London Regiment - six digit number anomalies

This post will look at sequential anomalies in six digit numbering for London Regiment battalions.

All specific army service numbers referenced below have been sourced from the National Archives in London, either from records in the WO 363 and WO 364 series or from the First World War medal index cards. These records/cards can also be viewed on-line via Ancestry.co.uk which is currently offering a FREE 14 day trial.
Introduction
For the most part, when the re-numbering of the Territorial Force took place in 1917, the lowest number in the new six or five digit series was issued to the longest serving man still with that particular unit.

So taking the 5th London Regiment as an example, it would be reasonable to assume that Harry Goodwin Marner, who was given the number 300004 (from the allocated series 300001-320000) was probably an early 5th London Regiment recruit. He was. Harry joined the 5th Londons on 1st April 1908, the day the Territorial Force came into being, and at that stage he'd already served for over 12 years with the 1st London Volunteer Rifle Corps. By the time he was finally discharged from the army in 1919 (with the rank of Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant) he was 45 years old, had a conduct described as "exemplary" and had notched up close to 24 years' service.

Actually, the 5th London Regiment is probably not the best example to use because, alone of the London Regiment battalions, it did not start a new number series from 1 in April 1908 but continued with the number series that had been used by its predecessor, the 1st London Volunteer Rifle Corps. Harry Marner's number was 6633 which dated to November 1895.

But apart from the 5th Londons, the other London Regiment battalions started numbering from 1 in April 1908 and then (in 1917) issued the lowest six digit numbers to their longest serving men. For the most part...

9th (County of London) Batalion, The London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)

The new six digit block of numbers allocated to the 9th Londons was 390001 to 420000. For some reason however, the lowest numbers in that range seem to start with men who joined in 1911. The lowest six digit number / joining date on my database is currently 390009 which was issued to a man who had originally joined in March 1911.

Men who joined before this date and who were still serving (or still not officially noted as dead) when the TF was re-numbered, have numbers in the 394*** range. I am not sure exactly when these numbers kick in. Number 394214 was issued to William John Andrew who joined the 9th Londons on 1st April 1908 and was given the number 124. He had been a serving member with the 1st Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps since November 1903.

It may be the case that numbers 394210 to 394213 also went to April 1908 men. 394206 however, was issued much later in the war.

So to summarise for the 9th Londons:

April 1908 to circa Jan 1911 - Numbers in the range c394210 to 394264.
Jan 1911 to Dec 1917 - Numbers in the range 390001 to c394209 and then, allowing for the block above, c394265 onwards.

15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles)

The new six digit block of numbers allocated to the 15th Londons was 530001 to 550000. Afain, for some reason currently unknown to me, re-numbering in April 1908 begins not at 530001 but either 530396 or 530397. I have an unknown for 530396 but 530397 was certainly issued to George Herbert Flew who joined the 15th Londons on 9th April 1908 and was given the number 35.

The numbers then continue sequentially up to 530467 which was issued to a man who joined on 29th March 1909. 530468 and 530469 are unknowns for me, but 530470 was issued to man who joined on 28th August 1914.

Again, to summarise:

April 1908 to March 1909 - Numbers in the range c530397 to 530467
April 1909 to 12th August 1914 - Numbers in the range 530001 to c530395
28th August 1914 onwards - Numbers from c530470


19th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (St Pancras)

The new six digit number block for this battalion was 610001 to 630000. However, it is incorrect to assume that 610001 was issued to a man who joined the battalion In April 1908. It wasn't. The earliest number that I have in this series is 610009 which was issued to Albert Coles. His original number was 1851 and he joined the 19th London Regiment on 28th January 1914. 610010 was issued to a man who joined the same day, and from here on, the new six digit numbering is sequential - up until late 1916 at least.

But what about those men who had joined the 19th Londons January 1914 and were still serving with the battalion (or not confirmed as dead) in 1917? After a little digging around numbers on the medal index cards it became clear that numbers from later on in the 610001-630000 series were used for those early 1908-1914 recruits.

613356 was issued to George Alfred Earl. His original number was 27 and I presume he joined the regiment on 1st April 1908. Number 66 was issued to Ernest Windust (joined 1st April 1908) and he would later be given the number 613360. Here is the range that I have, for the re-numbered 19th Londons between April 1908 and October 1913.

