Allotment of service numbers - Middle East 1940

[Mikkel Plannthin]

I am trying to figure out at what point a Danish pilot enlisted in the RAFVR.

Sgt Kuhle (776036) volunteered in Kenya. From the allotment of service numbers (mentioned in another thread on this site) it is clear that this number was part of a series of numbers

"776000 to 776199 Jly 1940 Local enlistments in Middle East (British, Maltese and Cypriots)"

My question is, if these numbers are likely to have been used in sequence, i.e. 776000, ..1, ..2, ..3, ..4, or if different sub-series would have been allotted to different Recruiting Offices?

The reason I am asking is that I have been able to track a number of servicemen who transferred with him to England in December 1940. I wondered if it was possible to narrow down the period during with he enlisted from this information.

Thanks

Mikkel Plannthin

[paulmcmillan]

Mikkel

I don't know the answer but I strongly suspect each "recruiting office" would have its own batch as in the era of non immediate comms I could not see any other way it would work

Pre war Auxillary Air Firce units in the U.K. Has their own local allocation system with the (I think second or 3rd number after 8) so I would assume the same for outposts of empire

What we need to prove this is other serial numbers and known recruiting locations

Paul

[Mikkel Plannthin]

Paul
Thank you for the reply. I have compiled a many of the service men that I was able to identify via London Gazette and/or CWGC. Listed below. Perhaps some of the forum members have more information on the enlistment of some of them. In any case some might fight the list useful.

KUHLE (776088), KEEL (776090), and ARNESEN (776100) were all transferred from Kenya Regiment w.e.f. 19 September 1940.

