Army – Courts Martial & Deserter Records & Regimental Description Books

Nature of Source

Courts Martial Records contain the records of those tried and disciplined by the army courts.

The Deserter Registers detail soldiers who deserted who are also listed in the Police Gazette. The registers are found in TNA series WO 25 covering 1799-1852, with the Police Gazette available at TNA covering 1828-1845.

The Regimental Description Books provide a service history of a soldier and a physical description which could be used in cases of desertion. The soldier’s service history was also used by the authorities to help calculate the soldier’s pension entitlement. The books are arranged by regiment and then indexed by name. Some records exist from 1756, however most commence from the middle of the 19th century. The records can be found in TNA series WO 25/266-688 and WO 67 and cover the years from 1795-1900. WO 25 is also available as part of the Digital Microfilm Records.

Those executed do not appear in Soldiers who died in the Great War publication. Most records are closed for 75 years. Deserters were also noted in local newspapers and the Police Gazette.

Service records for all ranks who served after 1920 remain with the Ministry of Defence with each military service maintaining its own record office. See the MOD detailed guide ‘Requests for personal data and service records: How to apply for access to personal data held by the Ministry of Defence’.

Where Found

The National Archives (Army: WO 71, Courts Martial Proceedings; WO 72, Courts Martial Correspondence and Papers; WO 81–WO 93, WO 213/2-26, Field General Courts Martial)

The National Archives (Airmen: AIR 18, Royal Air Force Courts Martial Proceedings)

The National Archives (Sailors: ADM 1, Correspondence and Papers; ADM 116, Admiralty: Record Office: Cases; ADM 156, Courts Martial Cases and Files; ADM 167, Board of Admiralty: Minutes and Memoranda)

Officer trials from 1806-1904 are indexed in WO 93.

National Army Museum/Templer Study Centre (The museum houses a wealth of information on the history and traditions of the Army including officer Army Lists, regimental and campaign histories, soldier’s effects records, military memoirs and diaries, regimental and other military periodicals and books and other archives relating to the pre-1914 Army. The museum also holds the enlistment and discharge books for the Buffs, the Middlesex Regiment, and the five Irish regiments disbanded in 1922. See the web site for details of their collections and a series of information sheets for researching army family history)

Period Covered

1796 – 1963

Genealogical Value

Courts Martial Records

• Name, rank, career and sentence of soldier.
  
  

Deserter Registers

• Name, physical description, regiment, age, birthplace and occupation of the deserter.
• Date and place of joining and desertion.
  
  

Regimental Description Books

• Name, physical description and regiment of soldier.
• Place, age and date of enlistment.
• Place (address) of birth and occupation of soldier and if applicable date and place of death.
• Character and conduct.
• Previous army career, including promotions, desertions, transfers and discharges.

Further References

General

• Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, A-C: Jade Publishing, 2003
• Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, D-G Jade Publishing, 2009
• Beckett, James Deuchar (ed). The Beckett Soldiers Index, H-K: Jade Publishing, 2009 (Listing of soldiers from 1793 to about 1854 extracted from TNA series WO 120 and WO 116 and other sources such as marriage registers and medal awards. Arranged alphabetically by surname, forename and regiment including whether discharged at either Chelsea or Kilmainham Hospital. These published editions cover more ground than the Beckett Soldiers’ Index available at The National Archives)
• Bevan, Amanda. Tracing Your Ancestors in the National Archives: The National Archives, 2006
• Brereton, J.M. A Guide to the Regiments and Corps of the British Army: Bodley Head, 1985
• Blank, Dr. Stuart. Researching British Military History on the Internet: Alwyn Enterprises, 2007
• Cox. Reginald H. W. Military Badges of the British Empire 1914-18: Ernest Benn, 1982
• Farmer, John, The Regimental Records of the British Army: Grant Richards, 1901 (Free download available at the Internet Archive)
• Fowler, Simon. A Guide to Military History on the Internet: Pen & Sword, 2007
• Fowler, Simon. Tracing your Army Ancestors: Pen & Sword, 2006
• Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Army Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
• Gaylor, John. Military Badge Collecting: Pen & Sword Books, 2002
• Grehan, John & Mace, Martin. British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854-1856: Pen & Sword Books, 2014
• Kitzmiller, John. In Search of the Forlorn Hope: A Comprehensive Guide to Locating British Regiments and Their Records, 1640-WWI: Manuscript Publishing Foundation, 1988
• Murphy, Gerry. Where Did That Regiment Go? The Lineage of British Infantry and Cavalry Regiments at a Glance: The History Press, 2009
• Paterson, Sarah. Tracing Your Family History, Army: Imperial War Museum, 2006
• Pols, Robert. Dating Old Army Photographs: Family History Partnership, 2011
• Saks, David. Boerejode: Jews in the Boer Armed Forces 1899-1902: 2010
• Spencer, William. Family History in the Wars: The National Archives, 2007
• Spencer, William. Army Records: A Guide For Family Historians: The National Archives, 2008
• Storey, Neil. Military Photographs and How to Date Them: Countryside Books, 2009
• Swinnerton, Iain, An Introduction to the British Army: Its History, Traditions and Records: FFHS, 1996
• Swinson, Arthur. A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army: The Archive Press, 1972
• The Great War: A Photographic Narrative: Imperial War Museum: Jonathan Cape, 2013
• Usher, George. Dictionary of British Military History: A&C Black Publishers, 2006
• Watts, Michael and Watts, Christopher. My Ancestor was in the British Army: Society of Genealogists, 2009
• Westlake, Ray. The Territorials 1908-1914: A Guide for Military and Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2011

