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***[httphttps://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-officers-up-toafter-1913-further-research/ How to look for records of British Army officers up to 1913: further researchof the First World War] **[httphttps://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-officers-in-service-after-19131918/ Looking How to look for records of a British Army officer officers in service after 19131918] **[httphttps://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-up-to-1913/ Looking How to look for records of a British Army soldier soldiers up to 1913]
→Online books
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 of online providers 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>)
Ancestry now owns the pay military websites Fold3 and Forces War Records, which are included with the highest Ancestry subscription.
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.
'''WO 120''' and '''WO 121''' records may be helpful.<ref> Murphy, Sylvia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005657/https://mlarchives.rootsweb.com/listindexes/emails?listname=india&thread=1315759 ThomaSs Pittmans pension record] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 22 April 2011, archived.</ref> Catalogue references are:
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14328?v=r '''WO 120'''] "From about 1812 dates of death have been noted and in the last series these dates extend to 1877" The WO 120 records do not appear to be available online but are available on [[LDS|FamilySearch]] digitised microfilm, [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/315468 catalogue entry]. See [[FamilySearch Centres]] for details.
**The book ''British Army Pensioners Abroad, 1772-1899'' by Norman K. Crowder includes all British Army pensioners who retired to any place outside of Great Britain for which records are available (1772-1899). There are 8,934 entries, transcribed from [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C1923393?v=r WO 120/35] and [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C1923427?v=r WO 120/69-70]. Each entry has one line, in the form "51st Regiment of Foot; Josh ABBOTT; pension awarded 27 Sept 1842; residence - Hobart Town, Australia; died 22 Apr 1871. Source WO120 Volume 69 page 206". <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140327042222/http://grthom.info/cpindex.html Chelsea Pensioners - Out Pensions] by Grahame Thom, archived.</ref> Available at the [[British Library]] UIN: BLL01008881220, including open access shelves.
*[http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14329?v=r '''WO 121'''] records. These records are available online on findmypast , refer above. The records include "Register of men discharged without pension", 1884 to 1887. Although the catalogue does not mention this, there are many records of men leaving the army in India under the heading "Nominal list of men discharged by the Commander-in-Chief in India." As the register provides name, regimental number, rank, corps, date and cause of discharge, attestation date (and a few other administration details) it is an invaluable resource for those not able to find these details elsewhere.
=====National Archives Guides=====
*The National Archives have the following research guides:
**[httphttps://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-officers-1913/ Looking How to look for records of a British Army officer officers up to 1913]
***Regarding records mentioned in this link, note that WO 76 records are now available on findmypast, refer above, and are also available to download free as pdf files from the National Archives' Discovery catalogue. See "Free online records: 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/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-muster-rolls-pay-lists-1730-1898/ British Army: Muster Rolls and Pay Lists, c1730-1898]
****[https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/webinar-army-musters-just-accounts/ Webinar: "Army musters – more than just accounts"] by William Spencer 13 February 2014.
**[httphttps://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-of-the-first-world-war/ How to look for records of British Army soldiers of the First World War]**[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-soldiers-in-service-after-19131918/ Looking How to look for records of a British Army soldier soldiers in service after 19131918]
**Additional guides may be located in [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=military-and-maritime Military and maritime], including
***[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/courts-martial-desertion-british-army-17th-20th-centuries/ Courts martial and desertion in the British Army 17th-20th centuries] (More on desertion<ref>Campbell, Jeffrey. [https://www.ancestry.com/boards/topics.Military.uk.britarmy/1379.1.1/mb.ashx Deserters from the British Army in the 1800s] ''Ancestry British Army Message Board'' Scroll down to 21 October 2016. Mention of the book ''Deserted (Volume 1)'' by Jeffrey Campbell, available on Amazon. Further title on cover ''Military Deserters in Eighteenth Century Great Britain 1726-1759''. Retrieved 2 June 2019.</ref>).
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130320010401/http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelprestype/offpubs/ukofficalpub/servlists/armylist.pdf British Library Guide to Service Lists for the [British<nowiki>]</nowiki> Army, Navy and Air Force], now an archived webpage.
