Understanding the implications of the number that was given to a man of the Royal Garrison Artillery can be helpful in developing his story. Sadly, due to destruction of service records and that the campaign medal rolls of the RGA are often rather uninformative, his number may be all you have from a search for hard documentary evidence. Obtaining some details from his number can be helpful.
Regular army numbering
The regular army included three types of men:
- Those who enlisted into the regular army both before and during the war, in which they agreed to an engagement lasting for a total of twelve years. By implication, none of the service records of these men should be in the First World War collections that are now in the public domain; only those who lost their lives, or who were discharged early, should be present. Until the service records are made public (a process now underway), the men’s numbers are of considerable importance in researching them.
- Those who were enlisted into the regular army during the war on “short service” engagements, in which they were committed to serve only for the duration of the war. This includes volunteers and conscripts.
- Those who were transferred into the regular army from units of the Territorial Force.
For the data in the table below I am deeply indebted to Kevin Rowlinson, whose painstaking research built up this data from men’s service records. His work can also be found in two downloadable files at the Great War Forum. Kevin has kindly given me permission to reproduce his data, and I have relaid it out into this tabular form for the purposes of this page. Kevin also provided specific dates for the first and last entries in many of the rows in the table, but I have reduced this to just the month. Please consult the link above for his specific data. I have added a few details regarding men of the Territorial Force RGA units who transferred to regular units in mid-1916: please note that the dates when the new numbers were issued after transfer are not always terribly clear from service records, and appear in many cases to have been a considerable time after the transfer had taken place.
Gaps that appear, for example between 40097 in the first row and 40100 in the second, are simply due to absence of evidence. It becomes apparent from this analysis that the numbers were not issued in strict date order.
The “issue date” shown would normally be that of completion of enlistment; or, for men called up from reserve, the date of mobilisation; or, for men moved into the RGA from other regiments of corps, the date of transfer.
| Number range | Issue date | Depot sent to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40014-40097 | Nov 1913 – Jan 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 40100-40186 | Nov 1913 – Feb 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 40202-40247 | Jan – Feb 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 40287-40366 | Dec 1913 – Feb 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 40375-40406 | Dec 1913 – Feb 1914 | To Pembroke Dock | |
| 40499-40432 | Jan – Feb 1914 | To Sheerness | |
| 40452-40538 | Jan – Apr 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 40571-40623 | Feb – Apr 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 40638-40712 | Feb – Apr 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 40726-40808 | Mar – Jun 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 40824-40895 | Mar – May 1914 | To various locations: Leith, Shoeburyness, Woolwich, and 4 Depot | |
| 40927-40986 | May – Jul 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 40992-41078 | Apr – Jul 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 41090-41144 | May 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 41172 | May 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 41208-41223 | Jun – Jul 1914 | To Spike Island (Cork) | |
| 41244-41336 | Jul – Aug 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 41357-41425 | Jul – Aug 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 41431-41517 | Jul – Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 41527 | July 1914 | To Spike Island (Cork) | |
| 41561-41569 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 41579-41658 | Aug 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 41665-41748 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 41764-41840 | Aug 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 41857-41924 | Aug 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 41936-42106 | Aug 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 42116-42184 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 42188 | Feb 1915 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 42191-42202 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 42207-42284 | Aug 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 42297-42481 | Aug – Oct 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 42501-42644 | Aug 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 42675-42863 | Aug 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 42871-43350 | Aug 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 43360-43696 | Aug 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 43729-44343 | Aug – Oct 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 44349-44523 | Aug – Nov 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 44531-44704 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 44709-44885 | Aug – Oct 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 44892-45062 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 45074-45461 | Aug – Oct 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 45462-45738 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 45751-45988 | Oct 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 45991-45992 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 45999 | Oct 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 46004 | Nov 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 46008 | Sep 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 46016-46018 | Sep 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 46019 | Aug 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 46023 | Aug 1914 | At Le Havre | |
