This is a brief guide to help you research British army records for a soldier who was discharged before the start of the First World War. These records are varied and plentiful, though sometimes complicated. The vast majority are available at The National Archives.
Non officer ranks include Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, and Warrant Officer. The Ministry of Defence website gives more detail.
This guide will help you to find out if the information you are looking for exists, and if it does where to find it.
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What do I need to know before I start?
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Try to find out:
- the name of the person
- the regimenta unit of infantry or cavalry forces in the British army, rank, and date of discharge
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What records can I see online?
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Royal Hospital Chelsea pension records (1760-1913)
Search by name and download digitised Royal Hospital Chelsea pension records for soldiers dischargeddischarge - release from service between 1760 and 1913 (WO 97) on findmypast.co.uk (£There may be a charge for accessing this information. Searching indexes may be free.).
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Campaign medals (1793-1949)
Search by name online in the campaign medal and award rolls (WO 100) using Ancestry.co.uk, if you know a person was awarded a specific medal (£There may be a charge for accessing this information. Searching indexes may be free.). The medal rolls do not usually contain biographical information. You can also search these records on microfilm at The National Archives at Kew, but you will need to know the campaigna military campaign and the relevant regimenta unit of infantry or cavalry forces in the British army to use these records.
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What records can I find at The National Archives at Kew?
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Regimental muster rolls and pay lists (1732-1898)
Refer to the British Army muster rolls and pay lists c.1730-1898 research guide to find out which seriesa grouping of records held by The National Archives, based on common function or subject to consult for the period 1732 to 1878. For 1878 to 1898, browse WO 16 to find the relevant regiment or regimental district.
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To access these records you will either need to visit us, commission research (£there will be a charge) or, where you can identify a specific record referencea unique set of letters and numbers identifying a document in The National Archives, order a copy (£there will be a charge).
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What records can I find in other archives and organisations?
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Records held locally
Search the Access to Archives (A2A) and National Register of Archives (NRA) databases to find records held in local archivesregional archives, libraries, and museums.
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What other resources will help me find information?
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Books
Read Army Records by William Spencer (The National Archives, 2008).
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Births, marriages and deaths in the armed forces
British Army soldiers after 1913
British Army officers up to 1913