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. 

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