Coldstream Guards - PoW Other Ranks 1914

This is an edited list of Coldstream Guards NCOs and men who became prisoners of war on or before 25th December 1914. Read more about this data source on my 1914 PoWs page. This data has been transcribed from the Imperial War Museum's collection, specifically item B.O.2 1/78 which is a thirteen-page typed list of Coldstream Guards dated 7th February 1919. My full transcription of this Coldstream Guards PoW collection (not reproduced here) also contains the following information against some or all of the names:

Home address
Next of kin
Next of kin's address
Date captured
Notes

The full transcription is available for sale as a download or CD for £20. Contact me if you would like to purchase a copy.

4780 Lance-Sergeant A Abraham, 10123 Private W Addinall, 6796 Private A Alexander, 10697 Private A H Allport, 3579 Private C Allsopp, 8395 Private C E Allsopp, 5543 Private G V Amos, 6230 Private E Andrews, 7470 Private R Arthur, 9168 Private W Ashworth, 8466 Private E Atkins, 7214 Private T F Atkins, 7420 Acting Sergeant E W Aust. 

8747 Private J Bacon, 9542 Private B Bailey, 6593 Private W T Bainbridge, 7630 Private H Balderstone, 9271 Private J E Bamford, 10175 Private G Banks, 5147 Private H Barker, 10789 Lance-Corporal A W Barnett, 8715 Corporal G H Barnsley, 4433 Private T Barrett, 7986 Private T A Barritt, 10172 Corporal B G Barsby, 10485 Private W B Baskett, 9277 Private F J Baxter, 7118 Private T Beckett, 12573 Private C H Beech, 5976 Private W Beech, 7931 Private W Beresford, 10236 Private J Bertram, 10020 Private F Billenness, 11168 Private J W Billington, 10064 Private W Bindon, 9232 Private H Bolam, 6548 Private A R Boulter, 6458 Private J Boyle, 8934 Private E W Bradford, 8900 Private F Bradford, 6022 F Brice, 8948 Private R H Briffett, 9162 J G Broadhurst, 9117 Lance-Corporal J Brooks, 7685 Private F E Broomhead, 7137 Private J Brown, 7103 Private H A F Browne, 10669 Lance-Corporal J T Bullen, 6837 Lance-Corporal H Bunford, 2162 Lance-Corporal E Burden, 3430 Private E Burnett, 10655 Private J H Butler, 4579 Private M Byrne.

10671 Lance-Corporal A B Cade, 8039 Private C Cant, 7670 Sergeant R G Carden, 8520 Private J Cardwell, 7594 Private E Carr, 6197 Private R Carter, 8758 Private S G Caudle, 9158 Private H Chappell, 11250 Private E C Chick, 9838 Private W E Chicken, 5760 Private T H Clark, 4636 Private C Clarke, 8966 Private T Clarke, 9516 Lance-Sergeant H Collins, 185 Private J Colton, 7164 Private A E Cook, 10016 Lance-Corporal J Cooper, 8682 Private J W Cooper, 8086 Private A Copson, 9249 Private T Courtney, 7869 Private H A Cowell, 9626 Lance-Corporal A E A Cowley, 7108 Private A Crabtree, 10049 Private J H Craig, 8778 Private W Creeley, 10246 Private W Cropper, 4317 Private J Croston, 6359 Private T Cunningham, 6867 Private T Cunningham, 4871 Private A W Cure. 

10276 Private J W Dakin, 4682 Private G E Dalby, 8945 Private G Dale, 5837 Private T Darling, 8626 Private E J Davis, 5371 Private D H Day, 6531 Private R T Devlin, 8003 Private G Dewey, 6647 Corporal H Dexter, 9993 Lance-Corporal S E Dickinson, 5632 Private F W Didcock, 5284 Private A Dillon, 4860 Private S A Dodd, 7135 Private H Dodman, 5782 Private H Dolman, 8048 Private G W Donner, 7287 Private A Doody, 10191 Private J W Douglas, 8962 Lance-Corporal A Dugard, 1395 CSM T Duggan, 441 Private J Dunn, 7240 Private F Dunstan, 8079 Private W T Durrands, 10672 Private F G Dyer. 

10397 Private R Earl, 5386 Private A Eayers, 9702 Private W J Edwards, 8052 Private W F Ella, 7747 Private J Elliott, 10183 Private J Emery, 7072 Private G Etherington, 10418 Private G W Etherington.

