Nature of Source
Details of an officer’s career and personal details. Although the records date back to 1756, the service details of officers were not kept in any systematic manner until after 1840.
The officer grade consisted of warrant and commissioned officers. Warrant officers were appointed by the Admiralty for a particular technical skill or knowledge and worked in a number of occupations such as purser’s mate, boatswain, carpenter, gunner, cook, surgeon’s mate, sailmaker, armourer and cooper. Warrant Officers also included masters pre-1808, surgeons, pursers and chaplains pre-1843 and engineers pre-1847. These posts became commissioned officers after these dates. Warrant officers rank below that of a commissioned officer but above a non-commissioned officer.
Commissioned officers are appointed to a position of command directly from the Crown and included admirals, commodores, captains, commanders and lieutenants. A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is appointed to a position of authority by promotion through the ranks. Petty officers or Senior Ratings are non-commissioned but rank below an NCO.
The service records document the officer’s full service history so they could include WWI and WWII and could possibly extend into the 1960s. However the majority of the records cover the period from 1840 to 1910. A number of dating systems were used for the registers which means that an officer may appear in various volumes. For WWI research, the date of entry as a midshipman is available from the Navy List.
Post-1920 Service Records
Service records of officers who joined after 1 May 1917 are held at the Ministry of Defence. If an officer joined before 1917 and remained in service beyond WWII, then the documents will remain in ADM 196 and could cover up to 1966. Service records for all ranks who served after 1920 remain with the Ministry of Defence with each military service maintaining its own record office. To access these records consult the MOD Guide ‘How to apply for access to personal data held by the Ministry of Defence’. Please note, The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently in the process of transferring ten million personnel service records to The National Archives for permanent preservation.
Where Found
The National Archives (ADM 196, Officers’ Service Records, 1756-1966. The material is arranged by the date of entry as a midshipman which is the lowest rank of officer. The Navy Lists should provide this key date. A Name index to ADM 196/58-67, 83, 97-105 can be found in ADM 313/110. A Surname card index is available at TNA, but is not complete and does not include WWI material)
National Museum of the Royal Navy
The museum holds a vast collection of records and resources related to the history and heritage of the Royal Navy including artifacts, documents and historic materials as well as collections from the Admiralty Library formerly housed in London. The museum holds some service records for individuals who served in the Royal Navy, particularly those from the 20th century. The library offers with a number of research guides into researching naval ancestors. The Online Catalogue provides access to the Manuscript, Oral History, Photographic and WRNS collections.
Fleet Air Arm Museum
The museum hold material relating to the Royal Naval Air Service and the Fleet Air Arm from official and private sources including service records, squadron line books, aircraft accident records, air stations, operations, ships and equipment.
Period Covered
1756 – 1931
Genealogical Value
- Officer’s name and address.
- Date and place of birth, marriage and details and death
- Rank, naval career and ships served on.
- Names of parents and wives.
Further References
- Addis, C.P. The Men Who Fought with Nelson in HMS Victory at Trafalgar: Nelson Society, 1988
- Adkins, Roy & Lesley. Jack Tar: The Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Seamen in Nelson’s Navy: Abacus, 2009
- Bevan, Amanda. Tracing Your Ancestors in the National Archives: The National Archives, 2006
- Blank, Dr. Stuart. Researching British Military History on the Internet: Alwyn Enterprises, 2007
- Burt, R.A. British Battleships of World War One: Seaforth, 2012
- Clarke, John D. Men of HMS Victory at Trafalgar Including the Muster Roll, Casualties, Rewards and Medals: Naval & Military Press 2002
- Cock, Randolph & Rodgers N.A.M. A Guide to the Naval Records in The National Archives of the UK: Institute of Historical Research, 2006
- Coleman, E.C. Rank and Rate: Insignia of Royal Naval Ratings, WRNS, Royal Marines, QARNNS and Auxiliaries: Crowood Press, 2012
- Fenton, Roy & Briody, Nuala & Macdonald, Mike. Maritime Information : A Guide to Libraries and Sources of Information in the United Kingdom: Maritime Information Association, 2004
- Fowler, Simon. A Guide to Military History on the Internet: Pen & Sword, 2007
- Fowler, Simon. Tracing Your Naval Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen & Sword Books, 2011
- Gregson, Keith. Nelson’s Navy 1793-1815: Federation of Family History Societies, 2006
- Hadaway, Stuart. Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Egypt and Palestine Campaigns: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books, 2017