Mikkel

Last name, Name (NCO-service number/CO-service number, if known)
PITTOCK, Jack Howard (776000/122818)
JOHNSTON, Peter Simpson Dickson (776002/)
PAGE, Neville Hamilton (776003/)
SHAW, James Blyton (776005/116916)
NAYLOR, Kenneth (776006/)
SCOTT, George Richard (776007/65541)
SHUTTLEWORTH, Harold Raymond (776009/65543)
WILSON, Michael Fulton Campbell (776010/160062)
WHITE, Rodney William (776012/65512)
TWEEDIE, Graham Calderwood (776013/)
REYNOLDS, Herbert Gordon (776015/65511)
BUDD, John Comyns (776017/115859)
BLACKBURNE, Dennis Ivor (776018/118994)
LEACH, Stephen John (776020/65510)
MOLE, Arthur Howard (776021/)
WHILES, Stanley Dennis (776023/)
DATE, Gerald (776027/)
WISHART, Lindley Miller (776028/)
HURLEY, John Joseph (776030/66003)
EDGE, Richard (776032/66002)
CASSAR, Henry John (776034/)
DU PLOOY, Stephen Gerald (776035/128959)
KUHLE, RAF, Knud Fleming van der Aa (776036/)
PILLING , Hector Garrick (776038/65540)
SHILLITOE, Peter Gerald (776039/65542)
JONES, George (776041/)
FLINT, Kenneth Fielder (776043/65535)
CALLENDER, Charles Francis (776046/68777)
CAUCHI, Anthony William (776048/)
DAGSETH, Hans Torleif Erik (776052/101472)
JENKINSON, George Richard (776054/126848)
BAKER, J. H. (776057/)
COWEN, Geofrey Brian (776058/)
TRIDWELL, Gordon Frederick (776059/64879)
MAGSON, Roland William (776060/)
NAPER, Merrick Oliver Lenox (776061/136171)
DOCKER, Frederick Alfred MacDonald (776062/)
RAVN, Hans (776065/65984)
NIGHTINGALE, Ernest Ivo (776067/)
ANDERSON, William Muir (776068/175201)
KENNEDY, David Charles (776073/101471)
RIDLEY, Jack Leigh (776074/160042)
HIRST, Reginald Frank William (776076/)
PARK, Douglas Stewart (776077/130676)
SMITHYMAN, Wilfred Reginald (776078/120870)
NASH, Robert (776079/136021)
HARVEY, Lynn (776080/101473)
HILL, Robert George McMahon (776081/116106)
HULLNECK, Gilbert Rodney (776085/)
BOON, Denis Murdock (776086/)
WORTHINGTON, Robert Bell (776087/)
KUHLE, Sven Eric (776088/113841)
KEEL, Poul Ulrik Axel (776090/101474)
PITKIN, Roy Livingstone (776091/)
DAVIDSON, Malcom Stuart (776092/65981)
COWLEY, George Stanley (776094/130830)
BIGGAR, William Sproat (776095/112483)
HELBERG, Fritjov (776096/)
MCDERMOTT, John Henry (776098/169904)
GUNN, Ian Donald (776099/162633)
ARNESEN, Arne Oddvar (776100/117460)
HALL, Martin Selby (776101/117616)
FIGGIS, Claude Lawrence Dundas (776102/157698)
HILTON, John Robert (776105/139815)
TWEEDIE, Douglas Noel (776106/112439)
DURHAM, Royce Harold (776107/143684)
KOPPERUD, Kaare Magnus (776108/118405)
BRENT, Trevor Montague (776117/)
JOHANSEN, Erling Ulleberg (776119/68414)
KROGSBØL, Gunnar (776121/68415/80093)
MACDONALD, William Alistair Ross (776123/120166)
DALY, Arthur Timothy (776124/115408)
LITCHFIELD, Edwin Giles (776126/)
MARSH, Ronald (776127/)
CROMBIE, Alan Charles Munro (776129/185188)
HENDERSON, Burnett Keith (776130/174418)
HAND, John Ridges (776132/)
O'RIORDAN, Thomas Patrick (776132/)
BINGHAM, Kenneth Richard (776134/120950)
WILLIAMS, Leopold (776135/119506)
SMITH, Alexander Webster (776136/)
SCHULMAN, Cecil John (776138/139270)
PADKIN, Gordon Craig (776139/)
KIRWAN, Gregory Patrick (776140/123681)
MOODIE, Benjamin St. Clair Hugh (776141/155115)
MacDOUGALL, George (776143/)
PROCTOR, William Douglas Forbes (776146/137454)
SMITH, Lionel (776147/)
BEDWARD, Arthur Evan (776149/102962)
CONFAIT, Armand Emile (776150/)
BROWN, Robert Arthur Donaldson (776151/68413)
FREWEN, Jerome Hugh (776152/155232)
SKELTON, Reginald Sydney (776153/)
CAMERON, Robert Dyce (776154/)
BROWN, William Dick Moodie (776156/112485)
RIGBY, John Derek Brerly (776158/68416)
WOOLLARD, John Kenneth (776159/123051)
MANSFIELD, Cyril (776160/112489)
TURNER, Harry George William (776161/112558)
COLKETT, Glendinning Arthur (776163/)
LEWIS, William Llewelyn (776167/120134)
MEYER, Johannes Hermanns (776169/172977)
PAYNE, Reginald Vaughan (776171/188912)
JACKSON, Fred (776172/175810)
TAIT, Allan Furey (776174/169981)
RODGERS, Charles George Hanson (776175/115628)
HAYES, Henry Albert (776176/168847)
HAMILTON, George Iain (776178/122921)
EVANS, Guy Alfred (776179/)
YOUNG, Thomlas David (776181/148182)
SWAN, Edgar John Arthur (776182/114127)
RAWLINS, Henry Eric (776183/)
MEYER, Arnolous Bothma (776185/)
HUTSON, John Clifford (776186/113365)
DANCE, Neill Belton (776187/116646)
PARKER, Leslie Loos (776188/155908)
ARCHER, Philip Gerald (776193/186593)
WOOD, John Michael (776194/)
FALCONER-TAYLOR, John Robyn (776195/112559)
LAMONT, Michael Hugh (776196/)
GOTCH, John Duncan (776198/115631)

[Graham Moore]

I am researching the fatal crash that claimed Thomas Patrick O'Riordan 776132 5/2/42
His CWGC entry has no next of kin details and cant find anything out about him at all, but surely must have Irish roots? From this post hinting Kenyan regiment roots?

Paul
Thank you for the reply. I have compiled a many of the service men that I was able to identify via London Gazette and/or CWGC. Listed below. Perhaps some of the forum members have more information on the enlistment of some of them. In any case some might fight the list useful.

KUHLE (776088), KEEL (776090), and ARNESEN (776100) were all transferred from Kenya Regiment w.e.f. 19 September 1940.

