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British Army

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There are many ways to find out locations at which a regiment was stationed. More labourious methods include tracking through the muster rolls, army lists or station lists published in newspapers. Many of our regiment articles include a timeline of major stations. One online source providing incomplete but highly useful information, is:
*[http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/kitz1.htm Indian portion of ''In Search of the 'Forlorn Hope': A Comprehensive Guide to Locating British Regiments and their Records (1640-WWI)'' by John M Kitzmiller] - lists the location/year of all British regiments that served in India and related regions. ([http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/kitz.htm Regiments], [http://isp.ans.com.au/~rampais/genelogy/india/indexes/kitz2.htm Locations]) . From Bob Holland’s Rampais website.
*The Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battle, [http://wwwusacac.cgscarmy.edumil/organizations/cace/carlCombined Arms Research Library [CARL<nowiki>]</nafziger.asp The Nafziger Collection of Orders of Battlenowiki>] , United States Army, hosts a PDF catalogue including lists of “Stations of British Troops in India” (and a wider list for the whole army) transcribed from the sources such as the ''Army and Navy Gazette ''. The website says "Download the collection's There is a [http://cdm16040cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitemref/collection/p4013coll11/id/1277 Finding Aid] (link to a pdf formatdownload) to assist in navigating the titles available for viewing".
:It appears best to use the binoculars icon to search the Finding Aid. The search facility seems designed so that the words you enter only are found if they are next to each other, so you will need to use just one word such as ''India'', or use phrases which are title headings such as ''Stations of British Troops in India'', (not Stations India) (available 1836-1904), ''British Regiments Serving in India'', (available 1816-1835), ''Distribution of the British Army'' (available 1836-1868, 1872, 1899-1903) ''Stations of the British Army'' (available 1869-1904). The latter two titles include British troops in India. For specific lists from 1862, see
It was possible for a man born in India to enlist in the British Army in India, a fact to be considered when researching. Enlistment was possible for men with European parents, or [[Anglo Indian|Eurasian]] men of fair complexion―those whose looks allowed them to ‘pass’ as white.<ref> [http://home.alphalink.com.au/~agilbert/satoshi.html Loyalty, Parity, and Social Control-The Competing Visions on the Creation of an ‘Eurasian’ Military Regiment in late British India] by Satoshi Mizutani ''The International Journal of Anglo-Indian Studies'' Volume 10, No. 1, 2010</ref>
There are some early 1800s references to mixed race soldiers, mainly musicians, with 'black' complexions.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100922100136/http://www.wellingboroughrec.org.uk/blackh/blackarm.htm "Black Soldiers in Northamptonshire Regiments of the British Army"] by John Ellis wellingboroughrec.org.uk , now archived.</ref> There is one reference to an Anglo Indian Boy Trumpeter in the [[Royal Artillery]] c 1936<ref> Pages 122-123, ''Pick up your Parrots and Monkeys: The Life of a Boy Soldier in India'' by William Pennington 2003</ref>
===Enlistment and birth in other overseas British Empire countries===
''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 databasebut these are index records only.
===The [London] Gazette===
Where a record series appears on both findmypast, and Ancestry there may be differences in transcriptions of names which will affect the Search results. If you cannot initially find a record, it is suggested you try searching on both websites.
======Findmypast======
Findmypast, a pay website, contains a database '''British Army Service Records'''<ref>[http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/british-army-service-records British Army Service Records] findmypast.</ref>, located in Armed forces & conflict/ Regimental & service records, which contains records between 1760 and 1920, for officers and other ranks, from The National Archives.
This database consists of
*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=====
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14325?v=r'''WO 117'''] Pensions awarded to soldiers for length of service.
Some of these records, in particular WO 116 (for what appears to be WO 116/1-165 being Cavalry and Infantry Disability October 1715 to '''1882''' (when the records cease) and Royal Artillery 1 November 1833 to '''1893''') (when the records continue but are not digitised) and WO 117 ( October 1823 to '''1913''') are available to '''download free of cost''' from [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/digital-microfilm.asp The the National Archives Documents Online: Digital Microfilms]website, though the Discovery catalogue, or the links above. Note, some records within this series have been seen subject to a fee, if so it is suggested you query. <br>Elsewhere, it is stated these are These are stated to be large pdfs, which need a broadband internet connection. This Ancestry.com British Army Message Board [http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.Military.uk.britarmy/2203.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1/mb.ashx post] details some of the information found.
An interesting series of selected records is [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C11584?v=r '''PIN 71''': Selected War Pensions Award Files for Service Prior to 1914]. This series consists of personal case files on disablement pensions arising from service in the Army or Navy before the First World War and case files concerning widows of such servicemen. The files contain medical records and details of place of birth, age, names of parents and siblings, religion, physical attributes, marital and parental status. The series appears to consist of approximately 6,300 individual files which are searchable by name online on the [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/ Discovery catalogue]. The actual files however are not available online.
====WW1 Casualty Lists====
WW1 Casualty Lists were initially published on a daily basis in newspapers, but WO original lists no longer appear to exist. They were then published weekly by HMSO, as ''War Office Weekly Casualty List'' no.1-48 (7 Aug.1917 - 2 July 1918), and later as ''Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry)'' no.49-83 (9 July 1918 - 4 March 1919), available at some libraries. Daily lists may be found in online newspaper databases such as ''The [London] Times Digital Archive'', for access see [[Miscellaneous tips#Access some subscription websites with a Library Card|Miscellaneous tips]], and ''The Scotsman'' in Scotland, the latter initially all casualties but later limited to Scots related. TheGenealogist, a pay website, as part of its Diamond premium subscription, includes a database "Military and Casualty Lists"<ref>[https://www.thegenealogist.com/featuredarticles/2014/was-your-ancestor-wounded-in-the-First-World-War-155/ Was your ancestor wounded in the First World War?] thegenealogist.com</ref>, which appears to consist of Daily Lists transcribed from newspapers, together with Weekly Lists transcribed and with images, from British Library held original publications,<ref> callowbrack et al. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=225762 daily casualty lists] ''Great War Forum'' 17 March 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.</ref> with data to April 1918. , <ref>Drew1918. [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=237835&p=2383526 The Genealogist] ''Great War Forum'' 1 April 1916. Retrieved 1 April 1916.</ref>but with some gaps in the data, and Officers seem to be listed to 1920.<ref>TEW [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?/topic/245452-casualty-records-fmp-fwr-genealogist/&do=findComment&comment=2469711 Casualty Records FMP/ FWR/ Genealogist] ''Great War Forum'' 3 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.</ref>. Other online newspaper databases such as those available on [[findmypast]], or the British Newspaper Archive, may also contain casualty details.
====Prisoners of War====
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 <ref>[http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/royal-artillery-attestations-1883-1942 Royal Artillery Attestations 1883-1942]. This is a misleading title. Records have been seen from 1919, and possibly there may be some for 1918, but not before. [http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/royal-tank-corps-enlistment-records-1919-1934 Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records, 1919-1934] findmypast.</ref>are available from 1919 online on the pay website [[Findmypast|findmypast]], located in the category Armed forces & conflict/Regimental & service records.
Enlistment book records for the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps are available on the pay website RLC Digital Library, see [[Royal Army Service Corps#External links|Royal Army Service Corps]]
***"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>
*[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]]
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