Knowledge base

Military Records: British Army Service Records 1760-1915: Chelsea Pensioners and Militia Attestation Papers

• What are the Chelsea Pensioners' British Army Service Records?
• What are the Militia Attestation Papers?
• Glossary

What are the Chelsea Pensioners' British Army Service Records?

These records are of men pensioned out of the British Army 1760-1913. The only connection with ‘Chelsea Pensioners’ is that the pensions were administered through The Royal Hospital at Chelsea. This table provides a breakdown of how many records and images we‘ve published and which are still to come:

The records are now available to you online in association with The National Archives. They are referred to as ‘WO97’ within the archives. Please note that we are launching with an A-Z list for 1883-1900 and will continue to add records and images to the database.

Start searching our British Army Service Records 1760-1915 now. You'll also find search tips on this page if you need a helping hand.

If they’re about pensions, do they just tell us about old soldiers? No, soldiers were eligible for a pension after 12 years of service so relatively young men could be pensioned out. The term ‘pensioner’ refers to a pension being paid to an ex-soldier, not that they are a resident pensioner at Chelsea Hospital.

Why can’t I find an entry? The series generally doesn't contain the records of soldiers who died in service or who took an early discharge because they didn’t receive a pension.

What are the Militia Attestation Papers?

The Militia was a voluntary county-based part-time force for home defence. It ceased to be summoned after the Civil War but was revived in 1757, when the Militia Act established militia regiments in all counties of England and Wales. All pre-20th century males were obliged to serve in the militia so you are likely to find information about your ancestors here. There are also details about the professions these men worked in as, for most of the time, they would be engaged in a regular job.

The records are now available to you online in association with The National Archives. They are referred to as ‘WO96’ within the archives.

Why are these records useful to the family historian?

These records provide rich detail and colour to your ancestors’ lives to a level that is difficult to find elsewhere. There are usually six or seven pages of detail per solider whereas an individual only gets one line in a census records. As well as discovering details on which regiments they served in you can also find out physical details like chest sizes (often tiny), distinguishing marks and a description of how they looked. In the absence of photographs, these records are an essential tool in imagining what your ancestors were like. You’ll also be able to see the individual’s signature.Whereas most other military records provide information about officer class soldiers, these records include papers from ordinary soldiers. This makes it likely you will be able to find details about someone in your past. If a census trail leads to a dead end it is possible you can find who you are looking for here. These records were among the most popular at The National Archives as family historians and genealogists have realised how valuable they are.

What exactly will I be able to find out?

The Chelsea Pensioners' British Army Service Records provide the soldier’s name, place of birth, regiment(s), year of discharge and dates of service within the British Army. The Militia Attestation Papers also offer details of employment.

What else is special about these records?

They contain details which are largely unavailable elsewhere. These records are useful in finding out information about ancestors from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and overseas. There are a good number of records from the Caribbean and India in particular. This is the first time these records have been digitised. Find out about the task of getting these records online. You are able to access these original records and, if you would like to contribute, add to the transcription.

Chelsea Pensioners Army Service Records - mini feature from findmypast.co.uk on Vimeo.

Timeline and Historical context

Glossary

Attestation papers - official papers written for a solider upon joining the Army.

Description Books - before the days of photography, the Army had to have a means of recognising soldiers, not least in the case of desertion or to prevent pension fraud. Description Books provided detailed physical descriptions of each solider and details of birthplace, trade service and enlistment.

Discharge papers - official papers written for a soldier upon leaving the Army.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea - a retirement home for the ‘Chelsea Pensioner’ and administrative office for the British Army, founded in 1682 and opened in 1692 to look after wounded and disabled soldiers. Catered for ‘in-pensioners’ but the large majority of soldiers pensioned out of the army were ‘out-pensioners’ living at their own address but receiving a pension via The Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Kilmainham Hospital - a predecessor to The Royal Hospital Chelsea, catering for wounded and disabled soldiers from 1684.

Militia - a voluntary part-time force for home defence. The Militia Act of 1757 established Militia Regiments in all counties of England and Wales. The Yeomanry (cavalry) and the Volunteers were introduced later. In 1808 a further force, the Local Militia, was formed. By 1816 the Local Militia and the Volunteers had been dissolved. The Volunteer Force was revived in 1859. In 1907, the Yeomanry and the Volunteers combined as the Territorial Force, and in 1908 the Militia was revived as the Special Reserve.

WO96 - the reference number at The National Archives. ‘WO’ stands for War Office. WO96 is War Office: Militia Attestation Papers 1806-1913. The records provide a key source of information for non-officer class soldiers. Records referring to non-officer class soldiers are very difficult to find elsewhere.

WO97 - the reference number at The National Archives. ‘WO’ stands for War Office. WO97 is Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers’ Service Documents 1760-1913. The records provide a key source of information for non-officer class soldiers. Records referring to non-officer class soldiers are very difficult to find elsewhere.

Groups of soldiers

Squad: 9-13 soldiers

Platoon: 20-42 soldiers

Company: 70-200 soldiers

Battalion: 300-1300 soldiers – usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel

Brigade: 3000-5000 soldiers – usually commanded by a Brigadier General, Brigadier or Colonel

Division: 10000-15000 soldiers

Corps: 20000-45000 soldiers