Spain, Soldier Personal Service Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

Spain

What is in the Collection?
This collection contains an index to and images of military records. The original records are held by the [www.defensa.gob.es Spain Ministry of Defense]. Additional indexed records will be published as they become available.

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images of digitized records available for all users. However, the rights to view images on this website are ultimately granted by the record custodians. Due to their restrictions, the images in this collection are not available for general viewing, but most may be accessed online by members of the supporting organization(s), at a family history center near you, or the Family History Library.

For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
The following list indicates potential information given in these records. It must be remembered that every record may not provide all of the listed information, as record-keeping practices often varied by time and location.

Personal Soldier Files may include:
 * Given name of soldier
 * Name, type, and number of regiment
 * Squadron number
 * Name of father and mother
 * Age at enlistment, including years, months, and days
 * Birthdate, including day, month, and year
 * Birthplace, including city and province
 * Detailed physical description
 * Detailed descriptions of service by year
 * Occupation before enlistment
 * Religion of soldier
 * Awards for service
 * Rate of pay
 * Literacy of soldier
 * Names of witnesses

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can find records either by searching the index or viewing the record images. Before using either search method, it is best to know the following information: As you search, compare your results with this information to find a match.
 * Name of the person
 * Date range for the record

Search the Index

 * 1) Go to the Collection Page
 * 2) Fill in the search box with the requested information
 * 3) Click Search to return a list of possible matches

View the Images

 * 1) Go to the Browse Page for the collection
 * 2) Click on the Recruitment Zone (Zona de Reclutamiento de Madrid) link
 * 3) Click on the link for the correct Box Number (Caja)
 * 4) Click on the link for the correct File Number (Expediente Reglamentario de Tropa) to go to the image viewer
 * 5) Use the onscreen controls to move between images as you search for a match

I Found the Person I Was Looking for, What Now?

 * Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference. See below for assistance in citing this collection. If possible, save a print a copy of the image for your records.
 * Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives. Remember that family members often appear on a soldier’s personal file.
 * Use the information which has been discovered to find the individual in other records. Church records are of particular use prior to the year 1900; see the Spain Church Records page for more information.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * When looking for a person with a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which individual is correct. Use other information, such as place of birth, age, occupation, or names of parents, to determine which candidate is the correct person.
 * Check for variants of given names, surnames, and place names; transcription errors could occur in any handwritten record. Also remember that it was not uncommon for an individual be listed under a nickname or an abbreviation of their name.
 * Vary the search terms. For example, search by either the given name or surname to return broader list of possible candidates which can then be examined for matches.
 * Search the records of nearby locations. While it was uncommon for an individual in this period to move more than about 20 miles from their place of birth, smaller relocations were not uncommon.

Citing this Collection
Proper citations make it easier to get back to sources that you have found, so citing sources properly can help you keep track of research. Correct citations also allow others to check completed research by giving them a way to find and examine records for themselves.

Below are the proper citations to use for this whole collection as well as for individual records within it:

Collection Citation

Record (or Index) Citation

Image Citation