Nature of Source
Officer service records reconstructed from War Office correspondence files of pre-WWI regular commissioned army officers. The files also relate to those given a temporary commission or were commissioned into the Special Reserve of Officers. All official records were destroyed by enemy action during WWII and even these surviving records are not complete and may include attestation papers, records of service and personal correspondence or simply a date of death. These records includes officers from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
The series in WO 339 is arranged in numerical order by the officer’s personal reference number known as a ‘Long Number’. ‘Long Numbers’ were assigned to officers up to 1922 which were then replaced by ‘P Numbers’ from 1922. A name index which provides the ‘Long Number’ can be found in WO 338. The WO 339 series is only 60-70 per cent complete.
A possible starting point for officer research pre-WWI is to consult the alphabetical card index of officers compiled by staff at The National Archives in the 1970s. The information was extracted from series WO 25 and WO 26 but unfortunately is not complete.
The key starting point for most army research is to determine which regiment the officer served with.
Also consider searching TNA series WO 374 which contains details on the Territorial Army and temporary commissioned officers.
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 (WO 339, War Office: Officers’ Services, Long Number Papers; WO 374, War Office: Officers’ Services, personal files. The name index covering series WO 339 and WO 374 can be found in series WO 338 and is available at the TNA Discovery catalogue. First click on ‘Advanced search’ and then type in the name being searched. Then under ‘Search within’ select ‘Enter a reference’ and type WO 338. Series WO 339 can also be searched by officer name and regiment at TNA Discovery)
The National Archives (WO 297, War Office: Geographical Section General Staff: War of 1914-1918: Western Front: Maps; WO 153, War Office: War of 1914-1918: Maps and Plans)
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
1914 – 1920
Genealogical Value
- Often just the name and date of death but more details supplied if attestation papers attached.
Further References
General
- 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/british-army-officers-after-1913 (The National Archives Research Guide: How to look for records of British Army officers of the First World War. Some WWI veterans continued to serve with the army after the war and for the records of these officers you may need to read the guide to British Army officers in service after 1918. However, many of the records in the WWI collections cover service up to 1920. Officer ranks covered by this guide include Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Colonel, Brigadier and General)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-officers-in-service-after-1918 (The National Archives Research Guide: How to look for records of British Army officers in service after 1918. This is a guide to searching for records of British Army officers who served after the First World War, including service in the WWII. However, The National Archives does not hold army service records for the WWII, these are still with the Ministry of Defence)
https://web.archive.org/web/20160520024659/https://www.colonialwargaming.co.uk/Miscellany/Army/Commissions.htm (The Purchase of Officers’ Commissions in the British Army, by John Armatys & Robert George Cordery)
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)
www.ukmfh.org.uk (UK Military Family 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.britishbadgeforum.com (The British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum: British Cavalry Badges. Forum devoted to those with an interest in military badges and military badge collecting. Sections include British Cavalry Badges, Bibliography of Military Insignia and a Glossary)
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.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/military-maps-first-world-war (The National Archives Research Guide: How to look for records of Military maps of the First World War. Use this guide if you are looking for trench maps or other military maps of the First World 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)
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)
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://maryevanspicturelibrary.typepad.com/ww1 (Mary Evans Picture Library: Picturing the Great War: The First World War Blog)
https://maps.nls.uk/ww1/trenches (British First World War Trench Maps, 1915-1918 – National Library of Scotland. Maps of the Western Front in the Great War depicting British and German trenches. Users can browse individual sheets using a zoomable map or view zoomable overlays of each map on a modern Google or Bing map)
www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War (British Red Cross: First World War Volunteers: Search over 90,000 people who volunteered for the British Red Cross at home and overseas during the war. Groups of volunteers were organised into Voluntary Aid Detachments)
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://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20190327132724/http://www.1914.org (Imperial War Museum First World War Centenary 1914-1918)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Welsh Guards 1914-1918. These records contain 4,060 names of officers who served with the Welsh Guards, and nominal rolls of Warrant Officers and NCOs)
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk (TNA podcast: Tracing battalions or regiments of the British Army during the Great 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)
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://cymru1914.org/en/home (Cymru 1914. The Welsh Experience of the First World War. Online access to digitised primary sources relating to the First World War from the Libraries, Special Collections and Archives of Wales)
www.inflandersfields.be/en (In Flanders Fields Museum. The museum presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders front region and is located in the famous Cloth Hall in the centre of Ypres)
www.stepshort.co.uk (Step Short: Folkestone Harbour Canteen Visitors’ Books: Online collection of 42,000 names of soldiers, nurses and other individuals who passed through the town of Folkestone on their way to the Western Front between 1914 and 1919)
