Military records before 1900

[ann7]

Can any one help, I'm trying to find out where to look/go for military records before 1900 as I'm trying to find Ernest Octavius Organ and if he was away fighting during the 1901 census as I am unable to find him anywhere on it His wife and  son are in dover but he is not to be found.
Ann7

[themonsstar]

You would need to go to the NA at Kew, and look in WO97 soldiers documents 1760-1913. You may find his service record in the box for name's 'O' .

[ann7]

thanks I live near kew so will make the journey, Hope I get lucky,
Ann

[Scarletwoman]

Ann

The medal index cards for WW1 show that Ernest Octavious Organ served during the Great War as Private 6941 East Surrey Regiment and then transferred to the Labour Corps.  This means that if he had pre-war service, his service papers for that period would almost certainly have been combined with his WW1 service papers.  And consequently, if they survived the fire and water damage of the Blitz, would now be on microfilm at Kew in Classes WO363 or WO364.  There are certainly a few pre-war records still in WO97, but the majority were merged.  This is the link to his medal index card:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=4652294&queryType=1&resultcount=4


Sue

[ann7]

Thanks Sue,
will take bother lots of info with me and if I don't find anything in one search I'll try the other. It all seems to be a bit hit and miss so any help is much appreciated.
Ann