Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918

Soldiers of the First World War: 1914-1918

Regimental Number List of the CEF

The Regimental Number List of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) is a guide which links a

soldier¡¯s regiment number to his assigned military unit. With the military unit¡¯s name, a

researcher can then search the War Diaries of the First World War. Please note, however, that

many soldiers were transferred to other units or Battalions during the course of the war. Consult

the individual's service file for postings.

Regimental Numbers

From 1914 until 1917, the Canadian Expeditionary Force was composed of men who had

volunteered to fight. Able-bodied men were actively encouraged to enlist by Recruiting Officers

who worked throughout the country. In larger urban areas, Recruiting Officers often worked from

stationary recruiting centres, while in rural areas they travelled to many towns, counties or, in the

west, large sections of provinces. Individual Recruiting Officers were told to recruit a specific

number of men for a specific unit.

Before setting out to recruit their men, Recruiting Officers were assigned a block of regimental

numbers. They assigned one regimental number to each man that enlisted. The Regimental

Numbers list of the Canadian Expeditionary Force matches the military unit assigned to each

block of regimental numbers. Therefore, the Regimental Number list can be used to identify the

unit in which a man initially served.

Because regimental numbers were assigned sequentially, it is possible to use the Soldiers of the

First World War database to search the numbers immediately before and after the regimental

number of the person you are looking for. These numbers would have been assigned to the men

who stood in front and behind of your ancestor in line at the Recruiting Depot. Given that men

often enlisted in groups of friends, co-workers or family members, knowing who enlisted at the

same time as your ancestor may reveal interesting aspects of his war service. This will not apply

to men who were conscripted into the military in 1917. After that date regimental numbers were

given to men in the order in which they were called up for service.

Many men served under more than one regimental number. Therefore, you may have to look

through this list of regimental numbers to find the appropriate section.

Note that commissioned officers did not have regimental numbers. They were identified by rank.

Nursing Sisters

In 1914 Canada did not have a permanent corps of military nurses. Soon after the start of the

war, the Canadian military leaders announced that they intended to send nurses to Europe. The

response was enthusiastic, with thousands of Canadian women applying. Regimental numbers

were not assigned to individual Nursing Sisters. They were commissioned as officers with the

rank of Lieutenant/Nursing Sister or Captain/Matron.

Royal Newfoundland Regiment

The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was not a part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

REGIMENTAL NUMBERS

CANApiAN EXPEDIT16N~RCE

!Jt~K NUMBE!It

A

A

1

2000

A

2001

4000

A

4001

6000

A

A

A

6001

8000

A

A

0001

10000

A

A

10001

12000

A

A

12001

1'1000

A

A

A

i:~a

Ji.

A

+G001

18000

A

A

18001

20000

A

20001

22000

A

22.001

24000

A

A

24001

26000

A

A

26001

28000

,,

A

2000ll

30000

A

30001

32000

A

M.D.2 .

~attal1on 1

Changed to 404 ,001

406,000

U.D:2 .

~attalion.

Changed to 406 1 001

408,000.

M,D.2 .

3?t\\'"Bat ta 11on ?

Chcnged to 408,001

410,000

M.D,3 .

3etiiBatta11on.

Changed to 410001

412 , 000

IA.D.3 ,

Wt~ttalion.

Changed to 412,001

414 , 000

6

"'Changed

4i>fit B

a ttl,ilion:

to 414 001

1

0 5

A

A.

~¡¤Battalion.

Changed to 400,501,

402,000

M. D. l.

'!34?llaattal1on .

Changed to 402,001

404 , 000

ne,ooo

~i a t Ba t tn11on ,

Changed to 416,001

'

418,000

~attn1~on .

Changed to 418, 001

420 , 000

M.D! l O.

4\Sr Battalion ,

Changed to 420,001

422,000

M.D. 10,

44th Battalion.

Changed to 422,001

424 , 000

M. D. 10.

45tli1Jatta l1on,

Changed to 424 , 001

426, 000

M.D.10.

if.tli"1:iii"t tall on ?

Changed to 426, 001

ol28 , 000

M.D. 1~

47thtta1ion,

Changed to 428,001

430, 000

M.D. ll .

48th Battalion.

Changed to 430,001

432,000

...

RJ!X}l11PNTAL NUMBERS.

BLOCK NU:JBER

"

"

32ooi.

A

34000.

A

34001.

36000.

A

A

36001.

38000.

A

A

38001.

40000.

A

A

40001,

42000.

A

A

42001.

44000 .

A

/t

44001 .

46000.

A

/1

46001.

48000.

A

f.

48001.

51000 .

,

"

51001.

54000.

A

A

54001.

57000.

A

57001 .

60000 .

t.

A

A

60001.

63000 .

A

63001.

66000.

J.

A

66001.

69000.

11

A

69001.

72000.

,,

72001.

75000.

J,

A

2.

!!lilT

!¡¤!.(2. 12 .

49th Battalion.

changed to 432,001.

434,000.

~ ¡¤ ~¡¤ 13' . .

0 h Battalion.

Changed to 434,001.

436,000.

u.o. 13 .

51st Battalion .

Changed to 436,001.

438,000.

M;D. 10.

5End Battalion .

Changed to 438,001.

440,000.

M,D . 10.

!>3r ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download