Was it common for a man to serve in two different regiments ?

[kob3203]

I'm wondering how common it was for a man to serve in two different regiments over the course of the war.

If so, what would be the most common reasons ?

And would you expect to see two separate service records ?

The specific case involves the South Wales Borderers and the Royal Garrison Artillery

[Guy Etchells]

My uncle was in 1/5 Leicestershire Regt. At the start of WWII and served in Norway with that regiment in 1940.

I don't have information at hand for the years between 1940 & 1944.

In 1944 he started off in the Leics. Regt., 101 Reinforcement Group, B.W.E.F. Until the end of June 1944.
1st July he was in (or attached to) 12th Parachute Regiment, B.W.E.F. (they were in an infantry role at the time). During this attachment I believe he was still officially in the Leicestershire Regiment.
24th September he was back to 1st Leicestershire Regt. B.L.A. until he was K.I.A. 29th September 1944.

His army records show he was in the Royal Warwickshire Regt. & the Leicestershire Regt.
Cheers
Guy

[kob3203]

His army records show he was in the Royal Warwickshire Regt. & the Leicestershire Regt.
Cheers
Guy

Did you find a single service record covering both, or were there two separate service records ?

Did he keep the same service number, or did he have a different service number for each regiment ?

[jds1949]

It was not uncommon for men to serve in more that one regiment. Sometimes men were transferred because they had skills that could be better used elsewhere - from the infantry to the engineers for men who had worked on railways for example. Other reasons could include reassignment after a period of illness or injury. Towards the end of the war some units were disbanded as they became too small to be effective and men were then redistributed as needed. In all cases that I have seen the men concerned had only one service record which recorded the changes as and when they happened.

jds1949

[cliffkinch]

My great uncle was at Anzio when he was KIA. He was in 7th Ox & Bucks but they were decimated at Anzio and was transferred to 1/8 Royal Fusiliers (City of London) who suffered equally as badly

I have his service record and it covers all regiments (including General Service Corps) and he kept the same service number throughout

Hope this helps

[ShaunJ]

There are 31 WW1 Medal Index Cards for soldiers who served in both the South Wales Borderers and the Royal Garrison Artillery.  Which one is yours?

[KGarrad]

Until 1920 each regiment issued their own service numbers which were unique only within that regiment, so the same number could be issued many times in different regiments. When a serviceman moved, he would be given a new service number by his new regiment.

From 1920, service numbers were 7 digits, later increased to 8 digits.
The service number was then unique to each soldier.

[kob3203]

There are 31 WW1 Medal Index Cards for soldiers who served in both the South Wales Borderers and the Royal Garrison Artillery.  Which one is yours?

It's an ancestor of a distant relative and I've been asked not to identify the person - sorry. 

[ShaunJ]

And would you expect to see two separate service records ?

If his records have survived they should be together. But most (circa 70%) WW1 army service records were destroyed by enemy action in WW2.