| 46024-46046 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 46048-46865 | Aug 1914 – Apr 1915 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 46866-47045 | Oct 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 47048-47313 | Oct 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 47316-47582 | Oct 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 47589-47855 | Oct – Nov 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 47857-47926 | Oct – Nov 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 47932-48149 | Oct – Nov 1914 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 48238-48336 | Jul – Aug 1915 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 48338-48714 | Oct 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 48731-49159 | Oct 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 49175-49222 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 49245-49665 | Nov 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 49686-50114 | Nov 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 50120-50182 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 50198-50625 | Nov 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 50644-51069 | Nov 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 51086-51510 | Nov 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 51514-51582 | Nov 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 51592-52028 | Nov 1914 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 52032-53018 | Nov 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 53020-53567 | Nov 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 53570-53647 | Nov 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 53652-53653 | Nov 1914 | To 40 Company (Dover) | |
| 53656 | Oct 1914 | Woolwich | |
| 53657-54129 | Nov 1914 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 54130-54783 | Nov 1914 – Sep 1915 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 54792-55449 | Nov 1914 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 55450-56108 | Nov 1914 – Apr 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 56110-56745 | Dec 1914 – Apr 1915 | 1 Depot (Newhaven) | |
| 56775-56839 | Dec 1914 – Jan 1915 | Woolwich | |
| 56873-57156 | May – Sep 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 57177-57516 | Oct – Nov 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 57520-57868 | Jul – Nov 1915 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 57871-57895 | Oct – Dec 1914 | Transfers from Royal Field Artillery | |
| 57899-58156 | Jan – Aug 1915 | Enlistments in Malta, Cape Town, Woolwich, and Calcutta, and miscelannous transfers from Royal Field Artillery and infantry | |
| 58179-58504 | Aug – Sep 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 58521-58593 | Jul – Oct 1915 | Transfers from Royal Field Artillery | |
| 58612-58933 | Sep – Oct 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 58947-59260 | Sep – Oct 1915 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 59276-59596 | Oct 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 59604-59925 | Oct 1915 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 59930-60019 | Transfers from Royal Field Artillery and other regiments | ||
| 60031-60353 | Oct 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 60357-60683 | Oct 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 60689-61227 | Oct – Nov 1915 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 61236-61785 | Nov 1915******* | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 61786-62500 | Oct – Nov 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 62507-62555 | Transfers from Royal Field Artillery | ||
| 62556-63257 | Nov 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 63259-63958 | Nov 1915 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 63961-64661 | Nov 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 64662-65363 | Nov 1915 – Mar 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 65365-66062 | Nov 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 66076-66767 | Nov 1915 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 66769-68856 | Nov 15 – Mar 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 68874-69570 | Nov 15 – Mar 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 69586-69605 | Nov – Dec 1915 | Most to Sheringham, some Londonderry | |
| 69667 | Nov 1915 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 69682-69937 | Nov 15 – Mar 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 69943 | Mar 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 69948-70275 | Mar 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 70282-70791 | Mar 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 70816-70882 | Dec 1915 | Transfers. To Woolwich and Shoeburyness. | |