4901 Private J Farmer, 6883 Private J H Farr, 2287 Private G Fielder, 2263 Sergeant E W Flint, 11172 Private H Forrington, 5825 Lance-Corporal W R Forster, 9211 Private H J Foxworthy, 4968 Private W Franks, 5627 Private J Freeman, 10690 Private H L Fry. 

4952 Lance-Corporal W J Galloway, 5884 Lance-Sergeant E Gambell, 4922 Private H Gane, 8687 Private G Gee, 4059 Private W Gibson, 5746 Private E Giles, 7676 Sergeant F Gill, 9192 Private E R M Gleen, 8006 Private G Godley, 7893 Private J Godsell, 8404 Private A Goss, 10610 Private G Goulding, 8983 Lance-Corporal H G Grant, 10758 Private F Graves, 10310 Private G J Gray, 10967 Private J Gray, 10459 Private J Green, 12214 Lance-Sergeant B Guy, 10256 Private D Gyte 

7352 Private W H Hale, 4384 Private C Hall, 7441 Lance-Corporal W A Hall, 5741 Private J A Hancon, 5795 Private W Harding, 5084 Private W Harris, 1399 Private T Harte, 1175 Private G Haslam, 7426 Private G Hatton, 7994 Private A Hawes,  8953 Private F Henderson, 10129 Lance-Corporal P V Heppel, 10198 Private  F Herbert, 9169 Private F Hewson, 8719 Private A E Hirons, 10291 Private J W Hobson, 7946 Private R G Hodge, 6280 Private J Holland, 4950 Private E Holmes, 11393 Private B Hooker, 6586 Private W Hopkins, 8857 Drummer R Hopwood, 9196 Corporal L Horrocks, 10162 Private F W Houldsworth, 9200 Private G E Howkins, 7631 Private G W Hudson, 9369 Private T Hunter, 7396 Private B Hurst. 

5075 Private F Ireland. 

10068 Private A Jackson, 8972 Private J G Jackson, 6481 Private W Jackson, 5783 Private J James, 4995 Lance-Corporal J L James, 7045 Private H Johnson, 5454 Lance-Sergeant R Johnson, 8615 Private C Jones, 5658 Private E R Jones, 8595 Private S Jones, 3634 Private J Joyce. 

6028 Private W H Keal, 7466 Private E A Keel, 7717 Private N Keeler, 6374 Private W Keeler, 9813 Private J Kelly, 9957 Lance-Corporal A A Kenny, 5214 Private H V Kerfoot, 8610 Private J Kimberley, 5465 Lance-Corporal W Kimberley, 6533 Private A V Kirk, 5140 Private P Kirkham, 5797 Private H H Kisman.

2656 Private C Labross, 10158 Lance-Corporal C H Lacey, 11102 Private W H Lane, 9829 Private M Lang, 6389 Private G V Langford, 7980 Private J Langham, 3418 Private G Leeson, 8721 Private J Leighton, 6318 Private J C Lewis, 10373 Private J W Lingard, 7552 Private J Long, 7213 Private A G Lovell, 6295 Private E Lovery, 9107 Private G Lowe, 10528 Private W Lowe, 2495 Private C E Lucas, 9186 Private W T Lunt, 10264 Private C V Lyon.

9553 Private A J Maddox, 6524 Private C Mallett, 7272 Private H Marsden, 9574 Lance-Corporal J G Martin, 9455 Private F Masters, 10116 Private C A May, 9571 Private W H May, 7894 Private W McGraa, 10368 Private W P McGrory, 8195 Drummer J McManus, 11042 Private G E Mears, 7867 Private J A Mirams, 7883 Private T Mitchell, 9462 Private B Mizen, 6492 Private R Monkton, 5390 Private P Monsell, 415 Lance-Corporal F Moore, 3540 Private J J Moore, 9011 Private W E Mulholland, 4407 Lance-Corporal C Munday, 10786 Private G H Muscroft.

7988 Private J Napier, 3571 Private H Naylor, 6059 Private F Norris.

 
10882 Private R S O'Brien, 5188 Lance-Corporal A J Ollerton. 

5544 Private F Painter, 6990 Lance-Sergeant A S Palmer, 5323 Private J W Parker, 803 Private A E Parkes, 7599 Private J H Parkes, 3699 Private A E Parry, 7366 Corporal W R Pearson, 889 Lance-Corporal F J Pergande, 1002 Corporal O Perdue,8985 Private G M Perkins, 10107 Lance-Sergeant F P Perry, 8032 Private H A Phillips, 10503 Private W E Phipps, 10274 Private W H Pigott, 4878 Private C J Pitman,6739 Private E Platts, 7866 Private G Pratt, 5393 Private E R Presland.

