Chaplains Returns

The Chaplains Returns of baptisms, marriages and burials 1761-1880, also known as Army Returns. From 1880 they were known as Army Births, Deaths and Marriages and from 1959 Forces Births, Deaths and Marriages. These records include the registrations of British armed forces (including serving members who were not British nationals) posted overseas.

These records are part of the category known as Statutory Returns, which have been produced as required by British legislation.

In 1914 the Royal Commission on Public Records said ‘There is reason to believe that this class of military record has neither been preserved nor transmitted with sufficient care’, so there are many BMD events which are not available.

In particular, the Army Chaplains Returns of Burials most likely do not include many deaths in action, or associated deaths in camp or on the march, including deaths from disease, such as cholera or heat stroke, where a chaplain did not conduct the burial service. The documentation does not appear to cover this point. The Muster roll records should include these deaths.

The Chaplain Returns records were compiled by regimental chaplains and may also be duplicated within the regimental records. The Overseas Section of the General Register Office in Southport holds these volumes and the indexes can be viewed at The National Archives (TNA) and online.

As an example of a record from the Army Birth Returns, a researcher has advised he has a “certified copy” from the GRO taken from “Army Book 112 (Register of Births) of the -th Bn. -th Punjab Regiment for the six months ending 30th June 19-- reported from the Military Station at Isak (North Waziristan)”. Note this Regiment was part of the Indian Army. He advised: I suspect the official recording and reporting of such events as births to British or foreign Indian Army soldiers’ wives were likely to have been done almost entirely through their Army channels with not a Chaplain in sight and would be dependent on the British/foreign father reporting the birth, although one needs to allow for delays in reporting - I was born before the six months specified above In my case it looks as if my father reported my birth to his adjutant a couple of months or more after the event when he was on operations (that means in a war situation) in Waziristan.

The indexes in respect of the overseas registrations are most commonly called the British Army Overseas Indexes. Note that if a soldier died on a troopship there may be a record in the GRO Marine Deaths indexes, (some of which were noted to be handwritten, so subject to transcription error) or births may appear in the GRO Marine Births indexes. Most of the indexes are available online, see below.

All the records covered by the GRO Indexes, which are classified as Statutory Returns, may not include records of persons originating from Scotland and Ireland, and records must be looked for in Scotland and Ireland including online sources such as ScotlandsPeople, see Scotland. For more details, see the FamilySearch Wiki article below.

Note that if a record is available both in the India Office Church records (now available on findmypast (pay website)) and in the General Register Office records, the latter may contain more information, at least for some time periods. By way of example, in 1903 the additional information available for a marriage record was the nationalities of the groom and bride, and the occupations of the fathers of the groom and bride.

There is also a series of records which includes India, (held by the General Register Office, and not on open access), known as the Regimental Registers 1761-1924 which are original entries of births/baptisms, marriages and (far fewer) deaths/burials kept by various regiments and relate to the families of officers and other ranks at home and on foreign stations from 1790. Included in this series are records of regimental marriages taking place between 1761 and 1924 that have never been indexed. As these additional records have never been indexed, they are not included in the data on findmypast or other websites. If you can provide the man's name and regiment, and approximate date the GRO will search their records. Email the GRO with GQ in the subject header, eg "GQ Regimental Marriage Registers", to avoid receiving an automated reply. There is a summary list of regiments and of dates covered for births and marriages in an Appendix to My ancestor was in the British Army by Michael J. and Christopher T. Watts (See pages) and also of locations, and a further online listing of the regiments (but no dates) which also includes Army of Black Sea, Salonica Force and Egyptian Garrisons. Indexes for the records which have been indexed, are available on findmypast. In respect of "Regimental Birth Indexes –[these] may show several index references for the same person. As a soldier moved from one regiment to another, he had to register himself and his family each time for pay purposes. If you find more than one index reference for same person, provide all references and we will produce the entry with the most information".

