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[[Image:English Civil War Uniform.jpg|thumb|right]]Military records are potentially of great genealogical value and may provide information not found in any other source. These records identify individuals who served or were eligible to serve in the military. Military service (other than the militia) was usually a lifetime career. Officers came from the upper classes; soldiers usually came from the poor. On occassion, compulsory conscription was enforced and even "press-gangs".  
[[Image:English Civil War Uniform.jpg|thumb|right]]Military records are potentially of great genealogical value and may provide information not found in any other source. These records identify individuals who served or were eligible to serve in the military. Military service (other than the militia) was usually a lifetime career. Officers came from the upper classes; soldiers usually came from the poor. On occassion, compulsory conscription was enforced and even "press-gangs" were used.  


You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family records, biographies, census, probates, civil registration, or church records.  
You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family records, biographies, census, probates, civil registration, or church records.  
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=== History and Background  ===
=== History and Background  ===


{{Wikipedia|Military history of England}} England was almost always involved in some military action. Some of these were:  
{{Wikipedia|Military history of England}} Britain has been regularly involved in military action. Examples of these are:  


'''1455–1485:''' Wars of the Roses. These ongoing wars involved mostly knights pledged to lords or vassals. Few commoners were involved, and few records were kept.  
'''1455–1485:''' Wars of the Roses. These ongoing wars involved mostly knights pledged to lords or vassals. Few commoners were involved, and few records were kept.  
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The National Archives (TNA), located at Kew, West London, houses a wealth of information on military personnel, much of it now available to download. See the "Online Resources" section below for further information.


Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:  
Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:  
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'''<u>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY</u>'''  
'''<u>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY</u>'''  


==== Royal Navy Records ====
= Royal Navy  =


The first permanent naval fleet was formed during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509–1547). For many years Britain had the strongest navy in the world. The earliest surviving navy records are from 1617, but the majority of the extensive collection date from the mid-1600s. Many records are available only at The National Archives.  
The first permanent naval fleet was formed during the reign of King Henry VIII (1509–1547). For many years Britain had the strongest navy in the world. The earliest surviving navy records are from 1617, but the majority of the extensive collection date from the mid-1600s. Many records are available only at The National Archives.  
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One such work is:  
One such work is:  


Colledge, James J. ''Ships of the Royal Navy''. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M3c 942 M3c].)
 


The Navy Official List books, available from 1673, give ports of call for ships during each year. Some of these lists are available in the Family History Library.  
The Navy Official List books, available from 1673, give ports of call for ships during each year. Some of these lists are available in the Family History Library.  
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==== Royal Marines  ====
==== Royal Marines  ====


This branch originally maintained military discipline on navy vessels. It has been a separate branch of the military since 1755. Alphabetically arranged records of marines exist from 1790, some by enlistment date and others by discharge date.  
(Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines)
 
This branch originally maintained military discipline on navy vessels. It has been a separate&nbsp;corps of the military since 1755, although under the control of the Admiralty and forming part of the Naval Service. Alphabetically arranged records of marines exist from 1790, some by enlistment date and others by discharge date.  


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==== '''British Army'''  ====
= '''British Army'''  =


The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units. The oldest regiment is the Honourable Artillery Company, formed in 1537. For information on pre-1660 military records, see the handbooks listed at the end of this section. The Soldier in Later Medieval England database has names of about 250,000 soldiers.  
The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units. The oldest regiment is the Honourable Artillery Company, formed in 1537. For information on pre-1660 military records, see the handbooks listed at the end of this section. The Soldier in Later Medieval England database has names of about 250,000 soldiers.  
The basic unit of the Army is the regiment under a colonel or lieutenant colonel. Regiments are usually divided into two or more Battalions. The main types of regiments which should be searched are:
Cavalry <br>Infantry <br>Corps (e,g, Army Service Corps; Royal Signals; Royal Engineers etc.)


<br>Prior to 1847, English army service was usually for life. Some soldiers were discharged early for disability (liberally defined) or age (often by age 40).  
<br>Prior to 1847, English army service was usually for life. Some soldiers were discharged early for disability (liberally defined) or age (often by age 40).  
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Pre-1872 army records are organized by regiment. Most regiments have published histories that tell the places where they served and the battles they fought. For a bibliography of these histories, see:  
Pre-1872 army records are organized by regiment. Most regiments have published histories that tell the places where they served and the battles they fought. For a bibliography of these histories, see:  


White, Arthur S. comp. A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army. Dallington, East Sussex, England: Naval and Military Press Ltd., 1992. (Family History Library book 942 M23was.)
Pre-1751 infantry and cavalry units were known by the names of their colonels, i.e. Sir Thomas Adams Regiment of Foot.
 
Post-1751 a numerical system was adopted to name the regiments, with rank in order of precedence, i.e. Queens 9th Regiment of Foot.
 
