Ireland Military Records: Difference between revisions

*[http://soldierswills.nationalarchives.ie/search/sw/about.jsp Soldiers' Wills, World War I and Boer War], index

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 cavalry 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 records are potentially of great genealogical value. But they are difficult to use because few are indexed and many are only available at the Public Record Office, Kew at the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ National Archives]. Civil registration, census, or church records, if available, are easier records to use. Still, military records sometimes provide information that is not found in any other source. Search the easier records first; they will often provide information that will then help you search military records.  

*Swinson, Arthur S., ed. ''A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army''. London, England: Archive Press, 1972. (Family History Library {{FHL|942 M2am|disp=book Ref 942 M2am}}.)  

Army records before 1872 are organized by regiment. Records from 1872 through 1882 are arranged alphabetically by type of troop (cavalry, infantry, etc.). Post-1882 records are arranged in a single alphabetical series.  

Ffolliott, Rosemary. Some Irish Militia Movements During the Napoleonic Wars. The movement of different Irish Militia, from 1793-1816. Extracted from the Church of Ireland registers and Sir Henry MacAnally's work, The Irish Militia 1793-1816. Article found in The Irish Ancestor, vol.1 no.2, 1969, pages 109-114, Family History Library Ref. 941.5 B2i also held at the National Library of Ireland.  

Quinlivan, Patrick. Father Benard's Register and the Irish Militia in Essex. Article is Father Benard's Register of the Irish Militia in Essex, also register of baptisms 1812-1817 kept at Church of St. James-the-less, Priory St. Colchester. Also a list of references of the Irish Militia from the Suffolk Chronicle and Ipswich Journal 1812-1814. Article is in The Irish Ancestor vol. V.no. 1. 1973. pages 12-17, Family History Ref. 941.5 B2i V5-6.  

Punch, Terrence M. Irish Deserters at Halifax, Nova Scotia, During the Napoleonic Wars 1803-1807. List of Irish deserters, complete with age, height and physical description and where they came from in Ireland. Article in The Irish Ancestor, Vol.VIII.no.1.1976, pages 33-35. Family History Library Ref. 941.5 B2i v7-8.  

Mossong, Verna. Mid-19th Century Irish Deserters in New Zealand. The list of Irish deserters, taken from the New Zealand Gazette of 1863, shows all those with Irish birthplaces, names, army rank and number, age, place and year of enlistment, parish and county of birth, trade, date and place of desertion. 1840-1866. Article in The Irish Ancestor, vol. XI, no.1. 1979. pages 4-9. Family History Library Ref. 941.5 B2i v10-11.  

de Breffny, Brian. Irish Soldiers Stationed on the Coast of Coromandel in India. Alphabetical list of Irish born soldiers serving in India. Gives name, ship on which he arrived in India, branch of service, Country of origin, the Corps each soldier was serving in, and date of enlistment. Article in The Irish Ancestor, vol. XVI, no. 1. pages 45-53. FHL Ref. 941.5 B2i  

Admiralty Passing Certificates 1808-1811 extracted from the Public Record Office London. Article found in The Irish Ancestor Vol. 1 No1.  Page 23-26, It concerns Ireland Officers. Gives Surname and christian name, Date of birth, Parents names and place of birth or baptism. Held at the Family History Library, SLC, also World Catalogue lists the Libraries it is available around the world. [http://www.worldcat.org/title/the-irish-ancestor. WorldCat]. '''Early Twentieth Century Records - 1913 to 1921'''  

Officer in Charge<br>Military Archives<br>Cathal Brugha Barracks<br>Rathmines,<br>Dublin 6. Republic of Ireland  

The Archives also hold many Easter Rising and War of Independence records from the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Irish Republican Army and Cumann na mBan. Most of these relate to applications for pensions (sometimes by dependents).  

'''Muster Rolls'''. Muster rolls usually list individuals assigned to a ship or regiment on a given day, their ages (on joining), the date and place they joined, and possibly other information, such as their birthplaces (in sea musters since 1770) and dependents (in later army musters). Army musters exist for the years 1760-1878, navy musters for 1667-1878. Musters are held at the Public Record Office, Kew at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ National Archives. ] '''Chaplain's Returns and Regimental Registers'''. Chaplain's returns (1760-1971) list the baptisms, marriages, and burials of soldiers and their family members performed abroad by military chaplains. Regimental registers (1790-1924) contain birth, marriage, and death records by regiment for families of officers and enlisted men. Birth and baptism records are indexed. Chaplain's returns and regimental registers are available only by correspondence with the General Register Office.  

''Great Britain, Admiralty. Navy List''. London, England: various publishers. 1814-. (Family History Library{{FHL|942 M25gba|disp=book 942 M25gba; film 918928-41 and 990323-26}}.) The fully indexed Navy List names all commissioned officers, including masters, pursers, surgeons, chaplains, yard officers, coast guardsmen, and reservists who have served in the navy from 1814 to the present.  

'''Other Records'''. Other military records include description books; returns of service; and records of pensions, payrolls, promotions, medals, casualties, courts martial, service, and desertions. These and other types of military records are explained in the handbooks at the end of this section.  

Hayes, Richard J. ''Manuscript Sources for the History of Irish Civilization''. (Family History Library {{FHL|941.5 A5h|disp=book Ref 941.5 A5h.}}) Look under the subject index headings "Army," "Navy," "Military," and "Militia." Additional military documents may be found in private collections.  

*The area where your ancestor lived during his late teens, use the handbooks below or regimental histories to determine which regiments were recruited in that area. Regimental histories available at the Family History Library are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under: <br><br>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY

Many military and regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the catalog under:  

*Your ancestor was on board ship in 1861, search the ''1861 Surname Index to Persons on Ships at Sea or in Port'' (Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1988; {{FHL|6025598|film|disp=fiche 6025598}}).  

*Your ancestor was on board ship in 1881, search the ''Surname Index to the 1881 Census of the Royal Navy ''(Family History Library {{FHL|637557|title-id|disp=fiche 6086362}}).  

Young, D. H. W., comp.''Index to Commission and Warrant Books of the Admiralty of Great Britain and Ireland, 1695-1742.'' London, England: Public Record Office, 1958-59; Family History Library {{FHL|281452|title-id|disp=film 824516-17}}.) This index gives the officer's date of commission and a reference to additional information held at the Public Record Office, Kew.  

Rodger, N. A. M., ''Naval Records for Genealogists.'' (Family History Library {{FHL|833694|title-id|disp=book 942 A5p}}.) This book provides other records or strategies you may use.