is this unusual ?

[wimsey]

I have someone in my extended tree who enlisted with the Coldstream Guards in 1904 and is in the records with a specific service number. When he died in France in September 1914 he was still with the Coldstream Guards with the same number.

However, when he married in 1910, and also on the 1911 census, it gives his occupation as police constable - definitely the same man.

So I was thinking could he temporarily leave the army then return with the same service number? - could he have been in the army and the police force at the same time? Or is there nothing particularly unusual about keeping the same number after a temporary gap?

thanks

[keith9351]

When a man signed up it was normally split between so many years with the the Regiment and the rest with the Reserves. If he signed for 11 years he could have been 6 years with the Regiment and 5 in the Reserves. You could be called back at short notice at anytime.
Keith

[wimsey]

I see. That's very helpful thank you.