Army numbers

Why numbers and not names?

Names became complicated especially in the Welsh and Scottish Regiments and so they adopted numbers for easy access to records.

In the early days in Whitehall where the records where kept, a room was divided into 10 sections each section having 10 filing cabinets with 10 draws and so on. If you wanted Smith 123456, you would go through the sections and in fifth place, Pte Smith’s documents should be the 6 one in. If it wasn’t they would not look for the soldier but sent the information back to the regiment that Smiths number was wrong.

Silky

EdBoyle wrote:

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!

That's an interesting one Ed.
We had our own band in QOH but I never heard that they had exclusive personal numbers.

That they lived in a world of their own, yes !

(Who were you with when you were in Hemer by the way?)

Hello Brum

Re Hemer. I had a quarter there at Von Behring Str (bottom end of town) in 1972-75 whilst (RAPC) attached to 5 Fd Sqn RE in Iserlohn. Later, in 1981, I lived in a quarter in Stettiner Str whilst att to 26 Engineer Regt)

Ed

jimsigs1 wrote:

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

Interesting those lists..my Dade enlisted initially in the Hampshire Regt, with a number starting with 55, the lists confirm that. Then the Hampshires got badly shot up at Dunkirk, so Dad was put into the Northamptonshires whose numbers started with 59, this the Northant blokes would have know Dad was from another Regt.

I note also RASC got from No.1, I would have thought the Elite Regts, Guards, Cavalary etc would have got the number allocations starting from 1, not the RASC.

EdBoyle wrote:

Hello Brum

Re Hemer. I had a quarter there at Von Behring Str (bottom end of town) in 1972-75 whilst (RAPC) attached to 5 Fd Sqn RE in Iserlohn. Later, in 1981, I lived in a quarter in Stettiner Str whilst att to 26 Engineer Regt)

Ed

We probably rubbed shoulders at one time then !

I lived in am Hang (later Marienburger Str.), off Berliner Str, from '71 to '78.

I was with 2nd Field, we shared the barracks in Deilinghofen with the Irish Rangers.

I recall in the 60s when the RASC were still in business that the ORs Regimental Numbers were prefixed with either a T/ or a S/, identifying their roles within the RASC, T/ was Transport (Dvrs etc) S/ (Clerks, Storemen etc). When my eldest Son joined the JLRRE at Dover, a Youth Training Scheme was in place for prospective Soldiers who had marginally failed the Entrance Test, their Regimental Numbers were prefixed with the letter Y. Moving on to the mid 90s, many Foreign and Commonwealth people were recruited into the Army on a fixed contract, I think around 5 years, their Regimental Numbers started with 3000. I am a mine of useless information!

Achtung ! Minen !

Relevant, not useless Shelldrake.............. The whole subject of Army Nos. seems to be a minefield & informed stuff like this could be useful to anyone trying to pick their way through it.

You mean.Someone would want to?????

Gordon. wrote:

You mean.Someone would want to?????

Anoraks get everywhere. Want to see my lolly stick collection?

Shelldrake wrote:

I recall in the 60s when the RASC were still in business that the ORs Regimental Numbers were prefixed with either a T/ or a S/, identifying their roles within the RASC, T/ was Transport (Dvrs etc) S/ (Clerks, Storemen etc). When my eldest Son joined the JLRRE at Dover, a Youth Training Scheme was in place for prospective Soldiers who had marginally failed the Entrance Test, their Regimental Numbers were prefixed with the letter Y. Moving on to the mid 90s, many Foreign and Commonwealth people were recruited into the Army on a fixed contract, I think around 5 years, their Regimental Numbers started with 3000. I am a mine of useless information!

Looking at the chaotic numbering system that was used in WW1 I was under the impression that everything was sorted by the time blokes like me joined "the Cake".

My number started 2351, just before demob I had men posted in with the number 2451. The fact that a million numbers had been dished out during my time was impressive enough but we're hearing stories about bandsmen etc getting there own exclusive numbers here, how was that permitted ?

As an exreg I joined R.E.M.E. at Blandford camp in 1956 and was given my Regt no.about 2 weeks after the intake was started .234808?? and it is still in use by me in my e-mail address.

Just a point of interest - how many of you still use your Army number, or part of it (like your last three) in daily use?

Guilty

Phlegmwahn wrote:

Just a point of interest - how many of you still use your Army number, or part of it (like your last three) in daily use?

It's about the only thing I'm sure of remembering these days !

Have used my last three backwards a couple of times.

Still use mine for all sorts of things, handy because it's one of things that always seems to stay with you

Les,

Aside from Regtl numbers, I see you like the Avator then.



Jimsigs1

Yes Jimsigs, I do have it as one of three, don't know which is the true one, if any, but thanks for reminding me, think this probably more appropriate for this site
(used copy you provided, much easier )

Looks great Les, and congrats on your promotion. Mine's a Cherry Brandy !!

That would be my pleasure (only could you possibly wait until the increase goes in the bank)

Thanks Les, whilst your at it, a bottle would do

Teabag wrote:

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!

I'm a 2444 (Joined 1976) my bro is a 2450 (Joined 1978) Looking around the forum I think it's me & our kid who are the sproggs!

Yes I use it for my passwords on my puta for stuff I dont want the kids to see and to protect my poetry file.

Yes Tiny, funny how people always get funny about their poetry

Wow ! you are sprogs, my number began with 2228xxxx. It was only a couple of years before my enlistment when the Signal boys had 7 digit numbers beginning with 2549xxx and ther were quite a few of them still at harrogate when I was there.