of the
46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot,
35th Brigade,
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry,
The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry,
1st Battalion, The Light Infantry,
and
5th Battalion, The Rifles
The following information has been compiled from information contained
in John Sly's article, "Name, rank and . . ." (Medal News, September, 1991, pp. 20-21); the Muster Rolls and Pay Lists of the
46th Regiment; the "Soldiers Died" CD-ROM; the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt
of Honour Register; "Post Second World War British Army Serial Numbers" by Stephen Pallas and Leigh Day
(Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society, Vol. XXXIX, No. 1),
and with the invaluable assistance of Brian Cornelius, Irv Mortenson,
Graeme Marfleet, and British Medal Forum members "john_mac" and Danny Daniels, which is gratefully acknowledged. The dates of joining the regiment
in the period from August, 1914 to October, 1918 are for the most part conjectural, but are believed to be reasonably accurate.
It should be borne in mind that a man who joined the 46th Regiment; the 35th Brigade; or the
DCLI in a particular month or year
could have served
for many years with another regiment prior to doing so.
From 1830 to 1856 | ||||
Regimental Number |   | Date of issue | ||
1 to 547 |   | before 20/9/18331 | ||
548 to 646 |   | before 23/10/1833 | ||
647 to 768 |   | before 23/2/1834 | ||
769 to 853 |   | before 8/7/1834 | ||
854 to 948 |   | before 20/1/1835 | ||
949 to 1033 |   | before 6/10/1835 | ||
1034 to 1179 |   | before 15/2/1837 | ||
1180 to 1281 |   | before 1/4/1838 | ||
1282 to 1388 |   | before 21/4/1839 | ||
1389 to 1448 |   | before 4/8/1839 | ||
1449 to 1541 |   | before 17/6/1840 | ||
1542 to 1620 |   | before 5/10/1841 | ||
1621 to 1751 |   | before 15/12/1842 | ||
1752 to 1848 |   | before 10/10/1843 | ||
1849 to 1951 |   | before 7/12/1844 | ||
1952 to 2057 |   | before 23/10/1845 | ||
2058 to 2119 |   | before 25/2/1846 | ||
2120 to 2220 |   | before 11/7/1846 | ||
2221 to 2352 |   | before 11/12/1846 | ||
2353 to 2469 |   | before 21/10/1847 | ||
2470 to 2556 |   | before 13/11/1849 | ||
2557 to 2670 |   | before 2/12/1851 | ||
2671 to 2769 |   | before 26/3/1852 | ||
2770 to 2848 |   | before 7/9/1852 | ||
2849 to 2948 |   | before 9/6/1853 | ||
2949 to 3059 |   | before 9/2/1854 | ||
3060 to 3151 |   | before 5/3/1854 | ||
3152 to 3267 |   | before 17/6/1854 | ||
3268 to 3350 |   | before 30/6/1854 | ||
3351 to 3461 |   | before 17/10/1854 | ||
3462 to 3553 |   | before 16/1/1855 | ||
3554 to 3667 |   | before 24/5/1855 | ||
3668 to 3776 |   | before 24/6/1855 | ||
3777 to 4165 |   | before 29/3/1856 | ||
4166 to 4207 |   | before 12/6/1856 | ||
4208 to 4211 |   | before 24/8/1856 |
At the end of the Crimean War, the establishment of the regiment was reduced to a peace-time footing, and I have found no evidence of any new numbers being issued between 23rd August, 1856 and 31st July, 1857. On 2nd October, 1856, a new sequence of regimental numbers was started for the 46th (and for all other units, throughout the Army). This sequence started from the number 1 and was in use for the next seventeen years. It was not applied retrospectively. Number 1 (Pte. Patrick Troy) appears for the first time in the Pay List for April, 1857, as already being a member of the regiment, other single-digit numbers were issued to men who transferred into the 46th at the end of July, 1857.