| 70888-70892 | Nov 1915 | To 117 Heavy Battery Sheringham | |
| 70903-70977 | Jan 1916 | Mix of transfers and Woolwich enlistments | |
| 70981-71445 | Mar – Apr 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 71454-71495 | Jan 1916 | Woolwich | |
| 71508-71589 | Jan – Feb 1916 | ||
| 71622-71681 | Mar 1916 | Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot | |
| 71708-72215 | Mar – Apr 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 72226-73083 | Feb – Apr 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 73086-73623 | Mar – Apr 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 73626 | Mar 1916 | Woolwich | |
| 73631-73803 | Mar – April 1916 | Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot | |
| 73808-74404 | Apr 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 74410-75189 | Apr 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 75199-75891 | Apr 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 75901-76589 | Apr 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 76599-77296 | Apr – May 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 77300-77998 | Apr – May 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 78000-78681 | Apr – May 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 78702-79403 | Apr – May 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 79405-79582 | Apr – May 1916 | To Landguard, Woolwich, “A” Siege Depot and Cooden Camp | |
| 79584-80285 | May 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 80286-80980 | May 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 81517-82457 | May 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 82460-83405 | May 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 83409-83609 | May 1916 | To Woolwich, “A” Siege Depot and Pembroke Dock | |
| 83617-84665 | May 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 84666-85715 | May 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 85716-86771 | May 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 86772-87814 | May – Jun 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 87835-88852 | May 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 88882-89927 | May 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 89928-90983 | May – Jun 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 90984-92033 | May – Jun 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 92034-93089 | May – Jun 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 93094-93263 | May – Jun 1916 | To Woolwich, “A” Siege Depot and Sheerness | |
| 93285-94138 | Jun 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 94144-95192 | Jun 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 95215-96239 | May – Jun 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 96246-97315 | Jun 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 97325-98347 | Jun 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 98358-99405 | Jun – Jul 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 99415-100455 | Jun – Jul 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 100464-100482 | Jun 1916 | To “A” and “B” Siege Depots | |
| 100516-100805 | Jun 1916 | Transfers from Royal Field Artillery | |
| 100819-100833 | Jun 1916 | Transfers from 109 Heavy Battery Royal Field Artillery | |
| 100854-100892 | Jun 1916 | Woolwich | |
| 100909-101152 | Jun – Jul 1916 | Transfers to Woolwich, “A” and “B” Siege Depots | |
| 101157-102560 | Jun – Jul 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 102568-103611 | Jun – Jul 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 103261-104666 | Jul 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 104672-105725 | Jul 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 105732-106773 | Jul 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 106788-107830 | Jul 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 107834-108881 | Jul – Aug 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 108916-109779 | Jun – Aug 1916 | To Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot, many being transfers from Royal Field Artillery | |
| 109787-110986 | Jul – Aug 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 110990-112040 | Jul – Aug 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 112046-113092 | Jul – Aug 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 113105-114146 | Aug 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 114152-115215 | Aug – Oct 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 115219-116235 | Aug – Sep 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 116268-117296 | Aug – Sep 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 117309-118277 | Aug – Sep 1916 | 4 Depot (Gt Yarmouth) | |
| 118280-118361 | Sep – Oct 1916 | 4 Depot (Clipstone) | Some approved at previous location, Great Yarmouth |
| 118366-118369 | Aug 1916 | “A” and “B” Siege Depots | |
| 118373-118470 | Aug 1916 | Woolwich | |
| 118491-118568 | Jul – Sep 1916 | Transfers of men of Cornwall and East Riding TF RGA who had been posted to Anti-Aircraft units | |
| 118569-118640 | Mar – Apr 1917 | Transfers of men of East Riding TF RGA who had been posted to Anti-Aircraft units | |
| 118644 | Aug 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 118649-118661 | Sep 1916 (?) | Transfers of men of Clyde TF RGA who had been posted to 193 Siege Battery | |