5026 Lance-Corporal L Radford, 7922 Private H Ralph, 10371 Private B Ranson, 3316 Lance-Corporal J F Ravenscroft, 2772 Private J Rawlinson, 7997 Private T Read, 8299 Private S Reading, 10130 Private J A Redfearn, 7395 Private A H Reed, 6001 Private A Reynolds, 8992 Private J F Richardson, 8432 Private G H Riley, 11265 Private I M Ritchie, 10124 Private S Ritchie, 10407 Private W Robinson, 6567 Private J L Robson, 9705 Private R Rock, 7537 Drummer G V Roebuck, 10736 Private A Roper, 6131 Lance-Corporal J T Rose, 7985 Private J H Rowell.

8671 Private J Salisbury, 5517 Private G Salley, 7453 Private A Satchell, 10753 Private W Shardlow, 10413 Private W H Sharland, 10122 Private F J Sharman, 7962 Private W B Sheppard, 8015 Sergeant G Shoesmith, 10388 Private A P Shore, 6055 Private A Skett, 8600 Lance-Corporal E A Smith (seated, above), 7874 Private J A Smith, 8569 Private R Smith, 10251 Private R H Smith, 8154 Private W E Smith, 9208 Lance-Corporal H Smitheman, 6309 Private J Snaith, 9701 Corporal G F Snartt, 8965 Private H G Snook, 10027 Private T Staniland, 6590 Private W R L Steadman, 5507 Private W E Stimpson, 2066 Private W E Stout, 2365 Private G Stratton, 1717 CSM R Sturges, 7862 Private W H Sully, 7711 Private J Sutcliffe, 2751 Private T Swann, 85 Lance-Corporal R Swatton, 7951 Private W T Szulczewski. 

2980 Private E E Tanner, 5422 Private W Tarbuck, 10282 Private C W Taylor, 4920 Private E Taylor, 4947 Corporal J Taylor, 5972 Private W Taylor, 8252 Sergeant E Thompson, 10742 Private F Thompson, 9036 Private J Thompson, 9606 Private J C Thompson, 5380 Private A Thornlow, 7868 Private C F Till, 10389 Private W Tong, 9645 Private J Tracey, 8723 Private C R Trodd, 2428 Private C Turnbull, 8540 Private G E Turner, 10258 Private J Turner.

 
10403 Private H Underhill, 6773 Private J Underhill. 

7116 Private S Venton, 8034 Private E Vincent, 6490 Private T E Vinnicombe, 5442 Private G Vranch. 

10178 Private G Walby, 7481 Private C W Walden, 7397 Private T Waldron, 3046 Private B Walker, 4985 Private E Walker, 9159 Lance-Sergeant H C Walker, 7934 Private B Warcup, 4965 Lance-Sergeant H Ward, 10846 Private J Ward, 8639 Private E Warne, 10213 Private W Watson, 9353 Private H T Webb, 9804 Lance-Corporal L Wehrle, 5467 Lance-Corporal E Welch, 8104 Private F Wells, 6220 Private A Whetton, 8717 Private J Whitehouse, 2008 Private J S Whitehouse, 6134 Private A J Wickham, 8417 Private G W Wild, 8153 Drummer A V Wilkins, 7761 Private A Willcox, 9599 Lance-Corporal A Williams, 8407 Private F J Wilson, 8617 Corporal H Wilson, 10731 Private J A Wilson, 5294 Private W Woodhead, 10774 Private F Woodward, 10239 Private F Wright, 10174 Private F E Wyatt.

 
2884 Private W Yates, 9282 Private H Young, 6777 Drummer S I Young. 

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South Lancashire Regiment - PoW Other Ranks 1914

Here's an edited list of 342 South Lancashire Regiment NCOs and men - 1st and 2nd Battalion - who became prisoners of war on or before 25th December 1914. Read more about this data source on my 1914 PoWs page.

This data has been transcribed from the Imperial War Museum's collection, specifically item B.O.2 1/254 which is an undated eighteen-page typed list of South Lancashire Regiment prisoners of war. 

