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The Ministry of Defence has released an aid for the files they hold for service personnel with a '''birth date prior to 1901''', which contains name, date of birth and service number. Numbers with a P prefix are believed to designate officers.<ref>Underwood, David [httphttps://1914-1918www.invisionzonegreatwarforum.comorg/forumstopic/221706-index.php-to-be-released-of-pre-1901-dob-service-records-still-held-by-mod/?showtopicdo=221706findComment&pcomment=2196454 Index to be released of pre 1901 DoB service records still held by MoD] ''Great War Forum'' 05 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 201423 May 2018.</ref> The aid is in the form of a letter of advice and eight attachments in MS Excel Spreadsheet format, which may be found in [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foi-responses-released-by-mod-week-commencing-1-december-2014 FOI responses released by MOD: week commencing 1 December 2014].

From the end of the Napoleonic Wars until 1847, men were enlisted for twenty-one years, practically for life. From 1847 enlistment was for ten years, later increased to twelve; with a pension after twenty one years for extended service. From 1870, as part of the Caldwell Reforms, “short service” was introduced, where men enlisted for a period of time in the Army, the balance of time in the reserves (total twelve years). The standard term varied over time, including six and six, seven and five, three and nine, nine and three years, <ref> grumpy. [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6122 1870: Short Service] ''Victorian Wars Forum'' 17 October 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2016. <br> Guest (previously QGE). [httphttps://1914-1918.invisionzonewww.com/forums/indexgreatwarforum.php?org/topic/243429-cavalry-terms-of-engagement-1902-1914/&?do=findComment&comment=2448106 Cavalry: Terms of Engagement 1902-1914] ''Great War Forum'' 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 201623 May 2018.</ref> but terms may have been modified for regiments going to India.<ref>[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS19000303.2.59 The British Army. (By The Right Hon Sir Charles W. Dilke)] ''The Star'' , Issue 6734, 3 March 1900, Page 7 Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand.</ref>

An Army Order was issued 6 October 1916 which meant that moustaches were no longer compulsory in the Army.<ref> Broomfield, Steven. [httphttps://1914-1918.invisionzonewww.com/forums/indexgreatwarforum.php?org/topic/243722-bye-bye-tache/ Bye, bye 'tache] ''Great War Forum'' 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 201623 May 2018. [http://majorpillinger.com/the-army-moustache-2 The Army Moustache] majorpillinger.com.</ref>

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150320013811/http://historyoffashiondesign.com/part-13-date-unknown-the-cutters-practical-guide-to-cutting-making-all-kinds-of-british-military-uniforms ''Part 13 The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting & Making all kinds of British Military Uniforms'']. Pages from an undated publication, but known to be close to 1902.<ref>Frogsmile [httphttps://1914-1918www.invisionzonegreatwarforum.comorg/topic/forums225848-where-can-i-buy-a-sewing-pattern-for-officers-tunic/index.php?showtopicdo=225848findComment&pcomment=2241295 Where can I buy a sewing pattern for officer's tunic?] ''Great War Forum'' 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 201523 May 2018.</ref> Pages 2-4 are about rank badges, including those for NCOs, with illustrations. historyoffashiondesign.com, now an archived page. Pages may be slow to appear. Click on pages to enlarge.