FIBIS resources

• FIBIS database WW1 British Officers of the Indian Army and Royal Marine, (consisting of two component databases, which it is possible to search together or separately) located in Military records/Military Rolls & Lists/Casualty Lists, includes some (but not all) index records from the GRO database "War Deaths Indian Services 1914-1921", see below.

Accessing the above British Army Overseas Indexes

• Familyrelatives.com contains most of the GRO Overseas Indexes which include images from the British Army Overseas Indexes which you can access for free, (even though most other records on the site require a subscription). These are viewable images, which have not been transcribed to search. First you must log in (with first time registration required), from the Home Page, then select 'Search' (from the bar across the top of the page) and then 'Overseas Records'. (If the required records don't display, look for the category 'Free' records). (Search may not display if you have increased the magnification of the webpage.) Then select the database you are interested in.

Update, noted 25 July 2020, there have been changes to the website. The Search did not work when signed in, and it was necessary to access the Overseas Records through Articles (which may not display if you have increased the magnification of the webpage, in fact you may need to "shrink" the size of the webpage). Scroll to “British Overseas Records Free”, (posted on 30-Jun-13, which was was on page 2 of the articles for me) then select "Browse Overseas Records". At times the records could not be viewed by the writer, then subsequently they would become viewable, and there is now the hint "Image not appearing- download DJVu's viewer".

Note, some pages from the indexes were missing at one time, so the database may not be complete (missing Army marriage pages were noted). (Note: this website became inactive late July 2015, but returned c February 2016).

Familyrelatives.com British Overseas Records A description of the many GRO Index records on Familyrelatives.com. Note: Does not appear to include the databases relating to War Deaths for WW1 and WW2. Also includes a link "Browse Overseas Records" from which the databases may be accessed, provided you are logged in.

• Findmypast (pay website) contains three separate databases, some Indexes only, called British Armed Forces and Overseas Births, Marriages, Deaths, all of which contain overseas and some UK events, which include many of the GRO British Army Overseas Indexes, (located within BMD). Alternatively, locate using "A-Z of record sets" which is a listing of all the record databases. Some GRO Air [Force] Index records are also included, as are GRO Marine Birth and Deaths Indexes, which may be relevant for events on troopships. (Note, "Overseas" was amalgamated into this database 2018/01.) In addition, the database contains index records for births in the U.K. and overseas, 1761-1924, taken from regimental registers, including births in India. The Armed Forces Deaths database also includes what may be called GRO War Deaths or GRO War Dead, including three Naval and one RAF databases. See comment above that GRO Indexes may not include records of persons originating from Scotland and Ireland, noting it is unclear to what extent the Army and other military records are impacted. There is a charge to search, however the Findmypast records have the advantage that at least some (but not GRO Index records) may indicate the relevant regiment.

Note, a marriage record was found on the images at familyrelatives.com (see above) which did not appear in the Findmypast database, indicating either an omission or a mis-transcription error, or a Search error.

There is also a fourth dataset "British Armed Forces and Overseas Browse" where some, but not all, record sets may be browsed, but as far as can be determined, the GRO Indexes are not included.

WO 97 records, which may contain details of marriages, births and deaths, are also available on findmypast, see the section See also below.

Findmypast article Scroll down the left side to GRO to see the many GRO Indexes included in the findmypast databases. Note currently (2019/07) if you wish to search within the GRO Indexes on findmypast, your only option is to select one of the databases British Armed Forces and Overseas Births, Marriages or Deaths, as there is no option to specifically search one of the GRO indexes. Note, it does not seem possible to browse through a specific GRO Index on Findmypast. However, should you wish to look at the entire Index (e.g. looking for possible mis-transcriptions) it is possible to "create" an Index by looking at the Findmypast description of the database, then category "Sources available" and finding the Archive reference. Then select this Archive reference in the Search and then click on the Search icon, when the results listed should be the entire Index.

Update "...thousands of new records from The National Archives and the General Register Office" were added 8 October 2021 in the categories Births and Deaths, "births at sea, fallen seamen and more" but specific details were not provided.

