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Understanding Service Numbers

One of the most common questions I am asked, is how to determine what unit a person served. At the outbreak of War, the New Zealand forces adopted service numbers based upon the unit. This system was used until the formation of the 10th Reinfocements, when it was dropped in favour of a straight numbering system.

The initial service numbering system was as follows ;

1 - Samoan Advance Force	14 - Army Service Corp Divisional Train
2 - New Zealand Artillery	15 - New Zealand Head Quarters
3 - New Zealand Medical Corps	16 - Maori Battalion
4 - New Zealand Engineers	17 - Vetinary Corps
5 - New Zealand Army Service Corps	18 - Chaplains Department
6 - Canterbury Infantry	19 - Samoan Relief Infantry
7 - Canterbury Mounted Rifles	20 - Samoan Mounted Relief
8 - Otago Infantry	21 - Pay Department
9 - Otago Mounted Rifles	22 - Nursing Corps
10 - Wellington Infantry	23 - 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade
11 - Wellington Mounted Rifles	24 - 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
12 - Auckland Infantry	25 - 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
13 - Auckland Mounted Rifles	26 - 4th Battalion, Rifle Brigade

The above numbers, sometimes referred to as the bar numbering system are incorporated with the serviceman or womans enlistment number to form their service number. Examples are shown below.

4/74 = Engineers, early enlistment : 10/3520 = Wellington Infantry : 17/320 = Veterinary Corps.

Service Number Facts

- Any member of the N.Z.E.F with a non bar service number would not have served at Gallipoli

- A lower enlistment number generally means an earlier enlistment date.

- Some service numbers can have appended letters (Usually A or B) - A usually denoted troops who enlisted in the U.K - B usually distinguished between two duplicate service numbers, which was a rare occurance.