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'''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].  
'''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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'''1914–1918:''' World War I. About 6,000,000 British service personnel served in this war. Almost 1,000,000 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. Just over 400,000 service personnel 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  ====


[[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).
Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
 
'''<u>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY</u>'''
 
==== Royal Navy Records  ====


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:
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.  
 
Several sources list navy ships with descriptions and the dates on which they were placed in service.  


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 [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=561266&disp=A+Bibliography+of+regimental+histories+o%20%20&columns=*,0,0 942 M23was].)
One such work is:  


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


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


For information on how to locate your army soldiers by their regiment consult:&nbsp; Fowler, Simon, [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=1405849&disp=Tracing+your+army+ancestors ''Tracing Your Army Ancestors''] (Pen &amp; Sword, 2006) (Family History book 942 M27)
Seamen often moved between the navy and the merchant marines. Until 1853 enlistment was informal and lasted for the ship’s commission, usually three years. Individual "ratings" (seamen) were not mentioned in navy records other than musters or pay lists unless they deserted, misbehaved, or earned a medal. After 1853 seamen often made the navy their career. They were assigned continuous service numbers and records were maintained for the duration of their careers.  


Originally the responsibility for directing the British Army fell under the command of the staff of the National War Office.&nbsp; Thus, the category for records in [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/ The National Archives of England ]is labeled WO for locating all Army collections.&nbsp; Now the army is run by comissioned officers.
==== Royal Marines  ====


The basic unit of the Army is the regiment under a colonel or lieutenant colonel.&nbsp; Regiments are divided into two or more Battalions.&nbsp; The four main types of regiments which should be searched are:
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.  


*Cavalry
*Infantry
*Artillery
*Engineers


Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:


GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY
==== '''British Army''' ====


==== Navy Records  ====
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 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.  
<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).  


Several sources list navy ships with descriptions and the dates on which they were placed in service.  
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:


One such work is:  
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.)


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


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


Seamen often moved between the navy and the merchant marines. Until 1853 enlistment was informal and lasted for the ship’s commission, usually three years. Individual "ratings" (seamen) were not mentioned in navy records other than musters or pay lists unless they deserted, misbehaved, or earned a medal. After 1853 seamen often made the navy their career. They were assigned continuous service numbers and records were maintained for the duration of their careers.
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)  


==== Royal Marines  ====
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.


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.
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:


=== Twentieth Century Records  ===
Cavalry <br>Infantry <br>Corps (e,g, Army Service Corps; Royal Signals; Royal Engineers etc.)


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 soldiers who died in World War I and World War II have been compiled from official casualty lists and published in:  
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WW1 Army records along with WW1 Army pension records are available through [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk]  
WW1 Army records along with WW1 Army pension records are available through [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk]  


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&nbsp;index cards&nbsp;are also available through [http://www.ancestry.co.uk www.ancestry.co.uk]&nbsp; - if you have a subscription they are free. Otherwise you will have to pay £2 fee to download it if you get it through&nbsp;The National Archives website: [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&searchType=browserefine&pagenumber=1&query=*&queryType=1 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/browse-refine.asp?CatID=10&amp;searchType=browserefine&amp;pagenumber=1&amp;query=*&amp;queryType=1]
 
 


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


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.  
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.
 
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;


#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.  
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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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