ID Numbers in the Boer War

[pittpiper]

Can anyone tell me how many digits made up a soldier's identification number from the 1890s-1902? Were the most common ID numbers in the Boer War three or four digits? Did it change from unit to unit?

Thank you,

Sam

[QSAMIKE]

Hi Sam.....

I think that is varied by unit.....

I have a group that has one medal with a Four Digit number, his WW1 Trio has a One Digit number and his Long Service medal has a Five Digit number......

Another QSA that has one number on the QSA and another on a Tribute Medal..... The number on his QSA is a number given to him while he was temporarily attached to a specialized unit and the number on the tribute medal is his original regimental number......

and I have a couple of more examples......

So at that time I am sure it was up to the unit......

Mike

[SWB]

Hello Sam

At the time of the Anglo-Boer War each regiment or corps (Artillery, Engineers etc.) maintained their own numbering system.

With the re-organistion of numbered regiments into territorial named regiments in 1881 numbering began at 1 again. By 1899 all the regiments were using 4 figure numbers, the corps went into 5 figure numbers. Occassionally you see 2 and 3 figure numbers.

Militia regiments followed the same pattern. Men from volunteer battalions were given numbers from the regular battalions as they were specially enlisted into the regular battalion for one year's service.

Numbering in colonial units generally started at 1. At some stage in the war South African colonial units were re-numbered with 5 and 6 figure numbers, so you see a man with perhaps a 2 digit number and then a 6 figure number for the same unit. I don't know how, why or when this took place.

Regards
Meurig

[grumpy]

see:

http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.co.u ... results=19

A massive subject, not gven to generalisations!

[pittpiper]

Thank you gentlemen. These are good answers to a complicated question.