BRITISH ISLES: ARMY RECORDS

Alan E. Mann, A.G.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A. General history

1. Cromwell founded the first standing army in 1645. Before this time there existed militia units in various forms.

2. In 1815 there were 140 infantry regiments, 110 artillery, 30 engineer, and 30 cavalry‑over 300 total regiments.

3. Major 17‑18th century skirmishes and number of men (estimates only) involved:

a. War of Austrian Succession 1740‑1748 ‑ 80,000

b. Seven Years War 1756‑1763 ‑ 120,000

c. American War for Independence 1775‑1783 ‑ 135,000

d. Napoleonic Wars 1793‑1815 ‑ 365,000

e. Crimean War 1854‑1856 ‑ 225,000

f. Indian Mutiny 1857-1866 - 65,000

g. South Africa (Boer War) 1899‑1902 ‑ 430,000

B. Divisions of army service

1. Regular army - Infantry and Cavalry (Dragoons, Hussars), including "guards."

a. Regiment - made up of ten companies (sometimes 12, including grenadiers drawn from the other companies), except when the regiment was divided into two or more battalions, each with ten companies. Led by a Brigadier General or a Colonel, who were sometimes represented by a Lt. Colonel. Often (especially before 1760) called by Colonel's name.

b. Company - 100 men (at full strength), led by a Captain. Often called by name of Captain (e.g., Captain Tempany's company).

2. Board of Ordnance - separate from regular army until 1855.

a. Artillery - divided into Companies headed by a Captain.

b. Engineers - worked with other units as needed.

c. Sappers & Miners - worked with other units as needed.

3. Support services

a. Quartermaster Corps - a quartermaster, paid by and responsible to the Quartermaster General or Commissary General (PRO class CG) was with each regiment.

b. Surgeon - a medical officer was attached to each regiment, but records were separately kept (except musters).

c. Chaplain - a chaplain was attached to each regiment, but records were separately kept.

d. Paymaster - a paymaster, paid by and responsible to the Paymaster General, was attached to each regiment. Records are PRO class PG.

C. Definitions and abbreviations

1. Definitions

a. Attestation - enlistment; agreement to serve in army.

b. Campaign - battle or series of battles engaged as part of an overall plan.

c. Casualty - individual wounded or killed.

d. Coast Guard (1816-1923) - coastal defence units.

e. Depot - regimental location for "mustering" in or out, for training, or other non-combative home use.

f. Fencibles - army units raised for home service only. Fencibles are usually classed with the militia and records kept with militia records.

g. Garrison - fortified location manned by Royal charter.

h. Half-pay - form of retirement for officers (2 normal pay).

i. Home - anywhere in England.

j. In-pensioner - pensioned soldier also hospitalized.

k. Men - soldiers (q.v.).

l. Military - army, militia, fencibles, or support services.

m. Out-pensioner - soldier pensioned but not hospitalized.

n. Royal Marines (1790-1914) - soldiers based on ships (formed to maintain shipboard discipline, later for amphibious attack).

o. Soldier - individual in army, but not a commissioned officer.

p. Territorial armies (pre-1900) - forces raised in other countries. Records of these armies are usually in the country where the forces were raised. A notable exception is the Indian Army, for which many records are held at the India Office Library, 197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NG.

q. Yeomanry - volunteer regiments; records often have not survived or are less complete than other military records.

2. Abbreviations

a. A.D.C. - aide de camp (assistant to staff officer).

b. CG - Commissary General, leader of supply arm (quartermasters); class of records at PRO, Kew)

c. CIC - Commander-in-chief.

d. HEIC - Honourable East India Company

e. PG - Paymaster General (class of records at PRO, Kew; includes pay lists and other payment records).

f. PRO - Public Record Office of England (usually the office at Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU -- called "Kew").

g. V.C. - Victoria Cross, a prestigious medal for valor.

h. WO - War Office (class of records at PRO, Kew).

D. Enlisted men and Noncommissioned Officers

1. Usually recruited from the poorer classes, sometimes forcibly prior to 1780 and voluntarily between 1780 and 1914.

2. Enlistment was usually for life except for limited enlistments permitted between Napoleonic Wars (1803‑1815) and 1829. Beginning in 1847 infantry recruits enlisted for ten years. A soldier could sometimes buy his way out of the army.

3. Ranks of noncommissioned officers were Sergeant and Corporal. The enlisted men were Drummers, Privates, and Trumpeters.

E. Commissioned Officers

1. Usually came from the wealthy governing classes.

2. Obtained their positions by purchase until 1872.

3. Ranks were as follows:

a. General Officers (those over the whole army) ‑‑ Field Marshall, General, Lieutenant‑General, Major‑General.

b. Regimental Officers (those over a regiment) ‑‑ Brigadier or Colonel, Lieutenant‑Colonel, Major.

c. Company Officers (those over the individual companies) ‑‑ Captain and the Sub‑alterns which included the ranks of Lieutenant, Ensign (infantry) or Cornet (cavalry). These latter two became 2nd Lieutenant in 1871.

d. Other appointments often filled by commissioned officers ‑‑ Paymaster, Adjutant, Quarter‑Master, Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon, Chaplain.

