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====Medal Rolls====
See [[Medal Rolls]]. Includes information about those medal rolls available online.
→Findmypast
===Army Lists===
''Army List''s are useful if you are researching an officer. There were Monthly, Quarterly and Annual editions published. At least during the [[First World War]], only the Monthly Lists cover the officers in “battalion order”.<ref> rflory [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=228278&p=2267381 Army List - copies at Kew?] ''Great War Forum'' 27 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.</ref> ''Quarterly Army List''s only list regular, career officers and not others such as temporary officers and territorial officers who are to be found in the ''Monthly Army List''s.<ref>rflory. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=236726&p=2369451 Army List lookup], posts 4 and 10. ''Great War Forum'' 26 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.</ref> The Monthly Lists are available on the open shelves at the National Archives and major libraries, and some have now been digitised.
For volumes available online, see '''[[Military periodicals online]]'''. A broken range of unspecified ''List''s 1882-1962 are also included in the Ancestry Military database but these are index records only.
===The [London] Gazette===
*WO 128 - Imperial Yeomanry, soldiers' documents, South African War 1899-1902
*WO 131 - Chelsea: documents of soldiers awarded deferred pensions 1838-1896
*WO 339 - Officers' services, First World War, regular army and emergency reserve officers . '''Transcripts only''', not actual files.
*WO 363 - First World War service records 'burnt documents'
*WO 364 - First World War pension claims
*WO 374 - Officers' services, First World War, personal files, Territorial and temporary officers. '''Index records only''', not actual files.
*WO 400 - The Household Cavalry 1801-1919
*'Scots Guards Enlistment Registers, 1799-1939' and 'Scots Guards Officer Enlistment Registers, 1642-1939'. These records come from the Scots Guards, not from the National Archives. Include images.
See below for details of these records.
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1114 '''British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920'''] are WO 364 records.
Ancestry search tip: if you are unable to locate a record, it is possible to search by spouse name, as the search does look for next of kin.<ref>Chris_Baker. [http://www.1914-1918.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=22#p68 "Of no occupation. An Army Pensioner"] ''Long, Long Trail Forum'' 20 June 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.</ref>
'''Ancestry/Fold3'''
<br>Fold3 is an Ancestry owned company. For the following Military records Ancestry has released transcribed index records on the main Ancestry site, with the images only available on Fold3, which requires an Ancestry All Access subscription.
*[http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61068 '''UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920'''] "WO 97, Pieces 1278-4287 (various pieces within range)" records. Released November 2016.
*[http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60917 '''UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admissions and Discharges, 1715-1925'''] Disability and Royal Artillery Out-Pensions, Admission Books WO 116 records. Released November 2016.
: '''Notes''': [1] The National Archives classifies these records to 1913, not beyond. [2] The WO 116 records available on Ancestry may possibly be derived from the National Archives microfilms, which do not extend past 1882, or 1893, depending on category, refer below.
=====Chelsea Pensioners=====
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,
=====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, (located in Armed forces & conflict/Regimental & service records) '''British Army, Worldwide Index 1861''' 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 '''British Army, Worldwide Index 1871''', with census day 2 April 1871 and generally covering much of the June Quarter 1871, extracted from War Office army pay lists. The latest (2016/1) database released by FMP is Further databases in this series are: '''British Army, Worldwide Index 1841''', created from muster rolls and pay lists between April and June 1841(released (2016/1) and '''British Army, Worldwide Index 1851'''(released 2016/9), which contains records from regiments listed in this [http://www.findmypast.co. uk/articles/british-army-worldwide-index-1851-regimental-list regimental list]. :As advised in the section above, there will be no records for Royal Artillery soldiers in India.
====Courts martial and desertionMedal Rolls====*See [[Courts-martialMedal Rolls]]. Includes information about those medal rolls available online.
====Research guides====
Note that if a record is available both in the [[Church records]] 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.
===Courts martial and desertion===
*See [[Courts-martial]]
===Other sources===
====WFA WW1 pension record cards====
*[http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/greatall-warabout-currentthe-wfa/wfa-news-events/pension-records/the-wfa-preserves-a-major-great-war-archive-of-6-5-million-records.html "The Western Front Association preserves a major Great War archive of 6.5 million records"] by David G Henderson 08 November 2012 **[http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/all-about-the-wfa/175wfa-news-events/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-wfaattachments/175-pension-recordsarticle/2961-pension-record-cards-manual-lookup-request/WFA%20Pension%20Records%20Cards%20Manual%20Lookup%20Request%20April%202013.html pdf Pension Record Cards: Manual Lookup Request] 31 March 2013. A fee applies. It is intended that these records be digitised in time.**[http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/all-about-the-wfa/wfa-news-events/pension-records.html More details from WFA]
====WW1 Casualty Lists====
=====Other=====
*[[Findmypast|findmypast]] includes a database "Prisoners Of War 1715-1945" and also a similar "Browse" database (both located in Armed forces & conflict/Regimental & service records) which contains records from The National Archives , including selected FO 383 records, including some for Indian Army soldiers. The records included are detailed in this [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/prisoners-of-war-1715-1945 findmypast link].
