tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post3790062412054937437..comments2024-03-18T18:08:58.999+00:00Comments on Army Service Numbers 1881-1918: Royal Fusiliers - Regular BattalionsPaul Nixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-87765033896104301512023-10-01T21:46:43.814+01:002023-10-01T21:46:43.814+01:00Hi I've been researching my 3x great uncle T.E...Hi I've been researching my 3x great uncle T.E Hignett I know he spen the last couple of years of the war serving with the 34 MGC till he was POW 11/4/18. On his medal roll it says his first regiment was the Royal Fusiliers 15648 acting sergeant but that's it . I'm not having much luck with info of his service no. <br /><br />Thanks Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-55450475766352753382023-10-01T20:23:58.206+01:002023-10-01T20:23:58.206+01:00Hello . I'm after some help directing me to a...Hello . I'm after some help directing me to any information on my 3x great uncle T.E HIGNETT 15648 Royal Fusiliers . Of the numerous details I have of his military service it states he served in the RF as possible acting sergeant before joining the 34 MGC late 1916 thatlnks Daniel Fennellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-54426448208716926892022-11-24T20:56:33.792+00:002022-11-24T20:56:33.792+00:00Thanks for following, Stephen, glad the blog has b...Thanks for following, Stephen, glad the blog has been useful.<br /><br />In your shoes I think I'd try and find service records for any of the other men who appera with him on the medal roll. Hopefully you'll find a servcie record which gives you that Eureka moment.<br /><br />I am not aware that the 4th Bn received GS/ men, but I certainly wouldn't rule it out and it's almost certainly more likely than not. For that matter, clerks were not immune from making errors either. You really need to build up some evidence from other service records, I think. Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-45269701090503480682022-09-05T15:50:08.972+01:002022-09-05T15:50:08.972+01:00Hi Paul,
My great uncle George Binks had the servi...Hi Paul,<br />My great uncle George Binks had the service number GS/73058. His medal roll states previous service with the 4th RF prior to serving with the 13th battalion. On the same sheet are other RF men who had also served with the 4th and also have GS/***** numbers.<br />I think this is a typo and should be "24th battalion"; I have a picture of him with this battalion number patch. <br />To your knowledge did the 4th battalion receive GS men, later transferred out?<br /><br />Visited and used your site information for many years. Well done!<br /><br />Stephen BinksStephen Binkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02999529802420805903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-66774148305460115652022-03-01T08:52:28.302+00:002022-03-01T08:52:28.302+00:00Re OWEN HUNT. This would be a research project. Pl...Re OWEN HUNT. This would be a research project. Please see the information on the Research tab: https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/p/research.htmlPaul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-48133785617383322792022-03-01T08:48:17.477+00:002022-03-01T08:48:17.477+00:00Re Thomas DANIEL. I confirm that 205630 is the cor...Re Thomas DANIEL. I confirm that 205630 is the correct number and this is the only man called T DANIEL/DANIELS who won the MM with the RF.Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-30524558783266924412021-12-15T21:22:55.752+00:002021-12-15T21:22:55.752+00:00Hi, i am trying to find information on my great gr...Hi, i am trying to find information on my great grandfather owen hunt born 1884. I have found a service fecord for him which states his service number was 78755 in the royal fusileers. However there appears to be another service record showing a possible discharge in July1914. My great grandfathef lost a leg in the war, is there anywhere i can find which battles he fought in and where he received his injuries. Sadly there is no one left in the family to know this information. Many thanks<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10168620434034977879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-33622036636399897532021-11-20T00:02:54.653+00:002021-11-20T00:02:54.653+00:00Hello
