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Ireland Military Records: Difference between revisions
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The regular army and the navy constituted the major branches of the British military. Militia (part-time units for local defense), fencibles (full-time units for local defense), yeomanry (volunteer calvary units), territorial armies (units raised outside the British Isles for foreign service), coast guard (units that patrol British shores), and royal marines (troop units on ships) were also armed forces. Each of these services kept its own records. | The regular army and the navy constituted the major branches of the British military. Militia (part-time units for local defense), fencibles (full-time units for local defense), yeomanry (volunteer calvary units), territorial armies (units raised outside the British Isles for foreign service), coast guard (units that patrol British shores), and royal marines (troop units on ships) were also armed forces. Each of these services kept its own records. | ||
Military officers were typically from the upper classes and soldiers were from among the poor. Compulsory draft was seldom used, except by the militia. The officers of each parish decided who would serve in the militia. | Military officers were typically from the upper classes and soldiers were from among the poor. Compulsory draft was seldom used, except by the militia. The navy, however, did utilize "Chain Gangs" to provide enforced recruitment, especially during the Napoleonic wars. The officers of each parish decided who would serve in the militia. | ||
You may find evidence that your ancestor served in the military in family records, biographies, censuses, probates, civil registrations, or church records. | You may find evidence that your ancestor served in the military in family records, biographies, censuses, probates, civil registrations, or church records. | ||