Ox & Bucks Light Infantry - 4th Battalion

I chanced upon the plaque above when I was in the village of Writtle in Essex recently. It was screwed to a wooden bench next to the bus stop and reads:

T4

OXF & BUCKS

PRESENTED TO THE PARISH OF WRITTLE

BY THE 1/4TH OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY

OLD COMRADES ASSOCIATION IN APPRECIATION

OF THE HOSPITALITY SHOWN BY THE

PEOPLE OF WRITTLE TO THE BATTALION

WHILST BILLETTED THERE FROM

AUGUST 1914 TO MARCH 1915

I have no idea when the plaque was presented but I would imagine it has outlived several wooden benches and may indeed have originally been sited somewhere else. I've also rotated the photograph. If you're in Writtle and you want to read the original, you'll have to tilt your head ninety degrees to the right.

All of the following information comes from service papers in WO 363 and WO 364 - and all of which are accessible via Ancestry.

535 joined on 9th April 1908
764 joined on 19th February 1909
1224 joined on Christmas Day 1910
1253 joined on 3rd February 1911
1529 joined on 12th March 1912
1735 joined on 10th January 1913
2082 joined on 5th March 1914
2381 joined on 30th August 1914
2624 joined on 1st September 1914
3441 joined on 6th October 1914
3630 joined on 30th November 1914

In October 1914 it appears that men from the Oxfordshire National Reserve were drafted in to the 2/4th Battalion to form supernumerary companies. From the research I have done, these men mostly appear to have been in their 40s and 50s (and possibly even 60s), and most of them had prior service, either as Volunteers or regulars.

It looks to me as though the block of numbers 3700 to at least 3929 was set aside for these supernumerary men, and their attestation papers - those that I have come across at least - are all remarkably similiar in that:

1. They are all stamped: Oxfordshire National Reserve, followed by the Company number
2. They all signed up for one year's service in the United Kingdom
3. They were all posted to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion [ie the 2/4th], with the word "Supernumerary" stamped below this.

The lowest number that I have come across for these supernumerary men is 3705 who joined on the 2nd October 1914, and the highest, as I have mentioned before, 3929 on the 19th November 1914. Within this grouping it looks as though the earliest recruits formed No 1 Company, the next batch Number 2 Company, and the later enlistments, Number 3 Company. I have not come across anybody in a No 4 Company - but I wouldn't bet against it either.

By the time we get to the 18th January 1915, 4088 is also joining the 2/4th Battalion, not as a supernumerary man however, rather another eager recruit to line up against the enemy overseas. All of which explains why there appears to be such a surge in recruiting in the 4th Ox and Bucks between the issue of number 3630 on 30th November, and number 4088 in January 1915. There was a surge, but over 200 of these men were supernumerary men, and all had been numbered between 3705 and 3929 before number 3630 even presented himself.

As always, I'd be interested to learn more from an Ox and Bucks expert. I'm certainly not one; more of an army numbers geek.

UPDATE - 12 August 2025

Russ T, via the Great War Forum, writes:

"I have been researching a relative of mine and part of this has resulted in a small study into the raising of this No 4 Company 2/4th Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry TF.

"I've gone through all of the available Service Records and I can conclude that the service numbers between 4364 and 4480 (inclusive) were allotted to those men joining this Company. That is 117 Other Ranks, which exactly matches the establishment of a Supernumerary Company as per AO 187 of May 1915

"These men joined between 08/02/1915 and 20/02/1915 and, as you note for the other Supernumerary Companies, they were in their 40s and 50s being ex old soldiers serving in the National Reserve

"Those who were still serving at the time were transferred to the RDC on 29/04/1916 - being posted to the No 259 Protection Company (PC). Records indicate that the No 4 Company was based at Marchwood, Southampton where they remained upon being redesignated 259 PC in the RDC."

Thank you, Russ, for this excellent research.

Campaign Medal & Award Rolls 1793-1949

I've just been alerted to the UK Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls 1793-1949 which is  new on Ancestry. I know a number of medal collectors read this blog, and this Ancestry release will be of particular interest to them - as it is to me. This from Ancestry:

"This database contains lists of more than 2.3 million officers, enlisted personnel and other individuals entitled to medals and awards commemorating their service in campaigns and battles for the British Army between 1793 and 1949. The original medal rolls were compiled by the War Office and are housed at the National Archives of the UK in Kew, Surrey. The rolls include medals awarded for British campaigns in Europe, India, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, West and Central Africa, China, the Middle East, and elsewhere during the height of the British Empire. The collection does not include WWI or WWII medal and award rolls.
"While medal rolls do not provide very detailed information, the records can include the name, date, and location of a campaign or service, the soldier’s name, and the regiment or unit name and regimental number. Most rolls were arranged by campaign (or battle), then regiment, rank and surname.

"The records in this collection can be searched by name, campaign, service location and date, and regimental number. Volumes may also be browsed by region, campaign, and regiment or unit."

This is a very nice addition to Ancestry's offering. It is however, only available as part of the Premium or Worldwide subscription packages. Also see: UK Naval Medal and Award Rolls 1793-1972.

You can find some medal rolls freely available online.  Check these FREE medal rolls online which I have drawn attention to on my Army Ancestry blog.

I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.