My full transcription of this South Lancashire Regiment PoW collection (not reproduced here) also contains the following information against some or all of the names:

Home address
Next of kin
Next of kin's address
Whether or not repatriated at the time the list was drawn up
Date of deaths
Notes

Judging by the regimental numbers below, at least fifty of these men originally attested with the Special Reserve. Of the regulars, the longest serving man appears to be Private Fowles who joined the regiment in 1894, whilst Private Nuttall was the PoW with the least army service. His number indicates that he had only joined the regiment in June 1914.

The full transcription is available for sale as a download or CD for £20. Contact me if you would like to purchase a copy.

9357 Private J W Adams
9520 Private J Atkins
10051 Lance-Corporal T R Aust
6657 Private W Ansell
9983 Private W Bartlett
7605 Private J Brennan
8966 Corporal A Bowler
1045 Private W A Briers
8961 Sergeant H Baynton
6805 Private W G Bennett
8478 Private G Brough
8714 Private W J Brown
5952 Private J Barnes
8268 Private J Baldwin
1535 Private W Burton
10012 Private A E Brooks
6817 Private J Bohan
1416 Private T Brady
9045 Private H Buck
9877 Private H Barry
6481 Private W Booth
10078 Private W Brightmore
1808 Private W Birch
9941 Sergeant W Bridge
8289 Private P Birmingham
8739 Private J Barkwith
1630 Private J J Brooks
7571 Private G Bright
8563 Private S Brereton
7407 Private A H Boxwell
10077 Private P T Burke
7846 Private K C Bennett
5886 Private J Barnes
1492 Private F Briers
6607 Private H Bullick
7526 Private P Bradshaw
5709 Corporal J Bond
9213 Corporal A T Bostel
6404 Private E Buxey
10129 Private A G Buzzard
9408 Private W J Bickerstaffe
737 Private D Bentley
10097 Private J Bamber
8218 Private D Balmer
10063 Private J J Carr
7378 Private J Clarke
9699 Private W Coverdale
8854 Private A Curwood
9779 Private E Cooney
8400 Private J Curtis
8405 Private R Crewe
7299 Private W Cadman
1569 Private B Cahill
9974 Private J Coppock
7608 Private W Cattell
9257 Private Herbert Corran
6597 Private J Carles
5782 Private J Cope
8501 Private J Collier
8446 Private C Chalton
7307 Private F Connors
6851 Corporal Carroll
1123 Private J Coles
989 Private R Dodd
6892 Private P Doherty
8185 Lance-Corporal F Devlin
1750 Private W Dixon
9096 Private W Dovey
7955 Private T Duffy
10161 Private T Donoghue
1260 Private T Dutton
6994 Private R Duff
7581 Private W Dixon
8565 Private P G Day
1471 Private R Dodd
10045 Private J Denney
7201 Private J Downes
1063 Private S Duncalf
7548 Private J Devonport
7547 Private O Doherty
9751 Lance-Corporal J L Douglas
8865 Private F Donovan
8432 Private J Duncan
6216 Private M Edwards
638 Private E Fagan
7921 Private F W Forward
6362 Private T R Foster
6757 Private T Farrell
4573 Private L Fowles
814 Private J Fleming
9542 Private A Ford
9850 Private J Francis
7864 Private J Frazer
6895 Private D Farrell
1494 Corporal J France
1314 Private F W Fowler
7443 Private J Flynn
6720 Private E Freeman
1909 Private T Foden
7828 Private C Fooks
7705 Private Patrick J Forrester
7597 Private W H Goldsmith
1035 Private J Greenhalgh
2029 Private R Goulding
1861 Private E Glynn
1497 Private J Grattan
6669 Private T Gallagher
6641 Private J H Gibbs
6966 Private W Gooch
7359 Private E R Gregory
7594 Private D Glossop
7322 Private T Grannel
6234 Private J Gentle
5916 Private A E Graham
6602 Private H M Grealey
1577 Private W Greaves
6649 Private W C Gannon
6833 Private J Girvin
6732 Private J S Goodfellow
1699 Private J Gartland
8634 Private S Goff
6947 Private C Hall
6418 Private W Harris
8014 Private W Henhetty
7841 Private P H Holloway
9891 Private A J Hales
9684 Corporal A S Huxford
9905 Private C E Hitching
10075 Private F H Hill
6685 Private G Harris
5752 Private M Hardyman
7590 Private G J Hatton
9996 Private W H Hamblin
7230 Private J Hetherton
8440 Private E Harrison
6915 Sergeant F E Hetherington
7916 Private R Hulme
7373 Private William Hickey
5762 CQMS S W F Hetherington
7451 Private E Hopper
9902 Private W G Heighington
7549 Sergeant S S Hetherington
6828 Private D Hamilton
1493 Private W Houghton
7715 Private W Hems
10072 Private T Heaton
7609 Private J Hawkesford
995 Sergeant J Hughes
6299 Sergeant T Hunter
7656 Private W Harrison
9811 Lance-Corporal A R Izod
1084 Private A Johnston
7683 Private W E James
1709 Private P Jones
6214 Private Roger T Jones
7446 Private T A Jarvis
9826 Private E Jones
