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Added additional information on regiments
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[[Image:Tyne Cot British Military Cemetery & Memorial, Belgium..jpg|thumb|right|200x200px]] | [[Image:Tyne Cot British Military Cemetery & Memorial, Belgium..jpg|thumb|right|200x200px]] | ||
''[[United Kingdom]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[ | ''[[United Kingdom]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[British Military Records|Military Records]]'' | ||
[[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 occasion, compulsory conscription was enforced and even "press-gangs" were used. | [[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 occasion, compulsory conscription was enforced and even "press-gangs" were used. | ||
<br>You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family records, biographies, census, probates, civil registration, or church records. | <br>You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family records, biographies, census, probates, civil registration, or church records. In addition, militaria such | ||
Britain's armed forces comprise, in order of seniority, the Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines), Army and Royal Air Force. Other units can include local militia, fencibles, yeomanry and territorial units of the army. These are briefly discussed at the end of this section. | as headress badges, buttons, photographs of uniforms, soldier's trunks, paybooks, letters, colours, and medals with clasps can provide proof of ancestral links. Medals can have the soldier's number on the rim of the medal itself. | ||
== The National Archives == | |||
The National Archives at Kew in the London area is the caretaker of most of the military records. It is important to understand the "fonds" or the way records are grouped. There is a Department code (ADM for admiralty, WO for War Office, etc) and a series number. | |||
Britain's armed forces comprise, in order of seniority, the Royal Navy (including the Royal Marines - ADM) , Army (WO) and Royal Air Force (AIR). Other units can include local militia, fencibles, yeomanry and territorial units of the army. These are briefly discussed at the end of this section. | |||
== History and Background == | == History and Background == | ||
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[[Image:British Military2.jpg|thumb|right|369x577px]]Before you can use British military records, you must determine the specific name or number of the army regiment or navy ship name[s] on which your ancestor served. For suggestions on finding this information, see "Search Strategies" at the end of this section. | [[Image:British Military2.jpg|thumb|right|369x577px]]Before you can use British military records, you must determine the specific name or number of the army regiment or navy ship name[s] on which your ancestor served. For suggestions on finding this information, see "Search Strategies" at the end of this section. | ||
Once you know the ship name[s] or the regiment name or number, the following records may help you trace your ancestor’s career, age, and birthplace | Once you know the ship name[s] or the regiment name or number, the following records may help you trace your ancestor’s career, age, and birthplace. | ||
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=== Muster Rolls === | === Muster Rolls === | ||
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=== Description Books === | === Description Books === | ||
The army description book for each regiment includes each recruit’s full name on "attestation" (enlistment), age when he joined, place where he joined, birthplace, previous trade, and physical description. Most books start about 1805 and continue to 1850. Many no longer exist. Similar records were kept for each navy ship from 1790, but many were never turned in or no longer exist. | The army description book for each regiment includes each recruit’s full name on "attestation" (enlistment), age when he joined, place where he joined, birthplace, previous trade, and physical description. Most books start about 1805 and continue to 1850. Many no longer exist. Similar records were kept for each navy ship from 1790, but many were never turned in or no longer exist. | ||