Tracing British Military Ancestors

Before you start you need to know the ancestor’s name. That may seem blindingly obvious but it’s surprising how many enquiries begin: ‘I’m not sure of his name … but he fought in the Boer War’ (or other conflict).

Preferably you also need to know his regiment. Rank and date of discharge would be helpful.

British Army records for any soldier discharged before 1913 may offer the following information: age, place of birth, age on enlistment, length and location of service, character report and details of appearance, trade or occupation and reason for discharge.

To find this information you’ll need recourse to Service Records held at The National Archives, UK, either visiting TNA yourself or delegating to an experienced military researcher (often the wisest, speediest course). Search TNA’s online catalogue for a start.

The Soldiers Discharge papers for the period 1882-1900 and 1900-1913 are among the Soldiers Documents (attestation and discharge) held at TNA in WO 97. Note that these records do not include men who died while serving. The Soldiers Documents are arranged by date of discharge.

For 1882-1900 and 1900-1913 all Soldiers Discharge papers are filed alphabetically by name.


If your military ancestor was an Officer in the British Army, his career could be traced using the Army Lists. Service records of officers are mainly in WO 76.

If he was in the Imperial Yeomanry, attestation and discharge papers are in WO 128, filed by service number (if you don’t know the number, look at the registers in WO 129). In WO 128 is a roll of officers and NCO’s in the Imperial Yeomanry. WO 129 includes casualty books and a roll of officers in the Imperial Yeomanry who received the Queen’s South Africa Medal.

The Imperial Yeomanry was a force raised in 1899 for service in the Anglo-Boer War. This decision was taken after the battle of Colenso, 15 December 1899, when it became clear that reinforcements were required in South Africa. Among early recruits were thousands who had no previous military experience and received minimal training. The IY was a corps of mounted men, who had to be good riders and marksmen, between the ages of 20 and 35.

At the same time as the formation of the IY, a series of Volunteer Service Companies began to be established. 66 of these Volunteer Service Companies, nearly 8 000 men, would eventually serve in South Africa.

These shouldn’t be confused with the City of London Imperial Volunteers which was a separate regiment.

All except three of the Regular regiments and corps of the British Army of 1899 served in the Anglo-Boer War. There have been confusing changes since that date, many of the regiments having been amalgamated or disbanded, or given new titles.

Regimental museums may be a good source of information. An essential reference work for such addresses is the Family and Local History Handbook published annually in UK. http://www.genealogical.co.uk/

Official regimental histories can also be helpful.

Retrieving the guns: Ladysmith