This battalion had its origins in the 1st Volunteer Rifle Corps and, as the title suggests, it was affiliated to The London Rifle Brigade. It was headquarted in Bunhill Row in the City of London.
Unlike all of the other London Regiment battalions (and including the Inns of Court and HAC), this battalion did not start numbering from 1 in April 1908 but appears to have continued with the numbering series which had been in use for the 1st VRC. I am assuming that the old 1st VRC men re-enlisted with the 5th (City of London) Bn and retained their old VRC numbers but this is just an assumption in the absence of further evidence via attestation papers or documentation from the time. In any event, the 5th London Regiment numbering sequence is certainly unique within the London Regiment.
By the time the First World War was declared, the battalion had reached the high 9000s and it wasn't long before it got to 9999 and started re-numbering from 1 again. Number 35 was issued on 6th August 1914.
This also illustrates another point that a low number doesn't always signify an early enlistment date. Medal sellers on eBay will often point out that a medal has a low number which, they imply, must therefore mean that it was one of the first to be issued. Well, yes and no. A low number should normally indicate that it was one of the first to be issued in a particular series, but as we have seen with the 5th London Regiment, their series wasn't begun until August 1914. Anyway, here are some numbers and joining dates / enlistment dates for the 5th London Regiment.
8304 joined on 5th May 1908
8525 joined on 16th February 1909
9166 joined on 16th June 1910
9266 joined on 9th March 1911
9415 joined on 30th May 1912
9668 joined on 4th December 1913
35 joined on 6th August 1914
281 joined on 1st September 1914
1130 joined on 14th October 1914
1192 joined on 2nd November 1914
1326 joined on 10th December 1914
1438 joined on 5th January 1914
1588 joined on 6th February 1915
1701 joined on 3rd March 1915
2087 joined on 27th April 1915
2171 joined on 25th May 1915
2413 joined on 28th Jun 1915
2430 joined on 1st Jul 1915
2916 joined on 29th October 1915
2936 joined on 1st November 1915
3755 joined on 6th December 1915
4310 joined on 16th March 1916
4676 joined on 26th April 1916
4783 joined on 5th May 1916
5446 joined on 26th August 1916
5828 joined on 20th September 1916
5863 joined on 18th October 1916
Five digit service numbers in the 5th Londons
On 1st July 1916, the 5th Londons suffered heavy casualties on the diversionary attack on Gommecourt. In order to bring the battalion up to strength, men were drafted in from the 2/7th Middlesex Regiment and from other London battalions. This from the History of the London Rifle Brigade 1859-1919:
"On 16th July a move was made to rest billets at Bienvillers. The battalion by then had filled up more or less, and included 2/7th Middlesex, 494 other ranks; 6th Londons, 8; 7th Londons, 26; 8th Londons, 86; 20th Londons 1; 2/2nd Londons, 1; all wearing their own regimental badges."
These men - 616 Other ranks in total - were all given five digit numbers within the range 10501 to at least 11077 . I can break this down further:
10501(later re-numbered 303982) - 10525 (later re-numbered 304002)
These numbers, twenty five in all, were allocated to men who had previously served with the 7th London Regiment. The Rifle Brigade history mentions 26 men but I have been unable to identify the 26th. All of these men were first grouped sequentially by their 7th Londons army service numbers and then re-numbered in the 105** range. At least six of these men were killed in action or died of wounds before the year was out.
10526 (later re-numbered 304003) - 10533 (not re-numbered, trans to MGC)
These eight numbers were issued to men who had previously served with the 6th London Regiment. They appear to have been allocated their numbers randomly. At least one of these men from the 6th Londons was killed before the year was out (10530) and 10528 died in August 1917.
