A soldier’s military service was recorded in fine detail. From his enlistment, through training and active service to death or discharge, many different official documents were produced and the man mentioned in many other ways. Some of the types of document have been affected by loss or destruction since 1918, but many still exist. With increasing digitisation it is becoming ever easier to track down the documentary evidence that remains. Here’s how.
How to Begin …
- Prepare your search
- Are you trying to find family details from military records?
- Check these Frequently Asked Questions
Introducing a new approach
To make life easier for those visitors who wish to research an individual soldier, I am trying out a new approach to organising the information on this site. If feedback is positive, I will roll it out to all corps and regiments.
Researching the men of the Royal Horse Artillery
Researching the men of the Royal Field Artillery
Researching the men of the Royal Garrison Artillery
If you soldier was not of the artillery, or perhaps you do not know, let’s go to my traditional advice:
How To Find …
… a soldier’s service record
All surviving records are now online unless the man continued in service after 1921 or returned to service at a later date.
See How to find a soldier’s service record
And Finding a soldier if you do not know his regiment/number
… an officer’s service record
These records are not online.
… records of gallantry and bravery awards
These records are all online.
… casualty lists and records
… records of deaths, burials and commemorations
How to Interpret …
- A medal index card
- A theatre of war code on a medal index card
- Clues from attestation
- A military cemetery
- Tips for identifying details from photographs of men in uniform
- General advice on interpreting army records
Insights and articles
- How to find a soldier if you do not know his regiment
- Why does my soldier have two numbers (or more)?
- Online information service providers for researching British soldiers – which is best?
- When all else fails – try the Absent Voters List
- Was your soldier a policeman before or during the Great War?
- Confused when researching a soldier of the artillery?
- Did your soldier re-enlist for service in North Russia?
- Should I join a First World War club?
More help
You can find more information and get more help at the following websites: