Changes

Discharge papers ([http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14305?v=r'''WO 97''', (to '''1913''')]), usually containing service/attestation information, and pension records ([http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/browse/C14231?v=r '''WO 22''']) may also be found at TNA. Records in WO 97 are usually only for men discharged with a pension (i.e. for long service or having been invalided <ref name=Skel > ''Victorian Wars Forum'' thread [<nowiki>http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=5904#p23104 </nowiki> Pension?] (now no longer available) quoting from ''The Victorian Army at Home ''by AR Skelley. This book contains general information about pensions.</ref>) as these were the papers sent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and preserved, but from 1883, most causes of discharge, (apart from death (with a few exceptions)<ref>There are WO 97 records for a few men who died in the Anglo- Boer War (and papers in the Ancestry "WWI" series for men who died during the Anglo-Boer War) according to this [https://web.archive.org/web/20111012005227/http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=3511&start=15#p23904 Victorian Wars Forum post] dated 1 October 2011 by Meurig, now archived. This further Victorian Wars Forum [https://web.archive.org/web/20130709030547/http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=82&t=7112#p30127 post] , now archived, dated 30 May 2012 by Mark A Reid also mentions a few other deaths. George Francis died in the Tochi Valley in 1897, yet his papers appear in the WO 363 WW1 records on findmypast.</ref>) were included. Note however, '''the survival rate of discharge papers appears to be low for men discharged overseas<ref>''My Ancestor was in the British Army'', page 63 by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009</ref> [ie not in Britain, and therefore low for India]. If a man went on to serve during World War 1 then his records would normally have been removed from WO97 and placed with his WW1 service records<ref> ''My Ancestor was in the British Army'', page 64 by Michael Watts and Christopher Watts 2009 and Sly, John. [https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/devon@rootsweb.com/thread/1588076/ Chelsea Pensioners] ''Rootsweb Devon Mailing List'' 20 March 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2018.</ref>. WO 97 records are also unlikely to include men who immediately went on active service with a Milita unit, (whose discharge papers may have been transferred to the Milita unit)<ref>List user. [https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india@rootsweb.com/thread/1315499/ Frederick PAGE And WO 97 records] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 20 June 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2018.</ref>'''. The records often contain a wealth of genealogical information, including birth date and location, physical description, service locations, medical history and medals. Records after 1883<ref>The National Archives record description [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14305 Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers Service Documents]</ref> usually contain fuller particulars, such as next of kin and details of marriages, births of children or deaths of family members. '''Note''': There are examples of records to 1913, which are located in the WW1 records, rather than in the WO 97

Service and pension records from '''World War 1''' from the National Archives are available on the pay sites findmypast and Ancestry, refer above. They do '''contain some papers for men who did not serve in WW1''',<ref>Victorian Wars Forum [https://web.archive.org/web/20130709054504/http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=7266&start=15#p31162 post] (now archived ) dated 17 July 2012 by Meurig. Other examples have been seen.</ref> so it is suggested you check these records for men with service prior to the War years. The World War 1 records include

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. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160207052213/http://www.victorianwars.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=6122 1870: Short Service] ''Victorian Wars Forum'' 17 October 2011, now archived. Retrieved 7 February 201620 September 2018. <br> Guest (previously QGE). [https://www.greatwarforum.org/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 23 May 2018.</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>