| 118663- | Transfers of men of Forth TF RGA who had been posted to 193 and 204 Siege Batteries | ||
| 118675 | Jul 1916 | Transfer from infantry | |
| 118679-118718 | Sep 1916 | Transfers of men of Essex & Suffolk TF RGA who had been posted to Anti-Aircraft units | |
| 118719-118758 | Jul 1916 | Transfers of men of Clyde TF RGA to 191 Siege Battery | |
| 118760-118811 | Transfers of men of RFA and Sussex and Northumbrian TF RGA | ||
| 118817-118911 | Transfers of men of Essex and Suffolk TF RGA to 39 Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 118921-118994 | Transfers of men of Hampshire TF RGA to 147 Siege Battery | ||
| 118995-119005 | Transfers of men of North Scottish TF RGA to 192 Siege Battery | ||
| 119009-119186 | Jul – Aug 1916 | New enlistments and transfers of men from a variety of regiments and corps | |
| 119191-119293 | Jul 1916 | Transfers of men of Essex & Suffolk TF RGA who had been posted to 14 Anti-Aircraft Company at Waltham Abbey | |
| 119304-119317 | Mix of new enlistments and transfers into RGA | ||
| 119323-119378 | Aug 1916 | Transfers of men of Essex & Suffolk TF RGA who had been posted to Anti-Aircraft units | |
| 119386-119410 | Mix of new enlistments to Woolwich and transfers into RGA | ||
| 119412-120032 | Sep 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 120035-120467 | Sep – Oct 1916 | 1 Depot (Clipstone) | Depot had relocated |
| 120469-121506 | Sep – Oct 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 121529-122573 | Mix of new enlistments and transfers into regular RGA from RFA and TF RGA | ||
| 122587-123614 | Sep – Oct 1916 | 4 Depot (Clipstone) | |
| 123631-124674 | Oct – Nov 1916 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 124682-125198 | Oct 1916 | 1 Depot (Dover) | |
| 125200-125729 | Oct – Nov 1916 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | Depot had relocated |
| 125730-126810 | Oct – Nov 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 126811-126840 | Oct 1916 | 4 Depot (Clipstone) | |
| 126850-127833 | Oct – Nov 1916 | ||
| 127837-128020 | Mix of new enlistments and transfers into regular RGA from TF RGA | ||
| 128065-128245 | Miscellaneous transfers into regular RGA | ||
| 128248-128287 | Aug 1916 | Transfers from Cornwall RGA (TF) to 211th Siege Battery | |
| 128288-128439 | Aug 1916 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 201st Siege Battery | |
| 128442-128445 | Sep – Oct 1916 | At “A” Siege Depot | |
| 128449-128632 | Transfers from Kent RGA (TF) to 38th Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 128634-128640 | Oct 1917 | Transfers and at “A” Siege Depot | |
| 128647-128745 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 232nd Siege Battery and 7th Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 128751 | Nov 1916 | At Woolwich | |
| 128759-128832 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 222nd Siege Battery | ||
| 128837-128839 | Transfers from RFA and units of RGA (TF) | ||
| 128895-129935 | Nov – Dec 1916 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 129960-130991 | Nov 1916 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 131000-132047 | Nov 1916 – Jan 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 132052 | Oct 1916 | Transfer | |
| 132054-132077 | Transfers from Clyde RGA (TF) to 278th Siege Battery | ||
| 132078 | Transfer from infantry | ||
| 132079-132180 | At Woolwich, plus transfers from RFA and units of RGA (TF) | ||
| 132183-132224 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 6th Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 132225-132263 | Transfers from RGA TF units and infantry | ||
| 132266-132273 | Oct 1916 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 276th Siege Battery | |
| 132275-132296 | Transfers from RGA TF units, Woolwich and Queenstown | ||
| 132297-132299 | Transfers from Clyde RGA (TF) to 278th Siege Battery | ||
| 132300-132359 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 204th Siege Battery | ||
| 132363-132414 | Transfers from RFA and TF RGA | ||
| 132417-132449 | Transfers from Durham RGA (TF) to 230th Siege Battery | ||
| 132450-132488 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 276th Siege Battery | ||
| 132490-132496 | Nov 1916 | Transfers from North Scottish RGA (TF) to 267th Siege Battery | |
| 132501-132509 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 276th Siege Battery | ||
| 132511-132657 | Transfers from RFA, TF RGA and infantry | ||
| 132662-132718 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 197th Siege Battery | ||
| 132732-132781 | Transfers from RFA, TF RGA, Woolwich and infantry | ||
| 132791-132862 | Nov 1916 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 161st Siege Battery | |
| 132864-132867 | Nov 1916 | “A” Siege Depot | |
| 132881-132890 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 161st Siege Battery | ||
| 132902-132909 | Transfers from TF RGA and Woolwich | ||
| 132914-132978 | Aug 1916 | Transfers from Essex & Suffolk RGA (TF) to 220th Siege Battery | |
| 132985-132990 | Transfers from RFA and TF RGA | ||
| 133014-133035 | Nov 1916 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 275th Siege Battery | |
| 133055-133133 | Transfers from RGA TF units | ||
| 133141-134194 | Nov 1916 – Jan 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 134199-135245 | Nov – Dec 1916 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 135246-136297 | Dec 1916 – Mar 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 136303-136315 | Transfers from North Scottish RGA (TF) to 47th Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 136328-136331 | Transfers from RFA and TF RGA | ||
