War Service Records

[ellensophia]

I have recently been in contact with the national Archives re: War Service Records. This was their response.
Thank you for contacting The National Archives (TNA).
 
SOLDIERS DOCUMENTS BEFORE 1914
 
The basic framework of a soldier's career throughout most of the nineteenth century, can normally be traced through the surviving Muster Books and Pay lists of his regiment(s), which are kept here. Using these to find a man's whole career can take a long time.  For many, but not all soldiers, it is quicker and easier to start with the Soldier's (enlistment and/or discharge) Documents in the collection known as WO 97.  This does not include all soldiers.  Before 1883, it normally covers those soldiers who were discharged and received a pension.  From 1883 to 1913, most soldiers are included, if they survived their service.  It can be difficult to find records of soldiers who died in service, especially as the muster books stop altogether by 1898.
 
Please click on the links below to detailed information leaflets on Soldiers' Discharge Papers 1760-1913, Muster Rolls and Pay Lists c1730-1898, and Soldiers' Pension Records 1702-1913:
 
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2005
 
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2007
 
http:// www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk /ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2006
 Hope this helps a bit.
Ellensophia

[skippy]

There is some helpful info on the following site which gives some advice and lists documents available. Its especially helpful re army records back to 1660.

http://www.burkes-peerage.net/sites/common/sitepages/ge6.asp 

[Kazza]

Skippy,

Thanks for that link,  it is a very useful one.  Put it into Useful links in the common room if you have not already,

Thanks 

Kazza.

[clickaway]

I see that records for soldiers who came out of the Army after 1920 are held by the MoD.

I actually have one or two original documents of my grandfathers in my posession. One is a de-mob account which notes a war gratuity of £23 and three separate weeks pay, the last being 25 February 1919. But the form has been stamped 14 February 1924.

You'll note that there's a gap of exactly five years. Does that mean he only got his war pension after that time? Perhaps he was liable to be re-called during that time.

But would he count as coming out of the Army in 1919 or 1924? That would point to where his records may be.

Ray

[floridagirl]

Don't know if anyones still looking for WW1 records, but I was given the name of a researcher last week, I e-mailed him last Sunday, he visited Kew on Tuesday, found my great grandfathers "Burnt Records" within an hour, he has sent the details out to me already.
He only charges £15 per hour and 30pence for each A3 photocopy.
It would have cost me between £75 and £100 to get to Kew and back plus the fact I would have lost a days pay from work, and I probably wouldn't have found anything anyway.
Money well spent wouldn't you say?
I would be happy to recommend him to anyone who is thinking of accessing Army records.
Regards,
Viv.

[carol8353]

Jaq

I hope I read this correctly- but did you say you have access to some PRO disks? I am interested in seeing what was mentioned in the following list,regarding Eric Frances ROBINSON who went down with the ship.

 ADM   116/1526   Casualty List, HMS Hampshire, 5 June 1916

Would be very grateful if you would do a look up please.

All the best

Carol