29,515
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
For information about interpreting some of the abbreviations used in these records, the Great War Forum thread [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6898&st=0&p=51928&hl= Army Standards] explains the medical classification used for new recruits during the [[First World War]], and other abbreviations used during their subsequent service. In addition, the Great War Forum has a sub category [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showforum=31 Interpreting service records and medal index cards] which however, is only accessible to logged in Great War Forum members.
=====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. This book is available to buy from the [http://www.new.fibis.org/products-page/3-other-books-about-colonial-india/military-history/bkx-0030-my-ancestor-was-in-the-british-army FIBIS Shop]. Also available at the [[British Library]] on open access.
Note that Colindale and St Pancras hold differing Indian newspaper collections (with some overlap), however Colindale microfilms will be transferred to St Pancras by 2012.
This further WW2Talk Forum [http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49481-clarification-The Ministry of-provision-of-death-certificate-Defence has released an aid for the files they hold for service-records/?p=582017 post] advises “They will accept anything that is proof of deathpersonnel with a '''birth date prior to 1901''', even a undertakers receipt or a photograph of a post war civilian headstone”. Howeverwhich contains name, you do not have to supply a death certificate when the date of birth of the individual was more than 116 years agoand service number. Numbers with a P prefix are believed to designate officers.<ref>"Veterans:UK" fact sheet Underwood, David [httpshttp://docs1914-1918.googleinvisionzone.com/viewerforums/index.php?urlshowtopic=221706&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veterans-uk.info%2Fpdfs%2Fservice_records%2Farmy_pack.pdf Army Personnel Records And Family Interest Enquiries2196454 Index to be released of pre 1901 DoB service records still held by MoD] (docs''Great War Forum'' 05 December 2014.google version)Retrieved 18 December 2014</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 [httphttps://www.veterans-gov.uk.info/pdfsgovernment/service_recordspublications/army_pack.pdf original pdf] ([http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Syq6wj5H2d0Jfoi-responses-released-by-mod-week-commencing-1-december-2014 FOI responses released by MOD:www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/service_records/army_pack.pdf+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au Cachedweek commencing 1 December 2014] URL)</ref>
no edit summary
<blockquote>"...a comprehensive means of establishing dates of enlistment, movements throughout the world, and of discharge or death. The first entry may show age on enlistment. An entry on the form "Men becoming non-effective", sometimes to be found at the end of each quarter's musters, shows the birthplace, trade, and date of enlistment of any soldier discharged or dead during the quarter. From about 1868, at the end of each muster, may be found a Marriage Roll, which enumerates wives and children for whom married quarters were provided." </blockquote>
From '''1878 to 1898''', all muster rolls are in [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/details?Uri=C14227 '''WO 16''']. The majority of the records for the years 1878 to 1888 contain detailed pay lists with names. From 1888 onwards (WO 16/2917-3049) the series consists of company muster rolls only, and these do not contain pay lists.
An 1889 example of data from a Marriage Roll can be seen [http://web.archive.org/web/20040417222802/members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/married.htm here] on Cathy Day’s archived site.
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1219 British Army WWI Service Records, '''1914-1920'''] are [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14567?v=r '''WO 363'''] records also known as the ‘Burnt Documents.’ These are the records which survived a fire, about one third of the total documents.
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1114 British Army WWI Pension Records '''1914-1920'''] are [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14568?v=r '''WO 364'''] records
====Courts martial and desertion====
**[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/british-army-tracing-soldiers.htm British Army: Useful Sources for Tracing Soldiers (Military Records Information 14)]
*The National Archives 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]].
=====British Library Guides=====
**[http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/about-the-wfa/175-pension-records/2960-great-war-pension-record-cards-and-ledgers-deeper-understanding.html "Great War Pension Record Cards and Ledgers: deeper understanding"] 31 March 2013
**[http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/about-the-wfa/175-pension-records/2961-pension-record-cards-manual-lookup-request.html Pension Record Cards: Manual Lookup Request] 31 March 2013. A fee applies. It is intended that these records be digitised in time.
