Identity Discs & Service Numbers     In the British and Canadian Armies

Read more on... Religious Denominations British Service Numbers Canadian Regimental Numbers -top- Every soldier in the British and Canadian Army was issued with a set of three Identity Discs. The discs were made of pressed fiber. Two to the discs were red and circular, with a single hole. The third disc was green and in the shape of an elongated octagon with a hole on either end. The green disc and one red disc were worn on a thin cord around the neck. The cord was 38" long, made of twine or leather. These materials were found to deteriorate quickly in the Southeast Asia theatre, where soldiers could replace it with a privately acquired metal chain. The green disc was tied 6" away from the red disc. The second red disc was placed in the light respirator bag. The discs were to be used for burial identification in the case that the soldier became a casualty. The green disc was to always stay with the body. The information on all three discs was the same. The soldier's first and middle initials and their full surname were always stamped. The soldier's religious denomination, as indicated by initials, would often be stamped on the disc as well. The soldier's unique number, called the Service Number for British soldiers, and the Regimental Number for Canadian soldiers, was also always present. Religious Denominations Read more on... Religious Denominations British Service Numbers Canadian Regimental Numbers -top- Following is a list of abbreviations used on the Identity Discs to indicate religious denomination. Denom.   Abbrev. Church of England   CE Church of Ireland   CI Church of Scotland &   Presbyterian   Pres Roman Catholic   RC Methodist   Meth Baptist   Bapt Congregationalist   Cong Jewish   J Salvation Army   SA Christian Scientist   CSci Unitarian   U Plymouth Bretheren   PB Quaker   Q other or none   blank British Service Numbers Read more on... Religious Denominations British Service Numbers Canadian Regimental Numbers -top- The British soldier was given their Service Number when they first enlisted. It was allocated based on the unit or service that he joined. Each unit or service was designated a 'block' of available numbers that were given out sequentially to new enlistees. The soldier kept this number even if they transferred to a new unit or on re-enlistment at a later date. Officers received a Personal Number when they were commissioned, which replaced the Service Number. The British Service Number normally consisted of a series of numbers from 1 to 8 digits long. In the case of the Royal Army Service Corps a single letter prefix was added to the front of the number due to the size of the corps. The two main branches of the RASC were designated by the prefix "S" for Supply, and "T" for Transport. Following is a list of the number blocks assigned to the various units and services of the British Army. Unit or Service   Start   End Royal Army Service Corps   1   294,000 The Life Guards   294,001   304,000 Royal Horse Guards   304,001   309,000 Cavalry of the Line   309,001   721,000 (Also used by the Royal Armoured Corps)   558,471   558,761 Royal Artillery (Field Branch, Coast Defense,   and Anti-Aircraft Branch)   721,001   1,842,000 Royal Engineers   1,842,001   2,303,000 Royal Corps of Signals   2,303,001   2,604,000 Grenadier Guards   2,604,001   2,646,000 Coldstream Guards   2,646,001   2,688,000 Scots Guards   2,688,001   2,714,000 Irish Guards   2,714,001   2,730,000 Welsh Guards   2,730,001   2,744,000 The Black Watch   2,744,001   2,809,000 The Seaforth Highlanders   2,809,001   2,865,000 The Gordon Highlanders   2,865,001   2,921,000 The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders   2,966,001   3,044,000 The Royal Scots   3,044,001   3,122,000 The Royal Scots Fusiliers   3,122,001   3,178,000 The King's Own Scottish Borderers   3,178,001   3,233,000 The Cameronians   3,233,001   3,299,000 The Highland Light Infantry   3,299,001   3,377,000 The East Lancashire Regiment   3,377,001   3,433,000 The Lancashire Regiment   3,433,001   3,511,000 The Manchester Regiment   3,511,001   3,589,000 The Border Regiment   3,589,001   3,644,000 The Prince of Wales's Regiment   3,644,001   3,701,000 The King's Own Royal Regiment   3,701,001   3,757,000 The King's Regiment   3,757,001   3,846,000 The Loyal Regiment   3,846,001   3,902,000 The South Wales Borderers   3,902,001   3,947,000 The Welch Regiment   3,947,001   4,025,000 The King's Shropshire Light Infantry   4,025,001   4,070,000 The Monmouthshire Regiment   4,070,001   4,103,000 The Herefordshire