• GRO "War Deaths Indian Services 1914-1921". The index for this dataset is briefly mentioned in the Fact Sheet: The British in India from the now closed Family Records Centre, a joint venture with The National Archives, but the National Archives has advised it does not hold this Index. "They relate to the Indian Army, Marines and other services". The AIGS (Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies, or Family History Connections) library in Melbourne Victoria has reference to this index as a book in its collection, title Overseas indexes: subtitle war deaths in the Indian Services, 1914-1921, number 355.305 GEN, which is however missing surnames "Heale to Meade", and consists of Officers only.

Update 20 October 2022. The data available from AIGS in Melbourne has been transcribed and is available as part of the FIBIS database "WW1 British Officers of the Indian Army and Royal Marine", see FIBIS resources above. Note however, as mentioned previously, it is missing surnames "Heale to Meade", and consists of Officers only.

This GRO index database is not included in either Familyrelatives.com, or findmypast.

"General Register Office Enquiry" (email grofirstpointofcontact@gro.gov.uk current 2020/07) advised it is possible to "place an order quoting ‘War Deaths Indian Services 1914-1921’ and we can carry out a search of the indexes for you. If the search is unsuccessful, ...a refund will be issued. This is the fee you paid less any administrative costs incurred....". Subsequent advice (2020/07/27) was "The index should include all ranks and not just officers".

Possibly the GRO Index may only apply to those of English/Welsh background, see comment in next item.

• GRO "War Deaths Indian Services (1939 to 1948)". This database is included on Findmypast, however a 1943 death was seen where there is a CWGC record, but no record in the GRO Index. The reason for the difference is unclear. Perhaps the GRO Index is incomplete, or possibly the GRO Index only applies to those of English/Welsh background, excluding those born in India, or of Scottish, or Irish background.
• If you have found an index reference and you then want to order a certificate, this can be done online from the GRO. (A charge applies). In the past the certificate has been a transcript, not a copy of the original document, and this is believed to be the current situation.

  Note:

  • For legal reasons, Overseas and Forces certificates are not available in (the cheaper) PDF format.
  • If you do not supply the GRO Index reference, the certificate will cost more as there is an additional search fee, and it may take longer to be sent.
  • If a record is available both in the India Office Church record series on findmypast and in the GRO records, the latter may contain more information, at least for some time periods. By way of example, in 1903 the additional information available for a marriage record was the nationalities of the groom and bride, and the occupations of the fathers of the groom and bride.
  • The GRO certificates for War Deaths only contain limited information, which is taken from Army records, and an example shows it shows only the general terminology "killed in action".
  • The GRO website currently (2020/05/31) advises "GRO is currently working on a rolling programme to put all of its indexes online".

• FamilySearch microfilm/microfiche records relating to various Indexes mentioned above, with catalogue entry by keyword search National Statist. These records are expected to be digitised in time. See FamilySearch Centres for more details.

Other National Archives records

• Some marriage and baptismal information for Royal Artillery soldiers and their family, including India related details, may be found in the National Archives series WO 69. Some of this information has been transcribed and may be found by entering the surname and “WO69” in the National Archives Discovery Search. Many of the records in this series were destroyed during the Second World War, so the records are incomplete. Also see Royal Artillery for more information.
• TNA series "War Office: UK and overseas garrisons: Registers of Baptisms, Confirmations, Deaths/Burials, and Marriage WO 156. A TNA Guide says "The registers are relatively few in number and mainly date from the 20th century".
  • Index records (with the possibility that some records may include an image) from some of the TNA series WO 156 are available in the Findmypast datasets described above called "British Armed Forces and Overseas Births, Marriages, Deaths". The overseas records appear to be WO 156/106 Cyprus burials; WO 107-110 Egypt burials; WO 156/111-117, 121-122 Malta burials; WO 156/119 Singapore burials; WO 156/594-595 Malta baptisms & marriages; WO 156/596-598 Malta baptisms. These records may also be browsed in the Findmypast dataset "British Armed Forces and Overseas Browse".
  • Ancestry (pay website) introduced 2021/11/01 a database "UK, Military Records of Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Burials, 1813-1957" consisting of Indexes and images from WO 156 (located in Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish). From "Browse this collection"/"browse this image set" it may be seen that the database includes some baptisms from Malta, and burials from Cyprus, Egypt, Malta and Singapore. TNA reference should be included on the images, as an example WO 156/600 Malta baptisms 1913 was noted.
  • Some of the deaths from this series are available online on the pay website deceased online, for more details see further below, under External links/Mediterranean area/Malta.
• Ancestry (pay website) includes a database UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 (located in BMD records). This database consists mainly of Naval records, sourced from the National Archives, with relatively few records in respect of the British Army and does not include the GRO records referred to above.

