Military Records

What Will I Find ?

Most records are held at the National Archives at Kew. They have a number of research guides to its major collections, which can be searched at National Archive

Records range from muster rollls (c.1730-1898) through to the Second World War. A large number of First World War records were destroyed in WW2 and those that survived are microfilmed for viewing at the National Archives.

Medal Cards awarded to those who served in both World Wars can be downloaded from the National Archives by searching Documents Online and both Military and Civilian war casualties can be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site CWGC

The National Archives also hold records on Army Lists, which recorded serving Officers and was published monthly and quarterly up to 1946, and annually after that.

Some Records Offices will have have CD Roms of war casualties; again, Officers were usually filed separately. Details of casualties and awards often featured in local newspapers, which may be microfilmed in most record offices in the area the paper was published. Some Record Offices may also hold microfilm records of Regiments relating to their area.

Gallantry Awards were also listed in the London Gazette, a publication which is currently being digitised, and can be viewed on microfilm at the Britsh Newspaper Library.

Other Sources

In the case of the 'elite' forces, The Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, Welsh Guards

The Service Records would be kept at

The Archivist
RHQ Grenadier Guards
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London SW1E 6HQ

Change the name to that of the Guards Regiment you're enquiring about.

Back to Records Office Guide