Originally the responsibility for directing the British Army fell under the command of the staff of the National War Office. Thus, the category for records in The National Archives of England is labeled WO for locating all Army collections. Now the army is run by comissioned officers.  
 
 
 
 
 


Pre-1751 infantry and cavalry units were known by the names of their colonels, i.e. Sir Thomas Adams Regiment of Foot.


Post-1751 a numerical system was adopted to name the regiments, with rank in order of precedence, i.e. Queens 9th Regiment of Foot.
= Casualties =


For information on how to locate your army soldiers by their regiment consult: Fowler, Simon, Tracing Your Army Ancestors (Pen &amp; Sword, 2006) (Family History book 942 M27)
'''<u>The Commonwealth War Graves Commission</u>'''


Originally the responsibility for directing the British Army fell under the command of the staff of the National War Office. Thus, the category for records in The National Archives of England is labeled WO for locating all Army collections. Now the army is run by comissioned officers.  
Established by Royal Charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars from all services including civillian war dead. It is a non-profit-making organisation that was founded by Sir Fabian Ware. The Commonwealth includes such countries as Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand &amp; South Africa.&nbsp;


The basic unit of the Army is the regiment under a colonel or lieutenant colonel. Regiments are usually divided into two or more Battalions. The main types of regiments which should be searched are:  
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has a searchable internet website:  


Cavalry <br>Infantry <br>Corps (e,g, Army Service Corps; Royal Signals; Royal Engineers etc.)
[http://www.cwgc.org/ www.cwgc.org/]<br>


Lists of British soldiers who died in World War I and World War II have been compiled from official casualty lists and published in:  
Lists of British&nbsp;army personnel&nbsp;who died&nbsp;during World War I and World War II have been compiled from official casualty lists and published in:  


''Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914–1919''. Reprint. 80 parts. Colchester, England: J.B. Hayward, 1988–9. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M23s 942 M23s]; compact disc number 128.) This gives birthplace, place of enlistment, rank, date of death and cause of death.  
''Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914–1919''. Reprint. 80 parts. Colchester, England: J.B. Hayward, 1988–9. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M23s 942 M23s]; compact disc number 128.) This gives birthplace, place of enlistment, rank, date of death and cause of death.  
Ancestry.co.uk also offers a searchable database of those listed in ''Soldiers Died in the Great War'' as part of its subscription service.


''The War Dead of the British Commonwealth and Empire''. London, England: Imperial War Graves Commission, 1957. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2wdf 942 M2wdf]; film [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=1441037 1441037].) This work gives the name, rank, regiment, and grave location of casualites buried in France during World War II.  
''The War Dead of the British Commonwealth and Empire''. London, England: Imperial War Graves Commission, 1957. (Family History Library [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2wdf 942 M2wdf]; film [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=1441037 1441037].) This work gives the name, rank, regiment, and grave location of casualites buried in France during World War II.  


The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has an Internet website:


[http://www.cwgc.org/ www.cwgc.org/]
Information about the commission is also accessible through the GENUKI Web site at:
[http://www.genuki.org.uk/ www.genuki.org.uk]


For information on 20th century army records, see:  
For information on 20th century army records, see:  
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=== United Kingdom World War I Army Service Records  ===
= British&nbsp; =
 
'''<u>Pre-1914</u>'''
 
Service records for "Other ranks" i.e. not officers, who served in the British army are held at The National Archives (TNA), Kew, although various online subscription-based research&nbsp;providers offer access to digitised copies. At the time of writing, these services were not complete although new records up to and including 1913 are constantly being added. The leading provider of this service is Find My Past - <u>www.findmypast.co.uk</u>
 
If a soldier was entitled to receive any sort of pension due to his army service, a separate record was created although some information was duplicated from his service papers. These pension papers provide a good insight into a soldiers career although they focus more on his medical history rather than his service career.
 
Officers papers were compiled and held separately although they too are located at TNA. They are not currently available to view online and can only be accessed at TNA.
 


These records are often referred to as the "Burnt Series" due to the fact that the storage facility housing these records was hit during a German bombing raid during WW2 and consequently over 60% of the records were destroyed. The records that survived have been preserved and indexed.  
 
'''<u>1914-1920</u>'''
 
Primarily covering WW1 service, these service records are often referred to as the "Burnt Series" due to the fact that the storage facility housing these records was hit by a German bombing raid during WW2 and consequently over 60% of the records were destroyed. The records that survived have been preserved and indexed, even those partially damaged by water and fire.  