613356 joined on (approx) 1st April 1908 (originally 27)
613418 joined on 22nd August 1909 (originally 918)
613423 joined on 5th May 1910 (originally 1062)
613433 joined on 9th Feb 1911 (originally 1139)
613473 joined on 1st Jan 1912 (originally 1327)
613638 joined on 8th October 1913 (originally 1742)

I'd be interested to hear from anybody who can confirm at what point in the 613*** range the numbering for 1908 TF volunteers began, and similarly, where it ended; also the date that the 610*** series started. 1st January 1914 would seem to be a logical starting point for the 601*** series - as if logic played a part in 19th London re-numbering.

24th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (The Queen's)

The six digit number range for this battalion was 720001 to 740000 but as with the 19th Londons, 720001 was not issued to the battalion's longest serving terrier.

720092 was issued to Edwin Cecil Cox who had originally joined the battalion on 1st April 1908 and had been given the number 14. Numbers 720001 through to 720089 however, all date to much later in the war and appear to have been issued to men who transferred into the 24th Londons from Essex Regiment TF battalions. As an example of this, 720014 for instance, was issued to a man who had originally attested under the Derby Scheme, was mobilised with the 4th Essex Regiment on 7th April 1916 (number 3931) and then transferred to the 24th Londons on the 25th January 1917 (probably at around the same time that the 24th Londons had just been issued with its new six digit number series).

Again, Id' be interested to hear from anybody who has chapter and verse on the 24th London numbers 720001 to 720089.

Also see my posts on:

9th London Regiment
15th London Regiment
19th London Regiment
24th London Regiment

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

8th & 9th London Regiment updates

I've added some dates and army service numbers within the re-numbered six digit range for two London Regiment battalions: the 8th (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles) and the 9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles).

If anybody has a good 8th London's photo I can use on that post, I'll gladly acknowledge and reciprocate with a link.


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

3rd & 4th Londons

I've updated the posts for the 3rd City of London & 4th City of London with some sample army service numbers and corresponding dates within their respective six digit ranges.

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

Find your London Regiment ancestors on-line with Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

1st, 2nd & 5th Londons updates

I've updated the posts for the 1st Londons, 2nd Londons and 5th Londons; adding sample six digit service numbers for the 1st London Regiment and 2nd London Regiment, and including detail on five digit service numbers issued to men transferring into the 5th London Regiment in July 1916.

Find your London Regiment ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

 

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

Five digit Territiorial Force numbers

Don't be fooled into thinking that because your ancestor had a five digit number, he couldn't have served with a Territorial Force battalion. He could have.

As we have seen with London Regiment men, the majority of the battalions (the 5th London Regiment being a notable exception) started numbering from 1 in 1908 and continued with the same series up until at least January 1917 when the first six digit numbers start to be issued. At that point in time, those men still serving were issued with new numbers in order of seniority. So the earliest enlistment from 1908 would have been issued with the lowest six digit number and so on.

Taking the 7th Manchester Regiment as an example, number 67 (who was probably a serving Volunteer with the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Manchester Regiment) joined the 7th Manchesters on 1st April 1908. In January 1917 he was still on the Regiment's books and was given the new number 275211. (The 7th Manchesters was allocated the block of numbers 275001 to 300000).

So for this battalion - and the majority of Territorial Force (TF) battalions - men with single, double and triple digit numbers (up to 500 or more) are generally 1908 enlistments, with four digit numbers starting to appear - for the most part (although Cyclist Battalions are generally an exception) - in 1910 and 1911. (The 7th Manchesters had reached 884 by March 1909 and 1135 by January 1910). Some battalions did in fact get into five digits before the new six digit renumbering happened in 1917 (see the 28th London Regiment for instance, which was up to 10400 by January 1917), but the majority of TF battalions did not.

But what about those high five digit numbers - 300** etc - which appear as Territorial Force numbers?

Army Council Instruction 1245 of 11th August 1917 explains why:

1245.3
A recruit on being posted to a regular or TF unit, either on being called up under the Military Service Acts or on voluntary enlistment, will be allotted a regular number, with the exception of recruits posted to battalions of the London Regiment or to units of Corps which do not contain any regular unit (ie The Honourable Artillery Company [which was also supposed to be part of the London Regiment] and Royal Defence Corps.

