West Yorkshire Regiment - 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

Both West Yorkshire Regiment militia battalions survived in all but name when the Special Reserve was created in 1908. Men who were then serving with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to continue to serve with the newly formed 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and men who were then serving with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to contunue to serve with the newly formed 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. The Army Book for the British Empire, published in 1893 provided a useful summary of the militia when it noted:

"Its object is to maintain in the United Kingdom a trained body of men available "in case of imminent national danger or great emergency" to supplement the regular army in the defence of the country.

"It offers military service to the class of men willing to give it for a month in the year for training of for the term of their engagement on emergency, but whose avocations do not lead them to become either regular soldiers or volunteers."

Most 1914 Star rolls show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve and Extra Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

Confusingly, for those with an interest in West Yorkshire Regiment regimental numbers, the series used by the 4th Battalion pretty much kept pace with the series used by the 3rd Battalion, but both were distinct series and that is important to remember. Also important to note is that when these men were called up as drafts for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions from August 1914, they retained their original 3rd and 4th Battalion regimental numbers.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment:

5727 joined on 27th June1908, but this number had originally been issued to this man when he joined the 4th (Militia) Bn in 1903

6886 joined on 1st June 1909

7322 joined on 31st January 1910

7411 joined on 16th February 1911

7656 joined on 2nd May 1912

7845 joined on 26th February 1913

8067 joined on 25th February 1914

8277 joined on 5th August 1914

Do also read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. 

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To search for West Yorkshire Regiment photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

West Yorkshire Regiment - 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

Both West Yorkshire Regiment militia battalions survived in all but name when the Special Reserve was created in 1908. Men who were then serving with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to continue to serve with the newly formed 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and men who were then serving with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to contunue to serve with the newly formed 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. The Army Book for the British Empire, published in 1893 provided a useful summary of the militia when it noted:

"Its object is to maintain in the United Kingdom a trained body of men available "in case of imminent national danger or great emergency" to supplement the regular army in the defence of the country.

"It offers military service to the class of men willing to give it for a month in the year for training of for the term of their engagement on emergency, but whose avocations do not lead them to become either regular soldiers or volunteers."

Most 1914 Star rolls show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve and Extra Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

Confusingly, for those with an interest in West Yorkshire Regiment regimental numbers, the series used by the 3rd Battalion pretty much kept pace with the series used by the 4th Battalion, but both were distinct series and that is important to remember. Also important to note is that when these men were called up as drafts for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions from August 1914, they retained their original 3rd and 4th Battalion regimental numbers.

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment:

6207 joined on 27th June1908, but this number had originally been issued to this man when he joined the 3rd (Militia) Bn in 1902

7695 joined on 22nd February 1909

7907 joined on 13th January 1910

8108 joined on 31st May 1911

8363 joined on 12th July 1912

8533 joined on 27th May 1913

8703 joined on 26th January 1914

8869 joined on 12th August 1914

9723 joined on 2nd September 1914

10198 joined on 3rd October 1914

Do also read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. 

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for West Yorkshire Regiment photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

Connaught Rangers - 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the Connaught Rangers between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

Both Connaught Rangers militia battalions survived in all but name when the Special Reserve was introduced in 1908. Men who were then serving with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to continue to serve with the newly formed 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and men who were then serving with the 5th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to contunue to serve with the newly formed 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. The Army Book for the British Empire, published in 1893 provided a useful overview of the militia when it noted:

"Its object is to maintain in the United Kingdom a trained body of men available "in case of imminent national danger or great emergency" to supplement the regular army in the defence of the country.

"It offers military service to the class of men willing to give it for a month in the year for training of for the term of their engagement on emergency, but whose avocations do not lead them to become either regular soldiers or volunteers."

Most 1914 Star rolls show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve and Extra Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

Confusingly, for those with an interest in Connaught Rangers regimental numbers, the series used by the 4th Battalion pretty much kept pace with the series used by the 3rd Battalion, but both were distinct series and that is important to remember. Also important to note is that when these men were called up as drafts for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions from August 1914, they retained their original 3rd and 4th Battalion regimental numbers.

Extra Reserve numbering appears to begin in August 1908 with numbers below circa 3800 all being men who formerly served with the 5th (Militia) Battalion and simply re-used their old militia regimental numbers. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 4th Connaught Rangers:

3325 joined on 2nd August 1908 (but this number had originally been issued to this man when he joined the 5th (Militia) Bn in April 1905

4082 joined on 6th January 1909

4218 joined on 1st January 1910

4423 joined on 18th February 1911

4606 joined on 2nd April 1912

4663 joined on 8th January 1913

4769 joined on 23rd January 1914

4857 joined on 3rd September 1914

5078 joined on 28th December 1914

Do also read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. 

