Researching Officers and Men of the British Army 1756-1913 at the PRO

1.	Was he an officer?	Yes No Don't know	Read 2 Read 5 Read 2
2.	Check Army Lists and London Gazette	Successful Unsuccessful	Read 3 Read 5
3.	Check regimental histories etc, then		Read 4
4.	Visit PRO (and/or Family Record Centre) to consult Applications for appointments Birth etc Certificates Commission Books Records of Service Wounds Pensions Registers Wounds Pensions Ledgers Reports of Marriages Half Pay Registers Half Pay Ledgers Half Pay Lists Retired Full Pay Registers Retired Full Pay Ledgers Widows' Pensions Registers Widows' Pensions Ledgers Dependants' Pensions Registers Dependants' Pensions Ledgers
5.	Check Regular Soldiers Documents or Certificates of Service	Successful Unsuccessful	Read 10 Read 11 & 6
6.	Do you know where he was at a given date during his service	Yes No	Read 7 Read 8
7.	Consult the Monthly Returns		Read 10
8.	Do you know where he was likely to have been living when he joined the army ?	Yes No	Read 9 Read 13
9.	Read 7 and try local newspapers for recruiting parties in the area	Successful Unsuccessful	Try 5 again Read 13
10.	Check Chelsea Out-Pension Admission Books Chelsea Out-Pension Service Pension Kilmainham Out-Pension Admission Books Chelsea Out-Pension Regimental Registers Out-Pension Returns Chelsea In-Pension Admission Books, Rolls, Register and Index
11.	Check Pay Lists and Muster Rolls	Successful Unsuccessful	Read 12 Read 13
12.	Check Description Books Medal Rolls Casualty returns Deserter Bounty Certificates
13.	Either the man was not a soldier or you need more data to trace his records.

RFM Amended 11/98

PRO - Public Records Office

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