====WW1 Prisoners of War - ICRC Archives====
*[http://grandeguerre.icrc.org Prisoners of the First World War - ICRC Archives]. Free online records of the International Committee of the Red Cross
====Medal Rolls====
*[http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/oldResearch/files/tscInfo4.pdf Information Sheet No 4: Soldiers’ Records 1920–present]
*[http://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/research-information-5.pdf Information Sheet No 5: Researching Family History at the National Army Museum]
====Post 1920 Attestation books====
Following the restructure of the Army in 1920, new Attestation books were introduced, the originals of which were sent to various Regimental Museums in the early 2000s <ref>
Great War Forum thread [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=214248&hl= Attestation books - where they were sent by the MOD/Nat Archives] started by Justin 11 July 2014</ref>
====Regimental Journals====
**[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/news/britmilhist/famhistresearch/familyhistbritmil.html Family History Research and British Military History, 1801-1945]
**[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/news/britmilhist/scopecollections/scopebritmilhist.html Scope of the Collections for British Military History, 1801-1945] Details specialist, non-newspaper publications of particular interest to military history researchers held by British Library Newspapers such as the Army and Navy Gazette, published from 1860.
===Army personnel serving after January 1921===
:Email disc4@apc.army.mod.uk
See the web page [https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records Requests for personal data and Service records] (gov.uk) for forms to download. [http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html Veterans:UK] and and their fact sheet [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veterans-uk.info%2Fpdfs%2Fservice_records%2Farmy_pack.pdf Army Personnel Records And Family Interest Enquiries] (docs.google html version), [http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/service_records/army_pack.pdf original pdf] This WW2Talk Forum [http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/47075-grandfather-ww2-rasc-burma-help-and-suggestions/?p=555463 post] advises "you want to get next of kin FULL records (make a note on the application for '''FULL''' records)".
Hints, mainly from WW2Talk Forum .*"You want to get next of kin FULL records (make a note on the application for '''FULL''' records)"<ref> Wayne [http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/47075-grandfather-ww2-rasc-burma-help-and-suggestions/?p=555463 Grandfather WW2 RASC Burma - Help and suggestions!] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 18 April 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2014</ref>*"They will accept anything that is proof of death, even a undertakers receipt or a photograph of a post war civilian headstone”. <ref>Drew5233 [http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49481-clarification-of-provision-of-death-certificate-service-records/?p=582017 Clarification of provision of death certificate (Service records)] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 07 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2014</ref> However, you do not have to supply a death certificate when the date of birth of the individual was more than 116 years ago.<ref>"Veterans:UK" fact sheet [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veterans-uk.info%2Fpdfs%2Fservice_records%2Farmy_pack.pdf Army Personnel Records And Family Interest Enquiries] (html version), [http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/service_records/army_pack.pdf original pdf] </ref>*The next of kin hierarchy is explained on a WW2Talk Forum topic which also advises that “There is currently about a 12 month wait to receive the records once you apply”<ref> Wayne [http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/41567-ww2-soldier-research-tips-and-links-for-new-researchers WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers], dated ''WW2Talk Forum'' 28 August 2012] advises about the next of kin hierarchy and that “There is currently about a 12 month wait to receive the records once you apply”.Retrieved 4 December 2014</ref>
==FIBIS resources==
:He went on to serve with the [[16th Lancers]] in the [[Gwalior Campaign]] and the [[1st Sikh War]], and with the [[9th (The Queen's Royal) Lancers|9th Lancers]] in the [[2nd Sikh War]].<br>
:He resigned in 1853 having spent 20 years in the British Army, all in India. However, his years as a Boy were not counted as years of service, so he was not entitled to any pension.
==Social conditions and activities==
Harrington Prayer Rooms were set up in all the major cantonments for use as a 'Soldiers' Scripture Reading and Prayer Room'. <ref>JaneyH [http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/forum/topic10112.html “Mystery army photo - 1890s? India?”] Who Do You Think You Are? Forum 11 January 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014</ref>
==See also==
*[[Medals]]
*[[Military periodicals online]]
*[[Temperance organisations]]
*[[12th Regiment of Foot]] and [[34th Regiment of Foot]] for examples of death as a result of a duel with a fellow officer.