| 136338-136383 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 170th Siege Battery | ||
| 136387-136518 | Transfers from RGA (TF) | ||
| 136528-136537 | Nov 1916 | Transfers from Dorset RGA (TF) | |
| 136539-136559 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) | ||
| 136575-136601 | Transfers from RGA (TF) | ||
| 136602-136653 | Transfers from Durham RGA (TF) to 190th Siege Battery | ||
| 136654-136852 | Sep 1916 – Apr 1917 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF), and infantry | |
| 136858-137073 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF), and infantry | ||
| 137098-137137 | Transfers from Dorset RGA (TF) to 174th Siege Battery in 1916 | ||
| 137143-137162 | Transfers, mainly from RFA | ||
| 137171-137220 | Transfers from Glamorgan RGA (TF) mainly to 281st Siege Battery | ||
| 137228-137280 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 39th Siege Battery | ||
| 137282-137372 | Transfers from RFA and RGA (TF) | ||
| 137377-137401 | Transfers from Cornwall RGA (TF) to 266th Siege Battery and transfers from Essex & Suffolk RGA (TF) | ||
| 137407-137443 | “A” Siege Depot and transfers from RFA and infantry | ||
| 137449-137484 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 279th Siege Battery | ||
| 137486-137545 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 95th Siege Battery | ||
| 137547-137676 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 44th Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 137694-137705 | Transfers from East Riding RGA (TF) | ||
| 137718-137737 | Transfers from Cornwall RGA (TF) to 296th Siege Battery | ||
| 137738-137880 | Transfers from Woolwich and RGA (TF) units | ||
| 137898-137929 | Transfers from Cornwall RGA (TF) to 173rd Siege Battery | ||
| 137930-138969 | Transfers from North Scottish RGA (TF) to 192nd Siege Battery | ||
| 137970-138001 | Transfers from Cornwall RGA (TF) to 173rd Siege Battery | ||
| 138003-138096 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 187th Siege Battery | ||
| 138129-138162 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 43rd Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 138176-138294 | Transfers from RFA , RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 138327-138373 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 117th Siege Battery | ||
| 138442-138469 | Transfers from Kent RGA (TF) to 269th Siege Battery | ||
| 138473-138476 | Transfers from Tynemouth RGA (TF) to 288th Siege Battery | ||
| 138479-138490 | Transfers from Kent RGA (TF) to 269th Siege Battery | ||
| 138493-138575 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 138589-138619 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 117th Siege Battery | ||
| 138622-138629 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 161st Siege Battery | ||
| 138641-138717 | Transfers from units of RGA (TF) | ||
| 138742-138792 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 235th Siege Battery | ||
| 138793-139176 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 139198-139278 | Transfers from Lancashire & Cheshire RGA (TF) to 297th Siege Battery | ||
| 139296-139450 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 139461-1409511 | Dec 1916 – Jan 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 140522-141583 | Jan – Mar 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 141590-142100 | Transfers from Woolwich and infantry | ||
| 142105-142151 | Transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 31st Anti-Aircraft Company | ||
| 142159-142618 | Dec 1916 – early 1917 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF) and infantry. To Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot | |
| 142620-143669 | Jan – Mar 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 143670-144715 | Jan – Mar 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 144718-145777 | Mar 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 145779-145820 | Jan 1917 | “A” Siege Depot and Hipswell Camp | |
| 145831-145988 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF), infantry and “A” Siege Depot | ||
| 145999-146035 | Transfers from Essex & Suffolk RGA (TF) to 312nd Siege Battery | ||
| 146054-146220 | Transfers from RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 146221-146818 | Transfers from RFA, RGA (TF), infantry and small numbers to Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot | ||
| 146843-147881 | Mar 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 147886-148071 | Mix of transfers from Royal Engineers and RFA, and enlistments to Jersey and “A” Siege Depot | ||
| 148090-148116 | Transfers from infantry (Northumberland Fusiliers) | ||
| 148118-148932 | Mix of transfers from RFA and infantry, and enlistments to Woolwich and “A” Siege Depot | ||
| 148942-149047 | Feb – Jun 1917 | Jersey | |
| 149150-149987 | Mixture of transfers and enlistments | ||
| 149988-151042 | Mar – Apr 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 151044-152093 | Mar – Apr 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 152094-153146 | Mar – Apr 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 153150-154194 | Mar – Apr 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 154204-155254 | Apr – May 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 155269-156300 | Apr – May 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 156308-157360 | Apr – May 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 157367-158404 | Mix of transfers from RGA (TF) Units, RFA and infantry, and enlistments to Jersey, Sunderland and “A” Siege Depot | ||