Mikkel

Last name, Name (NCO-service number/CO-service number, if known)
PITTOCK, Jack Howard (776000/122818)
JOHNSTON, Peter Simpson Dickson (776002/)
PAGE, Neville Hamilton (776003/)
SHAW, James Blyton (776005/116916)
NAYLOR, Kenneth (776006/)
SCOTT, George Richard (776007/65541)
SHUTTLEWORTH, Harold Raymond (776009/65543)
WILSON, Michael Fulton Campbell (776010/160062)
WHITE, Rodney William (776012/65512)
TWEEDIE, Graham Calderwood (776013/)
REYNOLDS, Herbert Gordon (776015/65511)
BUDD, John Comyns (776017/115859)
BLACKBURNE, Dennis Ivor (776018/118994)
LEACH, Stephen John (776020/65510)
MOLE, Arthur Howard (776021/)
WHILES, Stanley Dennis (776023/)
DATE, Gerald (776027/)
WISHART, Lindley Miller (776028/)
HURLEY, John Joseph (776030/66003)
EDGE, Richard (776032/66002)
CASSAR, Henry John (776034/)
DU PLOOY, Stephen Gerald (776035/128959)
KUHLE, RAF, Knud Fleming van der Aa (776036/)
PILLING , Hector Garrick (776038/65540)
SHILLITOE, Peter Gerald (776039/65542)
JONES, George (776041/)
FLINT, Kenneth Fielder (776043/65535)
CALLENDER, Charles Francis (776046/68777)
CAUCHI, Anthony William (776048/)
DAGSETH, Hans Torleif Erik (776052/101472)
JENKINSON, George Richard (776054/126848)
BAKER, J. H. (776057/)
COWEN, Geofrey Brian (776058/)
TRIDWELL, Gordon Frederick (776059/64879)
MAGSON, Roland William (776060/)
NAPER, Merrick Oliver Lenox (776061/136171)
DOCKER, Frederick Alfred MacDonald (776062/)
RAVN, Hans (776065/65984)
NIGHTINGALE, Ernest Ivo (776067/)
ANDERSON, William Muir (776068/175201)
KENNEDY, David Charles (776073/101471)
RIDLEY, Jack Leigh (776074/160042)
HIRST, Reginald Frank William (776076/)
PARK, Douglas Stewart (776077/130676)
SMITHYMAN, Wilfred Reginald (776078/120870)
NASH, Robert (776079/136021)
HARVEY, Lynn (776080/101473)
HILL, Robert George McMahon (776081/116106)
HULLNECK, Gilbert Rodney (776085/)
BOON, Denis Murdock (776086/)
WORTHINGTON, Robert Bell (776087/)
KUHLE, Sven Eric (776088/113841)
KEEL, Poul Ulrik Axel (776090/101474)
PITKIN, Roy Livingstone (776091/)
DAVIDSON, Malcom Stuart (776092/65981)
COWLEY, George Stanley (776094/130830)
BIGGAR, William Sproat (776095/112483)
HELBERG, Fritjov (776096/)
MCDERMOTT, John Henry (776098/169904)
GUNN, Ian Donald (776099/162633)
ARNESEN, Arne Oddvar (776100/117460)
HALL, Martin Selby (776101/117616)
FIGGIS, Claude Lawrence Dundas (776102/157698)
HILTON, John Robert (776105/139815)
TWEEDIE, Douglas Noel (776106/112439)
DURHAM, Royce Harold (776107/143684)
KOPPERUD, Kaare Magnus (776108/118405)
BRENT, Trevor Montague (776117/)
JOHANSEN, Erling Ulleberg (776119/68414)
KROGSBØL, Gunnar (776121/68415/80093)
MACDONALD, William Alistair Ross (776123/120166)
DALY, Arthur Timothy (776124/115408)
LITCHFIELD, Edwin Giles (776126/)
MARSH, Ronald (776127/)
CROMBIE, Alan Charles Munro (776129/185188)
HENDERSON, Burnett Keith (776130/174418)
HAND, John Ridges (776132/)
O'RIORDAN, Thomas Patrick (776132/)
BINGHAM, Kenneth Richard (776134/120950)
WILLIAMS, Leopold (776135/119506)
SMITH, Alexander Webster (776136/)
SCHULMAN, Cecil John (776138/139270)
PADKIN, Gordon Craig (776139/)
KIRWAN, Gregory Patrick (776140/123681)
MOODIE, Benjamin St. Clair Hugh (776141/155115)
MacDOUGALL, George (776143/)
PROCTOR, William Douglas Forbes (776146/137454)
SMITH, Lionel (776147/)
BEDWARD, Arthur Evan (776149/102962)
CONFAIT, Armand Emile (776150/)
BROWN, Robert Arthur Donaldson (776151/68413)
FREWEN, Jerome Hugh (776152/155232)
SKELTON, Reginald Sydney (776153/)
CAMERON, Robert Dyce (776154/)
BROWN, William Dick Moodie (776156/112485)
RIGBY, John Derek Brerly (776158/68416)
WOOLLARD, John Kenneth (776159/123051)
MANSFIELD, Cyril (776160/112489)
TURNER, Harry George William (776161/112558)
COLKETT, Glendinning Arthur (776163/)
LEWIS, William Llewelyn (776167/120134)
MEYER, Johannes Hermanns (776169/172977)
PAYNE, Reginald Vaughan (776171/188912)
JACKSON, Fred (776172/175810)
TAIT, Allan Furey (776174/169981)
RODGERS, Charles George Hanson (776175/115628)
HAYES, Henry Albert (776176/168847)
HAMILTON, George Iain (776178/122921)
EVANS, Guy Alfred (776179/)
YOUNG, Thomlas David (776181/148182)
SWAN, Edgar John Arthur (776182/114127)
RAWLINS, Henry Eric (776183/)
MEYER, Arnolous Bothma (776185/)
HUTSON, John Clifford (776186/113365)
DANCE, Neill Belton (776187/116646)
PARKER, Leslie Loos (776188/155908)
ARCHER, Philip Gerald (776193/186593)
WOOD, John Michael (776194/)
FALCONER-TAYLOR, John Robyn (776195/112559)
LAMONT, Michael Hugh (776196/)
GOTCH, John Duncan (776198/115631)