II.RECORDS OF ENLISTED MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES

A. Sources you don't need to know the regiment.

1. Chaplains Returns of births, marriages, and burials of army personnel and their families from stations abroad, 1796‑1880. The records are indexed and certificates issued from them are available from The General Register Office, St. Catherine's House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP, England.

2. Regimental Registers of soldier's marriages and the births of their children are also at the General Register Office. They are indexed for births and baptisms, and cover 1790‑1924.

B. Sources by regiment

1. Soldier's Documents, 1760‑1900 (WO 97). These documents are only available for those soldiers who were discharged to pension. (Soldiers who left the army after completing an agreed term of service or as invalids unfit for service were entitled to pension or to institutional care in the Royal Hospitals at Chelsea or Kilmainham, and later Victoria Hospital). These records for soldiers who died or were not discharged with a pension no longer exist. They may contain particulars of age, birthplace, and trade or occupation on enlistment, a record of service, and the reason for discharge to pension. Available at the FHL, arranged alphabetically by regiment. From 1873‑1882 the records are arranged alphabetically under each division. After 1883 they are arranged alphabetically by the whole army. After 1872 the records are available only at Kew.

2. Other pension records (WO 23, 116-122) about 1717‑1857. There are some other pension records that can be searched. Some are Chelsea Hospital and Kilmainham Hospital pensioners. Some of these are on microfilm at the FHL. Others are available at Kew.

3. Regimental Description and Succession Books (WO 25) 1772‑1874. Most start about 1805 and go through 1850. Many do not survive. The description book for each regiment usually includes full name of each recruit as he joined the unit, his age and place of enlistment, place of birth, trade in civil life, and physical characteristics. On film at the FHL.

4. Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1760‑1878 (WO 10, 11, 12 and 15) arranged by regiments in volumes covering a period of twelve months. Useful for establishing dates of enlistment, movements, and discharge or death of soldiers. First muster of a man shows his age and the last muster should show birthplace, trade, and date of enlistment. Available at Kew.

5. Returns of Service (WO 25) list of all soldiers serving on a given date (first taken 25 Jun 1806), available at Kew.

6. Casualty returns (WO 25) list nature of casualty, name, rank, birthplace, next of kin -- indexed at Kew. See bibliography for samples of a few published lists.

7. Deserter's records (WO 4, 24, 25, 69). some indexed, all at Kew.

8. Medal rolls (WO 98-104, 145,146, 54) at Kew. See bibliography for samples of a few published lists.

9. Court martials (WO 82-90, 71, 209, 213) only at Kew.

10.Correspondence (WO 1-3, 32, 40, 43) some indexed by name of letter writer,

only at Kew.

11.Many other records (see Kew Lists).

III. RECORDS OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

A. Army lists, 1754‑ (WO 64 and 65) A listing by year and then by regiment of the officers of each regiment. Each volume is indexed. 1754‑1915 on film.

B. English Army Lists and Commission Register by Charles Dalton drawn from WO 64 officer's lists and the commission registers, lists all officers mentioned in those sources, 1661-1717. Use for early Officers.

C. Card index to officers, available at Kew only (unpublished).

D. Records of Officers' Services, 1771‑1919 (WO 76) Arranged by regiment giving ranks held by officer, also birthdate and place, marriage and children. These are on microfilm at the FHL.

E. Certificates of birth, baptism, marriage and death, with wills, statements of services and personal papers of officers and their families (WO 42) 1776‑1881. There are another 8 bundles that cover 1755‑1908. These records are arranged alphabetically. The FHL has these on microfilm.

F. Returns of services (WO 25) are similar to a census of officers, giving a great deal of genealogical information. Those of 1828 and 1829 are available at the FHL, later years at Kew only.

G. Half-pay records (WO 23 and PMG 4) at Kew only, give useful information, particularly after 1837 (address, death date, etc.)

H. Commissions, transfers, promotions (WO 25, 31, 54, SP 44, HO 51) contain many miscellaneous notes relating to an officer's career.

I. Vital records

1. in support of widow & orphan pension applications (WO 42) --- at FHL, indexed in Kew Lists.

2. notifying WO of marriage (WO 25), 1799-1882 (at Kew).

J. Other records of schooling, examinations, inspections, and correspondence may be found in Kew Lists (use index).

IV. SOURCES ON THE REGIMENT

A. Monthly (Station) Returns (WO 17) show where each regiment was stationed each year, 1759 to 1865. These are at Kew.

B. Several useful books help you learn more about the regiment. A regimental history may tell you about the places served, battles fought, and officers' names. See the bibliography at the end of this outline for citations.

1. A bibliography of regimental histories (White).

2. List of regiments with where served, nicknames, etc. (Swinson).

3. List of regimental museums with addresses (FHL 942 A1 #728).

4. List of regiments & headquarters (Brereton).

V. STRATEGIES FOR SEARCHING ARMY RECORDS - see England Research Outline