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→Military records at the National Archives
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, and in addition on FamilySearch, a free website. Details of some of the military records on the latter site may be found under findmypast, below.
A researcher advised that Army service record images on findmypast are usually much better quality and Ancestry's service records may be poorly indexed, however Ancestry has the advantage that you can scroll to the records immediately before and after, which could be relevant.<ref>Wade, Andy. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/254435-best-research-website/?do=findComment&comment=2573961 Best Research Website] ''Great War Forum'' 17 October 2017. Scroll down for comparative images. Retrieved 23 November 2018.</ref>Another advised that findmypast has a far better search facility.<ref>ss002d6252 [Craig] [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/262616-9th-lancers/?do=findComment&comment=2663213 9th Lancers] ''Great War Forum'' 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.</ref>(Comparison for WW1 records.<ref>[https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/online-information-service-providers-which-is-best/ "Online information service providers for researching British soldiers – which is best?]" by Chris Baker 6th December 2019 longlongtrail.co.uk.</ref>)
For both findmypast and Ancestry, it is possible to undertake a broad Search by selecting the Military category from the Search tab at the top of the webpages. This will search in all Military databases. However, should you wish to perform a more targeted Search, various databases are described below.
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C14497 '''WO 293''' 1914-1964] War Office: Army Council: Instructions. This series contains a complete set of the formal orders known as Army Council Instructions, from January 1916 to March 1964, when they were superseded by Defence Council Instructions (Army). The series also contains the final years of the preceding War Office Instructions from August 1914 to December 1915. Also available at the [[British Library]] IOR/L/MIL/17/1/2031-2062 1916-1947. Example image of 2 pages.<ref name =MGC/>
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C4401768/next/C4401767 War Establishments] '''WO 24'''/894 1888-1891 to WO 24/999 1955.
====War Diaries====*For WW1 War Diaries, see [[First World War#War Diaries|First World War - War Diaries]].
====Research guides====
=====National Archives Guides=====
