Researching British Army ancestors in the Victorian era – is it possible?
Perhaps you are curious to learn about any ancestors who donned the red coat of the British Army during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. Maybe you were captivated by the family stories of military ancestors who served during the Indian Mutiny or the Second Boer War. You may have Victorian medals, photographs or memorabilia at home, but you are unsure how to follow up on the stories behind each item. These steps can help you on your journey of discovery.
Service and pension records
Service records are an invaluable source when researching the armed forces and represent a logical place to start your research journey. Victorian-era service records vary in detail and appearance.
They often include vital clues, such as the date and place your ancestor enlisted, their number, the unit they served with, where they served and when they were discharged. This will help you to piece together your ancestor’s military service from start to finish, laying the foundations for research into other sources.
A great place to start your search on Forces War Records is the Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records collection, covering service with the British Army between 1760 and 1913. You can search the records with a name only or add details such as your ancestor’s service number or regiment to narrow the results.
FWR Tip: Can’t find your ancestor in the collection? Service records for soldiers discharged without a pension before 1883 were largely destroyed.
From 1883 onwards, service records are more substantial in content and are available for soldiers discharged without a pension; however, they are rarer for those who died in service.
Another collection worth consulting when seeking ancestors who served during the Victorian period is the Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Admission and Discharge Records. The collection concerns the award of ‘out-pensions’ to soldiers discharged from the Regular Army or the Militia on account of disability.
FWR Tip: While some pensioners surrendered their pension to live in the Royal Hospital Chelsea (known as ‘in-pensioners’), many more lived outside the confines and received their pensions elsewhere (‘out-pensioners’).
Records in this collection vary in appearance and content. Details may include a brief description of the pensioner, their age, place of birth, particulars of service and the reason for discharge. A reference to your ancestor’s service in this collection could be the spark that ignites your research.
Pre-First World War service and pension documents can be patchy, and a detailed service or pension record may not be available for your ancestor. There are, however, other collections available to help shed light on your ancestor’s military service during the Victorian period.
Worldwide army indexes, muster rolls and medal records
In the absence of service and pension records, our series of transcribed collections known as the Worldwide Army Indexes could help you when researching your British Army ancestors in the Victorian era.
Compiled from muster lists contained in War Office pay lists held at The National Archives (TNA), Kew, the indexes are essentially census substitutes for the military. Available at ten-year intervals, our subscribers have access to the following worldwide army indexes:
If your ancestor does not appear in domestic censuses and was of military age, it is worth consulting the worldwide army indexes on the basis they may have joined the army. Entries are likely to include the soldier’s name, regiment, rank and number, in addition to their regimental HQ location.
A positive entry in the Worldwide Army Indexes could act as a springboard for further research into additional collections, such as the muster rolls held at TNA. Muster rolls are monthly, or quarterly lists recording a soldier’s movements, and where his unit was stationed, and often contain enlistment and discharge dates, allowing you to form a timeline of your ancestor’s military service. They are especially useful if a service record is not available.
Medal records can be a vital source for family historians and can be a useful tool for researching Victorian army ancestors. Campaign medals were issued to soldiers for service during particular campaigns or wars. Locating a positive entry in the medal rolls helps to confirm your ancestor’s service during a particular campaign. Search our list of records for keywords such as ‘medal’ or ‘award’, where you will find transcribed medal rolls for the Second Boer War or gallantry awards from the Crimean War onwards. Keep in mind the Army Long Service and Good Conduct collection, covering the Victorian era. The medal was initially awarded for 21 years of service and good conduct (24 for the cavalry), and from 1870 onwards, it was reduced to 18 years.
Researching British Army ancestors who were casualties
What if your ancestor died serving in the army during the Victorian period? Burial records or photos/transcriptions of headstones can provide helpful information about the deceased to assist with your research.
Many soldiers served in India during the 19th century. If this was their final resting place, you might find a burial transcription within the Burials Database of the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. The Families in British India Society database may also prove beneficial for tracing military casualties in India. If your ancestor died in South Africa, consult the Gravestone Picture Library of the Genealogical Society of South Africa for any potential photos of headstones or memorials. The Imperial War Museum’s extensive War Memorials Register contains photographs of memorials, many relating to the Victorian era, which can be searched by name or conflict.
Forces War Records subscribers have access to casualty rolls for the Second Afghan War of 1878-80 and the Second Boer War, covering 1899-1902. Perhaps your ancestor served during either of these conflicts?
How do you learn more about your ancestor’s regiment and the battles and wars they fought in?
Regimental histories are a great source for adding colour and context and can build on the dates and facts you have gleaned from other sources. Many regimental histories have been published online or can be found at libraries or regimental museums or in the Forces War Records Historical Documents Library.
Create a Memorial to your ancestor
Finally, create a Memorial for your Victorian military ancestor. By creating a memorial, you can save records and facts unearthed during your research on Forces War Records and photos from your own collection to a specific ancestor. The Memorial feature also allows you to build a timeline of your ancestor’s military service; enter facts such as their enlistment and discharge dates, the battles they fought in, or when they transferred to a different regiment.
There are many collections available on Forces War Records to help you when researching your British Army ancestors and their military service. You can view all our records via the Browse tab, with options available to narrow the collections by country, theatre of war or service branch.
We’re always here for you if you need help or advice with your research. Why not follow us on Facebook and submit a question to one of our monthly military genealogy Q&As? You can also send a query via the Document Expert section of our website.
Cover Photo: © Hulton Archive/Getty Images