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The In 1914 the Royal Commission on Public Records said ‘There is reason to believe that this class of military record '''has neither been preserved nor transmitted with sufficient care'''’<ref>[http://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/British_Births,_Marriages_and_Deaths_Overseas British Births, Marriages and Deaths Overseas] Family Search Wiki</ref>, so there are many BMD events which are not available. In particular, the Army Chaplains Returns of Burials most likely do not include many deaths in action, or associated deaths in camp or on the march, including deaths from disease, such as cholera or heat stroke, where a chaplain did not conduct the burial service. The documentation does not appear to cover this point. The [[British Army#Muster rolls| Muster roll]] records should include these deaths.
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The '''Chaplains Returns''' of baptisms, marriages and burials 1761-1880. From 1880 they were known as “Army” Births, Deaths and Marriages and from 1959 “Forces” Births, Deaths and Marriages. These records include the registrations of British armed forces (including serving members who were not British nationals) posted overseas. More details are on [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]’s knowledge base concerning Military and Overseas records.
The Chaplain Returns records were compiled by regimental chaplains and may also be duplicated within the regimental records. The Overseas Section of the [[General Register Office]] in Southport holds these volumes and the indexes can be viewed at [[The National Archives]] (TNA) and online. The Overseas Section of the [[General Register Office]] also holds additional records of regimental marriages taking place between 1761 and 1924 that have never been indexed. As these additional records have never been indexed, they are not included in the data on findmypast or other websites. If you can provide the man's name and regiment, and approximate date the GRO will search their records. Email the [[General Register Office|GRO]] with GQ in the subject header, eg "GQ Regimental Marriage Registers", to avoid receiving an automated reply. A list of the regiments covered in the unindexed records used to be available, but it is not known if it currently is. <ref>"At the FRC [now closed] is a list of the marriage registers, arranged by regiment; if your regiment is there, with entries for the right period, ask at the enquiry desk in the FRC to be put in touch with the Overseas Section, which may conduct a search for you." [http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?4364-GRO-Regimental-Birth-Indices/page2 Thread from British-Genealogy.com], quoting ''Tracing your Ancestors in The Public Record Office'' by Amanda Bevan (Public Record Office Handbook No.19, sixth edition) page 187-188: Section 181.1.1 For details of this book see [[Waiting for review]]</ref>
The [[LDS]] have microfilmed some of the indexes, as listed in this [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&keyword=officers%2C+soldiers%2C+%26+their+families%29++...+at+stations+abroad%2C&prekeyword=officers%2C+soldiers%2C+%26+their+families%29++...+at+stations+abroad%2C Library Catalogue entry] and you can order the microfiches and view them at [[Family History Centres]]. However, the indexes are available online, see below.
Note that if a record is available both in the India Office [[Church records]] (now available on findmypast) 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.
===See also===
