How did soldiers get their numbers in WW1?
• The numbering system during World War I was a fairly complex system. Light Horse Regiments and Infantry Battalions had their own numbering system which differed to that used by the other Arms and Services. As there were fourteen Light Horse Regiments and sixty odd Infantry Battalions it was quite possible, and in fact happened, for eighty or ninety soldiers to have the same number, particularly when one takes into account the Artillery, Engineer, Medical Services etc. • In the Light Horse and Infantry the number 1 was usually but not always allotted to the Regimental Sergeant Major. Sometimes it was allotted to the Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant or the Chief Clerk or even an ordinary soldier. It would seem to depend on what the Commanding Officer wanted in his unit. • The numbers were then generally allotted to the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers and Corporals and then consequently alphabetically by Companies. For example A Company could have the numbers 32 to 200 plus. B Compan
