WWI British Army Service Records

First World War Army Service Records: A Guide for Family Historians is a British National Archives publication written by William Spencer. At the time he wrote this book, Spencer was the principal military specialist at the National Archives and was an adviser on family history. This book covers what any researcher needs to know about searching WWI military records held by the Archives. The additional background information provides an added bonus.

The National Archives’ records include over 10,000 individual unit war diaries cover all operational theatres of the British Army, while original trench maps illustrates areas from the Western Front to Salonica, Gallipoli to Mesopotamia, Palestine to Italy. Information in this book covers such topics as “details of campaign medals, gallantry and meritorious service records, prisoner of war debriefs, courts material and casualty lists.” Records held cover the RAF, the Royal Flying Corps, the WAAC, the Dominion Forces, the Indian Army, as well as auxiliary and nursing services. Added details, such as photographs and sample documents, help complete the book.

Note: The British National Archives are no longer in the “publishing” business. First World War Army Service Records and other books previously published by the National Archives are in limited supply and may not be available in the future.

Table of Contents

Using the National Archives

Introduction

1 — Records of Those Who Served in the First World War

2 — Officers’ Records of Service

• Types of Commissions
• WO 338
• WO 374
• Royal Army Medical Corps (Temporary) Commissions
• Other Record Series
• The Army List
• Other Printed Lists
• Disability Pension Files (PIN 26)
• The King’s African Rifles and West African Frontier Force

3 — Other Ranks’ Records of Service

• The “Burnt Records” (WO 363)
• The “Unburnt Records” (WO364)
• Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WO 398)
• Digital Access to WO 363, WO 364 and WO 398
• Household Cavalry Records (WO 400)
• The Ministry of Pensions Records (PIN 62)
• Files of Dead Chelsea Pensioners (WO 324)
• The King’s African Rifle and West African Frontier Force
• The British West Indies Regiment
• The Macedonian Mule Corps

4 — Nurses

• Records of Service
• Medals
• Disability Pensions (PIN 26)
• The Nursing Times

5 — Indian Army Records of Service

• Officers
• The Indian Army List
• Other Ranks

6 — Records of Service of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

• RFC and RAF Officers
• RFC Other Ranks
• RAF Other Ranks
• Women’s Royal Air Force

7 – Unit War Diaries and Operational Records

• Army Structures
• Unit War Diaries (WO 95)
• War Diary Extracts in WO 154
• Military Headquarters Papers and Correspndence (WO 158)
• Intelligence Summaries (WO 157)
• War Office Registered Files: General Series (WO 32)
• War Office Directorate of Military Operations (WO 106)
• The Official Historian’s Papers
• Printed Sources
• Embarkation and Disembarkation Records
• Army Orders
• Photographs

8 — Trench and Other Maps

• Trench Maps
• How to Use Trench Maps
• Military Headquarters Maps (WO 153)
• Other Maps

9 — Campaign Medals

• Medals and Silver War Badge
• Medal Index Cards
• Medal Rolls
• How to Use the Medal Records
• Operational Theatres of War 1914–20: Alphanumeric Codes
• Regimental Order of Precedures

10 — Awards for Gallantry and Meritorious Service

• The Process
• Recommendations
• Citations
• The London Gazette
• Colonial and Dominion Gazettes
• The Victoria Cross
• The Distinguished Service Order
• The Military Cross
• The Distinguished Conduct Medal
• The Military Medal
• The Meritorious Service Medal
• Mentioned in Despatches
• The Royal Red Cross
• Indian Army Awards
• Orders of Chivalry
• Foreign Awards

11 — Court Martial

• Courts Martial Proceedings (WO 71)
• Registers of Courts Martial
• Other Courts Martial Records
• Published Sources

12 — Prisoners of War

• WO 161
• Repatriation Reports
• Other Sources

13 — Casualties and War Dead

• Hospital Records
• Disability Pensions
• War Dead
• Decreased Soldiers’ Effects
• Widows’ and Dependents’ Pensions
• The Memorial Plaque and Scroll
• Death Certificates

14 — Records of the Dominion Forces

• Operational Records
• Records of Service at the National Archives
• Records of Service held Abroad

15 — Records Held Outside the National Archives

• Absent Voters Lists
• Newspapers
• Other Archives

16 — Research Techniques

• How to Begin
• Joining the Army and Changing Units
• Researching Other Ranks
• Regimental Numbers
• Researching an Officer
• RFC and RAF
• Finding Unit War Diaries
• Ranks
• Medal Index Card Remarks Box

Appendix 1 Regimental Order of Precedence

Appendix 2 Regional Record Offices

Appendix 3 Post-First World War Records of Service

Further Reading and Websites

Index

Order a copy, while supplies are still available, of First World War Army Service Records: A Guide for Family Historians from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA10.