United Kingdom, World War I Service Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Image Visiblity
Whenever possible, Family Search makes images available for all users. However, ultimate rights to view images on our website are granted by the record Custodians. The United Kingdom, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 collection is available to the Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers, and to members of the supporting organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The images can be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you.

Record Description
This collection will include records from 1914-1920 It contains records from two publications in the National Archives:


 * WO 363 (War Office: Soldiers' Documents, First World War "Burnt Documents") surviving records of service for non commissioned officers and other ranks who served in the 1914-1918 war and did not re-enlist prior to the outbreak of war in 1939 and
 * WO 364 (War Office: Documents from Pension Claims, First World War) service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who were discharged from the Army and claimed disability pensions for war service between 1914 and 1920 and did not re-enlist prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The records are unlikely to contain information on individuals who did not claim a war pension.

Military records are of great genealogical value and may provide information not found in any other source. These records identify individuals who served or were eligible to serve in the military. Military service (other than the militia) was usually a lifetime career. Officers came from the upper classes; soldiers usually came from the poor.

The National Archives at Kew in the London area is the caretaker of most of the military records. It is important to understand the "fonds" or the way records are grouped. There is a Department code (ADM for admiralty, WO for War Office, etc) and a series number.

These records are the service files of soldiers who were discharged from the British army between 1914 and 1920. They are a collection known as the "unburned documents." They represent about 8 percent of the soldiers who served during those years.

The article British Military Records has more information about these records.

Citation for This Collection
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Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
These records may contain the following information:


 * Name of Soldier
 * Place of birth
 * Age
 * Occupation
 * Marital Status
 * Date of marriage (If married)
 * Wife’s maiden name
 * Military rank
 * Date of enlistment
 * Place of enlistment
 * Religion

How to Use the Record
To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of soldier

Search the Collection
To search this collection by browsing the images:

To search the collection image by image, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page: ⇒Select the appropriate "Name Range - First Letter" ⇒Select the appropriate "Name Range - First Two Letters" ⇒Select the appropriate "Name Range - Surname" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Using the Information

 * Use the age to calculate the approximate birth year.
 * Use the place of birth and calculated birth year to search for a birth record.

Related Websites

 * National Archives of the UK
 * British War Graves

Related Wiki Articles

 * England Military Records
 * British Military Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
“Argentina, Buenos Aires, Catholic Church Records, 1635-1981,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 28 February, 2012), La Plata &gt; San Ponciano &gt; Matrimonios 1884-1886 &gt; image 71 of 389 images, Artemio Avendano and Clemtina Peralta, 1884; citing Parroquia de San Ponciano en la Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Matrimonios. San Ponciano, La Plata, Buenos Aires.