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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. A compulsory draft was seldom used except by the militia.  
[[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".  


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.  


The regular army and navy were the major military forces. Other forces include the militia, fencibles, yeomanry, territorial armies, coast guard, and royal marines. These are briefly discussed at the end of this section.  
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.  


=== History and Background  ===
=== History and Background  ===
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'''1756–1763:''' Seven Years War. Called the French and Indian War in North America, this war involved 120,000 British soldiers and began a continuous series of army records.  
'''1756–1763:''' Seven Years War. Called the French and Indian War in North America, this war involved 120,000 British soldiers and began a continuous series of army records.  


'''1775–1783:''' American Revolutionary War. The British army had 135,000 men in North America when fighting broke out. Some men remained in Canada after the war, but most returned to England. Records of Loyalists and others who remained in Canada are separate from other military records.  
'''1775–1783:''' American Revolutionary War. The British army had 135,000 men in North America when fighting broke out. Some men remained in Canada after the war, but most returned to Britain. Records of Loyalists and others who remained in Canada are separate from other military records.  


'''1803–1815:''' Napoleonic Wars. Numerous battles across Europe involved 365,000 British soldiers and 300,000 seamen. These battles include the Peninsular Wars in Portugal and Spain. Also including the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nelson/introduction.htm Battle of Trafalgar].  
'''1803–1815:''' Napoleonic Wars. Numerous battles across Europe involved 365,000 British soldiers and 300,000 seamen. These battles include the Peninsular Wars in Portugal and Spain and the famous [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nelson/introduction.htm Battle of Trafalgar].  


'''1854–1856:''' Crimean War. 225,000 troops were involved in the Crimea (Russian Black Sea).  
'''1854–1856:''' Crimean War. 225,000 troops were involved in the Crimea (Russian Black Sea).  


'''1857–1860:''' Indian Mutiny. Many of the troops discharged after the Crimean war were recalled to quell the revolt in India.  
'''1857–1860:''' Indian Mutiny. Many of the troops discharged after the Crimean war were recalled to quell the revolt in India.  
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'''1880–1902:''' Boer Wars. The first Anglo-Boer War (1880–1881) led to South African independence in 1881. The second Anglo-Boer War (1898–1902) led to the unification of South Africa in 1910.  
'''1880–1902:''' Boer Wars. The first Anglo-Boer War (1880–1881) led to South African independence in 1881. The second Anglo-Boer War (1898–1902) led to the unification of South Africa in 1910.  


'''1914–1918:''' World War I. About three million English troops served in this war. 750,000 died.  
'''1914–1918:''' World War I. About 6,000,000 British service personnel served in this war. Almost 1,000,000 died.  


'''1939–1945:''' World War II. Over one million British soldiers and civilians died in the war.  
'''1939–1945:''' World War II. Just over 400,000 service personnel and civilians died in the war.  


==== Army Records  ====
==== Army Records  ====


[[Image:British Military.jpg|thumb|right|200x300px]]The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units.&nbsp; The oldest regiment is generally known to be the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coldstream_Guards Coldstream Guards] which has been existence since 1660. &nbsp; For information on pre-1660 military records, see the handbooks listed at the end of this section. The [http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/soldier/database/search.php Soldier in Later Medieval England] database has names of about 250,000 soldiers.<br>  
[[Image:British Military.jpg|thumb|right|200x277px]]The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units.&nbsp; 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 [http://www.icmacentre.ac.uk/soldier/database/search.php Soldier in Later Medieval England] database has names of about 250,000 soldiers.<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).  
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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WW1 Army medal rolls are also available through [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk] if you have a subscription they are free. Otherwise you will have to pay £2 fee '''for the same record '''if you get it through&nbsp;[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/]  
WW1 Army medal rolls are also available through [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk] if you have a subscription they are free. Otherwise you will have to pay £2 fee '''for the same record '''if you get it through&nbsp;[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/]  


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=== United Kingdom World War I Army Service Records  ===
=== United Kingdom World War I Army Service Records  ===
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=== Understanding Military Records  ===
=== Understanding Military Records  ===


[[Image:British Military2.jpg|thumb|right|200x300px]]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|192x300px]]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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GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY RECORDS - ARMY - WORLD WAR, 1914–1918  
GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY RECORDS - ARMY - WORLD WAR, 1914–1918  


[[Image:British_Military3.jpg|thumb|right|208x263px|Member of the Royal Horse Guards of the British Army, in 1758]]'''Militia Lists and Musters'''. Militia lists (beginning as early as 1297) contain the names of men eligible for military service. Militia musters are lists of men in the militia. Early militia lists and most militia musters contain only the men’s names. A brief explanation of musters and the location of available pre-1757 lists are given in:  
[[Image:British Military3.jpg|thumb|right|208x243px]]'''Militia Lists and Musters'''. Militia lists (beginning as early as 1297) contain the names of men eligible for military service. Militia musters are lists of men in the militia. Early militia lists and most militia musters contain only the men’s names. A brief explanation of musters and the location of available pre-1757 lists are given in:  


Gibson, Jeremy, and Alan Dell. ''Tudor and Stuart Muster Rolls.'' Solihull, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Ltd., 1989. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2gj 942 M2gj])  
Gibson, Jeremy, and Alan Dell. ''Tudor and Stuart Muster Rolls.'' Solihull, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Ltd., 1989. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942+M2gj 942 M2gj])  
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These records are at The National archives. For further information on military records for branches of the service other than navy or regular army, see the military record handbooks at the end of this section.  
These records are at The National archives. For further information on military records for branches of the service other than navy or regular army, see the military record handbooks at the end of this section.  


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=== Locating Military and Naval Records  ===
=== Locating Military and Naval Records  ===


Pre-1914 records for both the army and the navy are at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/ The National Archives. ]  
Pre-1914 records for both the army and the navy are at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/ The National Archives.]


The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU England  
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU England  


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Post-1914 army records are at:  
Post-1914 army records are at:  
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