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for Connaught Rangers photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

Connaught Rangers - 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Connaught Rangers between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part, they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

Both Connaught Rangers militia battalions survived in all but name when the Special Reserve was introduced in 1908. Men who were then serving with the 4th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to contunue to serve with the newly formed 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, and men who were then serving with the 5th (Militia) Battalion, were asked if they wanted to contunue to serve with the newly formed 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. The Army Book for the British Empire, published in 1893 provided a useful overview of the militia when it noted:

"Its object is to maintain in the United Kingdom a trained body of men available "in case of imminent national danger or great emergency" to supplement the regular army in the defence of the country.

"It offers military service to the class of men willing to give it for a month in the year for training of for the term of their engagement on emergency, but whose avocations do not lead them to become either regular soldiers or volunteers."

Most 1914 Star rolls show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve and Extra Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

Confusingly, for those with an interest in Connaught Rangers regimental numbers, the series used by the 3rd Battalion pretty much kept pace with the series used by the 4th Battalion, but both were distinct series and that is important to remember. Also important to note is that when these men were called up as drafts for the regular 1st and 2nd Battalions from August 1914, they retained their original 3rd and 4th Battalion regimental numbers.

Speical Reserve numbering appears to begin in August 1908 with numbers below circa 3000 all being men who formerly served with the 4th (Militia) Battalion and simply re-used their old militia regimental numbers. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 3rd Connaught Rangers:

2523 joined on 2nd August 1908 (but this number had originally been issued to this man when he joined the 4th (Militia) Bn pre-1899

3559 joined on 3rd November 1908

3669 joined on 11th September 1909

3699 joined on 1st February 1910

3869 joined on 1st February 1911

4093 joined on 29th August 1912

4155 joined on 21st January 1913

4261 joined on 12th January 1914

4311 joined on 10th September 1914

4483 joined on 7th October 1914

4740 joined on 2nd November 1914

5118 joined on 1st December 1914

Do also read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. 

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for Connaught Rangers photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

Devonshire Regiment, 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Devonshire between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

With the creation of the Special Reserve in 1908, the Devonshire Regiment effectively lost a battalion. Prior to this date, as well as its two regular battalions, it also fielded two militia battalions, the 3rd and 4th Battalions. Wiht the creation of the Special Reserv, the 4th Battalion was abandoned, men now being given the option to sign up to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion. As far as regimental numbering in the battalion was concerned. Men who were still serving with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion simply joined the 3rd (Speical Reserve) Battalion with their old regimental numbers. 4th (Militia) Battalion men who now opted to join the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion were given new numbers from the 3rd Battalion series which was, itself, a continuation of the militia number series. There are many examples in surviving service records of serving militia men joining the Special Reserve in 1908 but only signing up for the unexpired portion of their militia service.

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. They were men who had completed a period of training alongside career soldiers at the regimental depot but they then went back to their homes, turning out annually for drills and camp. Men of the Militia and the Special Reserve signed up for six years' service and knew, in the event of war, that they would be called upon to fill gaps in the regular battalions. A glance at most 1914 Star rolls will show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

The first 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion number I have on my database - and there will be many earlier ones thatn this - is 4893 Samuel Rowe who was a time-expired soldier with 12 years' service under his belt. He was also a serving member of the 4th (Militia) battalion and when he joined the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion on the 27th June 1908 he only signed up for 2 years and 200 days which was the unexpired portion of his militia service. The new number he was issued with was from the series which had been in use for the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. 

Here then, are some sample numbers for the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment:

4956 joined on the 27th June 1908 

3/5749 joined on the 12th May 1909

5947 joined on the 24th January 1910

6206 joined on the 18th April 1911

3/6597 joined on the 29th October 1912

3/6679 joined on the 12th February 1913

3/7040 joined on the 15th August 1914

3/7180 joined on the 1st September 1914

3/7743 joined on the 7th October 1914

The regimental number series was unique to the 3rd Miltia/Special Reserve Battalion but care needs to be exercised when determining if a man's number belongs to this series or to the series that was issued from the regimental depot to men joining as career soldiers. For example, looking at the sequence above, it can be seen that the number 7000 would have been issued to a 3rd Bn man between February 1913 and August 1914 (and more likely to have been July or August 1914 for that matter). However, the same number would have been issued to a career soldier who joined the regiment in July 1902. See my article on regimental numbering in the 1st & 2nd Battalions of The Devonshire Regiment.