| 158413-159467 | Apr – May 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 159468-160484 | May 1917 | 1 Depot (Rugeley) | |
| 160485-160517 | May 1917 | 1 Depot (Derby) | Depot relocated 24 May |
| 160522-161583 | May 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 161600-162617 | May – Jun 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 162630-163678 | May – Jun 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 163680-164729 | May – Jun 1917 | 1 Depot (Derby) | |
| 164731-165785 | May – Jun 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 165793-165845 | Transfers from RGA (TF) units and RFA | ||
| 165863-165936 | Transfers from East Riding RGA (TF) to 164th Siege Battery | ||
| 165939-166063 | Transfers from RGA (TF) units, RFA and infantry | ||
| 166069-166105 | Transfers from Durham RGA (TF), most to 149th Siege Battery | ||
| 166116-166834 | Transfers from RGA (TF) units, RFA and infantry | ||
| 166836-167889 | Jun – Jul 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 167892-168293 | Transfers, mainly RFA and some infantry | ||
| 168346-168367 | Mainly transfers from Hampshire RGA (TF) to 36th Anti-Aircraft Section | ||
| 168379-168470 | Transfers from RGA (TF) units and infantry | ||
| 168478-168567 | Transfers from Devon RGA (TF) to 55th and 58th Anti-Aircraft Sections and 114th and 158th Heavy Batteries | ||
| 168585-168941 | Transfers from RFA (mainly), RGA (TF) and infantry | ||
| 168949-169995 | Jun – Jul 1917 | 1 Depot (Derby) | |
| 170004-171046 | Jun – Aug 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 171048-172095 | Jul – Aug 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 172104-173153 | Jul – Aug 1917 | 1 Depot (Derby) | |
| 173155-173286 | Transfers from RFA and infantry | ||
| 173391-173368 | Transfers from North Scottish RGA (TF) to 151st Siege Battery | ||
| 173388-173415 | Transfers from RFA and RGA (TF) | ||
| 173421-173434 | Transfers from Clyde RGA (TF) to 150th Siege Battery | ||
| 173456-175259 | Transfers from RFA | ||
| 175262-177354 | Jul – Oct 1917 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 177367-179468 | Aug 1917 – Feb 1918 | 1 Depot (Derby) | |
| 179473-181577 | Aug – Nov 1917 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 181578-183683 | Aug – Nov 1917 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 183714-185781 | Transfers, mainly from RFA | ||
| 185794-186837 | Dec 1917 – Feb 1918 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 186858-187892 | Transfers from RFA and infantry | ||
| 187899-190000 | Oct 1917 – Feb 1918 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 190005-190995 | Nov 1917 – Feb 1918 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 191028-197699 | Transfers from RFA and infantry | ||
| 197705-197907 | Transfers from Royal Horse and Life Guards to 520, 521 and 544 Siege Batteries | ||
| 197918-198424 | Transfers from RFA, ASC and infantry | ||
| 198426-200416 | Feb – Apr 1918 | 1 Depot (Derby) | |
| 200553-200584 | Transfers from infantry and Life Guards | ||
| 200585-200651 | Transfers from Life Guards to 520 Siege Battery | ||
| 200694-200764 | Transfers from ASC | ||
| 200770-203490 | Transfers from RFA and ASC | ||
| 203548-204502 | Feb – Apr 1918 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) | |
| 204538-204616 | Transfers from RFA | ||
| 204634-205527 | Feb – Apr 1918 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 205540-208620 | Mar – Apr 1918 | 4 Depot (Ripon) | |
| 208645-209994 | Apr – Jun 1918 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 210010-210015 | Transfers from RFA | ||
| 210034-210720 | Mar – Jun 1918 | 2 Depot (Gosport) | |
| 210741-212754 | May 1918 – July 1919 | Transfers to RGA from other regiments and corps, mainly RFA | |
| 212789-213802 | Apr – May 1918 | 3 Depot (Plymouth) |
Numbers issued at later dates
Kevin’s table (above) goes no later than May 1918. To add some guidance regarding later dates of issue, here are some examples:
214291 – mobilised 2 May 1918 at 4 Depot (Ripon)
214599 – same
214741 – mobilised 3 May 1918 at 4 Depot (Ripon)
214999 – mobilised 28 April 1918 at 1 Depot (Derby)
215545 – mobilised 3 May 1918 at 1 Depot (Derby)
215767 – same
215971 – mobilised 3 May 1918 at 4 Depot (Ripon)
Men numbered in the list above who were eventually sent overseas arrived in France very late in the war, and in one case only arrived at a unit on the day the Armistice brought hostilities to an end. Later numbers were even less likely to proceed to a theatre of war.
217021 – mobilised 4 June 1918 at 4 Depot (Ripon)
218032 – mobilised 6 May 1918 at 1 Depot (Derby)
219084 – mobilised 6 May 1918 at 3 Depot (Plymouth)
220056 – transfer from Royal Field Artillery 30 Jun 1918
221075 – mobilised 5 Jun 1918 at 1 Depot (Derby)
—
227085 – transfer from Royal Field Artillery 5 Nov 1918
230018 – re-enlistment 31 January 1919 later renumbered 1417521
1920 renumbering
In 1920, men who were still in service were renumbered in accordance with new regulations. They included men who had agreed to twelve-year engagements when they enlisted in 1913 and 1914. The seniority of the original numbers was maintained. Here are some early examples.
