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→Indians in the British Army
===Indians in the British Army===
There were a limited number of Indians who were part of the British Army. There Prior to 1924, there were Indian soldiers serving in the Royal Artillery as drivers, and native gunners in ammunition columns serving as wagon-men. <ref>[http://www.archive.org/stream/armiesofindia00macmuoft#page/182/mode/1up Page 182] ''The Armies of India'' described by Major G F MacMunn (Painted by Major Lovett) 1911 Archive.org</ref> During the [[First World War]], there are Medal Index Card references to Lascars in the Inland Water TransportRoyal Artillery, this rank was also known as a [[Gun Lascar]]. In 1924, [[Mountain Artillery|Indian Mountain/Pack Batteries]] became Batteries in the Royal Engineers Artillery, and which was the situation until 1939 when the Indian Mountain Batteries were transferred from the Royal Artillery during to the Indian Regiment of Artillery.<br> During the [[First World War]]there are also references to Lascars in the Inland Water Transport, and for the Royal Artillery possibly laterEngineers. <br>From c 1921, there were Indian Mechanical Transport Companies, which were part of the [[Royal Army Service Corps]], until subsequently transferred to the Indian Army.
==Records==
=====Online records=====
*Ancestry (pay site with a free search) has a collection [http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60546 UK, British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1812-1817]
*Findmypast has the records '''1861 Worldwide Army Index''' extracted from the National Archives April-June quarter Paylists held in WO 10 (Royal Artillery), WO 11 (Royal Engineers) and WO 12 (Cavalry, Guards, Infantry and other units) series War Office records, including men serving overseas. 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). Also on Findmypast is the database '''1871 Worldwide British Army Index- British Army Other Ranks & Locations''', with census day 2 April 1871 and generally covering much of the June Quarter 1871.
====Service and pension records====
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://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14328?v=r '''WO 120'''] "From about 1812 dates of death have been noted and in the last series these dates extend to 1877" 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].
**The book ''British Army Pensioners Abroad, 1772-1899'' by Norman K. Crowder includes all British Army pensioners who retired to any place outside of Great Britain for which records are available (1772-1899). There are 8,934 entries, transcribed from [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C1923393?v=r WO 120/35] and [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C1923427?v=r WO 120/69-70]. Each entry has one line, in the form "51st Regiment of Foot; Josh ABBOTT; pension awarded 27 Sept 1842; residence - Hobart Town, Australia; died 22 Apr 1871. Source WO120 Volume 69 page 206". <ref>[http://homegrthom.vicnet.net.au/~grthominfo/cpindex.html Chelsea Pensioners - Out Pensions] by Grahame Thom</ref>
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14329?v=r '''WO 121'''] records. These records are available online on findmypast as part of British Army Service Records 1760-1915, refer [[British Army#Chelsea Pensioners|above]]. The records include "Register of men discharged without pension", 1884 to 1887. Although the catalogue does not mention this, there are 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. 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).
**[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.
====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. These records may be quite complex to search, and there are many helpful hints about searching on the Great War Forum.<ref>Evers, Maureen [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2015-01/1421673008 Online WW1 Red Cross records (two free datasets)] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 19 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015</ref> Include soldiers of the Indian Army taken as POWs on the Western Front and sent to Germany.
*[https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/icrc-archives/ ICRC Archives] in Geneva has records for the [[Second World War]]
=====Other=====
*[[Findmypast|findmypast]] includes a database "Prisoners Of War 1715-1945" (located in Armed forces & conflict/Regimental & service records) which appears to contain some records from FO 383, including some for Indian Army soldiers.
