Commonwealth ID Tags

[oskar2ndchev]

This might be of interest to those of you in search of the proper issue ID tags. I can't vouch for the vendor but some of the folks on the European WWI Reenactor Board seem pleased:

cgi.ebay.co.uk/REPRO-WW1-WW2-BRITISH-IDENTITY-DISCS-DOG-TAGS-ARMY-RAF_W0QQitemZ380014878537QQihZ025QQcategoryZ4726QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

[RMLI_SGT]

Warning - Do not buy from "Warther Originals" We ordered and paid for 10 sets back in June and he has not even responded to numerous emails, snail mail and phone calls about the ID Discs. We got about 12 sets from him back in 05 with no problem. Then this time nothing. Later I found warnings {on the WWII forum} of others who had a problem with John Warther also. I would get them from WPG if I were you or this guy.

[oskar2ndchev]

Got to second that about "Warther Originals". I also bought a set in 2005 with no problems but when I ordered another set last year, he was very slow in getting them to me- I had to bombard with increasingly less and less polite emails.

For US ID tags, there are better sources. $25 for ID tags is still pretty reasonable, given the crummy exchange rate and all.

[oskar2ndchev]

Here's something of interest on ID tags I found on "The Trench Line":

The regimental number of the soldier was issued by the regiment upon the entry of the soldier into the unit. Each regiment generally had a range of numbers from which they issued, but finding those numbers specific to the regiment you are portraying can be hard to find. Early in the war/prewar you would see a few 4 digit numbers, but by the end of the war there were up to 6-7 digits - Once again, it all depends on the regiment.

If for your protrayal, you want a number specific for a regiment I would recommend looking at the list of those killed in the regiment. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) will allow you to search. That way you know you are using a number from the regiment, and it is a small way to individually remember the sacrifice made.

[oskar2ndchev]

Here's some more information on the Commonwealth numbering system:

The British Army in this time period did not have a single unified number system. For the regular establishment each regiment and corps maintained its own separate numbering series starting from 1, excluding affiliated Territorial Force units. Blocks of numbers were not issued to units or Regiments until 1917 and then only to the Territorial Force. In Regiments numbers were assigned out of a central records office for each Regiment.

Numbering conventions were governed by the following paragraphs of the Kings Regulation, 1912:

“Paragraph 1897: A soldier when posted or transferred to a corps will receive a regimental number in that corps.

Paragraph 1899: The regimental series of numbers will commence with 1. The numbers will be given in sequence, according to date of application. The series will extend to 49,999 in each corps of cavalry of the line, and in the R.G.A.; to 99,999 in the R.H.A. and R.F.A.; to 39,999 in the A.S.C.; to 29,999 in the R.E.; to 19,999 in each regiment of Foot Guards, infantry of the line, and R.A.M.C.; and to 9,999 in regiments of household cavalry and in corps not named above. When these numbers have been reached a new series will be commenced.”

What is readily apparent is that as units reached the upper most ceiling set by the King’s Regulation on the assigned number series instead of restarting at number one they usually continued the series.

The Territorial Force maintained its own numbering series even for Territorial Force infantry battalions of infantry of the line. Its numbering conventions were governed by the “The Regulation of the Territorial Force and County Associations, 1912” which stated in paragraph 146:

"The N.C.O.s and men of the Territorial Force will be numbered by units, and each man when posted or transferred to a unit will receive a number in that unit. The series of numbers will run from 1 to 9,999; when the latter is reached a new series will be commenced…. "

The top number was extended to 19,999 by Army Order 173 of 1916. However, to add even more complication to the Territorial Force numbering scheme was the global renumbering of the Territorial Force in the spring of 1917 as mandated by Army Council Instruction 2414, 23 December 1916. This was an attempt to renumber Territorial Force soldier within their parent regiments numbering sequence and thus eliminating a specific Territorial Force numbering scheme. This was accomplished by issuing each Territorial Force battalion block series of numbers usually in the 2XXXXX range. Not every soldier assigned a number in the 2XXXXX was Territorial Force. Even Regiments completely made up of Territorials, like the London Regiment, had block numbers issued to every battalion so that regiment had a single sequential series maintained by the regiment and not a separate sequence maintained by each battalion.

Even though a soldier may be issued a specific number it will not be unique to just that soldier. That same number could and was issued to multiple soldiers in different units. In addition any transfers from one unit to another would lead to an automatic renumbering from the number series of the new gaining unit. No number series over 6 digits was ever issued to a soldier before the end of the Great War. The 6 digits do not include any assigned prefix code. These prefix codes are another complicated aspect of Great War numbers. Corps such as the A.S.C commonly assigned specialty prefixes to numbers and this could be quite numerous. Prefixes could also take the form of numbers. Army Council Instruction 144 of 1915, 18 May 1915, ordered prefixing in regiments where duplication existed. In some cases Battalions popularly called “Pals” battalions were formed outside of the War Office system. These units sometimes assigned their own number series. When the War Office took over control of these Battalions and assigned them to the county regiments of the infantry of the line instead of renumbering the whole battalion a prefix was added to the numbers of the original members. This system also could affect other type battalions such as Territorials.

From a number perspective every there was no unique numbers unique to a Regiment until the T.F in 1917. All the CWGC will tell is possibly the upper range of numbers issued to a Regiment.

[oskar2ndchev]

Just to clarify, I pinched (i.e. stole) this info off of "The Trench Line" but it's the sort of stuff I like to have down when I put an impression together.

To be honest, if the Americans don't materilize like they should, I may consider re-badging as a Fusilier. Consider me "Bomber McKechnie" from the wilds of Canada... ;D Eh? ;D