So those high five digit numbers are conscripts or volunteers who have been posted to TF battalions but given numbers from the main series of numbering normally found in the regular/service battalions. Incidentally, and having referenced the 5th Londons earlier, we also see five digit numbers appearing in numbers beginning 105** through to 110**,for the 5th Londons in July 1916. The battalion suffered heavy casualties on the diversionary attack on Gommecourt on 1st July 1916 and these five digit numbers are all drafts from the 2/7th Middlesex Regiment and other London Regiment battalions - 616 in total - to replace those men lost on July 1st. I've given more details on these five digit 5th London Regiment numbers in a separate post. Of these 616 transferees, at least 130 were killed in action or died of wounds whilst serving with the 5th Londons, in a continuation of the Somme battles in September and October 1916.

The other five digit numbers that appear in TF battalions in large groups are those which appear for some Supernumerary Company men attached to TF battalions, but again, that will be the subject of a future post.

Know your ancestor's armys service number? Find him with a FREE 14 day trial of Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!


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

The Inns of Court Regiment

In common with The Honourable Artillery Company, The Inns of Court Regiment (which could trace its history back to 1584) was allowed to retain its pre 1908 title. Although early attestation papers from 1908 and 1909 show the battalion as the 27th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Inns of Court), it was never really known by this name; just simply, Inns of Court (or The Devil's Own). The battalion consisted largely of men who were connected with the law courts and up until the end of the First World War, over 14,000 men passed through the battalion, with over 11,000 of these gaining commissions.

Here are some sample numbers and joining dates for the Inns of Court Regiment:

312 joined on 30th June 1908
439 joined on 2nd November 1909
582 joined on 13th November 1911
618 joined on 29th February 1912
1244 joined on 23rd September 1914
1814 joined on 16th October 1914
2044 joined on 9th November 1914
3217 joined on 12th April 1915
3919 joined on 2nd June 1915
4914 joined on 19th July 1915
5323 joined on 2nd August 1915
5916 joined on 1st September 1915
6583 joined on 4th October 1915
7195 joined on 4th November 1915
8232 joined on 7th December 1915
8589 joined on 3rd January 1916
9279 joined on 3rd February 1916
9571 joined on 15th April 1916
9628 joined on 4th october 1916
9703 joined on 2nd November 1916
10169 joined on 18th December 1916
10548 joined on 22nd January 1917
11359 joined on 24th May 1917
12009 joined on 17th September 1917
12668 joined on 1st March 1918
12991 joined on 28th April 1918
13083 joined 20th May 1918
13218 joined on 5th June 1918
13524 joined on 15th July 1918
13787 joined on 9th August 1918
14044 joined on 23rd September 1918
14124 joined on 9th October 1918

Although a Territorial Force Battalion, the Inns of Court was not re-numbered in 1917. The image on this post is taken from The Dacorum Heritage Trust website.


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

Find ancestors in the Inns of Court with a FREE 14 day trial of Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

Also 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)
18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish 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)

16th (County of London) Bn, The London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles)

The 16th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles), had its origins in the 12th Middlesex (Queen's) Volunteer Rifles Corps. Its headquarters was at 58 Buckingham Gate, Westminster.

Here are some army service numbers and corresponding joining dates for the 16th Londons:

401 joined on 24th April 1908
531 joined on 4th February 1909
1280 joined on 21st November 1910
1381 joined on 20th November 1911
1610 joined on 22nd November 1913
1699 joined on 5th August 1914
2673 joined on 1st September 1914
3304 joined on 7th November 1914
3638 joined on 28th December 1914
3724 joined on 18th January 1915
3784 joined on 3rd February 1915
3869 joined on 6th March 1915
3989 joined on 17th April 1915
4103 joined on 13th May 1915
4233 joined on 2nd June 1915
4401 joined on 15th July 1915
4460 joined on 11th August 1915
4512 joined on 25th September 1915
4570 joined on 18th October 1915
4651 joined on 1st November 1915
5066 joined on 4th December 1915
5356 joined on 3rd January 1916
5558 joined on 9th February 1916
5825 joined on 2nd March 1916
6220 joined on 6th April 1916
6444 joined on 3rd May 1916
6952 joined on 11th June 1916
7092 joined on 31st August 1916
7235 joined on 15th September 1916
7319 joined on 6th October 1916
7509 joined on 10th November 1916
7742 joined on 4th December 1916

By January 1917, the 16th London Regiment was numbering with the new six figure Territorial Force numbers. It did so within the range 550001 - 570000.

