Norfolk Regiment - 6th (Cyclist) Bn (TF)

In this post I will be looking at regimental numbering in the 6th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment between April 1908 and October 1914. 

On the 1st April 1908, the nucleus of the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment was formed from what had previously been cyclist companies of the four Volunteer Battalions, Norfolk Regiment. A, B, C and D Companies were formed from the VF companies, with E, F, G and H Companies raised subsequently.  The newly formed 6th (TF) Battalion was headquartered at Cattle Market Street, Norwich and distributed as follows:

A Company: Norwich

B Company: Great Yarmouth

C Company: King's Lynn, with a drill stations at Terrington

D Company: Thetford, with a drill stations at Attleborough

E Company: Fakenham, with drill stations at Walsingham, Holkham, Wells and Ryburgh

F Company: Ditchingham

G Company: Watton, with a drill station at Swaffham

H Company: Norwich, with a drill station at Great Yarmouth

The battalion was attached to Eastern Command.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment:

7 joined on the 5th April 1908 

371 joined on the 1st January 1909

601 joined on the 14th March 1910 

710 joined on the 20th March 1911 

826 joined on the 11th March 1913

954 joined on the 10th March 1914

1156 joined on the 7th August 1914 

1272 joined on the 1st October 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Bridlington in October 1914, the original 6th Battalion now becoming the 1/6th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/6th Battalion. A 3/6th Battalion was formed at Norwich in May 1916 and disbanded in March 1916 without ever serving overseas.  All three battalions - the 1/6th, 2/6th, 3/6th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new regimental numbers series which began at 265001 and extended to 290000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 555 and lived in Holkham he would have joined the battalion between January 1909 and March 1911 - and probably served with E Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Norfolk Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

Norfolk Regiment - 5th Bn (TF)

In this post I will be looking at regimental numbering in the 5th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment between 1908 and 1914. 

On the 1st April 1908, the 5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment was formed from what had previously been the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. The newly formed 5th (TF) Battalion was headquartered at East Dereham and distributed as follows:

A Company: King's Lynn

B Company: Downham, with drill stations at Hunstanton, Thornham, Hilgay and Stoke Ferry

C Company: Fakenham, with drill stations at Wells, Syderstone, Aylsham and Corpusty

D Company: Dereham, with drill stations at Castle Acre and Swaffham

E Company: Sandringham, with drill stations at Dersingham, Wolderton, Hillington and West Newton

F Company: Cromer, with drill stations at Melton Constable, Holt, Sheringham, North Walsham, and Gunton

G Company: Great Yarmouth

H Company: Great Yarmouth

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the Norfolk & Suffolk Infantry Brigade in the East Anglian Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment:

353 joined on the 22nd April 1908 

1323 joined on the 14th May 1910 

1480 joined on the 10th May 1911 

1582 joined on the 3rd January 1912 

1816 joined on the 14th January 1913 

2077 joined on the 13th January 1914 

2187 joined on the 4th August 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at East Dereham in September 1914, the original 5th Battalion now becoming the 1/5th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/5th Battalion. A 3/5th Battalion was formed at East Dereham in early 1915 but never served overseas.  All three battalions - the 1/5th, 2/5th, 3/5th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new regimental numbers series which began at 240001 and extended to 265000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1700 and lived in Holt he would have joined the battalion between January 1912 and January 1913 - and probably served with F Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Norfolk Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

Norfolk Regiment - 4th Bn (TF)

In this post I will be looking at regimental numbering in the 4th (Territorial Force) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment between 1908 and 1914. 

On the 1st April 1908, the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment was formed from what had previously been the 1st and 4th Volunteer Battalions, Norfolk Regiment. The newly formed 4th (TF) Battalion was headquartered at St Giles, Norwich and distributed as follows:

A Company: Norwich

B Company: Norwich

C Company: Long Stratton, with drill stations at Mulbarton and Saxlingham

D Company: Diss, with drill stations at Harleston and Tivetshall

E Company: Attleborough, with drill stations at East Harling, Keninghall, Banham, Old Buckenham and Watton

F Company: Wymondham, with drill stations at Hethersett, Swardeston, Colney and Hingham

G Company: Brandon, with drill stations at Thetford, Methwold and Feltwell

H Company: Thorpe St Andrew, with drill stations at Loddon, Blofield, Acle, Burgh St Margarets, Framingham Pigot and Coltishall

By August 1914 the battalion formed part of the Norfolk & Suffolk Infantry Brigade in the East Anglian Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the the 4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment:

72 joined on the 22nd April 1908 

796 joined on the 5th April 1909

1178 joined on the 9th March 1910 

1392 joined on the 6th March 1911 

1707 joined on the 16th April 1912 

1850 joined on the 5th March 1913 

2028 joined on the 13th March 1914 

2130 joined on the 6th August 1914 

A reserve or ‘second-line’ battalion was formed at Norwich in September 1914, the original 4th Battalion now becoming the 1/4th Battalion and the new reserve battalion becoming the 2/4th Battalion. A 3/4th Battalion was formed at Norwich in early 1915 but never served overseas.  All three battalions - the 1/4th, 2/4th, 3/4th - issued numbers from the same regimental number series and from 1917 reissued numbers to serving soldiers and to new recruits from a brand new regimental numbers series which began at 200001 and extended to 240000. 

Use the regimental numbers above to estimate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example, if your man had the number 1600 and lived in Methwold he would have joined the battalion between March1911 and April 1912 - and probably served with G Company. 

Remember. I research soldiers! Drop me a line if you need help 

To search for photos of your Norfolk Regiment ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.