Other Archives

• See Scotland, for details of the website ScotlandsPeople, which contains equivalent records to some of the records mentioned on this page, in respect of persons who came from Scotland.
• British Armed Forces, Roman Catholic Registers have been digitised from The Scottish Catholic Archives and are available on findmypast (pay website) in the database British Armed Forces, Roman Catholic Registers 1836-1975 (located within BMDs, introduced 2017/11). There is a related Browse database. The registers were created by the Bishopric of the Forces, the religious officials of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for the pastoral care of Roman Catholics in the military. Includes locations in the UK as well as bases in Cairo, Cyprus, Malta, and more.

See also

• British Army Records.
  • The WO97 records, to 1913, described in Section 4.1.2 Service and pension records, available on findmypast, may include information about marriages, births of children or deaths of family members. It may be helpful to view the WO97 record first, before pursing the records mentioned above. Some muster rolls also include married rolls for the regiment.
  • See Service Records for Army personnel serving after January 1921 (April 1922 for officers) which may possibly contain relevant family information.
• General Register Office
  • The series of records RG 34 was noted to include a short roll of "Officers, British Prisoners of War, who have married in Holland" c 1918, including one Indian Army Officer.
  • Some Military Death records 1914-21 from various authorities in France and Belgium, of (mainly) British soldiers and officers and a few civilians, may be found in RG 35/45-49.
  • The Lambeth Palace Library, London holds some records for Mesopotamia (Iraq) which includes at least some military records.

External links

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission. For more detais see, Cemeteries – CWGC.
• British Births, Marriages and Deaths Overseas. FamilySearch Wiki. Based on three articles by Anthony Camp, formerly Director of Society of Genealogists, in Family Tree Magazine [UK] Volume 16, No. 9, 10 and 12 published July, August and October 2000, available on Archive.org.
• National Archives Guide How to look for records of... Births, marriages and deaths in the armed forces
• Sources for the British Overseas in the GRO, TNA, Guildhall, SoG Library by Else Churchill, archived. Images, but minimal text, one of a series of 2013 presentations. sog.org.uk, archived pages. Images of actual records available.
• Mediterranean and Middle East area
  • Malta. Some regiments in India came from a posting in Malta, or were posted there after leaving India.
    • Malta Family History, now an archived website. Includes data for births, marriages and burials. Also includes data about other areas such as the Ionian Islands, including Corfu and has a section called "Other Mediterranean Cemeteries" which includes Gibraltar and Smyrna, Turkey. The Smyrna database also includes baptisms and marriages (1795 – 1832). Although this site is now archived, most/all of the internal links appear to be available. Note there are two Index pages, the first Index page is linked from the Home Page, and the second Index page is linked from the first Index page.
      • There is also some information about deaths, including some photographs of grave inscriptions, and also baptisms and marriages, scattered through the regimental pages on British Army Medical Services and the Malta Garrison 1799 – 1979. Includes a website Search.
    • There are some church records for Malta available at the London Metropolitan Archives
    • The Findmypast datasets described above "British Armed Forces and Overseas Births, Marriages, Deaths" include Malta. There is also a Findmypast newspaper database Daily Malta Chronicle and Garrison Gazette, 1896-1904, 1909-1918, (introduced 31 March 2023), a newspaper for British servicemen which included birth, marriage and death notices.
    • deceased online, a website which is free to search but pay to view, has some records for military burials in Malta, also Egypt, Cyprus and Singapore. These records are described as "Selected pieces from the National Archives WO 156/103-122'", which are "UK and overseas garrisons; Registers of burials". For more details, from the deceased online Home Page, select 'Coverage' and scroll down to " “The National Archives - Military Burials” date added: 12 Dec 2013". Also includes records from the National Archives series ADM 6, ADM 73, ADM 305. The majority/all? of the WO 156 records are also available on Findmypast.
    • Details of Malta Registers at The National Archives and Registers in Class ADM. Includes B, M, B. (Note: (selected) burials are now available online, refer above). Alan McGowan’s "Garrison Church Registers", now an archived website.
  • Gibraltar
    • Gibraltar National Archives now has a Search facility for free transcriptions of Military Births, Deaths and Marriages in Gibraltar 1869-1914, based on records from the Gibraltar Civil Register office. Note a previous comment that a certificate obtained in Gibraltar, from the Registrar of Births and Deaths of Gibraltar, contained additional information to the certificate obtained from the GRO .