I'm trying to find a regiment number fo...Hello <br />I'm trying to find a regiment number for Lance Corporal Thomas Daniel, wounded in 1918 and mentioned in a local newspaper May 1918 as being in hospital in England and awarded a Military Medal for bravery. He was a Royal Fusilier (from Scotland). The war diary for April 1918 mentions T. Daniels (rather than Daniel)in a list of those awarded Military Medals so it could possibly be him but I can't find anything further under the number 205630 against his name. There is no record of this number on Ancestry and I wonder where else I can look? <br />thankyou Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07884651847285235408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-1501761854172330182019-03-02T03:30:45.502+00:002019-03-02T03:30:45.502+00:00Hello helen, I am sorry for the delay in getting b...Hello helen, I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you.<br />We have an Attestation Ledger entry for your grandfather - this keeps brief (but not complete) details of service. It gives the following information:<br />-Harold J Cheetham, enlisted 11/6/1917, aged 14 (presumably as a boy recruit - he would have been trained and given some education before joining a unit when he was old enough)<br />-Had no previous occupation.<br />-Place of birth - Maryhill, Glasgow, Larnark<br />-Next of kin - mother, Florence, of 38(?) Cumbodden Drive(?), Glasgow<br />-Enlisted initially for 9 years in the regulars and three years in the reserve (this was fairly common)<br />-Extended his service on 11/5/26 (presumably to stay in the regulars)<br />-Discharged on 10/6/1929, following the end of his period of service, but re-enlisted on the 26/6/29<br />-Discharged on the 30/6/1939.<br />-Re-enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (not the Royal Artillery) on 9/3/1940<br />-There are not further details<br />His full service record will still be held by the MoD, and you might want to try ordering it (they will charge): www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records. If you can find out what Regiments/Brigades/Batteries he belonged to, so i can move forward in my grand fathers service as we have no pictures or medals we do know my mothers brother smashed and burnt his millitary records during his actovist days sadly so now in australia im trying to find out information this is what i have to go on many thanks julian edwards n<br />Arcadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11669814459740978442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-36631467801068011742018-11-11T04:47:21.672+00:002018-11-11T04:47:21.672+00:00Re A Carter. Thank you for your comment. As you wi...Re A Carter. Thank you for your comment. As you will hopefully have seen when posting on this blog, if your request is for information about a specific individual, please contact me via the research tab.Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-34963422880056739392018-11-10T11:33:57.860+00:002018-11-10T11:33:57.860+00:00Hi, I would like to know when my grandfather joine...Hi, I would like to know when my grandfather joined the army, the only info. I have in on the rear of a medal. <br /><br />6991 PTE. A. Carter R. FUS<br /><br />thanks<br /><br />John CarterJohn Carternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-55992111226971296582018-09-24T21:52:22.273+01:002018-09-24T21:52:22.273+01:00201013 volunteered in September 1914, Helen.201013 volunteered in September 1914, Helen.Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-10154604463098512522018-09-20T22:28:31.603+01:002018-09-20T22:28:31.603+01:00Hi Paul, I have just been to visit the war grave o...Hi Paul, I have just been to visit the war grave of my 2nd cousin 201013 1st Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusilier) S Watson who died 18.05.1917 aged just 21. I wonder if you could tell me whether he would have been conscripted to this regiment or voluntary joined by his number please. He is buried at Achiet le Grand cemetery. Thanks, HelenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09255470734941903494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-76820855989254203942018-08-16T20:08:49.909+01:002018-08-16T20:08:49.909+01:0020th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regt; 2nd Gar...20th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regt; 2nd Garrison Battalion RI Fusiliers by the sounds of things, John.Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-53115326009863674382018-08-14T18:22:54.711+01:002018-08-14T18:22:54.711+01:00Hi Paul,
I am trying to trace what Battalion of t...Hi Paul,<br /><br />I am trying to trace what Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles my Great uncle, John Surgenor (rgt no's 26265 & 90127 when he enlisted in the Liverpool Regiment). Unfortunately, most of his army records were destroyed other than his medal award & index cards. On the former it states:- 20n.LiverpoolR.90127 and 2gn R.Ir.Fus.26265 - Sgt.<br /><br />Is there anyway of finding out what Battalion he belonged to? I have a photo of him in his Sgt's uniform on which some long dead member of the family wrote Belgium 1916 on the back!<br /><br />His younger brother James also enlisted in the 2/5 (Reserve) Bn. Kings Liverpool Regiment before he joined the NGC. Fortunately his service records survive so I can trace his whereabouts when I go to France & Belgium next week. Incidentally, he enlisted on 21 Nov 1914 and his Rmt NO'S was 42221.<br /><br />I have photos of them both in full uniform if that would assist.<br /><br />Fortunately, both survived the war.<br /><br />Look forward to hearing from you.<br /><br />John<br /><br />John Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934076326326781174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-55877232441177869562018-08-04T18:21:48.766+01:002018-08-04T18:21:48.766+01:00Hello Martin