===== Online books=====
*[https://archive.org/details/tracingyourfamil0000unse/mode/2up ''Tracing your family history: Army''] published by Imperial War Museum London, catalogued 2006. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. Keep in mind that developments in online records will not be covered.*[https://archive.org/details/myancestorwasinb0000watt/mode/2up ''My ancestor was in the British Army : how can I find out more about him?''] by Michael J Watts and Christopher T Watts, 2014 reprint of 2009 edition, first published 1992. ([https://archive.org/details/myancestorwasinb0000watt_v6k3/mode/2up 1995 edition]). Published by Society of Genealogists London. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. Keep in mind that developments in online records since the last date of publication 2014 will not be covered.======World War I======*[https://archive.org/details/locationofbritis0000hold/mode/2up ''The location of British Army records, 1914-1918 4th edition 1999''] by Norman Holding, revised and updated by Ian Swinnerton. Published by Federation of Family History Societies, UK. ([https://archive.org/details/locationofbritis0002hold/mode/2up 2nd edition 1987]) Both Archive.org Books to Borrow. Keep in mind that developments in online records will not be covered.:[https://archive.org/details/worldwariarmyanc0000hold_n6d1 ''World War I Army Ancestry 4th edition 2003''] by Norman Holding, revised and updated by Iain Swinnerton. Published by Federation of Family History Societies, UK. ([https://archive.org/details/worldwariarmyanc0000hold 3rd edition 1997]) Both Archive.org Books to Borrow. Keep in mind that developments in online records will not be covered.
===India Office military records at the British Library===
:'''Update''': 2018, May. Foot Guards Regiments service records are a separate category and all, (including pre 1921 records), were moved from regimental archives to the Ministry of Defence, August 2017-May 2018, except for Scots Guards service records, which remain in the regimental archives. (Pre 1921 Scots Guards service records are thought to eventually be going to National Records of Scotland, in Edinburgh).
: '''Update''': In February 2021, the MOD began transferring 9.7 million military records for individuals with a discharge date before 31 December 1963 to The National Archives, so the records may be accessible there in the future.<ref>[https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/military/second-world-war-army-records/ "Second World War Army records: Where to find them"] by Phil Tomaselli
May 6, 2021 ''Who Do You Think You Are?'' Magazine /Discover your past/ Military whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com .</ref> However currently (2021/07/25) there is no mention of this on the gov.uk website mentioned a few paragraphs below.: '''Update''' 17 August 2021, . The National Archives News release. The records included in this collection cover personnel in all three services, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, where the individual has '''a date of birth prior to or up to 1939''', and closure will apply until 115 years past the date of birth of the individual. The records will be transferred to Kew in batches over the next 6 years.<ref>[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/mod-records-project/ MOD Records Project] nationalarchives.gov.uk .<br>Norfolk Nan et al. [https://www.whowhenwheregenealogy.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=498 Military Service Records - Any Progress?] ''Who When Where Board'' from 8 October 2021."RAF records will be sent in first".</ref>
:'''Update''' 5 April 2022. The first MOD Service Records are now available, which are Second World War records in the National Archives series WO 420<ref>
[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/first-mod-service-personnel-records-now-available/ First MOD Service Personnel Records Now Available] 5 April 2022. nationalarchives.gov.uk<br> [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C17508500 WO 420 The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Other Ranks: Service Records 1942-1963]</ref>, aspects are set out in [https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/mod-service-records-collection-faqs.pdf The MOD Service Records Collection] (TNA). Also available WO 421<ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C17682287 WO 421 Selected Smaller Corps Other Ranks: Service Records 1939-1963]</ref> from 22 June 2022, and WO 422 <ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17866205 WO 422 War Office: Infantry Over Age Other Ranks: Service Records, Second World War] Possibly from MOD account code 11010.</ref> from October 2022.
:'''Update''' 2 March 2023. The National Archives announced on Twitter that the contract to digitise the first tranche of (MOD) service personnel records had been awarded to Ancestry UK. [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/our-role/plans-policies-performance-and-projects/our-plans/ministry-of-defence-service-records/ "Ministry of Defence service records project"] TNA, undated, accessed 24 March 2023. The first record series to be digitised are WO 419-422.
