The United Kingdom has a rich collection of military draft, enlistment, and service records invaluable to genealogists. While conscription was introduced during World War I and again in World War II, earlier periods relied on voluntary enlistment. Military records can include attestation papers, service records, pension files, and casualty lists, often detailing birthplaces, family, occupations, and physical characteristics. Records cover the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and colonial forces. Some documents, like militia and volunteer lists, date back to the 18th century. Key repositories such as The National Archives (UK) and regimental museums hold many of these records. For researchers, these sources illuminate ancestors’ roles in major historical events and reveal personal details that may not appear in civil records.
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Military
Draft, Enlistment & Service
- United Kingdom, Service Medal and Award Rolls Index, 1914-1918 4,495,296 records
- Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921, 1939-1947 4,018,932 records
- United Kingdom, War Memorials, 1914-1949 1,107,431 records
- British Silver War Badge Recipients, 1914 - 1918 882,678 records
- United Kingdom, Royal Navy Ratings? Service Records, 1853-1928 803,683 records
- British Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919 703,810 records
- United Kingdom, Merchant Navy Seamen 571,917 records
- United Kingdom, Royal Air Force Personnel 446,493 records
- United Kingdom, British Army and Air Force Nominal Roll, 1920 371,696 records
- British Red Cross Society Volunteers, 1914-1918 242,513 records
- British Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 171,217 records
- United Kingdom and Allies, International Bomber Command Losses, 1936-1968 163,083 records
- United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen?s Campaign Medals, 1914-1918 157,424 records
- United Kingdom, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Royal Navy Reserve Ratings? Records of Service, 1908-1958 129,896 records
- United Kingdom, Royal Marines? Service Records, 1842-1925 112,012 records
- United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen?s Campaign Medals, 1939-1945 108,387 records
- British Army Prisoners of War Held in German Camps, 1939 - 1945 104,840 records
- British Militia Attestations Index, 1886 - 1910 86,081 records
- United Kingdom, Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards, 1935-1990 78,497 records
- United Kingdom, Royal Navy Officers? Service Records, 1756-1931 66,686 records
- United Kingdom, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Index, 1903-1922 59,784 records
- Boer War Casualties, 1899 - 1902 54,932 records
- United Kingdom, Admiralty and War Office: Royal Naval Division: Records of Service, 1914-1919 50,017 records
- British Royal Navy and Royal Marine Casualties, 1914 - 1919 43,934 records
- British Empire Armies and Other Land Forces - Prisoners of War, 1939 - 1945 39,810 records
- Waterloo Medal Recipients, 1815 36,855 records
- De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour 1914-1924 26,768 records
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