Find your London Regiment ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

WAR HISTORY OF THE FIRST BATTALION QUEEN’S WESTMINSTER RIFLES 1914-1918

This from the Naval & Military Press website regarding their reprint of the above book:

"With the formation of the Territorials in 1908 the Westminsters became the 16th (County of London) Battalion, London Regt (Queen’s Westminster Rifles). It was in the 2nd London Division at the outbreak of war, but left the division and landed in France on 3 Nov 1914; shortly after it was posted to 18th Brigade, 6th Division (regular) till Feb 1916 when it joined 169th Brigade of the 56th (1st London) Division which was then re-forming in France, and with which it remained to the end of the war.

"For the first six months the battalion was in the Armentieres sector before moving up to the Salient at the end of May 1915. The next eight months were spent in the Ypres Salient during which time they occupied practically every portion of the northern half from the Ypres-Roulers railway to about a mile NW of Wieltje, as clearly shown on an excellent, accompanying map. Then it was down to the Somme front where, with the 48th Division, their division took part in the disastrous attack on Gommecourt on 1 July which, according to the battalion history, cost them 600 casualties out of the 750 who went into action. Subsequently they were in action in other Somme battles, in the Arras offensive of 1917, in Third Ypres, at Cambrai, Canal du Nord and the advance to Victory.

"The battalion was awarded 24 battle honours and the roll of honour lists 1,219 dead of all ranks. As a single-battalion history this contains plenty of detail and the supporting maps are excellent in their clarity and the amount of tactical detail. Most useful is the appendix containing an itinerary showing battalion locations and periods spent in the line. There is a list of honours and awards and a list of all the officers who served with the battalion overseas. The author was the battalion 2nd in command who embarked with it in November 1914 as a company commander."

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


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)
17th (County of London) Battalion (Poplar & Stepney Rifles)
18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish 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)

14th (County of London) Bn, The London Regiment (London Scottish)

This battalion had its origins in the London Scottish Volunteer Rifles Corps. Its headquarters was at 59 Buckingham Gate, Westminster. The battalion holds the distinction of being the first territorial infantry battalion to see action against the Germans in the First World War. This occurred at Messines on 31st October 1914, the London Scottish territorials fighting alongside regular battalions of the British Army.

Here are some army service numbers and joining dates for The London Scottish.

689 joined on September 14th 1908
807 joined on January 20th 1909
1241 joined on February 7th 1910
1404 joined on January 23rd 1911
1586 joined on January 22nd 1912
1782 joined on February 17th 1913
2002 joined on January 12th 1914
2202 joined on August 4th 1914
2798 joined on 1st September 1914
3379 joined on November 5th 1914
4099 joined on December 9th 1914
4256 joined on January 11th 1915
4377 joined on February 11th 1915
4492 joined on March 12th 1915
4615 joined on April 12th 1915
4746 joined on May 3rd 1915
4911 joined on June 3rd 1915
5050 joined on July 19th 1915
5111 joined on August 7th 1915
5235 joined on September 30th 1915
5327 joined on October 27th 1915
5381 joined on November 3rd 1915
6034 joined on December 7th 1915
6401 joined on January 8th 1916
6642 joined on February 4th 1916
7003 joined on March 1st 1916
7443 joined on April 6th 1916
7679 joined on May 1st 1916
8141 joined on July 17th 1916
8411 joined on August 31st 1916
8509 joined on September 15th 1916
8653 joined on October 9th 1916
8756 joined on November 9th 1916
8805 joined on December 4th 1916
8854 joined on January 9th 1917

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917, The 14th Londons re-numbered within the block 510001 to 530000.


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

Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

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)
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)
18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish 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)

13th (County of London) Bn, The London Regiment (Kensington)

This battalion had its origins in the 4th Middlesex Volunteer Rifles Corps. Its headquarters was at Iverna Gardens, Kensington.