From 1857 to 1873 | ||||
Regimental Number |   | Date of issue | ||
1 to 64 |   | before 16/1/1858 | ||
65 to 100 |   | before 9/3/1858 | ||
101 to 212 |   | before 22/11/1858 | ||
213 to 252 |   | before 30/11/1858 | ||
253 to 301 |   | before 18/12/1858 | ||
302 to 512 |   | before 17/2/1859 | ||
513 to 547 |   | before 3/4/1859 | ||
548 to 608 |   | before 6/12/1860 | ||
609 to 671 |   | before 3/2/1864 | ||
672 to 699 |   | before 3/1/1865 | ||
700 to 745 |   | before 13/2/1866 | ||
746 to 1079 |   | before 3/1/1868 | ||
1080 to 1136 |   | before 28/8/1869 | ||
1137 to 1174 |   | before 12/8/1870 | ||
1175 to 1277 |   | before 20/10/1870 | ||
1278 to 1325 |   | before 26/11/1870 | ||
1326 to 1377 |   | before 29/12/1870 | ||
1378 to 1392 |   | before 4/2/1871 | ||
1391 to 1494 |   | before 22/8/1872 | ||
1495 to 1523 |   | before 19/10/1872 | ||
1524 to ???? |   | before August, 1873 |
In 1873, the first of the Cardwell reforms saw the formation of "linked battalions" - creating "Brigades" or "Sub-Districts" of two battalions as a step towards amalgamation. The 46th were linked to the 32nd in Sub-District No. 35. From this date the Sub-District issued regimental numbers to both regiments from the same series, starting from number 1, but not applying the numbers retrospectively to existing soldiers. . The Muster Rolls and Pay Lists distinguish between these and Regimental numbers by the time-honoured method of adding a prefix - "32/" and "46/" for numbers issued prior to 1873, and "35B/" to those from the new sequence. Sadly, these prefixes were not always used in other documents, such as medal rolls.
From 1873 to 1881 | ||||
Regimental Number |   | Date of issue | ||
(35B/)1 to (35B/)52 |   | before 22/8/1873 | ||
(35B/)53 to (35B/)101 |   | before 6/5/1874 | ||
(35B/)102 to (35B/)166 |   | before 30/8/1874 | ||
(35B/)167 to (35B/)253 |   | before 12/11/1874 | ||
(35B/)254 to (35B/)300 |   | before 28/8/1875 | ||
(35B/)301 to (35B/)403 |   | before 30/11/1875 | ||
(35B/)404 to (35B/)482 |   | before 12/1/1876 | ||
(35B/)483 to (35B/)515 |   | before 20/3/1876 | ||
(35B/)516 to (35B/)551 |   | before 4/7/1876 | ||
(35B/)552 to (35B/)570 |   | before 10/8/1876 | ||
(35B/)571 to (35B/)659 |   | before 6/6/1877 | ||
(35B/)660 to (35B/)747 |   | before 8/3/1878 | ||
(35B/)748 to (35B/)965 |   | before 28/5/1878 | ||
(35B/)966 to (35B/)1018 |   | before 21/6/1878 | ||
(35B/)1019 to (35B/)1051 |   | before 23/7/1878 | ||
(35B/)1052 to (35B/)1107 |   | before 17/10/1878 | ||
(35B/)1108 to (35B/)1193 |   | before 2/5/1879 | ||
(35B/)1194 to (35B/)1591 |   | before 1/12/1880 | ||
(35B/)1592 to (35B/)1698 |   | before 22/3/1881 | ||
(35B/)1699 to (35B/)???? |   | before August, 1881 |
In August, 1881, the amalgamation of the 32nd and 46th Regiments was completed, with the creation of the 1st. and 2nd. Battalions, the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. This saw the introduction of another new sequence of regimental numbers, starting from number 1, again only applied to transferees and new recruits.
