Changes

Discharge papers ([http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13157&CATLN=3&Highlight=&FullDetails=True WO 97]), usually containing service/attestation information, and pension records ([http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13082&CATLN=3&Highlight=&FullDetails=True WO 22]) may also be found at TNA. Records in WO 97 are usually only for men discharged with a pension (ie having served 12 years or having been invalided) as these were the papers sent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and preserved, but from 1883, most causes of discharge, (apart from death) were included. Note however, WO 97 records are '''unlikely to include the records survival rate of discharge papers appears to be low for men who were discharged overseas<ref>''My Ancestor was in the Reserve British Army'', page 63 by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009</ref> [ie not in August 1914 Britain, and were subsequently called up therefore low for India]. If a man went on to serve with the British Army during World War 1then his records would normally have been removed from WO97 and placed with his WW1 service records<ref>''My Ancestor was in the British Army'', page 64 by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009 and [http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/DEVON/2010-03/1269096802 Chelsea Pensioners] dated 20 March 2010 from Rootsweb Devon List. The thread mentions a Society of Genealogists publication ''My Ancestor was in the British Army'' by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009.</ref>, nor . WO 97 records are also unlikely to include men who immediately went on active service with a Milita unit, (whose discharge papers may have been transferred to the Milita unit)<ref>India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2011-06/1308580161 post] dated 20 June 2011</ref>. Also, some records which "should" be there, are not. The records do not include those men discharged through the Kilmainham Hospital in Ireland''', (out-pensioners to 1822 and in-pensioners to 1929). The records often contain a wealth of genealogical information, including birth date and location, next of kin, physical description, service locations, medical history and medals. They may include information about marriages, births of children or deaths of family members.

*The National Archives have has published the book ''Army Records: A Guide for Family Historians '' by William Spencer 2008. 160 pages. It is mainly about records in the National Archives and the India Office at the British Library. It contains a chapter "The British Army in India and the Indian Army", in addition to over twenty chapters about British Army records. Available at the [[British Library]]. Also available from the [http://www.new.fibis.org/products-page/3-other-books-about-colonial-india/bkx-0008-army-records-a-guide-for-family-historians/ FIBIS Shop] =====Other publications=====*The [[Society of Genealogists]] has published the book ''My ancestor was in the British Army : how can I find out more about him?'' by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009. Available at the [[British Library]] on open access.