10534 (not re-numbered, KiA Sept 1916) - 10620 (later re-numbered 304073)
That's a range of 87 numbers against the Rifle Brigade history's 86. I have a few gaps and it's possible therefore that one of my gaps represents a number that was not used. These men had all previously served with the 8th London Regiment and, as with the transferees from the 7th London Regiment, they were first grouped sequentially by their 8th Londons numbers and then re-numbered - in two groups. The first group extends from 10534 (formerly 757, 8th Londons) to 10588 (formerly 5409, 8th Londons). The second group extends from 10589 (formerly 2932, 8th Londons) to 10620 (formerly 5515 8th Londons). At least 21 of these 86 transferees were killed in action or died of wounds before the year was out.
10621 (later re-numbered 304074) - 11077 (later re-numbered 304425)
These 459 men were transferred from the 2/7th Middlesex Regiment. They were grouped broadly alphabetically by surname and then given numbers within the 106** to 110** range. The Rifle Brigade history notes 494 transfers from the Middlesex. It seems likely that 11078 was also a former 7th Middlesex man (although I don't have confirmation of that) and also 11080 through to 11083. I am still researching these numbers and will add to this portion of this post when I have more information to report. At least 102 of these 459 transferees were killed in action or died of wounds before the year was out.
11079
This number was allocated to the former 20th London Regiment man. He wasn't re-numbered in the 5th Londons six-digit sequence but his medal index card shows a six digit number which belongs to the series issued to the 20th Londons. I am assuming that he transferred to the 5th Londons and then transferred back to the 20th Londons where he was re-numbered.
2/2nd Londons
I'm still looking for this man's five digit 5th London number.
As far as actual dates for these five digit transfers are concerned, I can offer the following information:
10520 and 10524 (formerly 7th Londons) transfered on the 9th July 1916 (and so it seems reasonable to assume that the other 7th London transferees joined on this date as well). 10668. 10669 and 10680 (all former 7th Middlesex men) transfered on the 3rd July 1916 (and so too, probably did the bulk of the other 7th Middlesex men). All of these men's service records survive in the WO 364 (pension) series held at The National Archives.
When the Territorial Force re-numbered in 1917, men in the 5th London Regiment were allocated numbers within the range 300001 to 320000.
Find your 5th London Regiment ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!
SHORT HISTORY OF THE LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE
I picked up an original copy of this book some years ago for a couple of pounds. That was a bargain, and so too is this Naval and Military Press (N&MP) reprint. I can't vouch for the quality of the photographic reproductions but the original has quite a few scattered through its pages. This is what the N&MP has to say about the book:
This book gives a summary of the history of the London Rifle Brigade (LRB) prior to the outbreak of war and then goes on to record the experiences of the first line battalion, 1/5th LRB, from mobilization to February 1916. The battalion arrived in France on 5 November 1914 and was allocated to 11th Brigade (Hunter-Weston or “Hunter-Bunter”), 4th Division and served with it till May 1915 when it was transferred to GHQ troops. In October the battalion moved back to the line to join 8th Brigade, 3rd Division in the Ypres salient and this record ends in February 1916 when the battalion was again transferred, this time to its final home in 169th Brigade of the 56th (London) Division which was then being reformed in France. This short account is written with censorship very much in mind, so it does get into too much detail; it is meant to give some idea of the battalions doings to those who were not out in France at the time, and to be an aid to the memory of those who were there. There is a list of Honours and Awards, headed by the VC to Sgt Belcher in May 1915; there is an alphabetical list, by ranks, of LRB officers with service in France up to 16 August 1916 (excluding those currently serving in the battalion, banned by the censor) showing casualties; and there is a list of attached officers who have served with the battalion, again excluding any currently serving.