From 1881 | ||||
Regimental Number |   | Date of issue | ||
1 to 1690 |   | before 30/1/1885 | ||
1691 to 2161 |   | before 24/9/1886 | ||
2162 to 2183 |   | before 22/1/1887 | ||
2183 to 2720 |   | before 8/7/1888 | ||
2721 to 3457 |   | before 30/8/1891 | ||
3458 to 4141 |   | before 18/7/1893 | ||
4142 to 5368 |   | before 2/3/1898 | ||
5369 to 6068 |   | before 30/11/1899 | ||
6069 to 6412 |   | before 30/7/1901 | ||
6413 to 7556 |   | before 21/8/1903 | ||
7557 to 8330 |   | before 14/3/1906 | ||
8331 to 8591 |   | before 12/4/1907 | ||
8592 to 8747 |   | before 15/7/1907 | ||
8748 to 9252 |   | before 12/2/1909 | ||
9253 to 9278 |   | before 19/7/1909 | ||
9279 to 9424 |   | before 9/5/1910 | ||
9425 to 9702 |   | before 21/1/1911 | ||
9703 to 9753 |   | before 25/6/1911 |
The following numbers were issued immediately prior to and during the First World War:
First World War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regimental Number | First Casualty | Remarks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9754 | to | 10250 | August, 1914 | Joined DCLI before August, 1914. 1st and 2nd Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10251 | to | 10999 | September, 1914 | Joined DCLI before September, 1914. About half went to the 1st Battalion, and the rest formed the core of the newly-raised (4th September) 6th Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11000 | to | 11999 | January, 1915 | Joined DCLI before September, 1914. A small number went to the 1st Battalion, and the majority of the rest were shared between the 6th and 7th Battalions, the latter being formed on 22nd September. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12000 | to | 12999 | January, 1915 | Joined DCLI before September, 1914. Shared between the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13000 | to | 13494 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 2nd September, 1914. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 2nd Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13495 | to | 13999 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 7th September, 1914. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 2nd Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14000 | to | 14999 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 7th September, 1914. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 1st and 6th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15000 | to | 15999 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 7th September, 1914. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 1st, 2nd, 6th and 8th Battalions, the last having been raised on 26th September, 1914. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16000 | to | 16217 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 8th September, 1915. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 1st, 2nd, 6th and 8th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16218 | to | 16999 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 21st December, 1914. Predominantly 7th Battalion, but significant numbers in 1st, 2nd, 6th and 8th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17000 | to | 17397 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 22nd December, 1914. Predominantly 1st Battalion, but significant numbers in 2nd, 6th and 7th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17398 | to | 17999 | February, 1915 | Joined DCLI before February, 1915. Predominantly 1st Battalion, but significant numbers in 2nd, 6th and 7th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18000 | to | 18624 | March, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 26th February, 1915. Predominantly 1st Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18625 | to | 18999 | March, 1915 | Joined DCLI before March, 1915. Predominantly 1st Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19000 | to | 19999 | May, 1915 | Joined DCLI before April, 1915. Predominantly 1st and 6th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20000 | to | 20999 | May, 1915 | Joined DCLI before May, 1915. Predominantly transferees to 2nd Battalion from Royal Warwickshire Regiment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21000 | to | 21999 | July, 1915 | Joined DCLI before June, 1915. Predominantly 6th Battalion, but significant numbers in 1st and 10th Battalions, the latter having been raised on 27th March. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22000 | to | 22308 | July, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 8th June, 1915. Mostly seen in men of 1st, 6th, 7th and 10th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22309 | to | 22460 | July, 1915 | Joined DCLI before 16th June, 1915. Mostly seen in men of 1st, 6th, 7th and 10th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22461 | to | 22999 | July, 1915 | Joined DCLI before July, 1915. Mostly seen in men of 1st, 6th, 7th and 10th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23000 | to | 23999 | March, 1916 | Joined DCLI before February, 1916. Mostly seen in men of 1st, 6th, 7th and 10th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
24000 | to | 24999 | April, 1916 | Joined DCLI before March, 1916. Predominantly 10th Battalion, but significant numbers seen in 1st and 7th Battalions too. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25000 | to | 25999 | April, 1916 | Joined DCLI before April, 1916. Predominantly 12th Battalion, which had been raised on 23rd March. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