www.ljmu.ac.uk/merseyside-at-war (Merseyside at War 1914-1918: Memories and memorabilia of people from Merseyside who lived, worked or fought during the World War 1 period. Items include letters, photographs, birth certificates and records, posters and medals)
www.findmypast.ie (Ireland’s Memorial Record: World War 1: 1914-1918: Online access to transcribed volumes of Ireland’s Memorial Records, created to preserve and commemorate the memory of the thousands of Irishmen who died during the war)
www.inflandersfields.be/en/kenniscentrum-e/namenlijst-e (Flanders Fields Museum: The Names List: Search an inclusive database of fatalities of the Great War of those who died or were mortally wounded in Belgium. The commemorative Names List includes civilian and military victims from all nations and from all sides of the war. The Names List includes the digitised Ireland’s Memorial Records which commemorates the memory of the thousands of Irishmen who died during the war)
http://imr.inflandersfields.be (Ireland’s Memorial Records: Online access to some 49,000 names extracted from Ireland’s Memorial Records published in 1923. The memorial book detailed those who died or were mortally wounded during WWI, both civilian and military. Correct details about their place of burial or commemoration have been added. You can search by name or military unit and by place of birth whether Ireland or UK)
Online Databases
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/free-online-records-digital-microfilm (TNA Digital Microfilm: WO 338: War Office: Officers’ Services, Index to Long Number Papers, 1870-1922. Digital Microfilm allows free downloads of records which were previously available only on microfilm in the reading room)
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Army Service Records, 1760-1939. Search more than eight million British Army documents from eleven different series of records from The National Archives and the Scots Guards. Expect to find officers and other ranks in various Army forms including attestation papers, medical forms, discharge documents, pension claims, and proceedings of regimental boards. The records can tell you when your ancestor joined and left the army, as well as details about where he came from and his military service. The dataset includes records from series WO 374 , Officers’ services, First World War, personal files and WO 339, Officers’ services, First World War, regular army and emergency reserve officers)
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Armed Forces, First World War Disability & Retirement Payments For Officers & Nurses. The collection extracted from series hels at The National Archives consists of records of payments of temporary retired pay and gratuities awarded to invalided officers of the three Services and to nurses in respect of the disabilities for which they were invalided)
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.
www.forces-war-records.co.uk (Military Genealogy Forces War Records: Military records of over two million British Armed Forces personnel cross matched with over 4000 Regiments including Rolls of Honour, Crimean and Boer War Databases, Medal Rolls and Casualties Lists. The site also has a facility to access information on specific units or bases including regiments, ships, airfields)
https://database.namenlijst.be/publicsearch (Flanders Fields Museum: The Name List: Search fatalities of the Great War who died or were mortally wounded in Belgium, both civilian and military and whatever their nationality. The list includes the digitised Ireland’s Memorial Records which commemorates the memory of the thousands of Irishmen who died during the war)
www.familyrelatives.com (The Bond of Sacrifice – A Biographical Record of British Officers Who Fell in the Great War from August 1914 to June 1915)
www.familyrelatives.com (Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919: Published in 1919 by HMSO and compiled in the Officers Casualties branch of the War Office from reports to the notice of the Military Secretary)
https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk (Records of the Royal Military Academy, 1741-1892. Search registers detailing the joining, leaving and commissioning of cadets from the Royal Military Academy Woolwich, the Royal Military College Sandhurst and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The remainder of the registers list instructional and administrative staff, as well as civilian employees and servants)
www.unithistories.com/officers/persons_british.html (World War II Unit Histories & Officers: British Officers, including Commonwealth officers serving in British units. Lists and biographies of officers who served in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Irish Officers Died In The Great War, 1914-1919. Details including photographs with biographical notes of officers of Irish regiments and Irish officers of British regiments who had fallen in action or who had been mentioned for Distinguished Conduct)
www.thegazette.co.uk (The Gazette: Official Newspaper of Record – London, Edinburgh and Belfast editions. The Gazette consists largely of statutory notices and includes honours and awards for gallantry or meritorious service, officer commissions, appointments and promotions and casualties)
CD Roms
S & N Genealogy Supplies (Army Lists and Hart’s Army Lists)
Naval & Military Press (Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919: This publication is arranged in two parts: Part I The Old and New Armies, Part II The Territorial Force. RFC officers, both Regular and Territorial, are included in Part I, but not RAF, which came into existence on 1st April 1918)
Surrey History Trust (Surrey Recruitment Register, 1908-1933. details of about 85,000 men who signed up for service in Surrey between 1908 and 1933, including volunteers and conscripts in World War I)
Manchester and Lancashire FHS (Oldham Chronicle Index of Service Personnel 1914-1919: Service personnel who were mentioned in the Saturday editions of the Oldham Chronicle, 1914 to the end of December 1919)
www.officialhistoryofthegreatwar.co.uk (Official History of The Great War: A complete record of the war on the Western Front, 1914-1918)
Naval & Military Press (National Archives British Trench Map Atlas: The Western Front 1914-18; Official History of The Great War France and Belgium)
The Western Front Association (Mapping the Front Collection. Produced in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum)
Great War Digital (Geo-referenced Great War Trench Maps. Digitised scanned maps from The National Archives, the Imperial War Museum, the Royal Geographical Society and various private collections)
