Brereton, J. M. History of the Royal Regiment of Wales (24/41 Foot) and its Predecessors, 1689–1989. Cardiff, Wales: Published by the Regiment, 1989. (FHL book 942.9 M2b; computer number 0584381).

If your ancestor married, died, or had children while in the army after 1760, he may be listed in the Chaplains’ Returns or Regimental Registers. If you cannot find your ancestor’s regiment from these records, the other sources you should search will depend on what you know:

• If you know a campaign or battle in which the ancestor fought, a place he was stationed, or a place where a child was born while he was in the service, use:
  

Kitzmiller, John. In Search of the “Forlorn Hope”, 2vols. plus supp. Ogden, Utah: Manuscript Publishing Foundation, 1988. (FHL book 942 M2j; computer number 0469639.) This work will help you find where regiments were stationed during a range of years.

• If you know the area where the individual was living during his late teens, use the handbooks at the end of this section or regimental histories to find which regiments were recruited in that area.
• If you know where he died after receiving an army pension, search district pension returns. For more information about district pension returns, see:
  

“District Pension Records of the British Army” in Irish at Home and Abroad. by Dwight A. Radford, vol. 4 no. 1 (1997), p. 11–17. (FHL 941.5 D25ih; computer number 0714490.)

• If you know that he was in the army in 1806, you may wish to search the return of all men in army service on 24 June 1806 (not including commissioned officers). While the 1806 return is indexed only by regiment, it is more complete and easier to search than other sources, such as soldiers’ documents.
• If you know approximately when he died, search probate records. Before 1858, search the Prerogative Court of Canterbury first. For information on probates, see the “Probate Records” section of this outline.
  

Army Officers. You can usually find names of army officers in the Army List (1740 to the present). If your ancestor does not appear in the Army List for the right time period, consult the card index to officers, available only at the Public Record Office.

If an officer was alive in 1828 or 1829, you can use the indexed returns of service. “Birth certificates” submitted with widow’s pension applications may reveal an officer’s name. If you still cannot find a record, use the search strategies for soldiers.

There are separate records for commissariat officers, staff officers, medical officers (surgeons), chaplains, and others. Board of Ordnance officers (artillery, engineers, sappers, miners, artificers, and others) are not always included in an Army List and have their own records until 1855.

Seamen. If your ancestor was in the navy after 1852, search the index to Continuous Service Engagement Books or the Surname Index to the 1861 Census Returns of Ships (see the “Merchant Marine” section of this outline for more information on the latter source). Before 1853, the source to use will depend on what you know about your ancestor. If you know:

• The name of a ship on which he served, search the ship musters, pay lists, and ship logs for the time period he should have been aboard.
• A port where your ancestor landed on a specific date, search the List Books, a geographically arranged list of ship locations at the Public Record Office (class ADM 8).
• A battle or campaign in which his ship was involved, search the medal rolls.
• The name of an officer serving with your ancestor, search the Navy List for that officer’s ship.
  

Since many seamen also served in the merchant marines during their careers, search the records described in the “Merchant Marine” section of this outline.

Navy Officers. You can usually find navy officers in the Navy Lists (1782 to the present). A list of naval officers from 1695 to 1742 is in:

Index to Commission and Warrant Books. N.p., n.d. (FHL films 824516–7; computer number 0374247.) It gives dates of commission and a reference to further details available at the Public Record Office.

Many officers are included in published biographies, such as:

Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy, 1660–1815. 3 vols. N.p., n.d. (FHL book 942 M23cs; films 908026–027; computer number 0172791.)

Handbooks for Military Records

If your ancestor is not listed in the above sources, consult the handbooks listed below for other records or clues to finding your ancestor:

Bevan, Amanda and Andrea Duncan. Tracing YourAncestors in the Public Record Office. See the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.

Hamilton-Edwards, Gerald. In Search of Army Ancestry. London: Phillimore & Co., Ltd., 1977. (FHL book 942 M2ha; computer number 0168879.)

Higham, Robin. A Guide to the Sources of British Military History. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1972. (FHL book 942 M2h; computer number 0168877.)

Kew Lists. See the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.

Records of Officers and Soldiers Who Have Served in the British Army. London: Public Record Office, 1984. (FHL book 942 M2am no. 1; computer number 0168749.)

Rodgers, N. A. M. Naval Records for Genealogists. 2nd ed. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1988. (FHL book 942 A5p no. 22; computer number 0501982.)

Swinson, Arthur S., ed. A Register of the Regiments and Corps of the British Army. London: Archive Press, 1972. (FHL book 942 M2am; computer number 0168749.)

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