26000 | to | 26999 | May, 1916 | Joined DCLI before May, 1916 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27000 | to | 27212 | June, 1916 | Joined DCLI before 12th December, 1915. Predominantly transferees to 1st and 6th Battalions from Somerset Light Infantry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
27213 | to | 27999 | June, 1916 | Joined DCLI before June, 1916. Predominantly transferees to 1st and 6th Battalions from Somerset Light Infantry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28000 | to | 28999 | September, 1916 | Joined DCLI before July, 1916. Predominantly 6th and 7th Battalions.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
29000 | to | 29999 | December, 1916 | Joined DCLI before August, 1916. Predominantly transferees.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
30000 | to | 30999 | April, 1918 | Joined DCLI before September, 1916. Transferees to 1st Battalion, predominantly from 61st Territorial Reserve Battalion. 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
31000 | to | 31999 | September, 1916 | Joined DCLI before September, 1916. Predominantly transferees to the 1st Battalion from Dorset Regiment.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
32000 | to | 32999 | November, 1917 | Joined DCLI before October, 1916. Predominantly transferees to 1st Battalion.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
33000 | to | 33999 | February, 1917 | Joined DCLI before November, 1916. Predominantly Cornishmen in 1st Battalion.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
34000 | to | 34999 | December, 1916 | Joined DCLI before December, 19163 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
35000 | to | 35999 | April, 1917 | Joined DCLI before April, 1917. Predominantly transferees to 1/4th Battalion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
36000 | to | 36999 | December, 1917 | Joined DCLI before December, 1917. Predominantly transferees to 1st and 10th Battalions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
37000 | to | 37999 | December, 1917 | Joined DCLI before December, 1917. Predominantly transferees to 1/5th Battalion from Territorial Reserve. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38000 | to | 38999 | March, 1918 | Joined DCLI before January, 1918. Predominantly transferees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
39000 | to | 39999 | None | Joined DCLI before February, 1918? No evidence that this range was ever used. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40000 | to | 40999 | May, 1918 | Joined DCLI before March, 1918. Predominantly transferees to 7th Battalion from Territorial Reserve. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
41000 | to | 41999 | April, 1918 | Joined DCLI before April, 1918. Predominantly transferees to 1st Battalion from Territorial Reserve. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
42000 | to | 42999 | None | Joined DCLI before May, 1918? No evidence that this range was ever used. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
43000 | to | 43999 | None | Joined DCLI before June, 1918? No evidence that this range was ever used. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
44000 | to | 44999 | None | Joined DCLI before June, 1918? No evidence that this range was ever used. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
45000 | to | 45999 | July, 1918 | Joined DCLI before July, 1918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
46000 | to | 46999 | July, 1918 | Joined DCLI before July, 1918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
47000 | to | 47028 | October, 1918 | Joined DCLI before August, 1918 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
48000 | to | 48999 | March, 1917 | Apparently issued to 11th Battalion (raised 23/3/16; became 95th Territorial Reserve Battalion from 1/9/16). Records are cockeyed - stating "Formerly T.R." in most instances.
200001 |
to |
200999 |
May, 1916 |
Part of sequence allocated to 4th DCLI from 1/3/17; issued to 1/4th and 2/4th DCLI. Possibly reserved for renumbering existing troops. | 201000 |
to |
201999 |
March, 1916 |
Part of sequence allocated to 4th DCLI from 1/3/17; issued to 1/4th and 2/4th DCLI. Possibly reserved for renumbering existing troops. | 202000 |
to |
202999 |
March, 1917 |
Part of sequence allocated to 4th DCLI from 1/3/17. Possibly reserved for new recruits. | |
  |
|
|
| 240001 |
to |
240999 |
January, 1917 |
Part of sequence allocated to 5th DCLI from 1/3/17; issued to 1/5th DCLI. Possibly reserved for renumbering existing troops. | 241000 |
to |
241999 |
May, 1917 |
Part of sequence allocated to 5th DCLI from 1/3/17; issued to 1/5th DCLI. Possibly reserved for new recruits. | |
  |
|
|
| 260000 |
to |
260999 |
August, 1915 |
Part of sequence allocated to 5th DCLI from 1/3/17, but mostly seem to have been issued to transferees from the Hampshire Regiment to the 6th DCLI. | |
3rd (Reserve) Battalion (Royal Cornwall Rangers Militia) | ||||
  | ||||
Regimental Number | First Casualty | Remarks | ||
3/3251 | to | 3/5852 | August, 1914 | Joined 3/DCLI before 30th August, 1914 |
Trying to make sense of the allocation of regimental number blocks to specific battalions during the First World War is not easy. The following general statements are, however, believed to be true:
1st (Regular) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, indiscriminately throughout the war.
2nd (Regular) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, indiscriminately throughout the war.
3rd (Reserve) Battalion - pre-war reservists were issued four-digit numbers with a "3/" prefix unique to the battalion. Those who were posted to the battalion during the war appear to have been issued numbers from the general sequence.