==External links==
*[http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/ Great War Forum]
*[http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]
===Encyclopedia articles===
*[http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/british-army-spine-pads British Army Spine Pads] [Part of the uniform] by Stuart Bates , April 27, 2012 militarysunhelmets.com
*[http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1858/08/13.htm "Transport of Troops to India"] by Frederick Engels from ''New York Daily Tribune'', 13 August, 1858 states that some troops were sent from England by the overland route from 1857. Marxists.org. This route became permanent some years later, see [[British Army#Historical books online|below]].
*[http://adenairways.com/Armed_Forces/page186/page262/page262.html The trooping season between India and the United Kingdom] lasted for about seven months each year, with the full programme being published some months in advance. The gap, April-October/November in India was the same each year – to avoid the worst of the heat in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. adenairways.com. Also see See [[Trooping season]] and [[Deolali]].
*[http://www.movcon.org.uk/History/Documents/DID/D-MCHS%200290.10.htm Troopships and Trooping] by R G Robertson movcon.org.uk
*Bad conditions on troop ships coming to India in the late 1700s are mentioned in [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1081841/?page=14 "The soldier's friend—Sir Jeremiah Fitzpatrick"] by Richard L. Blanco ''Med Hist. 1976 October; 20(4): 402–421'', particularly 415-417
*The National Archives [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts podcasts] have a [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/military-history.htm military history] category including
**[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/podcasts/sahib.htm Sahib, the British soldier in India, 1750 – 1914] by Professor Richard Holmes
*Recruiting regions of Irish infantry regiments in the British Army from 1881 until 1922. A list of regiments, depots, counties together with a map. Select page 5 of this [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuigalway.ie%2Fgeography%2Fdocuments%2FHeritage-Chapter.pdf docs.google version] or [http://www.nuigalway.ie/geography/documents/Heritage-Chapter.pdf pdf]<ref>[[http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuigalway.ie%2Fgeography%2Fdocuments%2FHeritage-Chapter.pdf "A Lost Heritage: The Connaught Rangers and Multivocal Irishness"] (docs.google version) by John Morrissey, 2005 , Chapter 3 of ''Ireland’s Heritages: Critical Perspectives on Memory and Identity'' edited by M Mc Carthy 2005. Website: Geography Dept, National University of Ireland, Galway. [http://www.nuigalway.ie/geography/documents/Heritage-Chapter.pdf original pdf]</ref>
*"Information Document on the Irish Regiments of the British Army up to 31st July 1922". Irish Military Archives Dublin [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.militaryarchives.ie%2Ffileadmin%2Fuser_upload%2Fdocuments%2FInformation_Document_on_Irish_Regiments_of_the_British_Army.pdf docs.google version], [http://www.militaryarchives.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Information_Document_on_Irish_Regiments_of_the_British_Army.pdf original pdf]
*"Irish Soldiers in the British Army 1792-1922: Suborned or Subordinate?" by Peter Karsten ''Journal of Social History Volume 17 No. 1 (Autumn 1983)'' pages 31-64 [http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reenactor.ru%2FARH%2FPDF%2FKarsten.pdf docs.google version] [http://www.reenactor.ru/ARH/PDF/Karsten.pdf original pdf]
*[http://jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk/index.html James Henry Miller], born 1910. He was in India October 1932-1935 with the [[2nd Bombay (European) Fusiliers|2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry]]. His memories of daily life in a regiment performing garrison duties. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131114013901/http://jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk/16.html His Story, His Words Part Four] (scroll down), [https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014056/http://jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk/17.html Part Five], [https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014327/http://jameshenrymiller.petermillerphotoworld.co.uk/18.html Part Six] Includes photographs. Family website. (archived links)
*[http://britains-smallwars.com/India/HealthHazards.html "Health Hazards … Stationed in India"] by former Sergeant Donald C. Thyer, Royal Engineers Survey 1945-1947 britains-smallwars.com. Retrieved 15 August 2014
*[http://www.davidhorsfield.org.uk/index.asp ''From Semaphore to Satellite The memoirs of Major General David Horsfield, Royal Signals''] may be read online. He served in Burma during World War 2 and was then in India 1942-1946.
