The 18th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Irish Rifles), had its origins in the 16th Middlesex (London Irish) Volunteer Rifles Corps.
My data for this battalion is a little thin in places but, as with previously recorded battalions on this blog, here are some sample British army service numbers and corresponding joining dates for the 18th Londons:
221 joined on 7th April 1908
402 joined on 20th January 1909
1043 joined on 11th April 1910
1154 joined on 3rd June 1912
1486 joined on on 1st March 1914
1861 joined on 10th August 1914
2419 joined on 2nd September 1914
3290 joined on 26th April 1915
3325 joined on 6th May 1915
3673 joined on 7th June 1915
3802 joined on 10th July 1915
3839 joined on 3rd August 1915
3904 joined on 3rd September 1915
4061 joined on 16th October 1915
4210 joined on 7th November 1915
4365 joined on 10th December 1915
4509 joined on 7th February 1915
4708 joined on 4th March 1916
5033 joined on 1st April 1916
5256 joined on 30th May 1916
5746 joined on 12th June 1916
6105 joined on 16th August 1916
6858 joined on 8th September 1916
8136 joined on 16th October 1916
My data currently ends in October 1916 (so if anybody can help me fill some of the gaps above, please contact me).
When the Territorial Force renumbered in 1917, the 18th Londons did so within the range 590001 to 610000.
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Read my other posts on numbering in the London Regiment battalions:
City of London Battalions
1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers)
2nd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers)
3rd (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers)
4th (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers)
5th (City of London) Battalion (Rifle Brigade)
6th (City of London) Battalion (Rifles)
7th (City of London) Battalion
8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles)
County of London Battalions
9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
10th County of London) Battalion (Hackney) [Originally Paddington Rifles]
11th (County of London) Battalion (Finsbury Rifles)
12th (County of London) Battalion (The Rangers)
13th (County of London) Battalion (Kensington)
14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish)
15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles)
16th (County of London) Battalion (Queen's Westminster Rifles)
17th (County of London) Battalion (Poplar & Stepney Rifles)
19th (County of London) Battalion (St Pancras)
20th (County of London) Battalion (Blackheath & Woolwich)
21st (County of London) Battalion (First Surrey Rifles)
22nd (County of London) Battalion (The Queen's)
23rd (County of London) Battalion
24th (County of London) Battalion (The Queen's)
25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion
28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles)
My grandfather joined the London Irish on 1/12/15 his no was 8076, he was later renumbered as 59421.
ReplyDeleteThis begs the question when were the nos issued , on being attested or at the end of training and allotment to a battalion, ie Grandad went to France in Jan 1917.
Badly wounded in March 1918.
Numbers were issued when the men presented themselves at the regimental depot. It is quite common to see men attesting as Derby Scheme recruits in late 1915 but not being called up until several months later. They would have been given their numbers when they were called up and joined their regiments, not when they attested.
ReplyDeletePaul
My great grandfather was Edwin Frank Brewerton of the 18th battalion London Regiment and his service number was 5613. He enlisted on 4 Nov 1915. Cant find any medals being issued to him on his medal card, but cause of discharge was Side Para 392 XVI KR.
ReplyDeleteThis man has papers here which you can access if you pay Findmypast: https://britisharmyancestors.co.uk/search-result/?q=5613+brewerton
ReplyDelete