4th (Territorial) Battalion (including 1/4th, 2/4th & 3/4th) - pre-war territorials were issued with four-digit numbers in a sequence unique to the battalion. Significant numbers of war-time transferees were issued with numbers in the 35xxx sequence. Renumbered from 1/3/17 using the sequence 200001-240000.
5th (Territorial) Battalion (including 1/5th & 2/5th) - pre-war territorials were issued with four-digit numbers in a sequence unique to the battalion. Significant numbers of war-time transferees were issued with numbers in the 37xxx sequence. Renumbered from 1/3/17 using the sequence 240001-265000.
6th (Service) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, starting around 10300, indiscriminately throughout the war.
7th (Service) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, starting around 11000, indiscriminately throughout the war.
8th (Service) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, starting around 14000, indiscriminately throughout the war.
9th (Service) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, starting around 15000, indiscriminately throughout the war.
10th (Service - converted to Pioneer) Battalion - issued regimental numbers from the general sequence, starting around 21000, indiscriminately throughout the war.
11th (Service) Battalion - appear to have been issued regimental numbers from the 48xxx sequence exclusively.
12th (Labour) Battalion - appear to have been issued regimental numbers from the 25xxx sequence exclusively, shared the 26xxx sequence with most other battalions.
1st (Volunteer) Battalion - nothing known.
2nd (Volunteer) Battalion - nothing known.
The DCLI started a new numbering sequence on the 1st March, 1919, with a zero prefix to
one-, two-, three-, and four-digit numbers (e.g. the first number recorded is 08; the next number after 0999 was 01000; the last number recorded is 02491). These numbers applied to new recruits and transferees only.
From 1919 to 1920 | ||||
Regimental Number |   | Date of issue | ||
08 to 02491 |   | between 1/3/1919 and 1920 |
This sequence was made obsolete in 1920, when numbers in the range 5429001 to 5485000 were allocated to the DCLI; these were applied retrospectively and to new recruits. This number stayed with the soldier throughout his career, regardless of any transfers between units.
From 1920 to c. 19484 | ||||
Army Number |   | Date of issue | ||
5429001 to 5432144 |   | between 1920 and July, 1921 | ||
5432145 to 5432458 |   | between July, 1921, and May, 1922 | ||
5432459 to 5433004 |   | between May, 1922, and March, 1923 | 5433005 to 5433442 |   | between March, 1923, and September, 1924 | 5433443 to 5435191 |   | between September, 1924, and March,1930 | 5435192 to 5435833 |   | between March, 1930, and January, 1932 | 5435834 to 5436047 |   | between January, 1932, and November, 1932 | 5436048 to 5437174 |   | between November, 1932, and February, 1937 | 5437175 to 5438399 |   | between February, 1937, and May, 1939 | 5438400 to 5439293 |   | between May, 1939, and October, 1939 | 5439294 to 5445187 |   | between October, 1939, and January, 1942 | 5445188 to 5485000 |   | between January, 1942, and c. 1948 |
In February, 1942, enlistments directly into the DCLI ceased,
with all new recruits being enrolled in a "General Service Corps".
Members of the General Service Corps were issued 8-digit service numbers from the block of numbers between 14000001 and 14997999. Numbers were not necessarily issued in sequence, and at times two different sequences were running concurrently (see table below).
After training, men were posted
to all units in the Army, including the DCLI.
The block of numbers from 14998000 to 15005000 was used for local enlistments in India into British Corps and Regiments.
A second series of numbers, beginning with 19000001, was used until the introduction of Army Numbers in 1947/48.
From c. 1942 to c. 1948 | ||||
Army Number |   | Approximate date of issue | ||
14000001 to 14099999 |   | from May, 1945, to December, 1945 | ||
14100000 to 14199999 |   | from December, 1945 to July, 1946 | ||
14200000 to 14299999 |   | from February, 1942, to October, 1942 | ||
14300000 to 14399999 |   | from October, 1942, to December, 1942 | ||
14400000 to 14499999 |   | from November, 1942, to December, 19445 | ||
14500000 to 14599999 |   | from January, 1943, to May, 19436 | ||
14600000 to 14699999 |   | from April, 1943, to January, 1944 | ||
14700000 to 14799999 |   | from January, 1944 to June, 1944 | ||
14800000 to 14899999 |   | from June 1944, to December, 1944 | ||
14900000 to 14969999 |   | from January, 1945, to April, 1945 | ||
14970000 to 14979999 |   | men compulsorily transferred to the Army from the Royal Navy in March, April and May, 1945 | ||
14980000 to 14997999 |   | from August, 1944, to May, 1945 | 14998000 to 15005000 |   | enlistments in India between September, 1943 and c. 1946 |
19000001 to 19199999 |   | from July, 1946, to c. July, 1947 |
In 1947, the Army finally did away with numbers specific to units, and introduced a single sequence for
all new recruits, (to both Regular and Territorial Army), commencing with 22000000. Again, this number
stuck with the soldier throughout his time in the Army, and did not change on transferring between units.