====1911 England and Wales Census====
British Army personnel in India, together with their families appeared for the first time in an England and Wales Census in 1911. The 1911 Census is available on the pay websites [[findmypast]], Ancestry and perhaps other pay sites. This [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C90811 National Archives] catalogue entry shows the regiments that were included in the 1911 Census. The items (17 in total) are RG 14/34978-34992, 34995, 34997. However, it is probable there were other regiments in India at this time. The census was taken on the night of Sunday 2 April, 1911. Note however, there are is at least one known instance of a soldier and his family known to be in the British Army in India at the time of the census, whose names do not appeat in the census, another indication that the data may not be complete. The 1911 Census also includes similar information for other British Army overseas bases, and returns from ships of the Royal Navy at sea and in ports abroad.
====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 latter may be [http://www.nam.ac.uk/soldiers-records/persons Searched online], and images viewed, on the NAM website for free (released online c September 2016).
The attestation records for the Royal Artillery and the Tank Corps are available online on the pay website [[Findmypast|findmypast]], located in the category Armed forces & conflict/Regimental & service records.
***"Silver War Badge Roll 1914-1920" Transcriptions only, no images.
***"Royal Naval Division Records 1914-1919" and "Royal Naval Division Service Records 1914-1920". The Royal Naval Division transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29 April 1916.
***Databases based on the publications ''The Bond of Sacrifice; : a Biographical Record of all British officers who fell in the Great War'' (2 Volumes), ; ''Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-19'' (80 Volumes, HMSO) and "Officers Died in the Great War 1914-19" (the latter two, one database), and ; ''The Roll of Honour. A biographical record of all members of His Majesty's naval and military forces who have fallen in the war'' by the Marquis De Ruvigny (5 Volumes). Databases 2 and 3 are also available on Ancestry.***Database based on the publication ''Ireland's Memorial Records, 1914-1918: being the names of Irishmen who fell in the Great European War'' ( 8 Volumes). The findmypast database is "Ireland's Memorial Record: World War 1: 1914-1918 ", and there is a similar database on Ancestry "Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1922 ".***"British Jewry Book Of Honour, 1914-1920", a database from the book ''British Jewry Book Of Honour'' published in 1922. There is similar database on Ancestry (released 2016/10), consisting of index records only.
***"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] (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> . The databases Include "UK, British Army Lists, 1882-1962" (released 2016/10) consisting of a broken range of unspecified ''Lists'', but these are index records only. Also see comments under findmypast.
: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). There are many electoral registers (but not currently Absent Voters Lists}, details of which may be found by entering the keyword electoral in the Card Catalogue Search.
*Forces War Records, a pay website, includes the database "Military Hospitals Admissions and Discharge Registers WW1 Collection",<ref> [https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/military-hospital-records Search the Military Hospitals Admissions and Discharge Registers WW1 Collection] and [http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/blog/2014/11/12/mh106-the-challenges-of-making-these-wwi-medical-records-available-online? Article about the digitisation] forces-war-records.co.uk</ref> taken from TNA records [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10949 MH 106: War Office: First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen]. It is possible that the FWR database is only a selection of records from MH 106, which in turn is only a sample.<ref>TEW [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234729&p=2345354 Military Hospitals Admission and Discharge Register: Forces War Record] ''Great War Forum'' 25 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.</ref>
Hints, mainly from WW2Talk Forum.
*"You want to get next of kin FULL records (make a note on the application for '''FULL''' records)"<ref> jacksun (Wayne ) [http://ww2talk.com/forumsindex.php?threads/topic/47075-grandfather-ww2-rasc-burma-help-and-suggestions.47075/?p=#post-555463 Grandfather WW2 RASC Burma - Help and suggestions!] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 18 April 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2014 7 October 2016.</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/forumsindex.php?threads/topic/49481-clarification-of-provision-of-death-certificate-service-records.49481/?p=#post-582017 Clarification of provision of death certificate (Service records)] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 07 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 20147 October 2016.</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 [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140805133045/http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/service_records/army_pack.pdf Army Personnel Records And Family Interest Enquiries] UK Government Web Archive. </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> jacksun (Wayne ) [http://ww2talk.com/forumsindex.php?threads/topic/41567-ww2-soldier-research-tips-and-links-for-new-researchers .41567/ WW2 Soldier Research - Tips and Links for New Researchers], ''WW2Talk Forum'' 28 August 2012. Retrieved 4 December 20147 October 2016.</ref>
====Died in military service from 1948====
== 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>
===Harrington Prayer Rooms===
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>
===Moustaches===An Army Order was issued 6 October 1916 which meant that moustaches were no longer compulsory in the Army.<ref> Broomfield, Steven. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/243722-bye-bye-tache/ Bye, bye 'tache] ''Great War Forum'' 7 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.</ref>
==See also==
*[[:Category:Military Terms]]
*[https://archive.org/details/britisharmyfromw00vivirich ''The British Army from Within''] by E Charles Vivian 1914 Archive.org. Includes
**[https://archive.org/stream/britisharmyfromw00vivirich#page/24/mode/2up "The Way of the Recruit"] Chapter II, page 25.
*[https://archive.org/stream/blackwoodsmag211edinuoft#page/178/mode/2up "The Peregrinations of an Officer’s Wife"] page 178 ''Blackwood’s Magazine'', no 211 January-June 1922 Archive.org. Includes India.
*[https://archive.org/details/queensdaughters00butlgoog ''The Queen's Daughters in India''] by Elizabeth W. Andrew and Katharine C. Bushnell 1899 Archive.org. Investigation and Report by two American missionaries into the government sanctioned brothels in British Army cantonments
**[https://archive.org/stream/queensdaughters00butlgoog#page/n19/mode/1up Regimental brothels] page 15. These were set up under the Cantonment Act 1864. Also see [[Public health]]