You can search the Family History Library Catalog at [http://www.familysearch.org/ www.FamilySearch.org] to obtain the microfilm number of the TNA Catalogue Number WO 364 records. Alternatively, [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk]&nbsp;also has&nbsp;the records available to search free of charge although viewing is via subscription.&nbsp;  
You can search the Family History Library Catalog at [http://www.familysearch.org/ www.FamilySearch.org] to obtain the microfilm number of the TNA Catalogue Number WO 364 records. Alternatively, [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk]&nbsp;also has&nbsp;the records available to search free of charge although viewing is via subscription.&nbsp;  
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#Search the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) by title for: '''Military records of the British Army, 1914-1920''' you will see two items with that exact title and several that have letters of the alphabet added to the end of the title. Look at the catalog entries for the two without any additional letters.  
#Search the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) by title for: '''Military records of the British Army, 1914-1920''' you will see two items with that exact title and several that have letters of the alphabet added to the end of the title. Look at the catalog entries for the two without any additional letters.  
#In the notes section of the catalog entry you should see the National Archives catalogue number, either WO 361 or WO 364. Be sure to use the correct one.  
#In the notes section of the catalog entry you should see the National Archives catalogue number, either WO 361 or WO 364. Be sure to use the correct one.  
#On the page of the FHLC that has the Notes you will need to click on the '''View Film Notes''' button near the top right portion of the screen to get the film numbers that apply to surnames in the different parts of the alphabet. There are 804 rolls of microfilm for the WO 364 records.
#On the page of the FHLC that has the Notes you will need to click on the '''View Film Notes''' button near the top right portion of the screen to get the film numbers that apply to surnames in the different parts of the alphabet. There are 804 rolls of microfilm for the WO 364 records
 
If you cannot locate the service papers of the soldier you are searching for, it is also worthwhile looking within the pension papers index as many men were entitled to pensions for prior service or due to injuries sustained during WW1.
 
Officers papers are stored at TNA as above and were not affected by the bombing damage. However, an index of WW1 officers is available to download free of charge from TNA's website here:
 
Individual regimental archives may also hold limited records and it is well worth writing to the relevant regimental museums. The Guards depot (Grenadier, Coldstream, Irish, Welsh &amp; Scots) also keep separate archives and can, on request supply information. Bear in mind though that some archives, quite reasonably,&nbsp;request payment for such services.


=== Understanding Military Records  ===
=== Understanding Military Records  ===
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''Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815.'' Three Volumes. N.p., n.d. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M23cs 942 M23cs], films [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=908026 909026]–027.)  
''Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815.'' Three Volumes. N.p., n.d. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M23cs 942 M23cs], films [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=filmhitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&filmno=908026 909026]–027.)  


=== Handbooks for Military Records  ===
=== Bibliography&nbsp;for Military Records  ===


If your ancestor is not listed in the above sources, consult these handbooks:  
The resorces listed below may assist you in your research:  


Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. ''Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office''. Fourth Edition. London, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1995. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=367639&disp=Naval+records+for+genealogists%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 A5] no. 19 1995.)  
Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. ''Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office''. Fourth Edition. London, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1995. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=367639&disp=Naval+records+for+genealogists%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 A5] no. 19 1995.)  
Colledge, James J. Ships of the Royal Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. (Family History Library book 942 M3c.)


Hamilton-Edwards, Gerald. ''In Search of Army Ancestry''. London, England: Phillimore &amp; Company, Limited, 1977. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=265098&disp=In+search+of+army+ancestry%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M2].)  
Hamilton-Edwards, Gerald. ''In Search of Army Ancestry''. London, England: Phillimore &amp; Company, Limited, 1977. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=265098&disp=In+search+of+army+ancestry%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M2].)  
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Higham, Robin. ''A Guide to the Sources of British Military History''. London, England: Routledge &amp; Kegan Paul, 1972. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2h 942 M2h].)  
Higham, Robin. ''A Guide to the Sources of British Military History''. London, England: Routledge &amp; Kegan Paul, 1972. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2h 942 M2h].)  


Kew Lists. (See [[England Archives and Libraries]] for details.)  
Kew Lists. (See [[England Archives and Libraries]] for details.)


''Records of Officers and Soldiers Who Have Served in the British Army''. London, England: Public Record Office, 1984. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=325266&disp=Records+of+officers+and+soldiers+who+hav%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M23] number 1.)  
''Records of Officers and Soldiers Who Have Served in the British Army''. London, England: Public Record Office, 1984. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=325266&disp=Records+of+officers+and+soldiers+who+hav%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M23] number 1.)  
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Swinson, Arthur S., Editor. ''A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army''. London, England: Archive Press, 1972. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=264575&disp=A+register+of+the+regiments+and+corps+of%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M2].)  
Swinson, Arthur S., Editor. ''A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army''. London, England: Archive Press, 1972. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=264575&disp=A+register+of+the+regiments+and+corps+of%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M2].)  


=== External Links ===
White, Arthur S. comp. A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army. Dallington, East Sussex, England: Naval and Military Press Ltd., 1992. (Family History Library book 942 M23was.)
 
External Links  


*http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/all-england/military.htm  
*http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/all-england/military.htm  
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