WWI

• Banks, Arthur. A Military Atlas of The First World War: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
• Bridger, Geoff. The Great War Handbook: A Guide For Family Historians & Students Of The Conflict: Pen & Sword Books, 2013
• Christopher, John & McCutcheon, Campbell. 1914 the First World War in Old Photographs: Over by Christmas: Amberley Publishing, 2014
• Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. British Army Cap Badges of the First World War: Shire Publications, 2010
• Doyle, Peter. Great War British Tommy Manual: The British Soldier 1914-18 [All Models]-Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manuals: Haynes, 2013
• Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. Remembering Tommy: The British Soldier in the First World War: The History Press, 2013
• Doyle, Peter & Foster Chris. What Tommy Took to War, 1914-1918: Shire Publications, 2014
• Doyle, Peter. The First World War in 100 Objects: The History Press, 2014
• Forty, Simon. Mapping the First World War: Battlefields of the Great Conflict from Above: Anova Books, 2013
• Gregson, Keith. A Tommy in the Family: First World War Family History Tales and Research Tips: The History Press, 2014
• Hadaway, Stuart. Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Egypt and Palestine Campaigns: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books, 2017
• Holding, Norman, More Sources of WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 1998
• Holding, Norman & Swinnerton, Iain. WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 2004
• Holmes, Richard. Tommy: The British Soldier on the Western Front 1914-1918: Harper Perennial, 2005
• Holmes, Richard. Shots from the Front: The British Soldier 1914-18: HarperPress, 2010
• Holmes, Richard. The First World War in Photographs: Andre Deutsch, July 2014
• James, Brig. E. A. British Regiments 1914-18: Naval and Military Press, 2009
• Paterson, Sarah. Tracing Your Prisoner of War Ancestors: The First World War: Pen & Sword, 2012
• Rawson, Andrew. The British Army 1914-1918: The History Press, 2014
• Spencer, William. First World War Army Service Records: The National Archives, 2008
• Swinnerton, Iain. Identifying Your World War One Soldier from Badges and Photographs: Federation of Family History Societies, 2001

Websites

General
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/courts-martial-desertion-british-army-17th-20th-centuries (TNA Research Guide: Courts martial and desertion in the British Army 17th-20th centuries)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-muster-rolls-pay-lists-1730-1898 (TNA Research Guide: British Army muster rolls and pay lists c.1730-1898)
www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/military-crimes-1914-1918-british-army (The Long, Long Trail: Military Crimes 1914-1918 British Army)
https://web.archive.org/web/20081002032557/https://www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/courts_martial.htm (British Military & Criminal History 1900 to 1999. The article deals with the courts-martial of soldiers during the First World War and in the period 1941-1953)
www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/discipline-in-the-bef-an-analysis-of-executions-in-british-divisions-1914-1918 (Western Front Association. Discipline in the BEF: An analysis of executions in British Divisions 1914-1918. The article examines the comparative disciplinary records of the Regular, New Army and Territorial Force soldiers)
www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/sentenced-to-death-the-public-record-office-court-martial-files (Western Front Association. Sentenced to Death. The Public Record Office Court Martial Files)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=military-and-maritime (The National Archives Research Guides: Military and Maritime. Learn how to trace the voyages made by a merchant seaman, find a Royal Marine’s medal record or track the wartime history of an Army regiment)mily History Online: Links to web sites with online data and information to aid in military family history research)
www.armylists.org.uk (Guide to Army Lists and published lists available on CD)
www.parishchest.com (Online store selling military records from a variety of suppliers)
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk (Veterans UK. The organisation provides free support for veterans and their families, including a helpline, Veterans Welfare Service and injury/bereavement compensation scheme payments)
www.iwm.org.uk/research/tracing-your-family-history/tracing-your-army-history (Imperial War Museum Research Guide: Tracing Your Family History. Guides to help you start your research into your army family history explaining what records you will need and where to find them. Subject areas include: Service records; Casualty information; Medal records; Unit and operational histories)
www.militaryarchiveresearch.com (Military Archive Research, by Dr Stuart C Blank)
www.genuki.org.uk/big/MilitaryRecords (GENUKI Guide: UK and Ireland: Military Records)
www.genuki.org.uk/big/BritMilRecs (GENUKI: British Military Records by Jay Hall)
www.armymuseums.org.uk/museum-directory (The Army Museums Ogilby Trust: Museum Directory: Guide and links to military museums in the UK)
www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides (National Records of Scotland Research Guide: Military Records. This guide deals with the records held at National Records of Scotland relating to the military. The first part deals with army personnel records while the second part covers more general sources for military history)