And if all of this is still confusing, have a read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. 

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for Devonshire Regiment photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) - 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) between 1908 and 1914. The Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to the militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced in 1908. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

As far as the Buffs was concerned, it was the 3rd (Militia) Battalion which it lost with the creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 and those concerned with such matters appear to have simply shrugged their shoulders and carried on with the same regimental number series that had been in use for the militia. 

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. They were men who had completed a period of training alongside career soldiers at the regimental depot but they then went back to their homes, turning out annually for drills and camp. Men of the Militia and the Special Reserve signed up for six years' service and knew, in the event of war, that they would be called upon to fill gaps in the regular battalions. A glance at most 1914 Star rolls will show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

The first 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion number I have on my database - and there will be many earlier ones thatn this - is 7196 Ernest William John Brooks who had been issued with that number when he joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion on the 3rd June 1904. He was still a serving member of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion when the Special Reserve was created, and he signed on for a further six years in July 1908, his old militia number being re-activated. Other men who joined at the same time and who were not already serving with the militia were issued with new regimental numbers which began where the old militia regimental series had ended. This pattern is seen in very many special and extra reserve battalion attestation papers for 1908.

Here then, are some sample regimental numbers for the 3rd Buffs (East Kent Regiment):

8104 joined on 28th June 1908 

9382 joined on 21st April 1909

9623 joined on 21st February 1910

9941 joined on 20th February 1911

10179 joined on 1st January 1912

10486 joined on 14th May 1913

3/10669 joined on the 8th July 1914

S/10703 joined on 8th August 1914

The regimental number series was unique to the 3rd Miltia/Special Reserve Battalion but care needs to be exercised when determining if a man's number belongs to this series or to the series that was issued from the regimental depot to men joining as career soldiers. For example, looking at the sequence above, it can be seen that the number 10000 would have been issued to a 3rd Bn man between February 1911 and January 1912. However, the same number would have been issued to a career soldier who joined the regiment in April or May 1913. See my article on regimental numbering in the 1st & 2nd Battalions of The Buffs (East Kent) Regiment.

In addition to this main regimental number sequence for the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, there was a second number series which was begun in August 1914 and which appears to have been short-lived. These numbers began at 1 and were prefixed with - on attestation papers at least - SREKGS, which was shorthand for Special Reserve East Kent General Service. If your man has a number with this prefix, then this mini series may be helpful:

SREKGS/102 was issued on the 14th August 1914

SREKGS/229 was issued on the 5th September 1914

SREKGS/828 was issued on the 27th October 1914

This is the last number I have on my database but I'd be interested to hear of later numbers issued in this series.

And if all of this is still confusing, have a read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index. The photo on this post was published in The Tatler on the 20th January 1915 and shows officers of the 3rd Battalion, The Buffs.

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To search for Buffs (East Kent Regiment) photos, check my British Army Ancestors website.  

Fill yer boots! It's the Naval & Military Press summer sale!

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Clicking the link above will take you straight to the Naval & Military Press website where you can browse to your heart's content. However, to make it even easier for you, here are some links to specific categories which you might find useful:

The Great War 1914-1918

        First World War regimental histories - over 230 titles

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Remember, this is a time-limited discount and some stocks of titles on the Naval & Military Press website may be running low. Don't miss out. Grab yourself a bargain today.

 

Border Regiment - regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion 1908-1914

This article will look at regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion of the Border Regiment between 1908 and 1914. As I have written before, the Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

As far as the Border Regiment was concerned, it was one of the regiments which lost a militia battalion with the creation of the Special Reserve in 1908. Up until that time it had recruited for the 3rd and 4th militia battalions. However, from 1908 it was just the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion which replaced both militia battalions. Men who were still serving with these miltiia battalions in 1908 were invited to join the new 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion.

Men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. They were men who had completed a period of training alongside career soldiers at the regimental depot but they then went back to their homes, turning out annually for drills and camp. Men of the Militia and the Special Reserve signed up for six years' service and knew, in the event of war, that they would be called upon to fill gaps in the regular battalions. A glance at most 1914 Star rolls will show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

The lowest 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion number I have is 2585 for Thomas Walker who joined the newly formd battalion on the 12th July 1908. His number though, dates to the time when he had joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion on the 8th June 1899. In common with many newly forming special reserve and extra reserve battalions, the 3rd Border Regiment just continued with the same numberv series that had been used for the 3rd miltiia battalion and old militiamen now joining the new special reserve simply brough their old militia numbers with them.

