Renumbering the Territorial Force Infantry in 1917

Men serving in the Territorial Force got new numbers in 1917 and a great deal can be determined about their service from these numbers. This page should help you understand what it all means.

Introduction

This change of numbering of infantrymen was promulgated in Army Council Instruction (ACI) 2414 of 1916, published on 23 December 1916. As with the equivalent ACIs for other arms, ACI 2414 also dealt with changes in the arrangements for TF records, pay and other administrative matters. These arrangements were to take effect from 1 March 1917. The renumbering did not apply to the Royal Defence Corps, the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps or the Honourable Artillery Company (Infantry).

The basics of the system

Each corps of infantry was allocated a block of TF numbers starting at 200001. This means that, unlike the other arms, infantry TF numbers were duplicated – but not within the same corps. The allocation for each infantry corps was then broken into smaller blocks for each battalion. These are shown below.

All infantry soldiers defined as TF were allocated a new number. The man retained this number as long as he served in a particular corps, even if he was subsequently posted to a regular battalion of the corps.

If a TF infantryman subsequently transferred to a different corps (infantry or otherwise), he received a new number. He was initially posted to a TF unit of his new corps, renumbered with a TF number, and then could be posted to a regular unit – which means he may never have actually served in the TF unit associated with his new number.

(Regular soldiers retained their existing numbers as long as they served in that corps of infantry. If a regular subsequently transferred to a different infantry corps, he received a regular number in the new corps, irrespective of whether he joined a regular or TF unit in that corps).

From 1 January 1917 the only soldiers who could be treated as TF when initially joining an infantry corps were:

• Men who enlisted (or had already enlisted) directly into infantry TF units and were not subject to the Military Service Acts (i.e. were not liable for conscription)
• Men serving on TF attestations in other arms – such as the TF artillery – who transferred to infantry TF units
• Men directly posted to TF infantry units from Army Reserve Section B

Exceptions

Exceptions arise from the fact that ‘corps of infantry’ and infantry regiments were not always identical. In the majority of cases they were (e.g. for the Royal Scots or the Durham Light Infantry there is no practical difference between the regiment and the corps) but those units which were composed entirely of TF units required special treatment. These included the London Regiment, a very large regiment that was entirely composed of TF units, the Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Monmouthshire Regiments. The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) also had some peculiarities. As will be seen, there was some scope for confusion in this system. ACI 1245, published on 11 August 17, clarified matters by tabulating the rules for transfers between the various corps of infantry.

The London Regiment

This is the most complex area of TF renumbering. Under the provisions of the Corps Warrant, each battalion of the London Regiment was affiliated to a regular regiment. But for the purposes of renumbering the London Regiment was treated as a separate corps of infantry and allocated a single series of numbers. However, for subsequent transfers of soldiers, each battalion of the London Regiment was treated as part of its affiliated regiment,
thus

When a soldier was transferred in or out of the London Regiment, he was treated in the following way as regards renumbering him:

The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)

The 10th (Scottish) Battalion was treated as part of the Liverpool Regiment – but for subsequent transfers it was treated as part of its affiliated regiment as set out in the Corps Warrant – the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Similar principles as for the London Regiment were followed for renumbering if a man was subsequently transferred, i.e.
From Liverpool Scottish to regular Cameron battalion – no renumbering;
From Liverpool Scottish to TF Cameron battalion – renumbered to Cameron TF number;
From Liverpool Scottish to another battalion of Liverpool Regt – renumbered with Liverpool Regt number.

For all other “All-TF” infantry regiments

The renumbering system

The detailed allocation of numbers to TF infantry units is shown in this table:

The last 5000 numbers in the allocation to an infantry battalion were reserved for the use of Base Records in the various theatres – this was to allow for the renumbering of men transferred whilst serving overseas. This caused some confusion where the 1st and 2nd Lines of a TF battalion were serving in different overseas theatres and, in these cases, blocks of numbers were issued by TF records offices to the theatres concerned. These numbers did not need to be taken from the last 5000.

Tip: how do I use this table?

Taking note of the details above and especially what qualified a man for the renumbering, it would be reasonable to assume that he was serving in the unit to which his new number had been allotted. For example, Private 350111 Bill Smith, who was known to have been with the Manchester Regiment, would have been with the 9th Battalion.

Changes to the system: Army Council Instruction 2415 of 1917

Published on 11 August 1917, this Instruction clarified matters by by tabulating the numbering rules for transfers of men between corps of infantry.

Regular soldiers (which included conscripts to regular and new army units) were those serving on regular army attestations whether currently bearing a regular or TF number. The rules for renumbering these men if they had to be transferred became as follows:

TF soldiers (which included conscripts to TF units) were those serving on TF attestations whether currently bearing a regular or TF number. The rules for renumbering these men if they had to be transferred became as follows:

Tip: I now know from his number that my man served with a TF unit. Where next?

Taking our example of Private 266117 Bill Smith, who was known to have been with the 9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. This battalion was actually split into three during the war, the 1/9th, 2/9th and 3/9th. His number does not tell you which one Bill served with. To find out, you would need to find his service record or look at his entries in the medal rolls.

Links

Renumbering of the TF in 1917

The Infantry Regiments