- Hurst, Norman (comp). Naval Chronicle, 1799-1818: Index to Births, Marriages and Deaths: N. Hurst, 1989
- Ingham, Mary. Tracing Your Service Women Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books 2012
- Lavery, Brian. Life in Nelson’s Navy: The History Press, 2011
- Lavery, Brian. Empire of the Seas: The Remarkable Story of How the Navy Forged the Modern World: Conway, 2012
- Lavery, Brian. Nelson’s Navy: The Ships, Men and Organisation, 1793-1815: Conway, 2013
- Mackenzie, Robert Holden. The Trafalgar Roll: The Ships and the Officers: Chatham, 2004
- Morris, Stuart. Dorset, The Royal Navy: Dovecote Press, 2011
- Pappalardo, Bruno. Tracing Your Naval Ancestors: PRO, 2003
- Pappalardo, Bruno. Royal Navy Lieutenants’ Passing Certificates 1691-1902: List & Index Society, 2001 (Available in The National Archives reading rooms)
- Pope, Dudley.Life In Nelson’s Navy: Chatham Publishing, 1997
- Prysor, Glyn. Citizen Sailors: The Royal Navy In the Second World War: Penguin Books, 2012
- Rodger, N.A.M. Naval Records for Genealogists: PRO, 1998
- Royal Marines Historical Society. A Register of Royal Marine Deaths, 1914-19: 1991
- Spencer, William. Family History in the Wars: The National Archives, 2007
- Storey, Neil. Military Photographs and How to Date Them: Countryside Books, 2009
- Tracing Your Family History. Royal Navy: Imperial War Museum, 2006
- Tracy, Nicholas. The Naval Chronicle: The Contemporary Record of the Royal Navy at War, vols 1-5: various publishers
- Usher, George. Dictionary of British Military History: A&C Black Publishers, 2006
- Waller, Ian. My Ancestor was in the Royal Navy: Society of Genealogists, 2014
- Watts, Christopher T. and Watts, Michael J. Tracing Births, Deaths and Marriages at Sea: Society of Genealogists, 2004
- Willis, Sam. In the Hour of Victory: The Royal Navy At War in the Age Nelson: Atlantic Books, 2014
- Wills, Simon. Tracing Your Seafaring Ancestors: A Guide to Maritime Photographs for Family Historians: Pen and Sword Books, 2016
- Wilson, Alastair. A Biographical Dictionary of The Twentieth Century Royal Navy: Volume 1 Admirals of the Fleet and Admirals: Seaforth, 2013
Websites
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-officers-service-records.htm (TNA guide to the Royal Naval Officers’ Service Records found in series ADM 196)
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.barnettmaritime.co.uk (British Maritime History: Background to researching mariners: Mercantile & Naval)
www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_nav_rankings.htm (Officer Ranks in the Royal Navy: The Naval Hierarchy Explained)
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.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.rmg.co.uk/research-collections/research-guides (National Maritime Museum Caird Library: Research Guides. The guides will help you research maritime records so you can discover more about your ancestors, family history or famous people. A number of guides deal with tracing and researching Royal Navy ancestors as well as ship records, administrative records and naval gunnery)
www.forces-war-records.co.uk/free-tutorials (Forces War Records Research Guides: These guides will help you understand how you can find as much out about your ancestors past as possible and include: ‘Getting Started Guide: Your complete guide to researching your military ancestor’ and ‘Understanding your ancestor’s military record’)
www.iwm.org.uk/research/tracing-your-family-history/tracing-your-royal-naval-history (Imperial War Museum Research Guide: Tracing your Royal Navy History)
www.bl.uk/collection-guides/uk-national-government-publications (British Library Guide: Service lists for the Army, Navy and Air Force)
www.naval-history.net (Information on battles, actions, medals, convoys, warships, merchant ships and ship losses, including photos of lost soldiers)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nelson (Online exhibition to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
www.navyrecords.org.uk (Navy Records Society: Publisher of original documents on the Royal Navy)
https://navaldockyards.org (Naval Dockyards Society. The society’s primary aim is to stimulate the production and exchange of information and research into naval dockyards and associated organisations)
Online Databases
https://royalnavyrecordsww1.rmg.co.uk (Royal Navy First World War-Lives At Sea. This unique free resource derived mainly from transcriptions of service records lets you search for information about Royal Navy officers and ratings who served during the First World War. You can also find out more about the crews on different ships and at different battles during the war. Much of the information is being extracted from the Royal Navy Officers’ and ratings’ service records held by the TNA in the series ADM 196 and ADM 188)
Ancestry
UK, RAF Officer Service Records, 1918-1919. This collection contains service records for officers who served in the Royal Air Force between 1918-1919. The records in this collection were created alongside the RAF in 1918. The records likely document the airman’s previous military history, especially if they served in the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service prior to the establishment of the RAF.