====Medal Rolls====
*[http://www.nam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/research-information-5.pdf Information Sheet No 5: Researching Family History at the National Army Museum]
====Absent Voters Lists: 1918- c 1923 (UK)====Generally arranged by Electoral District. Mainly contain military personnel, but also men and women who were engaged in war-related work who were still living away from home. Sources are major libraries and record offices nearest to the place in question. Some of these records are available online including Ancestry, [[British Army#Miscellaneous online sources|see below]], and FamilySearch images for [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1546473 Swansea West Division (Wales, West Glamorgan)]. The [[London Metropolitan Archives]] holds some AVLs to 1939.<ref>[https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Documents/10-electoral-registers-at-london-metropolitan-archives.pdf Electoral registers at London Metropolitan Archives: Information Leaflet Number 10]</ref>, however it appears that information such as a serviceman’s rank, unit and number, only appeared initially for a few years.<ref>[http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/britain-absent-voters-lists-1918-1921 Scroll to Discover more about these records] findmypast</ref>*[http://mlfhs.org.uk/guides/researching_absent_voters.pdf Absent Voter Lists]. Guide by Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society. May 2015*[http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/avl.html Finding soldiers through the 1918 Absent Voters Lists] 1914-1918.net In October 2015, [[Findmypast|findmypast]] introduced a database "Britain, Absent Voters Lists 1918-1921" (located in Census, Land & Surveys/Electoral Rolls), based on records from the British Library. The coverage is set out in [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/britain-absent-voters-constituency-list?_ga=1.75209553.2135388719.1444195952 Britain, Absent Voters Constituency List]. Data additional to the initial release is expected to be added. ====Attestation , or Enlistment books (Army Book 358) from 1920====Following the restructure of the Army in 1920, new Attestation, or Enlistment books (Army Book 358) 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> Some of these records are now in regional Record Offices and Archives. The [[National Army Museum]] holds these records for some regiments, including the five Irish Regiments disbanded in 1922.
The attestation records for the Royal Artillery and the Tank Corps are available online on the pay website [[Findmypast|findmypast]].
Some regiments published a regular regimental journal which can be a valuable source of information. Examples are ''St George’s Gazette'', journal of the Northumberland Fusiliers,(previously [[5th Regiment of Foot]]) published from 1883 to 1968, and ''The Highland Light Infantry Chronicle'', journal of the Highland Light Infantry (previously [[71st Regiment of Foot]]), published quarterly from 1893 to 1958. Whether a journal existed may be included in the regimental information available on the website Regiments.org (refer below). This [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sNO72EFncc8C&pg=PA365 link] also lists the titles of some regimental journals.<ref>[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=sNO72EFncc8C&pg=PA365 ''Military Identities: the Regimental System, the British Army, and the British People, c.1870-2000''], page 365 by David French 2005 Google Books</ref> The [[British Library]] and [[National Army Museum]] are possible sources of these journals, together with Regimental Museums and regional libraries, if the regiment had a strong regional connection. A broken range of editions of [[The Rifle Brigade| ''The Rifle Brigade Chronicle'']] for the years 1890 to 1905 is available online. A few editions of the ''Highland Light Infantry Chronicle'' are also available online, however these are accessible in limited countries only.
====Newspapers====
*[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/search ''The London Gazette'' online] is a useful source of information about officers’ appointments and promotions. For more information about this resource, see [[Newspapers & magazines reading list]]
*Two Research guides by [[British Library|British Library Newspapers]]:
**[http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/news/britmilhist/famhistresearch/familyhistbritmil.html Family History Research and British Military History, 1801-1945]
Many online sources are mentioned in other sections. Other miscellaneous sources may be found by searching the database information of websites such as findmypast and Ancestry.
*See [[Findmypast|findmypast]]. Under the tab "Search records" is a category "A-Z of record sets" which is a listing of all the record databases.
**Includes [http:a database "Prisoners Of War 1715-1945" (located in Armed forces & conflict//searchRegimental & service records) which appears to contain some records from the National Archives records FO 383, including some for Indian Army soldiers.findmypast.co.uk**Includes the category Armed forces & conflict/search-world-records/royal-naval-division-records-First World War which includes the databases***"Royal Naval Division Records 1914-1919 " and "Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1919]1920". The Royal Naval Division transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29 April 1916.***"British Jewry Book Of Honour, 1914-1920"***"British Army, Deserters and Absentees In Police Gazette 1914-1919" . Selected dates only, not a complete range.<ref>Stewart, Graham. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=230741&p=2296337 New on Findmypast - Deserters and Absentees, Police Gazette, 1914-1919] ''Great War Forum'' 15 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015</ref> **Includes a database "British Army Schoolchildren and Schoolmasters 1803-1932" (located in Education & work/Schools & education)*[http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/CardCatalog.aspx Ancestry Card Catalogue of all Record Databases]. Select the Military filter on the left hand side of the page. Also includes a database for Birmingham, and some of north Warwickshire, Absent Voters Lists (located in Census & Electoral Rolls/Midlands, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1955).