We have corresponded separately sinc...Hello Martin<br /><br />We have corresponded separately since you posted this, and thank you for doing so. The SR/ or 3/ prefix seems to have been infrequently or irregularly used on medal rolls and so I suspect you are right. You have obviously made a study of this regiment; I have not, but I have seen many similar conundrums in casualty lists for 1914 and 1915 where the SR/ or 3/ prefix is omitted. The clincher is when you find two men with the same number.<br /><br />Keep plugging away....<br /><br />PaulPaul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-60507610168182996102018-07-18T13:25:13.428+01:002018-07-18T13:25:13.428+01:00Paul
I am doing some research on the 4th Bn Royal...Paul<br /><br />I am doing some research on the 4th Bn Royal Fusiliers using the 1914 Star Medal Roll as my base. The roll shows lots of men DTE (Dishcharged on Termination of Engagement) with dates. We know Terms of Engagement were 12 years (+ 1 if the Army required) = 13 years in times of war. Using a few samples it should be possible to use the DTE day and net off 13 years to get their exact enlistment dates. <br /><br />Example 1: No. 10009 Pte W Arthur was DTE on 30/11/1915. This would imply he enlisted on 1/12/1902. Cross checking against your framework it is a good fit. <br /><br />Example 2: No. 9825 Pte G E Abbott was DTE on 9/10/1915 implying he enlisted on 10/10/1902...again a good fit with your framework.<br /><br />No really surprising but possibly an alternative methodology/technique to trawling Service Records and Pension Records to quickly establish a framework or a way of cross checking.<br /><br />Separately I am trying to establish how many RF men on the 1914 Star Roll might have served in the Second Boer war. the 'earliest number I have on the roll is No. 6 Pte Purvis... and the next earliest is No.11, No. 28, No. 46 etc...all would implicitly have enlisted in 1881 (aged @ 18) meaning they would have been in their very late 40s or early 50s (unlikely for Regulars?) and have served 33 years (again unlikely, particularly for Private soldiers....so i am thinking they might be 5th and 6th Reserve Bn men (presumably numbering started in 1908...whose SR prefix was not recorded. I have 100 men whose Army Number (with no prefix) is less than 1,000 - the numbers required to fill a Battalion. <br /><br />IF (as I suspect) they are SR men it is worth flagging as anyone researching the RF might easily be tripped up by the coincidental numbering. For context the most senior soldiers on the roll were:<br /><br />No. 5336 SM E W Tyler who was commissioned in the Filed in Oct 1914<br />No. 5307 CSM G D Attwell ditto.<br />No. 5914 CSM A G Richardson<br /><br />Who would have enlisted in the mid 1890s...<br /><br />Logically speaking there should be very few men with earlier numbers as almost all would have been time expired. the exceptions of course being men who were long service or who extended, but the numbers would have been small. numbers serving 21 years would be counted on two hands.....Your excellent Blog shows No. 4049 joined on 9th Jan 1892. It is almost impossible for any man who enlisted earlier than this date to have served in Aug 1914...However the 1914 Star Medal Roll has 252 men with earlier numbers (below 4,000). Again I strongly suspect they are SR men without their SR prefixes. If they were re-enlisted men they would have been given new numbers.<br /><br />A third cross-check is to see how many of these men died. We have No. 575 Pte C E Burkinshaw killed on 17/11/1914....It would be impossible for him to have enlisted in 1881 (33 years before his death) as he was just 27.<br /><br />So, for a number of reasons I think the medal rolls are awash with un-prefixed SR men. <br /><br />Just wondered if you had any thoughts on this? <br /><br />Regards, MartinMartin Gillottnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-6666165782003217262017-06-27T22:02:19.763+01:002017-06-27T22:02:19.763+01:00Mick