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1924. Search registers of seamen’s services. Each record is an image and transcript of a Royal Navy Seaman’s service record from The National Archives ADM 188 series)
www.findmypast.co.uk (British Royal Naval Reserve 1899-1930. The dataset consists of over 81,000 service cards of officers and ratings who served with the RNR extracted from TNA series ADM 337 and ADM 240)
TNA Online Collections (Royal Naval Officers’ Service Records: Service records of officers who joined the Royal Navy, 1756-1917 extracted from series ADM 196; Naval Officers’ Service Record Cards and Files: Service records of officers who joined the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Women’s Royal Naval Service, 1880-1960 extracted from series ADM 340. TNA Online Collections is produced by The National Archives and contains online access to indexes, transcriptions and digital images of some of the TNA’s most important holdings. Searches are free but a fee is levied for each downloaded item. However downloads are free if used at TNA or the Society of Genealogists)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/free-online-records-digital-microfilm (ADM 196: Officers’ Service Records, 1756-1966. TNA Digital Microfilm allows free downloads of records which were previously available only on microfilm in the reading room)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Royal Navy Officers 1899-1919. The Royal Navy Officers records contain the complete service histories of up to 79,000 Royal Navy officers who joined the Royal Navy between 1899 and 1919 extracted from TNA series ADM 196)
www.ancestry.co.uk (UK, Women’s Royal Naval Officers’ Service Records, 1917-1919. The types of records in this collection may include: Application forms, Enrolment forms, Certificates of identification and Officer’s forms. The collection is extracted from TNA series ADM 318)
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)
www.ancerstry.co.uk (UK, Naval Officer and Rating Service Records, 1802-1919. British officers and ratings [non-commissioned seamen] in the Royal Navy were awarded pensions after 20 years’ service. This collection includes records that documented that service, including musters and pay registers, which were compiled by the Navy Pay Office)
Ancestry
UK, Wills of Royal Navy and Royal Marines Personnel, 1786-1882. This collection includes wills written by sailors and marines before embarking on dangerous missions or during service, drawn from series ADM 48 held by The National Archives. The records includes the wills of warrant officers and some ratings but does not include commissioned officers.
www.ancestry.co.uk (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Service Records, 1903-1922. This collection includes service records for British Royal Naval volunteer reserves and for officers includes their rank, appointments, honours and awards, dates of promotion, and names and addresses of next of kin)
www.navylist.org (Naval Biographical Database: Biographical information on Royal Navy commission, warrant and yard officers extracted from a variety of sources, starting from 1660. The database also identifies volunteers who supported the Navy as well as a complete ship listing including places. Expect to find the person’s name, rank, entry and discharge date, pension award, date of death and family members)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Indian Navy Records Of Service 1840-1947. The dataset contains an index of naval officers who served in India and relates mainly to men serving in HM Indian Marine and its successors. The records also include warrant and petty officers, clerks, engineers and other ranks. Each record is a transcription from the British Library’s catalogue with more details included on the individual index entries)
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.forces-war-records.co.uk (Forces War Records: Search over two million British Armed Forces personnel records from 30 completely exclusive collections covering WWII, WWI, Boer War, Victorian Conflicts, Crimean War, Early 19th Century Wars, Napoleonic. Also search hundreds of other sources such as Medal Rolls, Casualties Lists and Memorials. Name searches are automatically cross referenced to the Historic Documents Library that holds over two thousand publications)
www.findmypast.co.uk (Armed forces deaths 1796-1994 and GRO Naval war deaths WWI and WWII)
www.findmypast.co.uk (WW1 Ships Lost At Sea, 1914-1919: Details of British Royal Navy ships that were destroyed during WWI including details of officers killed or wounded on each ship)
www.ageofnelson.org/NavyList/index.html (The Complete Navy List of the Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815: Transcribed names and details of more than 11,000 commissioned officers who served in the Royal Navy from 1787 onwards, up to those who entered the service before 1817)
www.ageofnelson.org/TrafalgarRoll/index.html (The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll: Names and details of over 21,000 seamen and marines who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/trafalgarancestors (Trafalgar Ancestors: Names and details of those that served in the Battle of Trafalgar compiled by Bruno Pappalardo)
British Newspaper Archive
Naval & Military Record and Royal Docklands Gazette, 1886-1896, 1898-1912, 1915, 1917, 1920, 1922-1936. Reporting on military and naval news from across the globe, the publication claimed to be ‘the only weekly service newspaper with correspondents in all the Royal Dockyards, Naval and Military Centres, and on all the Foreign Stations.’
CD Roms
www.ageofnelson.org/NavyList/CD.html (The Complete Navy List of the Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815: Transcribed names and details of more than 11,000 commissioned officers who served in the Royal Navy from 1787 onwards, up to those who entered the service before 1817)
www.ageofnelson.org/TrafalgarRoll/index.html (The Ayshford Trafalgar Roll: Names and details of over 21,000 seamen and marines who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805)
GenFair (Royal Navy at Sea & Ports Abroad, 1861, 1871, 1901 census returns. Census entries giving details on crew Name, Rank, Condition married or single, Age and Place of Birth both at sea and in domestic and foreign ports)
S & N Genealogy Supplies (Royal Navy Ships at Sea and in Ports Abroad in the 1871 Census and 1901 census)
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: Details of service personnel mentioned in the Saturday editions of the Oldham Chronicle1914 to the end of December 1919)