Note however that some records may not have survived, such as some records for those who were awarded a disability pension,<ref>
:[http://www.uniformology.com/S-TITLES-00.html Scarlet into Khaki: Woven & Brass Shoulder Titles worn by British Infantry Regiments 1896-1907] (Incl helmet flash). uniformology.com. Multiple pages of high quality images.
*Uniforms. ''Great War Forum'' topic "British uniforms India 1914", 10 pages, with many photographs. (Details.<ref>Muerrisch et al. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/165361-british-uniforms-india-1914/ British uniforms India 1914] ''Great War Forum'' 24 June 2011 et al. Retrieved 31 October 2020. </ref>)
:Uniform items: [http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/british-puggarees-2-3-4-and-6-folds "British Puggarees 2, 3, 4 and 6 Folds"] by Stuart Bates. May 22, 2012. [http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/helmet-flashes-in-the-british-army "Helmet Flashes in the British Army"] by Benny Bough July 30, 2012. Includes details of two series of reference articles by John Mollo, and by Ron Kidd in ''The Formation Sign'', ''Journal of [http://www.militaryheraldrysociety.com/journal.html The Military Heraldry Society]''. (Availability.<ref>Most of these articles do not appear to be available in libraries. From its catalogue Imperial War Museums , London holds a good, but not complete collection of ''The Formation Sign'' Issues from Issue No 1-71, Jan. 1951-Autumn 1968, to a current date catalogue number LBY E. 5/115 , and the British Library holds issues from No 226, April 2007 UIN: BLL01014882149 . Possibly the Society can also supply past journals , or reprints of articles.</ref>) Alternative terminology is tactical recognition flash, pagri (puggaree) badge, Foreign Service Helmet (F S H) badge, or formation badge. [http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2012/british-army-spine-pads "British Army Spine Pads"] by Stuart Bates , April 27, 2012 militarysunhelmets.com. [http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1965-07-45-4 Photograph: Wolseley helmet. Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)], 1916 (c). National Army Museum
:[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puttee Puttee] Wikipedia. [http://www.vemra.org/blog/2016/9/30/puttee Puttee tying tutorial] vemra.org. Includes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=149&v=PwYzBL-zZmE Puttee [How to put on a puttee<nowiki>]</nowiki>] YouTube video. Includes a few turns in the herringbone style, to help keep a firm fit, using the principles of reverse spiral or looped bandaging.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/practicalmanualo00fitzuoft#page/42/mode/2up/search/puttees Page 42] ''A Practical Manual of Bandaging'' by Duncan C L Fitzwilliams Capt. RAMCT 1915 Archive.org.</ref> [http://smnmcshannon.hubpages.com/hub/World-One-War-Puttees-and-How-to-Wrap-Them "Puttees and How to Wrap Them"] May 31, 2011. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur3seXl8-14 How to wrap puttees, with crossing turns] by James Heath Jul 9, 2014 YouTube video. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJhabYFtmI Mike's guide to WW1 British and Commonwealth puttees] by Mike Everest Sep 12, 2017 YouTube video. [https://www.flickr.com/photos/runninginsuffolk/22914434805/in/album-72157660779215281/ Photograph showing puttees with hose tops, 1935] flickr.com. When worn with shorts, puttees were worn over hose tops, often in regimental colours. (Hose tops were essentially knee socks without the feet in them, issued as a cost saving measure. Short socks were also worn, but hidden).
:[http://www.karkeeweb.com/index.html#home Karkee Web: British & Empire Accoutrements and Personal Equipment of the Twentieth Century]
*''A History of the Dress of the British Soldier: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time'' by John Luard 1852 [http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100024191639.0x000001 British Library Digital], [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=BNdUAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR1 Google Books] Based on the same book from the British Library. Includes a chapter [http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100024191639.0x000001#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=222&xywh=-1%2C-481%2C3856%2C3767 "The Armies of India"] page 113.