8029 Private W H Jackson
1728 Private P Jordan
7885 Lance-Corporal S A Jones
9948 Private W Kempson
6781 Private J R Kennish
7544 Private G Kewin
7371 Private A Knight
10095 Private P Kealy
10109 Private J H Keable
9109 Private C Krasey
6982 Private W Kenny
7670 Private H Knowlson
6903 Private J W Kelly
789 Private G Kelly
7438 Private D Keogh
7496 Private T Kidd
8644 Private E P Keenan
6423 Private S Kyle
7444 Private A Leadbetter
7767 Private A Leonard
6448 Private W Longshaw
1515 Private P Lynch
1086 Private W Lowe
8862 Corporal W R Leach
974 Private James Langen
8403 Private Thomas Bourne Lovatt
6467 Private P Lawrence
8834 Lance-Corporal H Lamb
6878 Corporal J Lythgoe
7976 Private G Langley
10037 Corporal M V Lynch
7943 Private W Lambourne
7673 Private S S Lloyd
1857 Private T W Leathwaite
1731 Private A Leonard
7911 Private J Lawman
1409 Private C S Lunt  
1500 Private J McCabe
946 Private C Melia
8524 Private Henry Mills
8808 Private C J Morse
1619 Private J Morton
9999 Private H Murtagh
5669 Private J McDonald
8379 Private John T McDonald
6475 Private G Morgan
8666 Private J A Miles
6803 Private J McGuinn
10156 Private T J Morgan
7808 Private J McNamara
9772 Lance-Corporal E McGrath
1257 Private J McDonald
7879 Private J McGann
8062 Sergeant A Marshall
10176 Private J McCleave
9859 Lance-Corporal H Monks
6983 Lance-Corporal J Mooney
6703 Private H Meadows
1948 Private Robert Martin
7245 Private J McCann
7256 Private M Moore
1185 Lance-Corporal R P Monks
8460 Private J McAndrew
9854 Private A J Miller
5961 Private John Martin
7587 Private B Maguire
9885 Private J Moore
7721 Private W J McSorley
6570 Private J Mooney
8035 Corporal E Murtagh
1708 Lance-Corporal F Marchant
8312 Private W Markland
7301 Private E Neale
10261 Private T Nuttall
7561 Sergeant H Nash
10138 Private T Newton
10027 Private John Nappin
7363 Private T Newton
5734 Private J O'Brien
6785 Corporal R Owens
1468 Private R O'Rourke
6631 Private A Owens
6719 Private M O'Brien
7382 Private D O'Brien
8871 Lance-Corporal C E Organ
7321 Private J J O'Brien
7248 Private W Page
7887 Private C T Payne
6900 Private J Peers
6209 Private E Price
1087 Private W Penman
6953 Private E Platt
8120 Private P Penketh
9065 Private G C Pledger
1850 Private A Pennington
1050 Private P Purcill
8895 Private F Parry
9876 Private W J Phillips
9959 Private Sidney Poultney
6479 Sergeant W J W Parker
324 Corporal A Pemberton
7482 Sergeant H A Pyper
5594 Private F Regan
7419 Private Frank Richards
6228 Private W Round
7405 Private A Ross
7217 Private W Roberts
10155 Private H Roberts
7729 Private J Richmond
7768 Private E Rickson
9026 Lance-Corporal E Ristowe
10058 Private J Ryan
9358 Corporal A Roper
848 Private A Robb
10111 Private F Roebrick
1605 Private J Rose
6810 Private J L Roberts
8613 Lance-Corporal J H Reader
9202 Sergeant H V Reader
7645 Private F Salt
9573 Private M J Sheehan
6692 Private T Smith
9502 Private W T Stokes
10014 Private F Stockham
10021 Private E F Steen
8793 Sergeant S Suckling
9591 Private T Simpson
1423 Private W J Stanton
8725 Lance-Corporal J Scriven
7610 Private W Scholfield
10121 Private W H Shilson
10020 Private W E Savage
8976 Private J T Snelling
8297 Private Spender
6568 Private J Shaw
8785 Corporal T Sayers
8768 Private E Stanton
7641 Private E Slattery
10010 Private T Sparks
7951 Private W Simpson
10165 Private A Sylvester
7714 Private J Sankey
7867 Private W C Streeting
7226 Private J Summerville
8338 Private W H Smallbones
7570 Private F Stocken
7872 Private W J Sherrington
8310 Private J Southern
10103 Private D O Sant
1620 Private J Smith
7812 Private J H Slucock
10108 Private J Shaw
7843 Private J F Thacke
9204 Private C F Thompson
10056 Private L Thatcher
7269 Private A Tibbles
9810 Private G E Tyler
8076 Sergeant J Teebay
10177 Private S S Taylor
6410 Private A H Turner
9752 Private E Thomas
9447 Corporal W Thacker
8382 Private W Vaughan
7361 Private C S Walsh
9195 Private A Weston
9467 Private A Winrow
6832 Private J S Wright
8439 Private T Williams
9992 Private W B Wyatt
7466 Private J Wright
8010 Sergeant W G W Watson
9950 Private A Winstanley
7947 Private C Wells
7347 Private E West
7990 Sergeant S C Wilson
6728 Private W Williams
8058 Private H Williams
9929 Private J Ward
7311 Private L Wilson
9932 Private J E Wooding
9958 Private J Welsch
9935 Private G P Whitehorn
9899 Private V Watkins
9908 Private G Willis
926 Private F Webb
6196 Private F G Wyton
5609 Private J Walsh

