Enlistment books

What are the Enlistment Books?

Available here are some of the Enlistment and Transfer Books for the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC).

These books date from 1920, when the British Army changed from the Regimental Number system (pre 1920) to the Army Number (post 1920) system. Entries are in Army Number order, and often contain information such as enlistment date and location, birth place, trade upon enlistment and details of marriages. The RASC books run to the mid 1930s, however the RAOC books are only until 1921.

We do not hold enlistment books from the First World War. However, there is enlistment information about soldiers prior to 1920 (roughly back to 1894), including men who enlisted in the First World War, if they were still in the Army in 1920 when Army Numbers were allocated. These soldiers' old Regimental Numbers are often found written below or next to the new Army Number

What is the difference between a Regimental Number and an Army Number?

Regimental Numbers (pre 1920) did not move with a soldier if they transferred to a new corps or regiment and they would be allocated a new one. Commissioned officers did not have Regimental Numbers. The new system of Army Numbers was introduced in August 1920. Soldiers and officers were allocated a personal number which they retained if transferring to different units. However were a soldier to commission they were allocated a new Army Number.