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

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)

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.

When I joined in 1979, this was something I did not see at RAF Swinderby. Luckily for me, Brass Buttons were no more! :)

423****
Oct 1967.
never forget your service number do you

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.

For me it was Swinderby June 1976 S812****

Mine was 417****
Sept 1955
Haven't forgoteen mine either.

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.

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.

Halton Sept 1955, 81st Entry, my number 681XXX became V0681XXX in the late sixties.

That looks South Cerney(ish)

I was assured that it was because the Queen knew us all personally!

Mog

So why have I a series of letters and numbers stuck in my mind from 1965??

Direct Entry Aircrew, then.

Direct Entry GD(G)ATC back then was 433**** ... I know that 'cos I were one!

My late Father was 568XXX

Must be some 8141s out there

Plenty! NCA 70s/80s

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.

Swinderby Nov 1971 S8098 ***