Service numbers old or recent?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Just over the road from Bicester airfield
Age: 77
Posts: 417
Service numbers old or recent?
I have my original brass button stick embossed with the service number 893351 been in my possession for donkeys years (I was a 684*** App starting in 1958 so the numbering predates later entries !) have been trawling through service numbers and as far as can deduce it was/would have been issued to specifically WAAF in 1939 within a block of numbers, now am trying to pin it down further to maybe if a family still exists to pass it on to them, any ideas as to how I get to identify the individual ???, thanx Paul H
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Civ/HAL/SHY/FYY/PWK/AAS/WAD/AVI/GPT/BZN/BSN/WAD/BAS/FLK/WIT/MND/WAD/WIT/WAD/Civ
Posts: 373
A few years ago I got my Grandfathers Army war record from SPVA, Kentigern House, Glasgow (192****)
If it's older, then maybe National Archives at Kew.
I can usually tell the difference between RAF Swinderby and RAF Halton recruits by service no.
My mate was a AC B******** and was x84246**
I was AC C******* x84247**
So there aren't many AC A******'s in front of us on the first intake at Haton on 9th Nov 1993!
(No1 School of Recruits, not Apprentices)
If it's older, then maybe National Archives at Kew.
I can usually tell the difference between RAF Swinderby and RAF Halton recruits by service no.
My mate was a AC B******** and was x84246**
I was AC C******* x84247**
So there aren't many AC A******'s in front of us on the first intake at Haton on 9th Nov 1993!
(No1 School of Recruits, not Apprentices)
Last edited by unclenelli; 11th Sep 2020 at 18:03. Reason: Not Apprentices
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Just over the road from Bicester airfield
Age: 77
Posts: 417
Interesting ?, part of my query was that I joined in September 1958 at Halton with a 6 digit number 684***, the number on the button stick which has been in my possession since then (don't we hoard things ?) shows a 6 digit number that cannot possibly be a Halton number due to the sequencing etc, RAF records show that a block of 6 digit numbers were allocated to an intake of WAAF's in 1939 - did WAAF's get inducted at Padgate then ??? just hoping it triggers some memories and info.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: uk
Posts: 548
I remember sitting in the KG5 night club in Berlin circa 1980, watching the floor show with my crew, when a group of 'elderly gentlemen' entered.
One asked me if i was in the services, and I told him to mind his own business - it was Berlin during the cold war after all.
He then asked me if i was ashamed to admit it, and I said no, but it may pay to be discreet given where we were.
He then said that he was military, as were all his companions and showed me his ID. I said that it had no service number on it.
He then said that 'my dear boy, when one hits 2 stars and above, they don't bother with the number!'
I made my excuses and left.
One asked me if i was in the services, and I told him to mind his own business - it was Berlin during the cold war after all.
He then asked me if i was ashamed to admit it, and I said no, but it may pay to be discreet given where we were.
He then said that he was military, as were all his companions and showed me his ID. I said that it had no service number on it.
He then said that 'my dear boy, when one hits 2 stars and above, they don't bother with the number!'
I made my excuses and left.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: UK
Age: 64
Posts: 47
In 1980, while languishing in DKMH Catterick, an old gentleman in the ward told me his number only had three digits. From memory he served at Catterick as part of the RFC/RAF during WW1. His wife was also in the same hospital and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary while I was there. Sadly, neither of them ever left the hospital.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 350/3 Compton
Age: 73
Posts: 331
Originally Posted by John Eacott
Royal Navy officers in the 60s and 70s (& probably earlier) didn’t have ‘service numbers’. We were advised they would only be issued in times of war.
I was assured that it was because the Queen knew us all personally!
Mog
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: outernet
Posts: 40
Originally Posted by John Eacott
Royal Navy officers in the 60s and 70s (& probably earlier) didn’t have ‘service numbers’. We were advised they would only be issued in times of war.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 76
Posts: 6,086
Originally Posted by Arfur Dent
423****
Oct 1967.
never forget your service number do you
Oct 1967.
never forget your service number do you
Direct Entry GD(G)ATC back then was 433**** ... I know that 'cos I were one!
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: England
Age: 74
Posts: 3,412
423 should be a South Cerney number. 423xxxx Dec '64.
A few months ago I went in for surgery. The anaesthetist knew I was ex-service, and as I was going asked "last three". A bit of a surprise, but I told him, just before I went out. Not been asked that for well over thirty years.
A few months ago I went in for surgery. The anaesthetist knew I was ex-service, and as I was going asked "last three". A bit of a surprise, but I told him, just before I went out. Not been asked that for well over thirty years.