===Army personnel serving after January 1921===
The Army Personnel Centre Historical Disclosures Section holds Army Service records for officers whose service ended after April 1922 and soldiers whose service ended after January 1921.
Note however that some records may not have survived, such as some records for those who were awarded a disability pension.,<ref>JeffH01 [http://boards.ancestry.com.au/topics.Military.uk.britarmy/2537.2.3/mb.ashxJohn Henry James Fairbrother (Harry)] ''Rootsweb British Army Message Board'' 21 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015</ref> or due to 'weeding'.
The service records of Army personnel serving after these dates remain closed to the public. To obtain details from such records you will often have to prove kinship. Charges may apply. Application forms should be sent to
*[http://www.britishmedals.us/kevin/intro.html The Asplin Military History Resources], about British Army history in the Victorian era, includes pages relevant to the British Army in India.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131117052045/http://www.hargreave-mawson.demon.co.uk/46thmen.html 46th Foot.com] includes a detailed account of the 1834 attestation of a private, Frederick Crosland.
*Army Service Numbers**[http://www.samrainc.org/Pdf/Whats%20In%20a%20Number.pdf "What’s In A Number? The Personal Numbering System of the Australian Army"] by 2151240 Graham Wilson. Scroll to the section titled "Background – The British Experience". **[http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2009/07/army-service-numbers-1881-1918-index.html Army Service Numbers 1881-1918: Index] armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com**[http://www.1914-1918.net/renumbering20.htm Renumbering of the army in 1920] 1914-1918.net. Introduced by Army Order 338 of August 1920. A seven-digit number was issued in 1920 to all men then serving in regular or Territorial units. Once issued, the man retained the same number irrespective of his transfers and postings within the army. Generally the new numbers did not have prefixes but the Royal Army Service Corps was an exception. RASC numbers were prefixed S (Supplies), T (Transport), M (Mechanical Transport) or R (Remounts).
*[http://www.ceylondatabase.net/military.html International Ceylon Database: Military] from Kyle Joustra’s [http://www.ceylondatabase.net/Genealogy.html website]. Includes lists of names by regiment.
*[http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/India.html Soldiers of the Queen: The Jewel in the Crown]. Photographs of soldiers in India, Ceylon,The North-West Frontier Afghanistan. Includes [http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/India-TwoPrivatesaServantaDogandaMonkey.html Two Privates with a servant and pets], [http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/india-SergeantEdgarJobEvansandWife.html Sergeant E. J. Evans in the tropical version of his regimental "Mess Dress" uniform, with wife], [http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/India-ArtillerySergeantandFamily.html Artillery Sergeant and family c 1900]
*''The Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Army'' [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=G9mgAAAAMAAJ&pg=PR3 1 July 1844 3rd edition] Google Books; [http://archive.org/stream/queensregulation00grea#page/n3/mode/2up 1 December 1859] Archive.org; [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=RCsAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR2 1 January 1868] including [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=RCsAAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA287 "Discharge of Soldiers", page 287] Google Books; [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.c095000452?urlappend=%3Bseq=7 Part I 1889] Hathi Trust; [http://archive.org/stream/queensregulatio00armygoog#page/n9/mode/2up 1 July 1899] Archive.org
*[http://books.google.com.au/books?id=GgUHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PP5 ''Revised Army Regulations Volume 1: Royal Warrant for the Pay and Promotion, Non-effective Pay, and Allowances of Her Majesty's British Forces serving elsewhere than in India''] dated 27 December 1870 HMSO Google Books
*[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 [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=225848&p=2241295 Where can I buy a sewing pattern for officer's tunic?] ''Great War Forum '' 20 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015</ref> Pages 2-4 are about rank badges, including those for NCOs, with illustrations. historyoffashiondesign.com
*[https://archive.org/details/trumpetbuglesoun00ingl ''Trumpet and bugle sounds for the army: with instructions for the training of trumpeters and buglers''] HMSO 1914 Archive.org
*[http://www.archive.org/stream/catalogueofbooks00cockrich#page/n1/mode/2up ''A catalogue of books relating to the military history of India''] drawn up by Maurice J.D. Cockle 1901 Archive.org