Here then, are some numbers for the 3rd Border Regiment.

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Border Regiment

2585 joined on 12th July 1908 (but the number dates to 1899)

3987 joined on 14th January 1909

4222 joined on 18th November 1910

4309 joined on 29th May 1911

4434 joined on 3rd January 1912

4887 joined on 4th October 1913

5022 joined on the 31st March 1914

5135 joined on 17th August 1914

5477 joined on the 3rd September 1914

6463 joined on the 19th October 1914

The regimental number series was unique to the 3rd Miltia/Special Reserve Battalion but care needs to be exercised when determining if a man's number belongs to this series or to the series that was issued from the regimental depot to men joining as career soldiers. For example, looking at the sequence above, it can be seen that the number 6000 would have been issued to a 3rd Bn man between September and October 1914. However, the same number would have been issued to a career soldier in the first quarter of 1899 and there were plenty of men who had enlisted as early as this who would still be liable to fight for King and Country in August 1914. See my article on regimental numbering in the 1st & 2nd Battalions of the Border Regiment.

And if all of this is still confusing, have a read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index.

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for Border Regiment photos, check my British Army Ancestors website. 

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - Regimental numbering in the 3rd (Special Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalions 1908-1914

Having concentrated a lot in recent months on various Territorial Force battalions, I'm going to look at regimental numbering in Special Reserve and Extra Reserve battalions. As I have written before, the Special Reserve and the Extra Reserve were the natural heirs to militia battalions which, for the most part they replaced. My 2009 article on the Creation of the Special Reserve in 1908 may be helpful here.

As far as the Scottish Rifles was concerned, its new 3rd (Special Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) replaced the 3rd and 4th Militia Battalions and the new battalions just continued with the same regimental numbering systems that had been used by their militia predecessors.

Remember, the men joining the militia and special/extra reserve were not career soldiers. They were men who had completed a period of training alongside career soldiers at the regimental depot but they then went back to their homes, turning out annually for drills and camp. Men of the Special Reserve signed up for six years' service and knew, in the event of war, that they would be called upon to fill gaps in the regular battalions. A glance at most 1914 Star rolls will show plenty of evidence of Special Reserve men who served alongside career soldiers. Sometimes their numbers are prefixed by the number of their battalion - typically a 3/ or 4/ in most line infantry regiments - but just as often there will be no prefix.

My summary below shows enlistment into the 3rd (Special Reserve) and 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalions of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). All of these men would have lived locally, within the recruiting area for the Cameronians. 

3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion, Scottish Rifles

3/6298 joined on 9th August 1908. This man had already been serving with the 3rd Militia Bn with this number.

3/6965 joined on 27th April 1909

3/7207 joined on 25th January 1910

3/7339 joined on 19th June 1911

3/7439 joined on 1st February 1912

3/7639 joined on 3rd December 1913

3/7753 joined on 11th August 1914

4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Scottish Rifles

6510 joined on 9th August 1908

6740 joined on 14th February 1909

6979 joined on 12th April 1910

7052 joined on 16th October 1911

7077 joined on 10th January 1912

7094 joined on 6th March 1913

7234 joined on 17th February 1914

7453 joined on 11th August 1914

You can see from the sequences above that there was very little difference between the 3rd and 4th Battalions in terms of when numbers were issued. By the 11th August 1914 the 3rd Battalion had has 7753 men through its books, whilst the 4th Battalion had recruited precisely 300 fewer men. But the regimental number sequences were unique to both battalions and it is important to understand this.

Practically, this means that when looking at medal rolls and trying to work out enlistment dates, if your man had the number 7000 he could have been a 3rd Battalion man who joined between April 1909 and January 1910 or a 4th Battalion man who had joined between April 1910 and October 1911. On the other hand, he could have been a career soldier who had joined between February 1900 and May 1901. (See my post on the 1st & 2nd Battalions, Scottish Rifles).

And if all of this is still confusing, have a read of some of the articles towards the bottom of the Army Service Numbers 1881-1918 index.

Remember. I research soldiers!

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To search for Scottish Rifles photos, check my British Army Ancestors website. The image shows men of the 1st Cameronians at Portsmouth in 1894 and is reproduced by courtesy of the Cameronians Museum.

Highland Light Infantry - 9th (Glasgow Highland) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914.

