Royal Warwickshire Regiment (WWII): Tracing Soldiers Service Numbers
The recruitment block spanning 5,094,001–5,172,000 serves as the vital service record anchor for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, documenting the unit's diverse operational history from the initial retreat in France to the intense jungle warfare of the Far East and the final liberation of North-West Europe. Unlike "catch-all" national corps, this specific serial range provides a direct geographic link to the industrial Midlands—particularly Birmingham, Coventry, and Warwick—offering local historians and genealogists a precise tool for tracing a soldier's enlistment origins during the 1939 and 1940 surges.
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The Midlands Recruitment Anchor
The concentration of this block within Birmingham, Coventry, and Warwick serves as a vital geographic anchor for family and local historians. Unlike the national "catch-all" corps, this range represents a specific regimental identity rooted in the industrial Midlands. For researchers, this means that a soldier in the 5094001–5172000 sequence is statistically far more likely to have originated from the West Midlands, providing a reliable link between the service number and regional enlistment surges in 1939 and 1940.
A Global Theatre Signature: From France to Burma
The operational theatres listed for this block—spanning France (British Expeditionary Force), India, Burma, and North-West Europe—create a unique service profile. This regiment was truly global, transitioning from the early defensive struggles in France (1940) to the gruelling jungle environments of Burma, and later returning for the final push through North-West Europe. This theatre spread allows for precise medal verification: a soldier in this number range is a candidate for the 1939-45 Star, the Burma Star, or the France and Germany Star, depending on their specific battalion’s deployment timeline.
Operational Versatility and Deployment
The Royal Warwickshire Regiment was not confined to a single role; the regiment maintained a presence in both European and Asian theatres. This block captures the personnel who were trained for, and deployed to, vastly different environments. Because the regiment served in both the British Expeditionary Force and later the 14th Army in Burma, the number range acts as a chronological ledger. Early numbers in the 5.09 million range are linked to the initial mobilization and the 1940 retreat, while later numbers in the 5.17 million sequence often correspond to the rapid expansion required to sustain the high casualty rates faced during the reconquest of Burma.
Case Study: Tracing the Burma Campaign
If you are investigating a soldier with the number 5125000 who served in the Far East, the data allows for a reconstruction of their service path. By comparing this number to the regimental allocation, we can determine they were part of the mid-war intake. If their records show service in India and Burma, we can confirm they were moved to the Far East to counter the Japanese advance. The absence of North-West Europe in their record suggests they remained with the Burma-based battalions throughout the later stages of the war, providing a clear service trajectory for researchers.
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Tips
- Identify the Battalion: The Royal Warwickshire Regiment operated several battalions, each with distinct theatre histories. Always cross-reference the service number with the specific battalion listed in the soldier's pay book or service records, as some battalions were strictly UK-based for home defense while others were elite combat units deployed to the Far East.
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The "Midlands" Enlistment Surge: Given the strong recruitment focus on Birmingham and Coventry, look for mentions of "hostilities-only" enlistment dates. Many soldiers in this block enlisted specifically at the start of the war, meaning their service records often contain detailed information about their pre-war employment in the local Midlands manufacturing sector.
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This hub is intended for genealogical and historical research purposes. It provides the logical framework for navigating the WWII history of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.