40001 became 1409287
40016 became 1409294
[Note that of the sixteen men originally numbered from 40001 to 40016, only eight were still serving to receive the new numbers. This “drop out”, typically due to man being a casualty, or transferred, or discharged for some reason, makes it impossible to always explicitly calculate back from a new number to an original, or project from an original or new number]
40057 became 1409313
40103 became 1409339
40191 became 1409382.
Numbers prefixed by the letters SR
The prefix implies enlistment into the RGA Special Reserve. The table below has been built up by sampling service records that have survived. It appears that the majority of recruits numbered in this sequence were experienced men, discharged former soldiers, who were enlisted into the Special Reserve initially for one year. Most, as can be seen, were sent to the RGA’s Number 4 Depot at Great Yarmouth before they were posted out to a unit.
| Number | Date of enlistment and issue of number | Depot sent to | First posting to unit (excluding other depots) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR/8 | 13 August 1914 | 1 Depot RGA | 46 Company |
| SR/369 | 18 August 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 57 Company |
| SR/1033 | 27 August 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/1605 | 25 August 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 30 Company |
| SR/2058 | 30 August 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 34 Company |
| SR/2129 | 7 September 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 46 Company |
| SR/3657 | 28 September 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 15 Heavy Battery |
| SR/3857 | 19 October 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/4513 | 22 October 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 12 Company |
| SR/4988 | 10 November 1914 | 4 Depot RGA | 49 Company |
| SR/5317 | 5 January 1915 | 4 Depot RGA | 13 Company |
| SR/6060 | 18 January 1915 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/6303 | 24 July 1915 | 4 Depot RGA | 12 Company |
| SR/7335 | 25 September 1915 | Went direct to unit | 15 Company |
| SR/7629 | 2 November 1915 | 4 Depot RGA | 13 Company |
| SR/9294 | 6 June 1916 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/10304 | 4 December 1916 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/10655 | 11 April 1917 | 4 Depot RGA | |
| SR/10747 | 16 May 1917 | 4 Depot RGA | 455 Siege Battery |
During 1917, the Special Reserve men were renumbered. Their new numbers resembled the sequence in use for those who had been enlisted into the regular army. The original seniority was maintained and numbers began from 275001, simply by dropping the letter prefix and adding 275 at the beginning. Here are some examples. The date when this was enacted does not appear in men’s service records
SR/8 became 275008
SR/10 became 275010
SR/109 became 275109
…
SR/9990 became 284990
SR/10016 became 285016
SR/10304 became 285304.
If you are looking at a soldier that had an SR prefix or fitted into the 275001-285XXX range, you can extrapolate to determine his mobilisation date with reasonably high confidence.
Numbers of men enlisted into RGA units of the Territorial Force
The Territorial Force came into existence in April 1908. Most of the Royal Garrison Artillery units that formed and still existed in 1914 began issuing numbers to recruits at that time. In most cases, the unit had its own numbering sequence and began at 1, although in some cases the system adopted was a continuation or variation of that used by the Volunteer unit on which the new Territorial one was based. It also appears that some units used different numeric sequences for each of its constituent Companies.
Some men of these units were later transferred to the regular RGA, and where this was the case they are mentioned in the large table above. In the spring of 1917, all men serving were renumbered.