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)
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)
The 4th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), had its origins in the 4th Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Here are some sample army service numbers and corresponding joining dates for the 4th London Regiment:
220 joined on 2nd April 1908
502 joined on 11th February 1909
1086 joined on 7th February 1911
1203 joined on 9th January 1912
1783 joined on 24th April 1913
1933 joined on 10th March 1914
2156 joined on 10th August 1914
2318 joined on 1st September 1914
3035 joined on 15th October 1914
3275 joined on 2nd November 1914
3505 joined on 14th December 1914
3796 joined on 27th January 1915
3919 joined on 16th February 1915
4013 joined on 25th March 1915
4067 joined on 12th April 1915
4110 joined on 5th May 1915
4486 joined on 15th June 1915
4787 joined on 16th August 1915
5003 joined on 1st November 1915
5163 joined on 21st January 1916
5486 joined on 12th February 1916
5546 joined on 20th March 1916
6190 joined on 1st April 1916
6429 joined on 2nd May 1916
6641 joined on 12th August 1916
6771 joined on 13th October 1916
8056 joined on 21st November 1916
When the battalion re-numbered in 1917, it did so using numbers within the block 280001 to 300000. Here are some sample six digt numbers and joining dates for the 4th Londons (original numbers, where known, in brackets):
280050 originally joined on 13th September 1910 (1059)
280075 originally joined on 6th February 1912
280244 originally joined on 3rd June 1913
280364 originally joined on 11th June 1914
280536 originally joined on 2nd September 1914
281089 originally joined on 27th October 1914 (3277)
281103 originally joined on 2nd November 1914 (3275)
281278 originally joined on 7th January 1915
281473 originally joined on 15th February 1915
281623 originally joined on 10th May 1915 (4133)
281727 originally joined 3rd June 1915
282163 originally joined on 1st November 1915 (5003)
283202 originally joined on 12th August 1916 (6641)
This concludes the numbering sequences for the first four Territorial Force London Battalions, all of these four battalions associated with The Royal Fusiliers.
Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!
WAR HISTORY OF THE 4TH BATTALION THE LONDON REGIMENT (ROYAL FUSILIERS) 1914-1919
The Naval & Military Press has reprinted this battalion's war history. This from their blurb on the book (below):
"At the beginning of the war the 4th Londons were part of the 1st London Brigade, 1st London Division. The brigade’s task on mobilization was guarding the railway between Waterloo and Southampton. However, within a month of the declaration of war the brigade was despatched to Malta to replace the regular battalions called back to the UK.
"In January 1915 the battalion left Malta for France where it joined the Ferozepore Brigade of the 3rd Indian (Lahore) Division with which it fought its first major action, at Neuve Chapelle in March. The Indian Corps left France in December 1915 and in February the following year the battalion joined the 168th Brigade in the reformed 1st London Division (now numbered 56th) with which it remained, on the Western Front, for the rest of the war.
"In September 1914 the second line battalion, 2/4th, was formed (the original 4th Battalion now became 1/4th) and in December it went to Malta to relieve the 1/4th which was going to France. After eight months the battalion sailed to Alexandria and from there it went to Gallipoli (October 1915) where it was attached to the Royal Naval Division. The battalion left Gallipoli in January 1916 and went back to Egypt for four months before moving to France (Rouen) where it was disbanded in June 1916.
"The third line battalion, 3/4th, had been formed in January 1915 and when the 2/4th was disbanded, the 3/4th was redesignated the 2/4th and under that title landed in France in January 1917 with 173rd Brigade, 58th Division. The battalion fought with that division till September 1918 when it was broken up and personnel transferred to the 2/2nd Battalion.
"Finally there was a fourth line battalion, 4/4th, which remained in the UK as a drafting unit for the overseas battalions.
"This is a good, solid history which describes very well the doings of the active service battalions with plenty of detaiI. It follows the progress of the war from mobilization to armistice with each chapter covering a specific period and a specific battalion, clearly indicated in the contents list. Thus Chapter IV is the 1/4th in the Second Battle of Ypres, Chapter VII is The 2/4th in Malta, Gallipoli and Egypt. and so on. There is no Roll of Honour though there is a list of Honours and Awards, including foreign decorations, as well as a list of officers and men of other regiments who won their awards serving with the 4th Londons."
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)
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)
I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.