201 joined on 4th April 1908
570 joined on 19th February 1909
1044 joined on 8th February 1910
1147 joined on 10th January 1911
1293 joined on 14th May 1912
1367 joined on 21st January 1913
1540 joined on 3rd March 1914
1725 joined on 5th August 1914
2430 joined on 1st September 1914
3311 joined on 10th November 1914
3672 joined on 10th December 1914
3846 joined on 20th January 1915
3944 joined on 9th February 1915
4025 joined on 8th March 1915
4091 joined on 12th April 1915
4249 joined on 12th May 1915
4313 joined on 8th June 1915
4421 joined on 14th July 1915
4461 joined on 9th August 1915
4489 joined on 9th September 1915
4518 joined on 5th October 1915
4550 joined on 8th November 1915
4651 joined on 11th December 1915
4690 joined on 12th February 1916
4753 joined on 31st March 1916
4814 joined on 1st April 1916
5282 joined on 2nd May 1916
5403 joined on 5th June 1916
5717 joined on 4th July 1916
6384 joined on 21st August 1916
6483 joined on 1st September 1916
6629 joined on 17th October 1916
6784 joined on 20th November 1916

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917, The 13th Londons re-numbered within the block 490001 to 510000. Here are some sample army service numbers and corresponding joining dates within the six digit range:

490025 originally joined on 19th February 1909
490057 originally joined on 9th January 1912
490149 originally joined on 16th September 1913
490252 originally joined on 5th August 1914
490510 originally joined on 1st September 1914
490928 originally joined on 12th November 1914
491130 originally joined on 17th December 1914
491216 originally joined on 13th January 1915
491307 originally joined on 5th February 1915
491367 originally joined on 5th March 1915
491585 originally joined on 28th June 1915
491720 originally joined on 8th November 1915
493278 originally joined on 30th August 1916
493924 joined on 16th January 1917
494058 joined on 14th February 1917
494264 joined on 30th March 1917
494291 joined on 23rd April 1917
495322 joined on 9th May 1917
495671 joined on 11th June 1917
495897 joined on 11th October 1917
496075 joined on 9th January 1918
496634 joined on 21st May 1918

BEWARE!

It is wrong to assume that numbers were issued in a strict sequential sequence. They weren't. As the war progressed and casualties grew, large numbers of men were often transferred from one battalion to another and allocated numbers within blocks which did not fit the sequential patterning seen to date. This becomes particularly evident in most battalions from 1916 onwards.

As an example, take a look at these six digit numbers for the Kensingtons beginning 505***.

c505004 to 505027
Numbers in this range were issued to men who transferred in France, from the 23rd Londons to the 13th Londons. This transfer took place on 14th April 1917 and NOT in 1918 as could be implied from the sequential list above.
c505038 to 505045
Issued to men who had transferred from the 8th Londons to the 13th Londons.
c505049 to 505063
Issued to men who had transferred from the 17th Londons to the 13th Londons.
c505073 to 505096
Issued to men who had transferred from the 18th Londons to the 13th Londons

It gets messier from here, men with numbers in the 5051** and 5052** range being transferred from a variety of regiments, the majority of which are other London Regiment battalions but also men from the Sussex Yeomanry, Monmouthshire Regiment and others. I suspect that men in the 505*** range were all transferred in April 1917, but I'll check this.




Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!



Read the history of The Kensingtons (first published in 1936) this from the N&MP blurb on their advertised reprint below:

"A brief account of the history of the Kensingtons before the Great War is given in the opening chapter of this book. When war broke out the battalion was already allocated to the 4th London Brigade, 2nd London Division, but in November 1914 it left the division and went to France, arriving on 4th; it was allocated to 25th Brigade, 8th Division, a newly formed regular division, with which it fought its first major action, at Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. After a spell on the Lines of Communication the battalion joined the re-formed 1st London Division (now numbered 56th) in 168th Brigade, and it fought in that brigade on the Western Front for the rest of the war.

"In September 1914 a second line battalion was formed (2/13th) which was assigned to179th Brigade 60th Division. An unexpected diversion occurred at the end of April 1916 when the brigade was sent to Ireland on internal security duties following the Easter rebellion. A fortnight later it returned to England and on 21 June the 60th Division began its move to France. After about four months in the Vimy sector the division was transferred to Macedonia where the battalion arrived at the end of November 1916. Its spell in that theatre was comparatively short for in May 1917 the division moved again - to Palestine where it served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force until the end of the war.

"This history is arranged in two parts, the first deals with the first line battalion, 1/4th, and is written by Sgt Bailey; the second part is the history of the 2/4th, written by Sgt Hollier. There is a final chapter covering the post-war period up to 1935, written by one of the commanding officers. The Roll of Honour lists the dead (60 officers 1003 men), alphabetically by ranks, without identifying battalion, nor does the list of Honours and Awards identify the battalion."


