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''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[England_Military_Records|Military Records]]'' | ''[[England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[England_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|English Civil War Uniform.jpg]]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. | ||
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. | ||
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{{further|British Military Records}} | {{further|British Military Records}} | ||
'''<br>''' | '''<br>''' | ||
== Records == | == Records == | ||
[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives] (TNA), located at Kew, West London, houses information on military personnel, much of it now available to download. | [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ The National Archives] (TNA), located at Kew, West London, houses information on military personnel, much of it now available to download. | ||
=== Militia Lists and Musters === | === Militia Lists and Musters === | ||
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*Gibson, Jeremy, and Alan Dell. ''Tudor and Stuart Muster Rolls.'' Solihull, England: Federation of Family History Societies Publications, Ltd., 1989. (Family History Library book {{FHL|942 M2gj|disp=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 {{FHL|942 M2gj|disp=942 M2gj}}) | ||
=== Ship Logs === | === Ship Logs === | ||
Ship logs exist from 1673. While they usually give information only on position, weather, and sightings of other ships, records of shipboard events may include names of individual seamen. | Ship logs exist from 1673. While they usually give information only on position, weather, and sightings of other ships, records of shipboard events may include names of individual seamen. | ||
[[Image:British Military3.jpg|thumb|right|357x417px]] | [[Image:British Military3.jpg|thumb|right|357x417px|British Military3.jpg]] | ||
=== Other Records === | === Other Records === | ||
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A number of name indexes to some military records containing birth, marriages, or deaths are in the Family History Library. These indexes can be found in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | A number of name indexes to some military records containing birth, marriages, or deaths are in the Family History Library. These indexes can be found in the Place search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
:MILITARY RECORDS - CIVIL REGISTRATION | :MILITARY RECORDS - CIVIL REGISTRATION | ||
The library staff has compiled a typescript listing of army records in its collection (Family History Library book {{FHL|280386|title-id|disp=942 M2}}; film {{FHL|990313|film|disp=990313}} item 5). | The library staff has compiled a typescript listing of army records in its collection (Family History Library book {{FHL|280386|title-id|disp=942 M2}}; film {{FHL|990313|film|disp=990313}} item 5). | ||
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:MILITARY HISTORY | :MILITARY HISTORY | ||
:MILITARY RECORDS - ARMY | :MILITARY RECORDS - ARMY | ||
:MILITARY RECORDS - NAVY | :MILITARY RECORDS - NAVY | ||
Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under: | ||
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:ENGLAND - MILITARY HISTORY | :ENGLAND - MILITARY HISTORY | ||
== Branches of Service == | == Branches of Service == | ||
=== Royal Navy === | === Royal Navy === | ||
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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. | 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. One such work is:<br>Colledge, James J. Ships of the Royal Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. (Family History Library book 942 M3c.)<br> | Several sources list navy ships with descriptions and the dates on which they were placed in service. One such work is:<br>Colledge, James J. Ships of the Royal Navy. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1987. ({{FHL|400175}} Family History Library book 942 M3c.)<br> | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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(Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines) | (Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines) | ||
The Royal marines originally maintained military discipline on navy vessels. It has been a separate corps of the military since 1755, although under the control of the Admiralty and forming part of the Naval Service. Alphabetically arranged records of marines exist from 1790, some by enlistment date and others by discharge date. Service records up to 1926 can be accessed online via TNA. | The Royal marines originally maintained military discipline on navy vessels. It has been a separate corps of the military since 1755, although under the control of the Admiralty and forming part of the Naval Service. Alphabetically arranged records of marines exist from 1790, some by enlistment date and others by discharge date. Service records up to 1926 can be accessed online via TNA. | ||
=== Army === | === Army === | ||
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Cavalry <br>Infantry <br>Corps (e,g, Army Service Corps; Royal Signals; Royal Engineers etc.) | Cavalry <br>Infantry <br>Corps (e,g, Army Service Corps; Royal Signals; Royal Engineers etc.) | ||
The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units. For information on pre-1660 military records, see the handbooks listed at the end of this section.<br>Pre-1847 - English army service was usually for life. Some soldiers were discharged early for disability, which was liberally defined. A soldier was often discharged by the age of forty.<br>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:<br>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.)<br>Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:<br>WALES - MILITARY HISTORY<br>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY | The army began as a permanent organization in 1660. Earlier armies were raised as needed, usually as county militia units. For information on pre-1660 military records, see the handbooks listed at the end of this section.<br>Pre-1847 - English army service was usually for life. Some soldiers were discharged early for disability, which was liberally defined. A soldier was often discharged by the age of forty.<br>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:<br>White, Arthur S., comp.A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army. Dallington, East Sussex, England: Naval and Military Press Ltd., 1992. ({{FHL|561266}} Family History Library book 942 M23was.)<br>Military histories or regimental histories are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:<br>WALES - MILITARY HISTORY<br>GREAT BRITAIN - MILITARY HISTORY | ||
== Search Strategies == | == Search Strategies == | ||
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== Websites == | == Websites == | ||
*[http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/index.htm British War Graves: War Grave Photographs] | *[http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/index.htm British War Graves: War Grave Photographs] | ||
*[http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/all-england/military.htm England Military Links] | *[http://www.genealogylinks.net/uk/england/all-england/military.htm England Military Links] | ||
*[http://www.firepower.org.uk/index.php/research/family-history/ Royal Artillery Museum] | *[http://www.firepower.org.uk/index.php/research/family-history/ Royal Artillery Museum] | ||