Regiment   4,103,001   4,114,000 The Cheshire Regiment   4,114,001   4,178,000 The Royal Welch Fusiliers   4,178,001   4,256,000 The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers   4,256,001   4,334,000 The East Yorkshire Regiment   4,334,001   4,379,000 The Green Howards   4,379,001   4,435,000 The Durham Light Infantry   4,435,001   4,523,000 The West Yorkshire Regiment   4,523,001   4,601,000 The Duke of Wellington's Regiment   4,601,001   4,680,000 The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry   4,680,001   4,736,000 The York and Lancaster Regiment   4,736,001   4,792,000 The Lincolnshire Regiment   4,792,001   4,848,000 The Leicestershire Regiment   4,848,001   4,904,000 The South Staffordshire Regiment   4,904,001   4,960,000 The Sherwood Foresters   4,960,001   5,038,000 The North Staffordshire Regiment   5,038,001   5,094,000 The Royal Warwickshire Regiment   5,094,001   5,172,000 The Gloucestershire Regiment   5,172,001   5,239,000 The Worcestershire Regiment   5,239,001   5,328,000 The Royal Berkshire Regiment   5,328,001   5,373,000 The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire   Light Infantry   5,373,001   5,429,000 The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry   5,429,001   5,485,000 The Hampshire Regiment   5,485,001   5,562,000 The Wiltshire Regiment   5,562,001   5,608,000 The Devonshire Regiment   5,608,001   5,662,000 The Somerset Light Infantry   5,662,001   5,718,000 The Dorsetshire Regiment   5,718,001   5,763,000 The Royal Norfolk Regiment   5,763,001   5,819,000 The Suffolk Regiment   5,819,001   5,875,000 The Northamptonshire Regiment   5,875,001   5,931,000 The Cambridgeshire Regiment   5,931,001   5,942,000 The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire   Regiment   5,942,001   5,998,000 The Essex Regiment   5,998,001   6,076,000 The Queen's Royal Regiment   6,076,001   6,132,000 The East Surrey Regiment   6,132,001   6,188,000 The Middlesex Regiment   6,188,001   6,278,000 The Buffs   6,278,001   6,334,000 The Royal West Kent Regiment   6,334,001   6,390,000 The Royal Sussex Regiment   6,390,001   6,446,000 The Royal Fusilier   6,446,001   6,515,000 The Inns of Court Regiment   6,802,501   6,814,000 Honourable Artillery Company (Infantry)   6,825,001   6,814,000 The King's Royal Rifle Corps   6,837,001   6,905,000 The Rifle Brigade   6,905,001   6,972,000 The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers   6,972,001   7,006,000 The Royal Ulster Rifles   7,006,001   7,040,000 The Royal Irish Fusiliers   7,040,001   7,075,000 Royal Dublin Fusiliers   7,075,001   7,109,000 Royal Irish Regiment   7,109,001   7,143,000 Connaught Rangers   7,143,001   7,177,000 Leinster Regiment   7,177,001   7,211,000 Royal Munster Fusiliers   7,211,001   7,245,000 Royal Army Medical Corps   7,245,001   7,536,000 The Army Dental Corps   7,536,001   7,539,000 Royal Guernsey Militia and Royal Alderney   Artillery Militia   7,539,001   7,560,000 Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey   7,560,001   7,574,000 Royal Army Ordnance Corps   7,574,001   7,657,000 Royal Army Pay Corps   7,657,001   7,681,000 Corps of Military Police   7,681,001   7,717,000 Military Provost Staff Corps   7,717,001   7,718,800 Small Arms School Corps   7,718,801   7,720,400 Army Education Corps   7,720,401   7,732,400 Band of the Royal Military College   7,732,401   7,733,000 Corps of Military Accountants   7,733,001   7,757,000 Royal Army Veterinary Corps   7,757,001   7,807,000 Machine Gun Corps   7,807,001   7,868,000 Royal Tank Regiment   7,868,001   7,891,868 Royal Armoured Corps   7,891,869   8,230,000 Militia   10,000,001   10,350,000 Intelligence Corps   10,350,001   10,400,000 Royal Army Pay Corps   10,400,001   10,500,000 Middle East 2nd Echelon   (for issue to Allies locally enlisted)   10,500,001   10,508,000 The Army Dental Corps   10,510,001   10,530,000 Royal Army Ordnance Corps   10,530,001   10,600,000 Reconnaissance Corps   10,600,001   10,630,000 Army Catering Corps   10,630,001   10,655,000 Army Physical Training Corps   10,655,001   10,660,000 Royal Army Service Corps   10,660,001   11,000,000 Royal Artillery (coast defense and   anti-aircraft branches)   11,000,001   11,500,000 Pioneer Corps   13,000,001   14,000,000 The Lowland Regiment   14,000,001   14,002,500 The Highland Regiment   14,002,501   14,005,000 General Service Corps   14,200,001   15,000,000 India (for local enlistments into British   Corps and Regiments)   15,000,001   15,005,000 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers   16,000,001   16,100,000 Non-Combatant