Changes

Discharge papers ([http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14305?v=r'''WO 97''', (to '''1913''')]), usually containing service/attestation information, and pension records ([http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14231?v=r '''WO 22''']) may also be found at TNA. Records in WO 97 are usually only for men discharged with a pension (i.e. for long service or having been invalided <ref name=Skel > Victorian Wars Forum thread [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5904#p23104 Pension?] quoting from ''The Victorian Army at Home ''by AR Skelley</ref>) as these were the papers sent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and preserved, but from 1883, most causes of discharge, (apart from death (with a few exceptions)<ref>There are WO 97 records for a few men who died in the Anglo- Boer War (and papers in the Ancestry "WWI" series for men who died during the Anglo-Boer War) according to this [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=3511&start=15#p23904 Victorian Wars Forum post] dated 1 October 2011 by Meurig. This further Victorian Wars Forum [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=7112#p30127 post] dated 30 May 2012 by Mark A Reid also mentions a few other deaths. George Francis died in the Tochi Valley in 1897, yet his papers appear in the WO 363 WW1 records on findmypast.</ref>) 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 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. '''Note''': There are examples of records to 1913, which are located in the WW1 records, rather than in the WO 97records, even though the man did not serve in WW1.

Service and pension records from '''World War 1''' from the National Archives are available on the pay site [http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry .com], and from May 2014 on the pay site findmypast [[British Army#External links| refer below]]. They do '''contain some papers for men who did not serve in WW1.''',<ref>Victorian Wars Forum [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7266&start=15#p31162 post] dated 17 July 2012 by Meurig. Other examples have been seen.</ref>so it is suggested you check these records for men with service prior to the War years.

***Regarding records mentioned in this link, note that WO 76 records are available to download free as pdf files from [httpthe National Archives' Discovery catalogue. See "Free online records://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/digital-microfilm.asp National Archives: Documents Online: Digital Microfilm]" (link follows later in this section). For Army Lists, see [[Military periodicals online#New Annual Army List|Military periodicals online-New Annual Army List]]

**[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/britisharmysoldierafter1913.htm Looking for records of a British Army soldier after 1913] **[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/free-online-records-digital-microfilm/ Free online records: digital microfilm]. Includes a number of records in the WO series, including WO 25, War Office and predecessors Registers; WO 42 War Office: Officers’ Birth Certificates, Wills and Personal Papers; WO65 War Office: Printed Annual Army Lists; WO 76 War Office: Records of Officers’ Services, etc. Download through the record references in the National Archives' Discovery catalogue. (Note, some of these records may be available online on commercial sites such as Ancestry. For example, a selection of WO 25 records is available on Ancestry, in the dataset "Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900").

*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.

The index to some soldiers’ wills , perhaps more likely to be officers' wills, are also available in the [http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1904 Probate Calendars Of England & Wales1858-1996, in an additional section on the UK Government website, National Probate Calendar (Index of mentioned above. Also see [[Wills and , Administrations), 1861-1941 from AncestryProbate and Inventories]].com]

*[http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/CardCatalog.aspx Ancestry Card Catalogue of all Record Databases] (located as an option under the Search tab). Select the Military filter on the left hand side of the page. Some datasets may unexpectedly provide information relating to India. A researcher, who found some relevant records, found the title of "Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900", to be misleading, as they are actually records of enlistment and any subsequent notable events, based on WO 25 records for a selection of regiments. <ref> Email to User:Maureene 15-16 April 2016.</ref>: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).