Image courtesy of North East Medals.

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Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1881-1914 - 1st and 2nd Battalions

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) were formed on 1st July 1881; the 1st Battalion from the 26th (The Cameronian) Regiment of Foot, and the 2nd Battalion from the 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers) (Light Infantry).  

There are over 28,000 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) pension and service records (for this regiment - and its antecedents) in various War Office series held at the National Archives. Clicking on the link will take you to the results on Findmypast but you will need a subscription or Pay-Per-View credits to actually view the records. Some of these records can also be viewed on-line on Ancestry although Findmypast has by far the most comprehensive service record collection.

Use the regimental numbers and dates on which these were issued, below, to determine parameters for when your own Scottish Rifles ancestor would have joined up. Note though that these numbers are only for regular enlistments. Special Reserve and Territorial Force battalions operated completely separate regimental number sequences.

Along with The Highland Light Infantry, the Scottish Rifles was established as the county regiment for Lanarkshire and started numbering from 1 in 1881.

195 joined on 13th December 1881

363 joined on 8th June 1882
494 joined on 18th April 1883
1121 joined on 29th July 1884
1481 joined on 9th April 1885
1957 joined on 19th April 1886
2498 joined on 18th April 1887
2753 joined on 2nd June 1888
2921 joined on 11th January 1889
3179 joined on 25th March 1890
3819 joined on 4th February 1891
4307 joined on 1st January 1892
4777 joined on 15th September 1893
4942 joined on 3rd February 1894
5262 joined on 7th May 1895
5546 joined on 4th August 1896

5890 joined on 18th June 1897
6062 joined on 21st January 1898
6369 joined on 9th January 1899
6804 joined on 20th February 1900 

The Scottish Rifles fielded two volunteer service companies during the South African War and also sent a further draft of 38 men to join the 2nd VSC.

Men joining the 1st VSC were issued numbers within the range 7820 to 7981.  Some 2nd VSC men were also issued with numbers in this range, from 7939 onwards.  The bulk of the 2nd VSC men were issued numbers within the range 7984 to 8082. The thirty-eight men who joined the 3rd VSC were given numbers 8093 to 8131.  All Scottish Rifles VSC numbers were issued in early 1900.

On 17th February 1900, the 1st VSC comprising three officers – Captain J W Young, Lieutenant A A Kennedy and Lieutenant Clarke - and 113 men, embarked aboard SS Gascon for South Africa.