Fuller details are contained in Pallas and Day (op. cit.).
On 9th June, 1950, the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, were
formally amalgamated as 1st Battalion, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
On 6th October, 1959, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was amalgamated with the
Somerset Light Infantry, with 1/DCLI at Osnabruck turning into 1st Battalion, Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry.
On 10th July, 1968, the single-battalion (ignoring TA) Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry was amalgamated
with KOYLI, KSLI and DLI, and became 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry.
From c. 1948 to c. 1985 | ||||
Army Number |   | Date of issue | ||
22000000 to 22199408 |   | before October, 1950 | ||
22199409 to 23188252 |   | before October, 1955 | ||
23188253 to 23845071 |   | before October, 1960 | ||
23845072 to 24057159 |   | before April, 1965 | ||
24057160 to 24182226 |   | before April, 1969 | ||
24182227 to 24369281 |   | before September, 1975 | ||
24369282 to 24589195 |   | before September, 1980 | ||
24589196 to 24753060 |   | before end 1985 |
As with most things military, things then start to get a bit more complicated (and, in fact, it is probable that they had been rather complicated for quite some time past). It appears that numbers began to be allocated in blocks again (see WWI period, above), and that some blocks were issued faster than others. From about 1986, the following is believed to be broadly the case:
From c. 1986 to 2005 |   |   |
Army Number Block |   | Date of issue |
24720000-24729999 |   | 1986 |
24730000-24739999 |   | 1985 to 1986 |
24740000-24749999 |   | 1985 |
24750000-24759999 |   | 1985 to 1986 |
24760000-24769999 |   | 1986 |
24770000-24779999 |   | 1986 to 1988 |
24780000-24789999 |   | 1986 |
24790000-24799999 |   | 1987 |
24800000-24809999 |   | 1987 to 1988 |
24810000-24819999 |   | 1988 |
24820000-24829999 |   | 1988 |
24830000-24839999 |   | 1988 to 1989 |
24840000-24849999 |   | 1988 |
24850000-24859999 |   | 1988 |
24860000-24869999 |   | 1989 |
24870000-24879999 |   | 1989 |
24880000-24889999 |   | 1988 to 1990 |
24890000-24899999 |   | 1991 |
24900000-24909999 |   | 1990 |
24910000-24919999 |   | 1990 |
24920000-24929999 |   | 1991 |
24930000-24939999 |   | 1993 |
24940000-24949999 |   | 1995 |
24950000-24959999 |   | 1993 |
24960000-24969999 |   | 1995 |
24970000-24979999 |   | 1997 |
25000000-25009999 |   | 1991 |
25010000-25019999 |   | 1992 |
25020000-25029999 |   | 1993 |
25030000-25039999 |   | 1994 |
25050000-25059999 |   | 1996 |
25070000-25079999 |   | 1997 |
25080000-25089999 |   | 1997 to 1998 |
25110000-25119999 |   | 1999 |
25130000-25139999 |   | 2001 |
25170000-25179999 |   | 2003 |
25200000-25209999 |   | 2004 to 2005 |
In 2006, yet another new sequence of numbers was introduced, this time a nine-digit number beginning with 3; it applied to all new enlistments into any of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom.
On 1st February, 2007, the 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry, became 5th Battalion, The Rifles.
From 2006 to date | ||||
Armed Forces Number |   | Date of issue | ||
300000000 to ???????? |   | still being issued |
This page has been designed and is maintained by Michael Hargreave Mawson. If you have any queries or comments about it, please contact me.
Last updated by Michael Hargreave Mawson on the 5th of March, 2018
Copyright © 1998-2018 Michael Hargreave Mawson