a) His obligation to the army ended in 1912,...Mick<br /><br />a) His obligation to the army ended in 1912, he would not have been recalled to the colours<br />b) It would be possible to work out when this number dates to, yes. Please see the RESEARCH tab.<br /><br />PaulPaul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-68344548119921940022017-06-08T09:49:18.033+01:002017-06-08T09:49:18.033+01:00Hi Paul, I'm trying to do research on Pte Arch...Hi Paul, I'm trying to do research on Pte Archibald Thomas Grimmett who served with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers from 1900-1912 (No. 8238) and again in the Great War (Findmypast has his papers from his first period of service). Basically I have a couple of questions..<br />a) He was discharged in September 1912 on completion of his first period of service, does that mean that he would have been recalled for War Service in 1914 or would he have simply had to await "call-up"<br />b) His service no. during the Great War was GS/37105, are there any clues there to when he re-joined?<br />MickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-53595451129590522532017-02-09T11:43:10.779+00:002017-02-09T11:43:10.779+00:00Re Walter Slater, Findmypast has his service recor...Re Walter Slater, Findmypast has his service record so you should sign up and download from there. here's the link: http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/united-kingdom-records-in-military-armed-forces-and-conflict?lastname=slater&soldiernumber=*41950Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-82045146015838244982017-02-09T10:59:33.005+00:002017-02-09T10:59:33.005+00:00Hello. I have just learnt my Grandfather was a Ro...Hello. I have just learnt my Grandfather was a Royal Fusilier. He signed up March 1916 in Guildford Surrey, Army no., G/41950. I am aware a number of soldiers worked on the railways and I think I have found a reference to Private Slater working on the Midland Railway as a Floor Porter(?). Anyway I do not seem to be able to find a reference to his discharge from the service. Could you point me in a direction. Ancestry.co.uk does not have anything.<br />Thank you for your time and attention.<br />J F KingJ Feona Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-8667233311194550202016-11-29T19:08:20.132+00:002016-11-29T19:08:20.132+00:00Hello Paul
The Victory Medal Roll for my grandfath...Hello Paul<br />The Victory Medal Roll for my grandfather - 229715 BEARE, James Francis 13th Royal Fusiliers shows that he was sent to France on 2nd October 1917 along with 40+ others for the same battalion all with near-consecutive service-numbers (he'd enlisted 20 Sep 1915 [from SWB roll] - but no record of what he was doing in-between nor any other service.number for him). I had assumed they'd all been drafted into the 13th RFus at about the same time (when they started training?) but on looking at the Victory Medal Roll again, I noticed some others (e.g. 229685 PRINCE, William) who had been transferred into 13th RFus whilst IN France from another regiment (with a number change) AFTER 2nd Oct when my Gfather was sent out, but with a 13th RFus service number EARLIER in the number series than his.<br />I'm now bewildered, were numbers only assigned once they joined their units in the field?<br />Grateful for any insight you can provide.Cliff Wardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-80174004006268794272016-05-25T18:52:56.703+01:002016-05-25T18:52:56.703+01:00Thanks Paul
I got the 7th Bn info off the CWGC sit...Thanks Paul<br />I got the 7th Bn info off the CWGC site and the PS number from his Medal Card. It appears that initially only public school educated men were taken but later on it was opened to 'ordinary' volunteers. As the family were all miners, he was very unlikely to have gone to public school, and looks to have been a later recruit.<br />As I'm researching about 260 men I can't unfortunately afford to check much more than the basics.<br />Thanks for your help.<br />Regards SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542385331477994102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-83414572315766778002016-05-25T07:17:57.034+01:002016-05-25T07:17:57.034+01:00Steve
PS/ was the prefix used by the Public Schoo...Steve<br /><br />PS/ was the prefix used by the Public School battalions. The 7th Battalion was not one of the Public Schools battalions but rather an extra reserve battalion which was never intended to serve overseas but which did so anyway from 1916. The PS/ number and your man'service could be researched - please drop me a line via the research tab if you wish to take up this option.<br /><br />Paul Nixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12354531380984476532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1944079581687608453.post-38074809573445721812016-05-24T23:33:20.739+01:002016-05-24T23:33:20.739+01:00Hello Paul
I'm interested in a man, Arthur Les...Hello Paul<br />I'm interested in a man, Arthur Leslie James, from the 7th Bn number PS/9942. Could you tell me what the PS denotes and have you any idea when he would have enlisted please?<br />Thanks<br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542385331477994102noreply@blogger.com