7294 joined on 8th May 1901
7435 joined on 2nd January 1902

7780 joined on 11th February 1903
8511 joined on 19th July 1904
9102 joined on 14th December 1905
9188 joined on 28th March 1906
9551 joined on 7th May 1907
10113 joined on 21st September 1908
10312 joined on 26th January 1909
10444 joined on 12th March 1910
10520 joined on 3rd February 1911
10783 joined on 6th July 1912
10941 joined on 11th January 1913
11150 joined on 2nd March 1914 

The First World War

When Britain went to war in August 1914, men joining the new service battalions were issued with numbers from the same series in use by the two regular battalions.

Recruitment rates 1881-1911

Between 1st July 1881 and 10th January 1891, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) recruited 3,753 men, an average of 392 soldiers a year and the eleventh best recruitment rate of all the British infantry regiments that decade.  This however, was to be the regiment’s best showing and recruitment into the regiment would show marked dips over the next two decades.

Between the 10th January 1891 and the 8th May 1901, The Scottish Rifles recruited 3,541 men, an average of 343 men per annum, and in the period 8th May 1901 to the 3rd February 1911, recruitment dropped again to an average of 331 men per year. From having been the 11th most successful recruiting regiment by January 1891, twenty years later the regiment had fallen to 37th position.

Overall, between 1st July 1881 and 3rd February 1911, The Scottish Rifles recruited 10,520 men, bang on the national average of 355 men a year.

1st Battalion stations 1881-1914

1881     Shornecliffe

1884     Glasgow

1886     Cork

1892     Aldershot

1894     Plymouth

1894     India

1897     Rhaniket

1899     Lucknow

1904     Nowshera

1909     Cawnpore

1909     South Africa

1912     Glasgow

1914     France & Flanders (from August)

2nd Battalion stations 1881-1914

1881     Bengal

1885     Cawnpore

1889     Ranikhet

1892     Jubbulpore

1895     England

1897     Parkhurst

1899     Gibraltar

1899     South Africa

1907     Aldershot

1910     Malta

1914     France & Flanders (from November)

Also see these related posts regarding regimental numbering in the regiment's four Territorial Force battalions:

5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

7th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

8th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

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

Further reading:

With the 8th Scottish Rifles 1914-1919

From the Naval and Military Press:

"The 8th Battalion Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), which was based in Glasgow, was part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade (later 156th), Lowland Division (later 52nd). In May 1915 it sailed, with the division, for Gallipoli where it landed on 14th June. During the fighting at Gully Ravine only two weeks after landing the battalion lost 25 officers and 448 men; only four of the officer casualties ever returned to serve with the battalion. Following the action the 7th Battalion (which had also suffered heavily) and the 8th formed a composite battalion which was eventually taken off the Peninsula on 9th January 1916 and went to Egypt, where, after a few weeks, it was reorganized into the two battalions. The division took over part of the Suez Canal Defences and in August 1916 the battalion fought in the battle of Romani in which its casualties totalled 3 officers and 31 other ranks. Subsequently the battalion fought in Palestine at the battles of Gaza and took part in operations leading to the capture of Jerusalem.

"In April1918 the 52nd Division was sent to France and in June the battalion was transferred to the re-constituted 34th Division (103rd Brigade) with which it took part in the Advance to Victory. After the armistice the 34th Division was selected for the march into Germany and with it went the 8th Scottish Rifles. The author, who commanded the battalion from June 1917, originally intended this to be an official history of the 8th Scottish Rifles, but he found the records were not complete, in addition to which friends and colleagues were suggesting that a personal touch would make the book more interesting and acceptable to the prospective readers, and that is how he wrote it. This is apparent in the observations and criticisms he makes which would have been out of place in an official version. In a series of appendices there is a very brief account of the second and third line battalions, neither of which went on active service.

"The roll of officers, by companies, who embarked with the battalion for Gallipoli is given as is the Roll of Honour, the summary of casualties (1976 in all of whom 628 were dead), and the list of Honours and Awards."

Highland Light Infantry 1881-1914 - 1st & 2nd Battalions

The Highland Light Infantry was formed on the 1st July 1881; the 1st Battalion from the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry), and the 2nd Battalion from the 74th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot.  

There are over 39,000 Highland Light Infantry service and pension records (for this regiment - and its antecedents) in various War Office series held at the National Archives. Clicking on the link will take you to the results on Findmypast but you will need a subscription or Pay-Per-View credits to actually view the records. Some of these records can also be viewed on-line on Ancestry although Findmypast has by far the most comprehensive service record collection.