*[http://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmvf.co.uk%2Fpdf%2FHORSE_TRANSPORT.pdf "British Army Horse Transport"] (docs.google version) by Clive Elliott 2008 hmvf.co.uk [http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/HORSE_TRANSPORT.pdf original pdf]
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofscotlan08browiala#page/n15/mode/2up ''The History of Scotland, its Highlands, Regiments and Clans, Volume VIII''] by James Browne 1909 Archive.org. This volume includes the regiments.
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ybk_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 "East Indies"] page 1 ''The Regimental Companion: Containing the Pay, Allowances and Relative Duties of Every Officer in the British Service, Volume 3'' by Charles James 7th edition, considerably enlarged 1811 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ro9aAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR1 ''Calculation Tables of Pay and Indian Allowances ... of European Commissioned Officers of all arms, of Her Majesty’s and the Hon’ble Company’s Service in the Presidencies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay etc''] by R Alexander Kerr, Head Assistant Presidency and Queen’s Troops’ Pay Office. Calcutta 1847 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=n1ABAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''Strength, Composition and Organization of the Army of Great Britain''] by Capt Martin Petrie (1864) Google Books
*[http://archive.org/stream/armybookforbrit00daltgoog#page/n8/mode/2up ''The Army Book for the British Empire: A Record of the Development and Present Composition of the Military Forces and their Duties in Peace and War''] by William Howley Goodenough and James Cecil Dalton. HMSO 1893 Archive.org. Includes [http://archive.org/stream/armybookforbrit00daltgoog#page/n472/mode/2up "The Army in India"] page 442
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=6OcKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR6 ''Camp and Barrack-room, Or, The British Army as It Is''] by John Mercier McMullen, a late Staff Sergeant of the 13th Light Infantry (1846) Google Books
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=3nkQAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover ''The British Army in India: its preservation by an appropriate clothing, housing etc''] by Julius Jeffreys, formerly Staff-Surgeon of Cawnpore 1858 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sioAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP9 ''Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire Into the Sanitary State of the Army in India: With Précis of Evidence''] Presented to both Houses of Parliament 1863 Google Books. Contains information on many topics including
**[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sioAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA68 Duties] page 68, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sioAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA116 Dress] page 116, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sioAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA118 Intemperance] page 118, [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sioAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA128 Means of Recreation and Instruction] page 124.
:This is the first part of Volume I, to page 265. There is also Volume II (total pages over 2000). The balance of the pages, which provide more details, may be found on the [[Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories| subscription website]] "House of Commons Parliamentary Papers", as part of Paper number 3184 of 1863.
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=lnMIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA62 "Adulterated Liquor sold to Sailors and Soldiers in the Bazars of Calcutta"] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=lnMIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA65 "The dangers to which Sailors and Soldiers are exposed in the Bazars of Calcutta"] from ''On the preservation of the health of seamen, especially of those frequenting Calcutta and the other Indian ports'' by Norman Chevers MD, Surgeon, Bengal Army 1864 Google Books
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=c1lNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA308 "East India (Transport of Troops")]. Report of Select Committee c 1858 page 308 'Series F British India, Colonies etc' ''Annals of British Legislation, Volume 5'' edited by Leone Levi 1859 Google Books
*''In Search of the "Forlorn Hope" : a comprehensive guide to locating British regiments and their records (1640-WWI)'' by John M. Kitzmiller, II, Volumes 1 and 2, may be [[Online books#Family History Books| read online]] at a [[FamilySearch Centres|FamilySearch Centre]] on a Family History Library computer
*[http://digital.nls.uk/indiapapers/browse/pageturner.cfm?id=74905433&mode=transcription "List of Stations at which Military Family Hospitals are Authorized"] An Appendix from ''Regulations for the Medical Services of the Army of India 1930'' National Library of Scotland 'Medical History of British India' digital books.
*[http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks13/1306081h.html ''Smithy Abroad: Barrack-Room Sketches''] by Edgar Wallace 1909 Project Gutenberg Australia. Some of the tales are set in India. Between 1904 and 1918 Edgar Wallace, who subsequently became known as the ‘King of Thrillers’ wrote a large number of mostly humorous sketches about life in the British Army.
== References ==
