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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.
Muster roll records are unfortunately NOT available on [[LDS]] microfilms. If you are a FIBIS member and are unable to visit Kew, the [http://www.fibis.org/research/ FIBIS Research team]should be able to assist.
'''Please note that muster roll records may be missing for some Regiments and periods''', in India and generally. For example, there are virtually no muster roll records for the Royal Artillery in India,
== Conditions and activities==
=== Enlistment term===
From the end of the Napoleonic Wars until 1847, men were enlisted for twenty-one years, practically for life. From 1847 enlistment was for ten years, later increased to twelve; with a pension after twenty one years for extended service. From 1870, as part of the Caldwell Reforms, “short service” was introduced, where men enlisted for a period of time in the Army, the balance of time in the reserves (total twelve years). The standard term varied over time, including six and six, seven and five, three and nine, nine and three years, <ref> grumpy. [http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6122 1870: Short Service] ''Victorian Wars Forum'' 17 October 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2016. <br> QGE. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/243429-cavalry-terms-of-engagement-1902-1914/&do=findComment&comment=2448106 Cavalry: Terms of Engagement 1902-1914] ''Great War Forum'' 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.</ref> but terms may have been modified for regiments going to India.<ref>[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TS19000303.2.59 The British Army. (By The Right Hon Sir Charles W. Dilke)] ''The Star'' , Issue 6734, 3 March 1900, Page 7 Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand.</ref>
===Wives and families travelling to India===
For soldiers deployed from Britain to overseas garrisons only a proportion of men were allowed to be accompanied by their wives. For most countries the proportion was six wives per one hundred soldiers. However for India, and Australia, the ratio was twelve wives per one hundred men, including NCOs. The number of children was unlimited.<ref>Fuller, Tony [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/india/2000-08/0966007649 Women on ships – again] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 11 August 2000. (The author was researching at the Tower Hamlets Library). Retrieved 17 February 2015</ref>