Use the regimental numbers and dates on which these were issued, below, to determine parameters for when your own Highland Light Infantry ancestor would have joined up. Note though that these numbers are only for regular enlistments. Special Reserve and Territorial Force battalions operated completely separate regimental number sequences.

Along with The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) the newly formed Highland Light Infantry was established as the county regiment for Lanarkshire and started numbering from 1 in 1881.

370 joined on 7th October 1881
673 joined on 6th April 1882
1032 joined on 8th February 1883
1701 joined on 12th January 1884
2127 joined on 8th October 1885
2235 joined on 17th February 1886
2652 joined on 27th January 1887
2920 joined on 29th February 1888
3225 joined on 25th February 1889
3506 joined on 24th February1890
4023 joined on 15th April 1891
4698 joined on 11th October 1892
4790 joined on 31st January 1893
5170 joined on 17th January 1894
5867 joined on 17th August 1895
6157 joined on 18th November 1896
6447 joined on 17th April 1897
6629 joined on 28th April 1898
6823 joined on 23rd February 1899
7254 joined on 20th June 1900

The Highland Light Infantry raised three volunteer service companies during the South African War.  The Queen’s South Africa Medal roll at the National Archives lists 1st VSC men separately and also notes all officers and the VSCs to which each was attached.  Further pages then list all volunteers (including the 1st VSC men again), who joined the three HLI VSCs during the South African War.  What follows, is my best estimate of who belonged where.

Numbers 8150 through to 8279 are all 1st VSC men. There is then a gap in VSC numbering until 8292. Some numbers within the range 8292 to 8361 were issued to 1st VSC men, the remainder to 2nd VSC men. Numbers within the range 8362 to 8424 all appear to be 2nd VSC men.  All 1st VSC numbers, and probably the 2nd VSC numbers as well, date to early 1900.

After 8424 there is a break until 8800.  Consecutive numbers 8800 to 8860 were all 3rd VSC men and would appear to date to January 1902.

On 17th February 1900, the 1st VSC set sail for South Africa aboard SS Gascon.  It comprised Captain D S Morton, Lieutenant J R Leisk, Lieutenant J Shearer and 113 men.

7562 joined on 3rd April 1901
7811 joined on 24th January 1902
8480 joined on 6th February 1903
9203 joined on 9th February 1904
10027 joined on 27th December 1905
10167 joined on 22nd May 1906
10357 joined on 12th January 1907
11115 joined on 10th November 1908
11390 joined on 19th August 1909
11527 joined on 13th April 1910
11695 joined on 9th May 1911
11900 joined on 27th February 1912
12057 joined on 13th January 1913
12369 joined on 10th August 1914

Also see my post on regular enlistments in the Highland Light Infantry in 1914

The First World War

When Britain went to war in August 1914, men joining the new service battalions were issued with numbers from the same series that been used by the regiment’s two regular battalions. The majority of men joining the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Battalions however, were issued with numbers from separate number series which had begun at 1 in October 1914.  Those men though, who had joined these battalions prior to October 1914 had been issued with numbers from the regular series.

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

3rd (Militia Battalion) Devonshire Regiment

It's been a little while since I posted regimental numbers here - too many 1914 Prisoners of War to be looking at - but as I'm giving a talk on regimental numbers in Devon this weekend, it's perhaps apt that this post should look at numbering in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment.

What follows is a snapshot of enlistments between 1892 and 1900.  I will follow this with a separate post on the 4th (Militia) Battalion and in due course, as time permits, I will expand the series to take in other years. Both the 3rd and 4th Battalions maintained separate number series although as we shall see, looking at the series side by side, it is virtually impossible for some years, to tell one battalion apart from the other.

2480 joined on 10th February 1892
2657 joined on 13th February 1893
2888 joined on 26th November 1896
3030 joined on 16th March 1897
3250 joined on 12th March 1898
3546 joined on 5th June 1899
3640 joined on 25th April 1900

My source for this information was mostly surviving papers in WO 96, now easily accessible online through Findmypast. Whilst quite a few Devonshire militia records survive, frustratingly many do not distinguish between the 3rd and 4th Battalion (and the fact that in many cases, the recruiting sergeant was a sergeant belonging to the 4th Battalion is no guarantee that the man went into the 4th Battalion).

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