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Indian Army

497 bytes removed, 05:35, 27 October 2018
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British in this context refers to those of British/European background.
*Officers were British, although there were additionally lower ranked native Indian Officers who were Viceroy Commissioned Officers.
*There were some British support staff, mainly Warrant Officers and Sergeants. Most of them were not attached to a regiment, however at times a British soldier could be in a role such as Quartermaster Sergeant in a Native Infantry Regiment. See [[Unattached List]] for further details.
*Generally, all members of the volunteer or auxiliary regiments were British, including Anglo-Indians (formerly known as Eurasians). See [[Auxiliary Regiments]].
Indian armed forces personnel records are held at the National Archives of India <ref>[http://nationalarchives.nic.in/content/contact-us National Archives of India: Contact us]. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/next_steps/researchplaces_01.shtml Tracing your Asian roots on the Indian subcontinent] by Abi Husainy 
(Last updated 2011-02-17) BBC</ref> with the contact email address given as: <nowiki>archives@nic.in</nowiki>
"I enquired at the National Archives in Delhi and received 150 pages of my grandfather's service record. An enquiry doesn't cost any money until they copy documents for you. The process is slow but well worth the wait". D. Fielder 14 April 2011.<ref> WW2Talk Forum thread [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/british-indian-army-records-where-are-they.18823/#post-360157 British Indian Army records - where are they?] by D. Fielder dated 14 April 2011.</ref> Subsequently he advised "My grandfather was in the IMS… I received it [the record] within 3-4 months".<ref>Fielder, David. [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/readlist/india.rootsweb.com/2016-06thread/113459/1466544649 IAMC Records] ''Rootsweb India Mailing List'' 21 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 201627 October 2018.</ref> Some earlier advice is contained in “How to Retrieve Indian War Records” a WW2Talk Forum post dated 2 July 2009.<ref>[http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/how-to-retrieve-indian-war-records.15940/ How to Retrieve Indian War Records ], a WW2Talk Forum post dated 2 July 2009 by 'Elven6'</ref>
The writer of this section sent an email request in October 2013, using the email address previously quoted. A reply was received seven weeks later, but unfortunately no record is available, (nor is there a record at the British Library).
A researcher visiting India was advised to contact the Adjutant General's Office in Delhi. Eventually she found the actual address to be Adjutant General's Office, Indian Headquarters of the Ministry of Defense (Army), Room No. 280, South Block, New Delhi 110011. Email address <nowiki>agbrancharmyhq@gmail.com</nowiki>. The files in Delhi are filed by the service record numbers, so it is necessary to have this information.<ref>India List Post [httphttps://archiverlists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/thhyperkitty/list/readindia.rootsweb.com/INDIAthread/2014-03311534/1393710362 Address for Adjutant General's Office in Delhi] by Shirley Barbur dated 1 March 2014, with more comments in a [https://lists.rootsweb.com/hyperkitty/list/india.rootsweb.com/thread/311503/ second post] of the same date, which also mentions the National Archives, Delhi. Retrieved 27 October 2018.</ref>
It seems probable that the files accessible through the National Archives of India and the Adjutant General's Office, both located in Delhi, are the same files, but this is not yet known.
'''Note''': Refer comment under British Library records above that generally there will not be files for officers who retired, as officer papers were presented to them on retirement.
Regarding other records about the Indian Army at the National Archives of India, a researcher commented: "There is a lot on the Indian Army at the NA of India. Most of it is of course part of the Army/Military Department collection but one can find some interesting files every now and then in the Home Department or the Foreign and Political Department. Unfortunately they do not allow researchers to make copies of the indexes and to the best of my knowledge there is no online reference. The only way to get to it is to go there yourself or engage a local researcher...Sadly they do not allow photography".<ref>Risaldar. [httphttps://1914-1918www.invisionzonegreatwarforum.com/forums/index.php?org/topic/236286-murder-of-the-co-of-the-hyderabad-lancers/&?do=findComment&comment=2434834 Murder of the CO of the Hyderabad Lancers] ''Great War Forum'' 17 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 201627 October 2018.</ref>
====Other records in India====
'''Note: Microfilm ordering services ceased 7 September 2017, however selected microfilms have been digitised and are currently available for viewing on a FamilySearch computer at a [[FamilySearch Centres|FamilySearch Centre]]. Locate these records through the FamilySearch catalogue. It is expected that in time all microfilms will be similarly available in this format. Please take this into account when reading the information below.'''
''Indian Army List''s are available as Familysearch, previously known as LDS, microfilms, possibly for the period only to 1888 and appear in 1895. Refer the Fibiwiki page [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/778871 FamilySearch catalogue] as ''An East-India register and directory''. It is possible that the publications from 1889 only contain the Civil Service List, and not the [Indian Army List, but this is not known. (The FamilySearch catalogue also has an [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/578082 military records entryonline]] for "The India Office list, 1886-1940 : containing an account of and select the services of the officers in the Indian service and other information" available on microficherelevant period. It seems likely that that these are in fact catalogued incorrectly and are not military records, as the ''India Office Lists'' for 1924 and 1929, (see [[Directories online]]) do not appear to contain an ''Indian Army List'')
A limited number of additional [[FamilySearch]] microfilms are available in respect of the Indian Army: [https://familysearch.org/catalog/search Search the FamilySearch Library catalogue] using keywords “Indian Army” and “India Office”. For viewing details, see [[FamilySearch Centres]].
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