WWI
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war (The National Archives: Online Exhibitions: First World War 100. Explore key aspects of the war through themes such as technology and the Middle East, special projects and partnerships)
www.longlongtrail.co.uk (The Long, Long Trail. The site is dedicated to helping you discover the British army and its soldiers of the First World War with sections packed with useful advice on Researching Soldiers, Researching the Army and Researching Battles)
www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918 (Long, Long Trail. The British infantry regiments of 1914-1918. This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the history of the battalions of the British infantry. The history and affiliations of every battalion of every British infantry regiment can be found on these pages)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war (The First World War – The National Archives: Web portal dedicated to WWI with collections featuring letters, diaries, podcasts and videos, maps and photographs. Also discover online collections, research guides and educational resources to learn about the history behind the war)
www.operationwardiary.org (Operation War Diary: Crowdsourcing partnership project between The National Archives, Imperial War Museums and Zooniverse which aims to unlock the details from within the WWI unit war diaries such as individual named individuals and place names)
www.westernfrontassociation.com (The Western Front Association: The Association was formed with the aim of furthering interest in The Great War of 1914-1918 and to perpetuate the memory of all those on all sides who served during The Great War. The site includes a section on Pension Records with articles providing help and guidance for your research into The Great War)
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk (Imperial War Museum: Lives of the First World War. Discover, Explore and Remember Millions of Personal Stories From The First World War. The project tells the stories of individuals from across Britain and the Commonwealth who served in uniform and worked on the home front. Each person remembered has Life Story page using a variety of sources. The digital project ran from 12 May 2014 to 19 March 2019)
https://blogs.bl.uk/european/world-war-one (British Library: Exploring Europe at the British Library: World War One)
https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/world-war-one (British Library: Untold Lives Blog: World War One)
https://maryevanspicturelibrary.typepad.com/ww1 (Mary Evans Picture Library: Picturing the Great War: The First World War Blog)
www.everyoneremembered.org (Every One Remembered The Royal British Legion initiative allows members of the public to commemorate with a personal dedication every individual man and woman from across the Commonwealth who fell in the First World War)
https://war.web.ox.ac.uk/great-war-archive (Oxford University: The Great War Archive: WWI digital photographs, audio, film, documents, and stories submitted by the general public. The initiative was run by Oxford University between the 3rd March and the 30th June 2008. Users can share First World War objects on the The Great War Archive Flickr Group)
www.europeana.eu/portal/en/collections/world-war-I (Europeana 1914-1918. Explore the untold stories and official histories of World War I in items from across Europe including postcards, letters, diaries, images and other memorabilia)
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk (TNA podcast: Tracing battalions or regiments of the British Army during the Great War)
www.pals.org.uk/research.htm (Guide to researching service records)
https://ww1-lost-photos.livejournal.com (Blog covering the WWI photographs of the unknown soldiers)
www.ww1photos.com (World War One Photos: Thousands of identified photos & obituaries of First World War officers, soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen and civilian workers)
www.flickr.com/photos/imperialwarmuseum/sets/72157627910530369/with/6279131985 (IWM Collections: Faces of the First World War)
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20190327132724/https://www.1914.org (Imperial War Museum First World War Centenary 1914-1918)

Online Databases

www.findmypast.co.uk (Surrey, Military Tribunals 1915-1918. These records are registers and letter books from local military service tribunals at Woking, Dorking and Haslemere and papers kept by the chairman of the appeal tribunal at Guildford, produced in association with the Surrey History Trust)
www.ideastore.co.uk/local-history-archives-online (Tower Hamlets Archives Collection. Search digitised items from the Collection including the Poplar Military Service Tribunal Register)
Ancestry World War I Military Records
The site offers a gateway page for searching First World War collections. It offers access to a comprehensive range of military records that can help you learn about ancestors who served during World War I. The site also offers videos for tips on how to search and examples of what you could find.
The site features collections such as:

• British Army WWI Service Records (1914-1920).
• British Army WWI Pension Records (1914-1920).
• Medal Rolls Index Cards (1914-1920).
• Silver War Badge Records (1914-1920).
• Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (1914-1920).
• Royal Navy and Royal Marine records.
• Navy medal and award rolls (covering a wider period from 1793-1972).
• The National Roll of the Great War (1914-1918).
• Commonwealth War Graves (1914-1921, 1939-1947).
• De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour (1914-1919).

Please note, the UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 are not included in the collection.

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