Army numbers

My father joined the RA in 1938 and as I understand it each Regt/Corps had its own batch of numbers that were recycled as necessary. He always swore blind that on the retreat to Dunkirk he found a gravestone in a WW1 cemetary with his number on it!

That must have been a bit of a shock..A bit like looking at your own grave

Gordon. wrote:

That must have been a bit of a shock..A bit like looking at your own grave

Could have been that cheap Frog red wine, they reckon it got to the solider's heads in the War. He might have been seeing things, if you know what I mean. With all due respect there.

Beachley Boy wrote:

Could have been that cheap Frog red wine, they reckon it got to the solider's heads in the War. He might have been seeing things, if you know what I mean. With all due respect there.

Trust me, my old man could take his drink, cheap red or otherwise

Gordon. wrote:

That must have been a bit of a shock..A bit like looking at your own grave

True. But given the circumstances he probably had a lot more to worry about.

Blimey fellas,

All these numbers !, numbers !, numbers ! Can't be of any help as my 1949 number started with 22289XXX. The Royal Signal boys serving at Harrogate at the time had a variety of numbers, some were 2100XXXX then there were the 2549 lot. They only had 7 digits to their number.

Jimsigs1

NUMBERS.....How many of you use your service number or part of, as pins passwords etc..

Guilty, Gordon ..

Len (Ciphers)

ciphers wrote:

Guilty, Gordon ..

Len (Ciphers)

YEP guilty me too

Gordon. wrote:

NUMBERS.....How many of you use your service number or part of, as pins passwords etc..

Fishing Gordon? Guilty too.

Just some useless info with regard to Lance Sgts.

I know this subject has been mentioned before but if you watch the trooping of the colours later this month you can pick out a L/Sgt. He doesn't wear a red sash and his three stripes are white. Whereas a full Sgt wears a red sash and his stripes are gold.
Although not seen in the trooping, the peak on the peak cap is of interest. A full Sgt wears 3 gold bands on the peak whearas the L/Sgt wears only 2 (the same as a Cpl).

Jimsigs1

I too use my last 4 as my pin code, always have, all my family know, including my kids, so they can raid the ATM. Anyway while were living in jakarta my card got compromised and shut down. the bank sent me a new one, and of course a new PIN number to use until i got back to NZ and could then change it to my prefered number. i was moaning on about how i wold now have to remember some abscure number when the envelope with the PIN number arrived. unbelievebly it was the first 4 digits of my army number !!!!

jimsigs1 wrote:

Just some useless info with regard to Lance Sgts.

I know this subject has been mentioned before but if you watch the trooping of the colours later this month you can pick out a L/Sgt. He doesn't wear a red sash and his three stripes are white. Whereas a full Sgt wears a red sash and his stripes are gold.
Although not seen in the trooping, the peak on the peak cap is of interest. A full Sgt wears 3 gold bands on the peak whearas the L/Sgt wears only 2 (the same as a Cpl).

Jimsigs1

I believe that there is also a difference in the make up of the Cap badge/cap star.

Gordon. wrote:

NUMBERS.....How many of you use your service number or part of, as pins passwords etc..

NOT GUILTY YOUR WORSHIP ! You don't want you old workmates nicking your hard earned.

Aha Les,That begs the question........Are you senseable or paranoid???

Gordon. wrote:

Aha Les,That begs the question........Are you senseable or paranoid???

50 cents each way mate.

We're drifting from Numbers, but following the flow.......... noticed on one parade, might have been Ediburgh Tattoo, the RAF regt had a one stripe NCO. Always thought their next level above Airman had a propellor & were Sac's. Certainly it gave us some bother in BAOR when we camped at RAF Gutersloh to do camera shoots on approaching aircraft. Our lance jacks weren't allowed in the Corporals' Canteen and were turned away from the Airmans' NAAFI. If we'd said we weren't corporals but Bombardiers, we'd have been barred too.

And yes, I have been known to use some or all of my No. for other purposes, but those who have seen the No.published in this topic should note that I had
two N0s.! Also used Appointment Titles from Voice Procedure pamphlet.

cartav wrote:

We're drifting from Numbers, but following the flow.......... noticed on one parade, might have been Ediburgh Tattoo, the RAF regt had a one stripe NCO. Always thought their next level above Airman had a propellor & were Sac's. Certainly it gave us some bother in BAOR when we camped at RAF Gutersloh to do camera shoots on approaching aircraft. Our lance jacks weren't allowed in the Corporals' Canteen and were turned away from the Airmans' NAAFI. If we'd said we weren't corporals but Bombardiers, we'd have been barred too.

And yes, I have been known to use some or all of my No. for other purposes, but those who have seen the No.published in this topic should note that I had
two N0s.! Also used Appointment Titles from Voice Procedure pamphlet.

It's the RAF Regt who have one stripe to bring them in line with us ordinary mortals.

Quote :

Our lance jacks weren't allowed in the Corporals' Canteen

We had a similar problem at RAF Changi,But sense prevailed when the objectors realised how much they were losing in fees, and allowed British L/Cpls in.

Bit off topic, but I watch some TV show, Emergency Rescue, about RN, RAF choppers operating from Scotland doing rescue work, great show, top work they do. One of the crew members in the RAF one is MACR, looks like a WO or something. What is MACR in the RAF? Any Brylcreem Boys on here?

MACR= Missing Air Crew Report.

Gordon. wrote:

MACR= Missing Air Crew Report.

November Oscar.

MACR in RAF = Master Air Crew. - WO1 rank.

Amazing what you can find out from Mr.Google.

Yes ,,He is a very informed person

For those wishing to know how service numbers were allocated then have a look at this :

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/mm/army_service_numbers.htm

It all started in 1920 with the intrduction of Army Order 338 of 1920. Each Regiment/Corps were allocated a block of numbers.
My old late Dad was in the Dorsets and had their allocation of 5718001-5763000, so when he transferred to the Worcestershire Regt he went with his Dorset number. Those in the Worcs Regt who were not 5239001 onwards knew they were not original Worcs people etc.

Jimsigs1

Whilst attached to with 4/7 RDG in Sennelager 1970, the Regimental Band had their own number series, which had snob appeal for them. (6 digits if I remember correctly), Unfortunately for them, the army chose to consolidate the whole army numbering series and they were issued with new 8 digit numbers in the series starting 24 at that time - As you can imagine, the old and bold in the band were most put out!