Nature of Source
Regimental returns containing information on officers and arranged by regiment. No records of service of the commissioned officers who were appointed before 1793 have survived.
Another potential source of regular army officer information can be found in the Graduation Lists which run from 1901 to 1914 which are available in the open reading room at The National Archives. These lists are similar in scope to the Army Lists.
The key starting point for most army research is to determine which regiment the officer served with. 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. WO 25 is also available as part of the Digital Microfilm Records. Officer commissions, promotions and discharges have also been published in the London Gazette since the early 18th century.
Birth Marriage and Death certificates for officers and their families as well as wills can be found in series WO 42. This series also includes some information on retired officers and details of officer marriages from 1830-1882. For Also consult Charles Dalton’s English Army Lists, 1661-1714 and George I’s Army, 1714-1727. The records of some militia officers can be founds amongst series WO 76 and WO 25.
An officer’s name can also be found amongst the surviving documents found in series WO 27 covering the years from 1750 to 1914. The series contains regimental inspection returns and amongst other things shows the names of officers present providing his name, age and nationality. Another possibility for finding details of an officer (cavalry and infantry officers only) is to search the Service Returns found in series WO 25. These records consists of surveys of retired officers on full or half pay and were taken for various years from 1809 to 1873. Service returns for Engineers officers can be found in series WO 25 and WO 54 and for Artillery officers in series WO 54 and WO 76 (Records within WO 76 are available to download free of charge as part of the Digital Microfilm Records). The Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers published their own lists of officers and these are available at The National Archives and other local and reference libraries.
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 76, War Office: Records of Officers’ Services, 1764-1961. The records give the different ranks held by the officer and his services, together with certain personal particulars. An alphabetic name index appears at the front of each volume; WO 25, Commissions and other appointments, records of service and other service matters)
Records within WO 76 are available to download free of charge as part of the Digital Microfilm Records or online at Findmypast.
Regimental Museums (Some regimental museums may hold officer service records such as appointments, commissions and promotions. These records may deal with officer service before the War Office assumed responsibility for keeping and maintaining officer records towards the end of the 19th century)
Period Covered
1764 – 1913
Genealogical Value
- Name, rank, date and place of birth of officer.
- Date of appointment.
- Age at the time of appointment.
- Country of origin and date of first commission.
- Medal awards and foreign service.
- Marriage details and the names and birth dates of his children.
Further References
- 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
- Bridger, Geoff. The Great War Handbook: Pen & Sword, 2009
- Cox. Reginald H. W. Military Badges of the British Empire 1914-18: Ernest Benn, 1982
- Doyle, Peter. Great War British Tommy Manual: The British Soldier 1914-18 [All Models]-Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manuals: Haynes, 2013
- 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
- Holding, Norman, More Sources of WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 1998
- Holding, Norman & Swinnerton, Iain. WWI Army Ancestry: FFHS, 4th Edition
- James, E.A. British Regiments, 1914-18: Naval and Military Press, 2001
- 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
- Pols, Robert. Dating Old Army Photographs: Family History Partnership, 2011
- Spencer, William. Family History in the Wars: The National Archives, 2007
- Spencer, William. Army Records: A Guide For Family Historians: The National Archives, 2008
- Spencer, William. First World War Army Service Records: 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
- Tracing Your Family History, Army: Imperial War Museum, 2006
- 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
Websites
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/british-army-officers-1913 (The National Archives: How to look for records of British Army officers up to 1913. This guide provides advice on searching for records of British Army officers who served up to 1913. It covers both commissioned officers and officers who were promoted through the ranks)
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.angloboerwar.com (Anglo Boer War: The site’s aim is to make available information on the Anglo Boer War 1899 – 1902 and other South African conflicts in the period 1779-1906 and provide a forum for discussion. The site is owned by David Biggins. Sections include: Biographical information on people who were involved in the Boer War; Details of the medals awarded for the Boer War and other contemporary and South African campaigns; Information on the Imperial, Colonial, South African and Boer units that participated)
www.garenewing.co.uk/angloafghanwar (The Second Anglo-Afghan War 1878-1880. Online resource for those interested in the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1878-1880. It is also the home of the Second Afghan War database project, a collection of names, family histories and stories concerning those who participated in this lesser-known campaign)
www.britishbattles.com (British Battles. The site gives you the battles fought by Britain and its Empire forces from the 18th Century to the end of the 19th Century, illustrated and mapped)
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)
Online Databases
www.ancestry.co.uk (UK, Officer Service Records, 1764-1932. This collection comprises service papers for officers in the British Army. Records often include information about the officer’s family and details of his service history extracted from TNA Series WO 76)
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)
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Army Lists & Commission Registers 1661-1826. This collection includes records of officer service in the English Army and later British Army from 1661, when King Charles II issued the Royal Warrant that created the first regiments of what would become the British Army, until 1826)
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 76 which has records of officers’ services. See website for all the available record series)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Peninsular War, British Army Officers 1808-1814. Compiled shortly after WW1 by Captain Lionel S. Challis of the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, the Peninsular War, British Army Officers records list over 9,000 officers who fought for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars)
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Army Officer Promotions, 1800-1815. The dataset lists the details of Wellington’s officers who went on to defeat Napoleon in 1815. Each record comprises a transcript of the promotion which was originally announced in The London Gazette)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Royal Artillery Officers 1716-1899. Search more than 7,000 names of Royal Artillery Officers from the List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery published in 1900)
https://britisharmyancestors.co.uk (British Army Ancestors. The site aims to create a free library of user uploaded British Army soldiers’ photos and to help find out more about the soldier concerned. A search for a name links to service records, medal index cards and other information from Findmypast, The National Archives and Casus-Belli. See the website for a full list of linked sources used)
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.findmypast.co.uk (Register of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902. The records contain over 258,800 names, including a completely revised casualty list of 59,000 casualty records)
www.ancestry.co.uk (Casualties of the Boer War, 1899-1902: The database lists the names, regiments, dates, locations and nature of casualty of all officers and men of the South African Field Force from the outbreak of war)
www.angloboerwar.com/name-search (Anglo Boer War Name Search: Search soldier medal rolls and enrolment forms and biographies of those who served in the Anglo Boer War)
www.nmarchive.com (Naval & Military Archive: Military Genealogy: Boer War Casualties 1899-1902. This database lists the names, regiments, dates, locations and nature of casualty of all Officers and men of the South African Field Force and the Natal Field Force)
https://soldiersofglos.com (Transcribed summary service details of officers and men who served with the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment during the 19th Century or the Gloucestershire Regiment in WWI. Database courtesy of Mr. J. Devereux)
www.casus-belli.co.uk (The Register of the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902: Database that lists men and women who served in the British Imperial Forces during the Anglo-Boer War. The register includes soldiers, sailors, nurses and civilians as well as a casualty roll. The data is compiled for sources such as Official Casualty Rolls, A Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Medal Rolls, Anglo-Boer War Memorials Project and Winifred Scott’s Anglo-Boer War Index. The Register will state whether the person listed has an entry in series WO 97 held at The National Archives. For a full list of sources see the website)
CD Roms
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)