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

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)
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)
18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish 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)

12th (County of London) Bn, The London Regiment (The Rangers)

This battalion had its origins in the 22nd Middlesex Volunteer Rifles Corps. Its headquarters was at Chenies Street, Bedford Square, Bloomsbury.

Here is a sample sequence of army service numbers and enlistment / joining dates for the 12th London Regiment between the years 1909 and 1916. There is an inconsistency in sequential numbering in this battalion. When it reached number 7999 in July 1916, the battalion went back to 6000, continued numbering up until 6999 in November 1916 and then reverted to 8000. I'd be interested to hear an explanation from anybody as to why this is, although looking at my database for this battalion, there appears to be a corresponding jump from the 5000s to the 7000s in May/June 1916. It's almost as if somebody 'forgot' or 'missed out' the numbers between 6000 and 6999 when men were enlisting in May/June 1916.

Another inconsistency in this battalion is the numbering in 1908 which is a good deal more chaotic than in most of the other London Regiment battalions for this period. Thus number 7 joined on 1st April (straight from the 22nd Middlesex VRC), 239 joined on 23rd June, 379 on 29th June, 417 on 26th October, 439 on 12th August, 510 on 1st April...

For this reason, I'll start my sample overview of the 12th Londons from 1909, by which time the numbering appears to have settled down.

545 joined on 1st January 1909
1192 joined on 10th January 1910
1295 joined on 9th January 1911
1440 joined on 2nd April 1912
1558 joined on 29th January 1913
1848 joined on 13th January 1914
2007 joined on 5th August 1914
2954 joined on 7th September 1914
3453 joined on 1st March 1915
3646 joined on 6th April 1915
4125 joined on 7th August 1915
4202 joined on 11th September 1915
4274 joined on 16th October 1915
4307 joined on 30th November 1915
4542 joined on 14th December 1915
4696 joined on 12th January 1916
4988 joined on 1st February 1916
5445 joined on 25th March 1916
5718 joined on 6th May 1916
7514 joined on 20th June 1916
7633 joined on 10th July 1916
6094 joined on 7th August 1916
6454 joined on 22nd September 1916
6459 joined on 11th October 1916
6605 joined on 1st November 1916
8031 joined on 23rd November 1916

When the Territorial Force was re-numbered in 1917, The 12th Londons re-numbered within the block 470001 to 490000.

Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!

RANGERS’ HISTORICAL RECORDS From 1859 to the Conclusion of the Great War

This from the Naval & Military Press:

"This book is laid out in five parts. The first takes the history of the Regiment from 1859 to the outbreak of the Great War and the remaining four consist of one each to the First Battalion, the Scond Battalion, the Amalgamated Battalion and finally the Depot and Reserve battalion during the war. There is a list of honours and awards but no roll of honour nor index.

"The foundation of the Rangers as a unit of the Volunteer Force was laid in 1859 and the first part of the book contains a brief record of their history from 1859 until the outbreak of war, including descriptions of dress and equipment and names of officers and the Rangers's part in the South African War. On formation of the Territorial Force in 1908 the battalion became “The Rangers,” the 12th (County of London Battalion), The London Regiment, in the 3rd Brigade of the 1st London Division.

"In December 1914 the battalion left the division and landed in Le Havre on Xmas Day and joined GHQ troops (Line of Command) till February 1915 when it was transferred to 84th Brigade, 28th Division. It sustained heavy casualties during Second Ypres. Then it moved down to Gommecourt and in that ill-fated attack suffered 560 casualties. There is an error on page 48 where the other division in that attack is referred to as the ‘48th’; it should, of course, be ‘46th’.

"A second-line battalion (2/12th) was formed in September 1914 (the original battalion became 1/12th) and went to France in February 1917 with 175th Brigade, 58th Division and the third part of the book describes its formation, training and actions at the front. A year later, in February 1918, the two battalions amalgamated to become 12th London (Rangers) in the 58th Division and fought with that division for the rest of the war. The chapters in each part of the book were written by various contributors who were present during the events they describe, which include activities out of the line. The list of contents names the authors of each chapter.

"The maps are good and there is some good detail in the narrative, including identification of officers and other ranks in the action. Soldiers Died lists 1140 dead in addition to fifty officers. Twenty eight battle honours were awarded.

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)
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)
18th (County of London) Battalion (London Irish 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)


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