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, '''the survival rate of discharge papers appears to be low for men discharged overseas<ref>''My Ancestor was in the British Army'', page 63 by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009</ref> [ie not in Britain, and therefore low for India]. If a man went on to serve during World War 1 then 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.</ref>. 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>. 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 has worked with findmypast.co.uk to scan and place online '''WO 97 ''' (Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers' Service Documents 1760-1913) All WO 97 records, for the years 1760 to 1913 are currently available on [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/chelsea-pensioners-service-records-collection-search-start.action findmypast.co.uk]. Searching the records is free, but charges apply to view the records, although they can be viewed for free at TNA (and other institutions with a FMP subscription).

Another useful TNA source is the '''WO 22 ''' subseries "Army and other pensions paid out locally in India, Ceylon and China" detailing names and payments made, including [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13082&GPE=False&DOWN=TRUE&MARKER=216000&MARKERSCN= '''WO 22/228-230'''] Bengal, [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13082&GPE=False&DOWN=TRUE&MARKER=228000&MARKERSCN= '''WO 22/237-238'''] Bombay and [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13082&GPE=False&DOWN=TRUE&MARKER=265000&MARKERSCN= '''WO 22/266-270'''], mainly Madras.

If you cannot find any service or pension records, and your research interest left the army between 1884 and 1887, it is worth checking the '''WO 121 ''' microfilms "Register of men discharged without pension". Although the catalogue does not mention this, the films contain many records of men leaving the army in India under the heading "Nominal list of men discharged by the Commander-in-Chief in India..." As the register provides name, regimental number, rank, corps, date and cause of discharge, attestation date (and a few other administration details) it is an invaluable resource for those not able to find these details elsewhere.

These records are included in the National Archives catalogue entry [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=107&CATLN=2&accessmethod=5 Records of the Royal Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals]. The latter hospital was in Ireland. This category of records also includes [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13176&CATLN=3&FullDetails=True '''WO 116'''] Disability and all Royal Artillery pensions and [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13177&CATLN=3&accessmethod=5 '''WO 117'''] Pensions awarded to soldiers for length of service. Some of these records, in particular WO 116 (to 1893) and WO 117 (to 1913) are available to '''download free of cost''' from [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/digital-microfilm.asp The National Archives Documents Online: Digital Microfilms]. These are stated to be large pdf files, which need a broadband internet connection.

This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2011-04/1303469139 post] mentions '''WO 120 ''' and '''WO 121 ''' records. Catalogue references are: [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13180&CATLN=3&FullDetails=True '''WO 120'''] "From about 1812 dates of death have been noted and in the last series these dates extend to 1877". [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13180&GPE=False&MARKER=0 Browse WO 120]; [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=13181&CATLN=3&FullDetails=True '''WO 121'''], [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/browser.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13181&GPE=False&MARKER=0 Browse WO 121]. Also refer the paragraph above. The WO 120 records are available on [[LDS]] microfilm with this [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=315468&disp=Regimental+registers+of+pensioners%2C+ar&columns=*,0,0 catalogue entry]