Tracing Your Army Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians

by Simon Fowler

Overview

Whether you are interested in the career of an individual officer, researching medals awarded to a soldier, or just want to know more about a particular battle or campaign, this book will point you in the right direction. Assuming the reader has no prior knowledge of the British Army, its history or organization, Simon Fowler explains what records survive, where they are to be found and how they can help you in your research. He shows how to make the best use of the increasing number of related resources to be found online, and he pays particular attention to explaining the records and the reasons behind their creation, as this information can be very important in understanding how these documents can help your research.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473876361
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	04/24/2017
Series:	Tracing your Ancestors
Edition description:	3rd
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Simon Fowler is a professional writer, researcher and historian, specializing in family and military history. He has made a particular study of the First World War, and has long been interested in how Britain, and Europe, readjusted to post-war conditions. Daniel Weinbrens PhD concentrated on the impact of the First World War on British society. His historical publications include The Open University. A History and The Oddfellows 1810-2010. He has taught courses on war and society at several universities and currently teaches this subject at The Open University.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Getting Started 1

Chapter 2 Organisation of the Army in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries 20

Chapter 3 The Army before 1660 32

Chapter 4 Officers 37

Chapter 5 Other Ranks: Enlistment and Conditions of Service 53

Chapter 6 Medals 68

Chapter 7 Casualty Records 76

Chapter 8 Discipline and Desertion 86

Chapter 9 Pension Records 94

Chapter 10 Militia 1757-1914 101

Chapter 11 Women 106

Chapter 12 British in India 112

Chapter 13 Dominion and Colonial Forces 119

Chapter 14 Boer War 125

Chapter 15 The First World War 134

Chapter 16 The Second World War 153

Chapter 17 1919-1969 168

Appendix 1 Army Service Numbers 175

Appendix 2 Problem Solving 178

Appendix 3 TNA Research Guides on Tracing Soldier Ancestors 183

Appendix 4 Army Ranks 186

Index 189

Editorial Reviews

"More superb advice on tracing your ancestors, this time covering British Army records. We hit a blank wall with many of our own researches, mainly because so many records were lost or destroyed during the second world war. This superb title helps you when the usual records come up short."

Books Monthly