Regt Nos; Standards; Wound stripes; Battalion make-up

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The numbering system used in the AIF

The following extract regarding the numbering system used during World War 1 may interest you:

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 Company would start where A Company's numbers ended and so on. The early numbers, 1 - 31 would be allotted to the Headquarters and Machine Gun section personnel. Once again this system did not always hold good for every unit. Some units seemed to have adopted their own individual system, of numbering; although the system described above seems to have been common to the Light Horse Regiments. Officers were not allotted numbers until the commencement of World War II.

With regard to the Arms and Services each State seems to have been allocated a block of numbers but without the State prefix such as is in use today. Once again it was possible for several soldiers to have the same number.

During the latter part of 1917 when the general service reinforcements system came into operation each soldier on enlistment was allotted a number to which Arms or Service he was eventually allotted. It was possible for a soldier to have two numbers. This generally indicated that he had been transferred from one unit to another. If he went from Infantry to Artillery, for example, he generally retained his old number. Having the numbers could also indicate two periods of service and was not uncommon. If a soldier was inadvertently given the same number as another man in his unit he was allotted the letter A as either a prefix or suffix to his number e.g. 187;187A or A187

Different numbers were used in the AN&MEF in New Guinea in 1914 before the AIF was raised.

Information supplied by the AWM

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Enlistment standards :– First World War

During the course of the First World War standards for age, minimum height and minimum chest measurement for enlistment in the AIF were altered.
The requirements in August 1914 were 18–35 years, height of 5ft 6in and chest measurement of 34 inches. In June 1915 the age range and minimum height requirements were changed to 18–45 years and 5ft 2in, with the minimum height being lowered again to 5ft in April 1917. During the first year of the war approximately 33 percent of all volunteers were rejected. However, with relaxation of physical standards of age and height, as well as dental and ophthalmic fitness, previously ineligible men were now eligible for enlistment.
On enlistment recruits were examined for BC or D tattooed on their skin. These were British army tattoos. BC stood for bad character and D for deserter.

Information supplied by the AWM

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Wound Stripes, Overseas Service Chevrons & Long Service/Good Conduct Badges

Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916.
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED

The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :-
Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches in length sewn perpendicularly on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.
In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff. Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the bottom of the sleeve. Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original one at half inch interval.
Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department; the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public. (see photo).

LONG SERVICE BADGES A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917

The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.

The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches above the edge of the cuff. (see photo)
Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which will not carry an increased pay or allowance.
One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of embarkation in Australia; but no badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet. Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.
A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.
The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.
Information supplied by the AWM

2233 Pte F Palmer 42 Bn (photo above) can be seen to be wearing 1 wound stripe, 1 long service stripe and 2 overseas service stripes

Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, 4th January 1918 *(Slightly abridged) CHEVRONS FOR OVERSEAS SERVICE (see photo)

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.

Chevrons of two colours have been approved. The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red; if earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue; and all additional chevrons after the first will be blue.

The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch in width, the arms 1/4 inch long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm: in the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch above the upper point of the flap on the cuff. In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four inches above the bottom edge of the sleeve. The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.

In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.

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What makes up a Battalion ?

A full strength AIF Infantry Battalion was made up of 29 Officers and 1007 Other Ranks (OR's) broken up in to these sub-units;
- Battalion HQ ( 5 Officers and 75 OR's) and
- 4 Rifle Companies
- a Rifle Company was made up of 6 Officers and 233 OR's broken into these sub-units
  - Company HQ (2 Officers and 57 OR's) plus
  - 4 Platoons
- A Platoon was made up of 1 Officer and 44 OR's broken into these sub-units
  - Platoon HQ (1 Officer and 4 OR's) and
  - 3 Rifle Sections (each of 10 OR's) and
  - 1 Lewis Gun Section of 10 OR's

Battalion Headquarters

The Battalion was usually commanded by an officer with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. A Major was Second-in-Command. Battalion HQ also had three other officers : a Captain or Lieutenant filled the role of Adjutant (in charge of Battalion administration); similarly a Captain or Lieutenant was the Quartermaster (responsible for stores and transport); an officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps was also attached.

Battalion HQ also included the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM, the most senior Non-Commissioned Officer) plus a number of specialist roles filled by NCO's with the rank of Sergeant : Quartermaster, Drummer (Bugler), Cook, Pioneer, Shoemaker, Transport, Signaller, Armourer and Orderly Room Clerk.

A Corporal and 4 privates of the Army Medical Corps were attached for water duties; a Corporal and 15 Privates were employed as Signallers; 10 Privates were employed as Pioneers (on construction, repair and general engineering duties); 11 Privates acted as Drivers for the horse-drawn transport; 16 acted as Stretcher-bearers (these often being the musicians of the Battalion Band); 6 Privates acted as Officers Batmen (personal servants), and 2 as Orderlies for the Medical Officer.

Companies Usually lettered A through D. Each was commanded by a Major or Captain, with a Captain as Second-in-Command. Company HQ included a Company Sergeant-Major (CSM), a Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS), 2 Privates acting as Batmen, and 3 as Drivers. The body of the Company was divided into 4 Platoons.

Platoons consisted of a subaltern (a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant). 2 Sergeants (often 1 was a Lance-Sergeant), 1 Batmen Each Platoon was subdivided into 4 sections

Sections were made up each of a Corporal, a Lance Corporal and 8 Privates.

Information supplied (in part) by Ross Mallett (ADFA)

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The History of the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion in WW1