Leaders Regt Royal Signals army numbers

22776XXX = 1953/54
22983XXX = 1954/55/56
23473XXX = 1956/57/58
23537XXX = 1958
23666XXX = 1958/59
23696XXX = 1959
23722XXX = 1959
23749XXX = 1960
23820XXX = 1961
23827XXX = 1960/61*
23849XXX = 1961
23878XXX = 1961/62
23895XXX = 1962
23911XXX = 1962
23927XXX = 1962
23944XXX = 1963
23956XXX = 1963
23963XXX = 1963
23975XXX = 1963
23986XXX = 1964
23998XXX = 1964
24010XXX = 1964
24018XXX = 1964
24030XXX = 1965
24055XXX = 1965
24069XXX = 1966
24087XXX = 1966

*Some joined Jan 61 and had a lower number than those joining Sep 60 understanding using up spare blocks of national service numbers

Regards
Steve 24018XXX

That makes sense to me Steve.

I joined JLRRA in Sep '57 and was given 2351....

brum

I'm thinking the guy in question has his dates wrong re 20 Armoured .. if his number is correct then it probable he didn't join until approx 1954. Still waiting for clarification from his son and daughter.

Len (Ciphers)

Ciphers......... Taking the Nos, 2249**** & 2296****, there's a difference of, say 470000.

Assuming an NS call up of 6000 a fortnight and, maybe, 5000 of that number going in the Army, it would take 90-plus two-week periods, or 45 months, or 3 years 9 months, to absorb
all of the 470,000. If you, yourself, joined in 1951, NS 2296**** would have gone in around mid 1954, which cannot compare realistically with my own No. of April 1954.

However, there are a good few assumptions in that calculation and I think call-up was based on a 50 week to avoid tearful partings at Christmas. My 230**** was Spring 1954,
so using similar arithmetic, NS 2296**** is likely to have been called up in Autumn of 1953.

With the NS soldier's preoccupation with demob and comparing army Nos. to determine pecking order, I can't remember any confusion arising when Nos. & release dates were discussed. On that basis, it seems likely that, in my time at least, an army number was an accurate indication of an enlistment date for squaddies in the same Corps.

It the numbers quoted are correct, maybe the dates are inaccurate.

Numbers were issued in blocks to Regiment & Corps 'Regimental Depots' and later 'Manning & Records Offices'

According to list on Arrse:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Service_Number

The Royal Corps of Signals were allocated 2303001 - 2604000

But Regulars and NS were issued blocks out this allocation.

Hope that makes sense! But do read the whole list!

Since Apr 2007 new Tri Service all ranks system under JPA all 3 services including officers numbers statrted starting at 30000001.

I signed on in June 1960, 2383.
Which reminds me. A young (at the time) friend of ours had recently split up with her hubby, and told us she had met this ex-SAS man and was going steady with him. Anyway, we were visiting her a few days later, and the "ex SAS man"
was there. He was going on about his exploits to us, but it didn't ring true to me. 'Purely as a matter of interest' I asked him what his army number had been. Dead silence.
The romance didn't last long, after that.

Dolmetscher wrote:

I signed on in June 1960, 2383.
Which reminds me. A young (at the time) friend of ours had recently split up with her hubby, and told us she had met this ex-SAS man and was going steady with him. Anyway, we were visiting her a few days later, and the "ex SAS man"
was there. He was going on about his exploits to us, but it didn't ring true to me. 'Purely as a matter of interest' I asked him what his army number had been. Dead silence.
The romance didn't last long, after that.

Should have played him like a fish Dolly. Anyway we all know that SAS don't have numbers. Far too secret.

I once attended a wedding with an old school mate (not very bright) who was SAS...When the photos came out there were only bits of him,and none of his face.When i asked him about it he just gave me a smile.

i got a completely different number when i was posted to parkhurst barracks on the isle of white, ginger

gingerjim wrote:

i got a completely different number when i was posted to parkhurst barracks on the isle of white, ginger

Inmate or staff?

My Britsh Army No.23982021, SAH !!!! (issued August 1963)
My Australian Army No.292715
My NSW State Police No.12791

You never forgot those numbers do you ? Crikey I have been numbered most of my life, well in the suit of khaki, then blue from aged 15 to 55.

My late dad was in the British Army, 1940 to 1964. I have his army book somewhere..from memory his army no. was 55????

I wonder who had Army No.1, Kitchener?

Hi all,

My # 22414720 Royal Engineers enlisted NS 5 Oct 1950

The website NS Army for 1950 gives 22000000-22199408 with my number 215,000 above the "last" for 1950; which at about 5,000 per intake equals 21 months
So the website does not appear to be 100%; but interesting information

Cheers
Tony

Quote :

My Britsh Army No.23982021, SAH !!!! (issued August 1963)
My Australian Army No.292715
My NSW State Police No.12791

I see your standards dropped when you moved to Australia Les (No SAH).

Colonials tsk tsk

My great great grandfather, William Artus, was a private in the 7th Hussars in 1846. His number was 1045, but I think all regiments had their own numbering systems.
http://www.artus-familyhistory.com/source/7th%20Hussars.html

That's true.

My Grandfather had two numbers on his medal card, he was in the Warwicks and the Worcesters (I'd love to know why !), during WW1.

teabag .just in transit. ginger

WW1 was very confusing as each Regiment had its own numbers. Quite often a unit would be that decimated that the survivors would be put into other units and of course they got new numbers. Also with wounded guys who were put in a reinforcement camp and given out piecemeal to other units as they needed.

Bit tight that as you probably wanted to get back with your mates if you had to go back.

Gordon. wrote:

Quote :

My Britsh Army No.23982021, SAH !!!! (issued August 1963)
My Australian Army No.292715
My NSW State Police No.12791

I see your standards dropped when you moved to Australia Les (No SAH).

Colonials tsk tsk

Sorry, General SAH, yes I became a colonial in 1966. Someone had to take the place of the red coats.