| Unit | Number examples and date of issue | Notes | 1917 block of new numbers allocated to unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (Highland) Mounted Brigade RGA | Each of the three batteries and ammunition column of this brigade had separate numbering | 300001-306000 | ||
| Fifeshire Heavy Battery RGA | 467 – Jan 1909 612 – May 1911 727 – Feb 1914 1090 – May 1915 1389 – Mar 1916 | 306001-307000 | ||
| Edinburgh Heavy Battery RGA | 56 – Apr 1908 177 – Mar 1909 288 – May 1912 350 – Aug 1913 414 – Aug 1914 757 – Aug 1915 | 307001-308000 | ||
| 1st and 2nd Lancashire Heavy Batteries RGA | 167 – May 1910 204 – Jul 1911 227 – Apr 1912 1300 – May 1914 1446 – Dec 1914 | 308001-310000 | ||
| Welsh (Carnarvonshire) Heavy Battery RGA | 218 – May 1909 331 – Jun 1912 405 – Dec 1913 687 – Apr 1915 796 – May 1915 | 310001-311000 | ||
| Northumbrian (North Riding) Heavy Battery RGA | 229 – Apr 1909 326 – May 1911 462 – Apr 1914 514 – Sep 1914 596 – Feb 1915 | 311001-312000 | ||
| West Riding Heavy Battery RGA | 114 – Apr 1908 238 – Apr 1910 285 – Jan 1912 371 – Nov 1913 484 – Sep 1914 503 – Dec 1914 614 – Apr 1915 | 312001-313000 | ||
| North Midland (Staffordshire) Heavy Battery RGA | 72 – Jun 1908 243 – Jan 1910 313 – Jul 1911 422 – Jul 1913 457 – Aug 1914 484 – Sep 1914 815 – May 1915 890 – Mar 1916 | 313001-314000 | ||
| South Midland (Warwickshire) Heavy Battery RGA | 33 – Apr 1908 215 – May 1911 428 – Sep 1914 523 – Jan 1915 814 – Sep 1915 | 314001-315000 | ||
| Wessex (Hampshire) Heavy Battery RGA | 10 – Aug 1908 139 – Feb 1910 169 – Dec 1911 397 – Sep 1914 | 315001-316000 | ||
| East Anglian (Essex) Heavy Battery RGA | 672 – Feb 1909 816 – Sep 1910 945 – Jul 1913 1004 – Apr 1914 1465 – Oct 1915 | 316001-317000 | ||
| Home Counties (Kent) Heavy Battery RGA | 370 – Jan 1909 455 – Dec 1912 564 – Sep 1914 701 – Feb 1915 1318 – Nov 1915 | |||
| 1st and 2nd London Heavy Batteries RGA | 318001-320000 | |||
| Cornwall RGA | 321001-326000 | |||
| Clyde RGA | 96 – Dec 1910 126 – Apr 1912 141 – Mar 1913 203 – Oct 1914 | Formed in 1910 by splitting former Forth & Clyde RGA | 326001-329000 | |
| Devonshire RGA | 329000-334000 | |||
| Dorsetshire RGA | 334001-337000 | |||
| Durham RGA | 337001-340000 | |||
| Essex & Sussex RGA | It appears that each Company of this unit used a separate numeric sequence | 340001-344000 | ||
| Forth RGA | It appears that each Company of this unit used a separate numeric sequence | 344001-348000 | ||
| Glamorgan RGA | 25 – May 1908 73 – Sep 1909 145 – May 1913 462 – Jul 1914 | 348001-352000 | ||
| Hampshire RGA | 388 – Mar 1909 573 – Jun 1909 760 – Mar 1911 849 – Apr 1912 1046 – Jul 1913 1237 – Aug 1914 1977 – Nov 1915 | 352001-358000 | ||
| Kent RGA | 69 – Sep 1912 94 – Oct 1913 104 – Feb 1914 108 – Jun 1914 | Formed in 1910 by splitting former Kent & Sussex RGA | 358001-362000 | |
| Lancashire & Cheshire RGA | 18 – Apr 1908 263 – Apr 1909 515 – Dec 1910 629 – Sep 1911 704 – May 1912 806 – Jun 1913 1000 – Aug 1914 1882 – Oct 1915 2155 – Apr 1916 | 362001-365000 | ||
| North Scottish RGA | It appears that each Company of this unit used a separate numeric sequence | 365001-368000 | ||
| Orkney RGA | 299 – Jun 1908 541 – Feb 1910 665 – Feb 1911 937 – Dec 1913 1096 – Nov 1914 1149 – Nov 1915 | 368001-371000 | ||
| Pembroke RGA | 24 – Apr 1908 354 – Dec 1911 488 – Jun 1914 562 – Jul 1915 | 371001-374000 | ||
| Sussex RGA | 253 – Feb 1910 362 – Jul 1911 443 – Jun 1913 537 – Oct 1914 808 – Oct 1915 | Formed in 1910 by splitting former Kent & Sussex RGA | 374001-376000 | |
| Northumberland (Tynemouth) RGA | 22 – May 1908 52 – May 1908 365 – May 1909 444 – Apr 1910 527 – Aug 1911 593 – Feb 1913 674 – May 1914 768 – Dec 1914 940 – Aug 1915 1052 – Oct 1915 | 376001-382000 | ||
| East Riding RGA | 57 – Jun 1908 82 – Aug 1909 103 – Jun 1910 118 – May 1912 154 – Jul 1914 235 – Nov 1914 331 – May 1915 | 382001-388000 |