The 9th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 5th (Glasgow Highland) Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 30 officers and 696 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 344 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 286 officers and men attended for 15 days. Private J Chisholm of D Company was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 31 officers and 1000 other ranks, a steady increase on the previous year, and in line with increases in other HLI Territorial Force Battalions. At the annual camp in 1909 438 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 477 officers and men attended for 15 days. Serjeant J W Mathieson of A Company was the best shot of the battalion. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 81 Greendyke Street, Glasgow and used the Drill Hall at Glasgow Green. There was a shooting range at Patterton, five miles from HQ. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

457 joined on the 9th April 1908
815 joined on the 15th March 1909
1207 joined on the 23rd February 1910
1295 joined on the 16th January 1911
1457 joined on the 12th February 1912
1746 joined on the 7th April 1913
1949 joined on the 28th January 1914
2205 joined on the 6th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1568 he would have joined the battalion between February 1912 and April 1913.

The image that I have used for this post shows officers and men of the Highlnad Light Infantry on Laffans Plain. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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Highland Light Infantry - 7th (Blythswood) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 7th (Blythswood) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914.

The 7th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 3rd (Blythswood) Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 29 officers and 571 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 20 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 460 officers and men attended for 15 days. Serjeant J Humphreys was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 31 officers and 928 other ranks, a significant increase on the previous year, and in line with increases in the 5th and 6th Battalions. At the annual camp at Gailes in 1909 257 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 572 officers and men attended for 15 days. Private Doctor of E Company was the best shot of the battalion. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 69 Main Street, Bridgeton and had drill halls at its HQ and another at Glasgow Green. There was a shooting range at Dechmont, Cambuslang, seven miles by road from HQ, or five miles by rail. Like the 5th & 6th Battalions, the 7th Battalion’s eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

29 joined on the 28th May 1908
637 joined on the 2nd March 1909
1201 joined on the 28th February 1910
1311 joined on the 20th February 1911
1391 joined on the 9th February 1912
1625 joined on the 18th April 1913
1714 joined on the 26th February 1914
2125 joined on the 7th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1234 he would have joined the battalion between February 1910 and February 1911.

The image that I have used for this post shows officers of the 3/7th Highland Light Infantry photographed in 1915. The photograph was published in The Tatler on the 15th December that year. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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Highland Light Infantry - 6th (City of Glasgow) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 6th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914. 

The 6th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 23 officers and 562 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 135 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 366 officers and men attended for 15 days. Lance-Serjeant E Patience was the best shot of the battalion. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 21 officers and 974 men, a good increase on the previous year. At the annual camp in 1909 377 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 553 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 172 Yorkhill Street, Glasgow and had drill halls at its HQ and another at Westend Park. There was a shooting range at Dechmont, Cambuslang, nine miles from HQ. Like the 5th Battalion, the battalion’s eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. It too formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

425 joined on the 19th August 1908
603 joined on the 13th April 1909
1168 joined on the 3rd June 1910
1210 joined on the 2nd May 1911
1318 joined on the 6th May 1912
1469 joined on the 11th February 1913
1656 joined on the 27th January 1914
1839 joined on the 5th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1600 he would have joined the battalion between February 1913 and January 1914. 

The image that I have used for this post shows men of the Highland Light Infantry in camp. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website. 

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Highland Light Infantry - 5th (City of Glasgow) Bn - 1908-1914

This post will look at regimental numbering in the 5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry between 1908 and 1914. 

The 5th Battalion, which had previously existed at the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was formed on the 1st April 1908. The Territorial Year Book for 1909 recorded that the battalion strength was 20 officers and 397 men. At the annual camp in 1908, 109 officers and men attended for eight days whilst 265 officers and men attended for 15 days. 

The following year, The Territorial Year Book for 1910 recorded that the strength was 28 officers and 949 men, a significant increase on the previous year. At the annual camp 166 officers and men attended for 8 days whilst 701 officers and men attended for 15 days. Camp for 1910 was scheduled for Stirling from the 16th July.

The battalion was headquartered at 24 Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow and its eight companies drew men from the city of Glasgow. The battalion formed part of the Highland Light Infantry Brigade in the Lowland Division. 

Here are some sample regimental numbers and joining dates for the 5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.

53 joined on the 3rd April 1908
432 joined on the 1st February 1909
1083 joined on the 11th March 1910
1187 joined on the 25th January 1911
1340 joined on the 8th May 1912
1377 joined on the 3rd February 1913
1591 joined on the 15th March 1914
1637 joined on the 4th August 1914

Use these regimental numbers to approximate when a man would have joined this battalion between 1908 and August 1914. For example if your man's number was 1200 he would have joined the battalion between January 1911 and May 1912. 

The image that I have borrowed for this post shows pipers of the Highland Light Infantry ‘in the park on the march’. To search for photos of your Highland Light Infantry ancestors, check my British Army Ancestors website.

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