[Graham Moore]

John Ridges Hand is 776131

[Resmoroh]

Paul, (et al),
I am slightly uneasy about the phrase “non-immediate comms”. Some ‘admin stuff’ might leave the desk of a staff officer at AHQ in WW2 at cop, and be on the desk of an OC Admin hundreds of miles away by 0800 next morning, having been transmitted - either by H/F W/T or RTP – overnight.
1 Nov 39 and 1 Jul 40 were the ‘Start Dates’ for a very large number of various ‘local recruiting’ drives. If I had more of the ‘End Dates’ I could have a stab at (mathematically!) calculating the date of issue of any number. I very much doubt if – with all the various groups, locations, nationalities – the numbers were distributed around the various Commands in the Med, Middle East, and E Africa.
My feeling is that the issue of numbers was, indeed, done in sequence, but controlled from AHQ – if not even Air Ministry? The 'policy' must have been laid down somewhere/sometime? Has it survived in the depths of TNA???
Just a thought.
HTH
Peter Davies

[dennis_burke]

Graham

you will find his Next of kin details in the AIR81 file listed here in the forum database
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?qnum=99889

AIR81/11943

I note there are two RCAF men on board, if you have ancestry.com you will be able to look at their service files and there migth (stress, might) be NoK details for O'Riordan in them perhaps. (Scratch that: I just browed through the scans and theres nothing of much use in terms of O'Riordan's address, but it will be in the AIR81 when ever you can get access to that, or maybe someone on the forum has it already.) The original hard copy files for the three RCAF men might well contain telegrams that would have a NoK for O'Riordan but may not have been scanned

No need to quote big long threads like the one above when just one line is relevant.

[Graham Moore]

Thanks for your reply

Yes I do have ancestry. Com but nothing in the Canadian files of his crew

Yes aware of the AIR81 file to be looked at eventually , who knows when we can get there. This May answer the question though there are no family details on his CWGC entry

I contacted on ancestry the son of Alan Charles Munro Crombie who is service number 776129 (3 different to O’RiordAn) and he said he was in Northern Rhodesia working when war broke out and found another nearby number who was working in a Kenya Gold mine at the time , from Seychelles. So East/Southern Africa looks very likely