Hey Hugo - the whole numbering system in WW1 has taxed and outwitted far better and more knowledgeable brains than mine!!
I don't profess to have an answer about the 39867 number he was recorded as (and the similar range that many of his colleagues in 1/9 seemed to have)
The only
possibility I can think of is that they may have been considered as new recruits into 1/9 - not under TF regulations by that stage - so received new ordinary numbers - but that somewhere in the system he was still recorded under his 4 digit 1/5 number and was allocated automatically the 6 digit number in the block used for their renumbering - and that was used for some reason by the hospital/registrar
This is supposition only - depending on how far into you want to go (and whereabouts you are of course) another place that might be able to give you more is the Regimental Museum -
http://serleshouse.co.uk/our_services.htmlThere is a member of the GWF who has done a lot of work on the Hampshire Regiment as a whole - but he isn't particularly active on there at the moment - he wrote the article on pages 10/11 of this publication -
http://www.wfa-dorsetswilts.org.uk/newsletters/Issue%20No%202%20Dorset%20SWilts%20Dugout.pdf - and is I understand a member of that branch of the WFA - you might be able to track him down
Again I wish you good luck - it is an absolutely fascinating subject that can take up much time if you end up getting "sucked in"
Sue