Corps   97,000,001   97,100,000 The Auxiliary Territorial Service (Women)   W/1   W/500,000 Voluntary Aid Detachments   W/500,001   W/1,000,000 Canadian Regimental Numbers Read more on... Religious Denominations British Service Numbers Canadian Regimental Numbers -top- Regimental Numbers in the Canadian Army were divided into several large number blocks. The first block was that assigned to the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF) starting in 1940. This block numbered from 1 to 399,999. During WWII Canada was divided into Militia Districts (MD). Each of the Militia Districts received the same number block of 1 to 399,999 for the CASF, which was then divided into smaller blocks for the units that were part of that MD. In addition, each of the Milita Districts was assigned a single letter designation, which would be prefixed to a recruit's number. A new recruit into the CASF would receive their Regimental Number at the time of enlistment with the prefix of the letter assigned to their MD. For example, a new recruit to the South Saskatchewan Regiment could be issued the number L16214, with "L" being the MD prefix and 16214 part of the number block for the CASF assigned to the SSR within this district. Members of the Permanent Force who joined the CASF received the prefix "P" to their service number. The second block of numbers was assigned to the Non Permanent Active Miltia (NPAM) starting in late 1940. This block numbered from 400,000 to 599,999. As with the CASF numbers, each MD used this same block of numbers for the NPAM, dividing it into smaller blocks for units as needed. Issued numbers for the NPAM also had the letter prefix for the appropriate MD. The third block of numbers were assigned to soldiers called up for four month training cycles starting in early 1941. These blocks started at 600,000. A soldier could be assigned several numbers, but once they received a CASF number it was kept, even if the soldier switched units or re-enlisted. The CASF number would replace a previously issued NPAM or training number. Officers were not issued Regimental Numbers until early 1945. Following is a list of Militia Districts Number   Letter   District Area 1   A   Toronto area 2   B   Central Ontario 3   C   Eastern Ontario and South-Western Quebec 4   D   Western Quebec 5   E   Eastern Quebec and Western Newfoundland 6   F   Nova Scotia 7   G   New Brunswick 10   H   Manitoba and Western Ontario 11   K   British Columbia and Yukon Territory 12   L   Saskatchewan 13   M   Alberta and the Northwest Territories Following is a list of the number blocks assigned the various units and services of the Canadian Army. Please note that this is a heavily edited list, only showing some of the major armoured units and infantry regiments. A complete list, and full explanation of the Regimental Numbers, is available in Clive Law's Regimental Numbers of the Canadian Army, 1936-1960. Unit or Service   Start   End Militia District 1 - Prefix A   1st Hussars (6th Armoured Regiment)   1   1999 Royal Canadian Regiment   3000   3999 Perth Regiment   11000   16999 Essex Scottish Regiment   21100   26999 Highland Light Infantry of Canada (Galt)   37175   37999 Highland Light Infantry of Canada (Kitchener)   38000   41999 Elgin Regiment   42000   46999 Kent Regiment   49500   54499 Militia District 2 - Prefix B   Royal Canadian Dragoons   1   100 Scots Fusiliers   24901   24999 Royal Hamilton Light Infantry   36500   38240 Lincoln & Welland Regiment   40500   41576 2nd/10th Dragoons   41601   42999 Dufferin & Haldemand Rifles   43000   43481 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders   45500   46654 Lorne Scots (Defence Platoon)   46801   47150 Lorne Scots (Defence Platoon)   51600   52202 Grey & Simcoe Foresters   49250   49550 Grey & Simcoe Foresters   50000   50161 Grey & Simcoe Foresters   50750   50920 Algonquin Regiment   54500   55649 Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury Regiment   59000   60499 Queen's Own Rifles   63500   64441 Royal Regiment of Canada   66500   68013 3rd Armoured Regiment   69500   70160 Queens York Rangers   70161   71000 Prince of Wales Rangers   71001   71099 48th Highlanders of Canada   72500   74849 Toronto Scottish Regiment   75500   77058 Irish Regiment of Canada   78500   79539 Militia District 3 - Prefix C   Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment   4001   9000 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa   20501   25500 Midland Regiment   40501   40750 Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders   40751   41250 Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment   42301   42310 Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment   79000   79415 Regiment de Hull (Active Force)   42501   42700 Regiment de Hull (Active Force)   43501   43618 Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry   Highlanders (Active Force)   53000   57498 Governor General's Foot Guards (Active Force)   58000   62999 1st Bn. Midland Regiment (Active Force)   65000   69999 Prince of Wales Rangers   78000   78234 Brockville Rifles (Active Force)   80000   80999 Militia District 4 - Prefix D   1st Armored Car Regiment   1500   2999 7th Recconnaisance Bn.   3000   5999 22nd Armoured Regiment   26000   30999 Regiment de St. Hyacinthe   41000   45999 27th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers)   46000   50999 Regiment de Chateauguay   51000   55999 Regiment de Maisonneuve   56000   60999 Fusiliers de Mont-Royal   61000   65999 Regiment de Joliette   66000   70999 Victoria Rifles of Canada   71000   75999 Royal Montreal Regiment   76000   80999 Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada   81000   90999 Royal 22nd Regiment   106000   106499 Royal 22nd Regiment   124700   124899 Canadian Armoured Corps (Reinforcements)   131000   131999 Fusiliers de Sherbrooke Regiment   150000   154999 Regiment de Maisonneuve   160000   162999 Fusiliers de Mont-Royal   163300   165999 Militia District 5 - Prefix E   Royal 22e Regiment   4001   7500 Regiment de la Chaudiere   9001   14000 Royal Rifles of Canada   22801   23300 Royal Rifles of Canada   29801   34800 Voltigeurs de Quebec   23301   23800 Voltigeurs de Quebec   41901   46900 Regiment de Levis   23801   24300 Regiment de Quebec   24301   24800 Regiment de Quebec   63001   68000 Fusiliers du St. Laurent   25301   25800 Fusiliers du St. Laurent   57601   62600 Canadian Armoured Corps   40401   40900 Regiment de Montmagny   68001   73000 Militia District 6 - Prefix F   Halifax Rifles   29550   30599 The West Nova Scotia Regiment   39550   43699 Pictou Highlanders   44600   45799 North Nova Scotia Highlanders   49600   50999 The Cape Breton Highlanders   54600   55725 Prince Edward Island Highlanders   59600   63700 Militia District 7 - Prefix G   5th Armoured Regiment   1   3000 Carleton & York Regiment   17001   21500 North Shore Regiment   22001   25000 New Brunswick Rangers   27000   32000 St. John Fusiliers   32001   34000 Militia District 10 - Prefix H   Lord Strathcona's Horse   1   999 Winnipeg Light Infantry   3501   3600 Winnipeg Grenadiers   6001   7999 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry   16001   17999 Fort Garry Horse   26001   26999 Royal Winnipeg Rifles   40501   42999 Lake Superior Regiment   45501   46999 18th Armoured Car Regiment   77001   77999 Winnipeg Light Infantry   200000   202999 2nd Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders   of Canada (Reserve Force)   433000   436999 Militia District 11 - Prefix K   9th Armoured Regiment   1   3200 British Columbia Regiment   37001   42000 Rocky Mountain Rangers   42001   47000 Westminster Regiment   47001   52000 Seaforth Highlanders   52001   57000 Canadian Scottish Regiment   57001   59500 Canadian Scottish Regiment   62001   67000 Irish Rifles   67001   72000 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry   85201   87700 Militia District 12 - Prefix L   Saskatoon Light Infantry   1001   6000 South Saskatchewan Regiment   12001   17000 Regina Rifles Regiment   23001   24000 Prince Albert & Battleford Volunteers   24001   25000 Regina Rifles Regiment   27001   32000 16/22 Saskatchewan Horse   36001   41000 14th Canadian Hussars   53201   55200 Canadian Armoured Corps   58601   59600 King's Own Rifles of Canada   84501   85500 Prince Albert & Battleford Volunteers   86501   91500 Regina Rifles Regiment   93601   95600 Militia District 13 - Prefix M   Calgary Highlanders   10501   12500 Edmonton Fusiliers   12501   15500 Edmonton Regiment   15501   20500 Edmonton Fusiliers   30801   33900 Lord Strathcona's Horse   37401   37450 South Alberta Regiment   44751   49750 31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment   51001   51500 31st (Alberta) Reconnaissance Regiment   52001   52800 Permanent Force Joining the CASF - Prefix P   Royal Canadian Dragoons   1   2000 Lord Strathcona's Horse   2001   4000 Royal Canadian Regiment   12001   20000 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry   20001   27000 Royal 22e Regiment   48001   52000 Sources Regimental Numbers of the Canadian Army, 1936-1960. Compiled & Edited by Clive Law, Service Publications, Ottawa [ISBN 1-894581-02-4] Service Publications