This battalion had its origins in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Army Service Numbers and enlistment dates for the 3rd London Regiment as follows:
162 joined on 26th May 1908
639 joined on 18th May 1909
900 joined on 2nd June 1910
959 joined on 12th January 1911
1079 joined on 9th January 1912
1446 joined on 4th February 1913
1947 joined on 3rd May 1914
2114 joined on 4th September 1914
3058 joined on 28th October 1914
3097 joined on 30th November 1914
3148 joined on 18th December 1914
3408 joined on 18th January 1915
3669 joined on 10th February 1915
3883 joined on 9th March 1915
4104 joined on 29th April 1915
4229 joined on 27th May 1915
4350 joined on 2nd June 1915
4781 joined on 7th July 1915
4917 joined on 2nd August 1915
5008 joined on 30th September 1915
5047 joined on 20th October 1915
5107 joined on 10th November 1915
5174 joined on 15th December 1915
5339 joined on 25th January 1916
5628 joined on 25th February 1916
5697 joined on 22nd March 1916
6235 joined on 1st April 1916
6656 joined on 10th May 1916
6725 joined on 16th August 1916
8030 joined 2nd November 1916
8185 joined 10th January 1917
When the battalion re-numbered in 1917, it did so using numbers within the block 250001 to 280000. Here are some sample numbers and joining dates for the six digit series (original numbers, where known, in brackets):
250011 originally joined on 1st April 1908 (and was almost certainly a 3rd VB RF man)
250036 originally joined on 8th June 1909
250044 originally joined on 8th February 1910
250124 originally joined on 14th March 1912 (1208)
250227 originally joined on 11th March 1913 (1508)
250356 originally joined on 6th January 1914 (1831)
250457 originally joined on 22nd August 1914
250646 originally joined on 4th September 1914 (2377)
250967 originally joined on 16th October 1914
250998 originally joined on 30th November 1914 (3097)
251849 originally joined on 14th June 1915 (4577)
251969 originally joined on 9th July 1915 (4785)
252056 originally joined on 15th August 1915 (4935)
252169 originally joined on 10th November 1915 (5107)
252355 originally joined on 25th January 1916 (5339)
253636 originally joined on 8th January 1917 (8177)
Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!
Caveat
It is wrong to assume that numbering sequences in battalions always followed a sequential pattern. They didn'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. For an example of this, see my post on the 23rd London Regiment.
My thanks to Tony Ring in New Zealand for supplying the photograph on this post.
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)
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)
I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.
This battalion had its origins in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Here are some sample army service numbers and corresponding joining dates for the 2nd London Regiment as follows:
340 joined on 6th May 1908
670 joined on 22nd March 1909
988 joined on 23rd March 1910
1068 joined on 19th January 1911
1209 joined on 4th March 1912
1452 joined on 8th January 1913
1775 joined on 13th May 1914
1912 joined on 10th August 1914
2472 joined on 7thy September 1914
3169 joined on 20th October 1914
3248 joined on 17th November 1914
3277 joined on 2nd December 1914
3475 joined on 20th January 1915
3636 joined on 15th February 1915
4205 joined on 2nd March 1915
4337 joined on 10th April 1915
4429 joined on 10th May 1915
4605 joined on 5th June 1915
4829 joined on 21st July 1915
4918 joined on 28th August 1915
5004 joined on 7th October 1915
5092 joined on 1st November 1915
5203 joined on 20th December 1915
5224 joined on 17th January 1916
5552 joined on 1st February 1916
5631 joined on 20th March 1916
6423 joined on 3rd April 1916
6605 joined on 15th May 1916
6628 joined on 3rd June 1916
6667 joined on 18th July 1916
6802 joined on 1st August 1916
8176 joined on 11th September 1916
8266 joined on 14th October 1916
8434 joined on 4th November 1916
When the battalion re-numbered in 1917, it did so using numbers within the block 230001 to 250000. Here are some sample army service numbers and corresponding joining dates within the six digit range.
230001 originally joined in April 1908 (and was almost certainly an old 2nd Volunteer Battalion man)
230092 originally joined on 4th March 1912
230315 originally joined on 6th August 1914
230562 originally joined on 1st September 1914
230997 originally joined on 19th October 1914
231072 originally joined on 15th December 1914
231136 originally joined on 12th January 1915
231423 originally joined on 19th February 1915
231708 originally joined on 20th April 1915
231842 originally joined on 7th June 1915
231985 originally joined on 31st July 1915
I'll add to this list in due course.