    FamilySearch catalogue entry Civil registration, 1848-1990 from the "Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Gibraltar", with most of the records digitised microfilm viewable on your home computer.

    • British Overseas Territories/select Gibraltar from Ireland & United KingdomGenWeb, now an archived website. Select Articles/ ‘Cemetery Records' for burial records from King’s Chapel (Witham’s Cemetery). Where an occupation is shown, the burials appear to be of British Army soldiers, and seamen. Select ‘Military Records’ for transcriptions by Donald Brett of the Gibraltar Indexes for the Chaplains Returns for Deaths and Marriages (to 1880). The Gibraltar Chaplains Returns Indexes for Births have been transcribed separately by Donald Brett: rootschat.com download - depending on your browser, you may need to locate this in your downloads folder. (Full records, in respect of these Index records, are available at the GRO).
    • FamilySearch has some additional records for Gibraltar- See General Register Office-External links for details.
    • findmypast includes a group of records from Gibraltar, some baptisms, marriages and burials from St Andrew's Kirk, which appear to be related to the military, or seamen, and some marriage indexes supplied by FamilySearch. From the Search, select A-Z of record sets, then use Search term Gibraltar to locate the record databases.
  • Egypt had compulsory civil registration for births and deaths from 1912 for all, including foreigners. Egypt Genealogy FamilySearch Wiki.

  A List of Australian Army nurses who married overseas during WW1 includes some who married in Egypt.

  • Baghdad, Iraq/Mesopotamia. Burials at Hinaidi RAF Cemetery (now Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery): Searchable Database of 299 Graves from 1921-1937. Direct pdf, edition 8 July 2022 (archived). 196 of the 299 graves are for Royal Air Force casualties from eight RAF squadrons. There are also 71 graves for British Army personnel, 2 Royal Navy and 30 civilian. There are additional internal links about the cemetery. 6 Squadron, Books & Early Military Aviation website.

Historical books online

• "Monumental Inscriptions of the British Cemeteries in the Ionian Islands" by Ortho Alexander, British Consul, pages 13, 71, 110, 146, 320 Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, Volume II, Fourth Series 1908. Many Army and Navy entries. Archive.org
• "Monumental Inscriptions in the English Cemetery in Ithaca" [Greek island] by Arthur F G Leveson Gower page 177 Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica Volume V Fourth Series 1914. Mainly military related. Archive.org
• The Msida Bastion cemetery , Malta : a brief history of the Msida Bastion cemetery and the research conducted by R. G. Kirkpatrick prepared and edited by James Cannon 1990. Includes military and seamen records. FamilySearch Digital Library. You need to sign in to FS to view the book.
• "Section 4.14 Indexes to the Overseas, Marine and Armed Services Registers kept by the General Register Office of England and Wales" Chapter 4, page 72, Tracing your ancestors in the Public Record Office by Amanda Bevan, Sixth Edition 2002, published by the (now) National Archives. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. There was a 7th edition published in 2006 Tracing your ancestors in the National Archives.