| This article will look at Queen's and King's regulations | | | | regular battalions of this regiment were already |
| regarding numbering in the regular battalions of British | | | | numbering in the 10,000s when they commenced a |
| Army infantry regiments between the years 1881 | | | | new series. On 27th April 1908, number 10717 was |
| and 1914. Although the majority of regiments started | | | | issued to a new Gordon Highlanders recruit but by |
| re-numbering from number 1 in 1881, not all did so. | | | | March 2nd 1909 a new series was already under way |
| Furthermore, whilst recruiting could often be a | | | | with number 274 issued on this date. |
| painfully slow business, some regiments recruited | | | | The King's Royal Rifle Corps |
| faster than others and, before the regulations were | | | | The KRRC reached number 9981 by March 1897 and |
| amended in 1904, had to apply to the | | | | two months later, on May 14th, was already well into |
| Adjutant-General to commence a new series of | | | | a new series of numbers with number 274 issued on |
| numbers. | | | | this date. |
| As a starting point let us look at Section XXII of the | | | | The Lancashire Fusiliers |
| Queen's Regulations for the Army 1895. It reads as | | | | The Lancashire Fusiliers had reached 9504 by March |
| follows: | | | | 12th 1903 and on September 8th 1904 issued number |
| 31. The regimental series of numbers will commence | | | | 445 of a new number series. |
| with 1. The numbers will be given in sequence, | | | | The Manchester Regiment |
| according to the date of application. When the series | | | | The Manchester Regiment started a new number |
| approaches 9999, application should be made to the | | | | series in 1904. Number 9992 was issued on 8th June |
| Adjutant-General in sufficient time to obtain authority | | | | and on July 8th, number 39 was issued to a new |
| to commence a new series. In the Royal Artillery the | | | | recruit. |
| series will extend to 99,999, in the Royal Engineers to | | | | The Northumberland Fusiliers |
| 29,999, and in the Army Service Corps and Medical | | | | Started re-numbering in 1903 (but almost certainly |
| Staff Corps to 19,999. | | | | would not have had to do so had the regiment not |
| Fast forward nine years to the King's Regulations for | | | | created two additional regular battalions during the |
| the Army 1904 (Provisional) and paragraph 2144 | | | | Boer war). Number 9998 was issued on December |
| reads: | | | | 1st. By April 6th 1904, numbering had already reached |
| The regimental series of numbers will commence with | | | | 165. |
| 1. The numbers will be given in sequence, according | | | | The Rifle Brigade |
| to the date of application. The series will extend to | | | | The Rifle Brigade did not start numbering from 1 in |
| 49,999 in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field | | | | 1881 but continued with the numbering sequence |
| Artillery, and to 49,999 in the Royal Garrison Artillery; | | | | already in place. By 18th November 1881 the Rifle |
| to 29,999 in the Royal Engineers and Army Service | | | | Brigade had reached number 5043 and four years |
| Corps; to 19,999 in each regiment of foot guards, | | | | later by 12th January 1889 it had reached 9919. |
| infantry of the line, and Royal Army Medical Corps; | | | | Number 12 of a new number series was issued on |
| and to 9,999 in cavalry regiments and in corps not | | | | 13th February 1889. By August 1903, this regiment |
| named above. When these numbers have been | | | | (which had four regular battalions) was again |
| reached, a new series will be commenced. | | | | approaching 9999 (number 9932 was issued on 15th |
| The point about commencing a new series of | | | | August) and it applied to commence a new series. |
| numbers is important. For the most part, recruiting in | | | | Number 27 was issued to a Rifle Brigade recruit on |
| infantry regiments was a desperately slow business | | | | 7th January 1904. |
| but there are a number of regiments which, having | | | | The Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
| reached 9999, started a new series of numbers and | | | | Reached 9608 by 19th September 1908. Number 262 |
| I'm going to note those regiments here. | | | | in a new series of numbers was issued on 22nd |
| The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders | | | | November 1904. |
| By June 1906 this regiment had passed the 9999 | | | | When trying to trace an enlistment date by a |
| mark and was numbering at 10125 (issued on 18th | | | | regimental number, it is important to take cognisance |
| June that year). By 1908 however, a new series had | | | | of those regiments which had repeat numbering |
| commenced, number 152 being issued on 6th | | | | series. Taking a hypothetical example, a Rifle Brigade |
| November that year. | | | | man with the number 5000 could have enlisted in |
| The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) | | | | 1881, 1897 or 1913. Also, bear in mind that whilst this |
| This regiment reached 9981 by September 10th 1904 | | | | article deals with regular infantry battalions in the |
| and by 1905 had commenced a new series of | | | | British Army, the same numbering quirks would also |
| numbers. Number 209 was issued on 2nd May 1905. | | | | apply to some Special Reserve and Territorial Force |
| The Gordon Highlanders | | | | units after they made an appearance in 1908. |
| Like the A&S Highlanders, men in the two | | | | |