:''The British Army and Auxiliary Forces'' by Colonel C. Cooper-King, late Professor of Tactics, Royal Military College 1893. [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84273974/f11.image Volume I], [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b84274057/f13.image Volume II] With 132 Illustrations. Gallica gallica.bnf.fr. Catalogued with the subject category "costume militaire", military uniforms.
:''A History of the Uniforms of the British Army'' by by Cecil C P Lawson
:[https://archive.org/details/historyofuniform0000ceci_g6k0/page/n7/mode/2up ''Volume I From the beginnings to 1760''] 1962 reprint, first published 1940. [https://archive.org/details/historyofuniform0000ceci ''Volume II From the beginnings to 1760''] 1963 reprint, first published 1941. [https://archive.org/details/historyofuniform0004ceci/page/n7/mode/2up ''Volume IV''] 1966 [https://archive.org/details/historyofuniform0005ceci/mode/2up ''Volume V''] 1967. All Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library.
:[https://archive.org/details/britishmilitaryu00lave ''British Military Uniforms''] by James Laver 1948. A short general history with 24 coloured plates, 20 of which are dated before 1850. James Laver was Keeper of the Departments of Prints and Drawings and of Paintings at the Victoria and Albert Museum from 1938 until 1959. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library.
:[https://archive.org/details/britishmilitaryu00carm/page/n7 ''British Military Uniforms from Contemporary Pictures: Henry VII to the present day''] by W Y Carman 1957. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library
[https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/225848-where-can-i-buy-a-sewing-pattern-for-officers-tunic/?do=findComment&comment=2241295 Where can I buy a sewing pattern for officer's tunic?] ''Great War Forum'' 20 March 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2018.</ref> Pages 2-4 are about rank badges, including those for NCOs, with illustrations.
:[https://archive.org/details/cutters-prac-guide-part-2-coats/page/n1/mode/2up ''The Cutter’s Practical Guide to Cutting Every kind of Garment made by Tailors. Part 2. Body Coats of every description, embracing Morning, ... Naval, Military, ... Garments''] by W D F Vincent 1893. Archive.org. Military and Naval Garments pages 45-49.
:[https://archive.org/details/cutterspracticalguide-part-1-youngmens/page/n3/mode/2up ''The Cutters’ Practical Guide to Cutting Every Kind of Garment Made by Tailors…Part One. Young Men’s, Youths’ and Juvenile Garments, Embracing also Treatise on Trousers, Vests, Military Garments, Liveries etc''] by W D F Vincent 3rd edition 1898
:[https://archive.org/details/cutters-practical-guide-waistcoats ''The Cutters’ Practical Guide to Cutting and Making all kinds of Waistcoats for Gentlemen ... Military & Naval Officers ...''] Part Ten. Third Edition by W D F Vincent c 1902. Archive.org.
:[https://archive.org/details/cutters-practical-guide-trousers/mode/2up ''The Cutters’ Practical Guide to the Cutting and Making of all kinds of Trousers, Breeches and Knickers, to which is added chapters dealing with The Cutting and Making of Highland Kilts, Leggings, Gaiters, etc''. Eight Edition] by W D F Vincent c 1905 Archive.org. Includes Military Trousers pages 34-38; Military Pantaloons pages 94-97.:[https://archive.org/details/b1108865/page/n5/mode/2up ''Vincent's Systems of Cutting all kinds of Tailor-Made Garments [in five Parts<nowiki>]</nowiki>''] by W D F Vincent 1903. The five Parts are at digital pages 6, 55, 143, 191 and 239. Archive.org.
:[https://archive.org/details/17thedpocketcpgmorris/mode/2up ''Pocket Edition of the Cutters' Practical Guide to the cutting of all styles of men’s garments. Coats. Waistcoats. Trousers. Breeches. Overcoats and Sports and Military garments''] by F R Morris, with chapters on Service uniforms by A A Whife. 17th edition c 1930s. Archive.org. Military from [https://archive.org/details/17thedpocketcpgmorris/page/n105/mode/2up page 106] including Naval and RAF.
*[https://archive.org/details/trumpetbuglesoun00ingl ''Trumpet and bugle sounds for the army: with instructions for the training of trumpeters and buglers''] HMSO 1914 Archive.org