Search for 2nd City of London men on line with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!
Caveat
It is wrong to assume that numbering sequences in battalions always followed a sequential pattern. They didn'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. For an example of this, see my posts on the 5th London Regiment and the 23rd London Regiment.
2ND CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT (ROYAL FUSILIERS) IN THE GREAT WAR (1914-1919)
This from the Naval & Military Press:
"The 1/2nd was with the 1st London Brigade, 1st London Division when war broke out, and a month later the brigade was sent to Malta to replace the regular battalions. In February 1915 they in turn were replaced by their second line battalions (the 2/2nd had been formed in September 1914) and left for France where the 1/2nd was posted to 17th Brigade 6th Division at Armentieres and for the rest of the war it remained on the Western Front. In October 1915 the brigade was transferred to the 24th Division and in February 1916 it was moved again - to the re-formed 56th (previously 1st London) Division, part of 169th Brigade, and there it stayed to the end. After Malta the 2/2nd was sent to Gallipoli where it arrived on 13 October and was attached to the 2nd Naval Brigade. In January 1916 it went to France where it was disbanded and the 3/2nd (formed in December 1914), which was in the UK at the time with 173rd Brigade, 58th Division, was renamed 2/2nd. The division landed in France in January 1917 and the battalion fought its first major action at Bullecourt in May; it, too, remained with the brigade throughout the fighting to the end of the war. Finally there was a fourth line battalion, 4/2nd, which was formed in May 1915 but did not serve overseas; its function was to supply drafts for the two overseas battalions.
"The Roll of Honour lists 1,345 dead and the summary of awards shows 65 British decorations to officers and 246 to other ranks, excluding MiD."
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)
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)
This battalion had its origins in the 1st Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers. In common with all Territorial Force battalions in 1908, the majority of men joining this new battalion that year, would have seen prior service with the Volunteer Battalion.
Army Service Numbers and enlistment dates for the 1st London Regiment as follows:
401 joined on 30th June 1908
613 joined on 2nd February 1909
1013 joined on 21st February 1910
1144 joined on 22nd March 1911
1251 joined on 26th February 1912
1522 joined on 21st February 1913
1782 joined on 13th May 1914
2059 joined on 12th August 1914
2333 joined on 1st September 1914
3156 joined on 15th October 1914
3176 joined on 4th November 1914
3266 joined on 7th December 1914
3403 joined on 12th January 1915
3525 joined on 6th February 1915
3840 joined on 9th March 1915
4007 joined on 1st April 1915
4154 joined on 6th May 1915
4327 joined on 2nd June 1915
4662 joined on 21st July 1915
4889 joined on 30th August 1915
4904 joined on 4th September 1915
5024 joined on 5th October 1915
5195 joined on 3rd November 1915
5467 joined on 6th December 1915
5568 joined on 21st January 1916
6142 joined on 27th March 1916
6540 joined on 23rd May 1916
6716 joined on 5th June 1916
8121 joined on 28th August 1916
8351 joined on 8th September 1916
8551 joined on 11th October 1916
8982 joined on 20th November 1916
8982 is the last army service number that I currently have on my database for the 1st (City of London) Bn (Royal Fusiliers). The battalion though, would have carried on numbering in this series until the new six digit TF series was introduced in 1917. Men already in this battalion would then have been issued numbers within the block 200001 to 230000 as would new recruits to this battalion from early 1917.
Find your army ancestors today with a FREE 14 day trial to Ancestry.co.uk - Click here!
Caveat
It is wrong to assume that numbering sequences in battalions always followed a sequential pattern. They didn'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. For an example of this, see my posts on the 5th London Regiment and the 23rd London Regiment.
See also: 1st London transfers, November 1916 and read my other posts on numbering in the London Regiment battalions:
City of London Battalions
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)
I also offer a comprehensive, fast and cost-effective military history research service. Follow the link for more information.
