Armed Forces Research

I am able to trace members of the armed forces who served from the late 17th century to the Second World War.  As this period covers over 300 years of history, I have classified three general periods.  British troops were constantly in action over this period so there is a good chance of finding an ancestor who was in the armed forces. 

1680 to 1707

In this period I specialise in finding soldiers in Scottish units prior to the Union of 1707.  This was a time of great upheaval in the British Isles and there was much military activity.  Like all early records, the details of officers are more readily available than that of ordinary soldiers. These muster rolls usually provide information on name, rank, unit and colonel of the regiment.  Major conflicts in this period include The War of the Spanish Succession.

1707 to 1815

This period saw the internal and external struggles of the United Kingdom as it attempted to establish its position in the world.  There is the opportunity to source regular soldiers, militiamen, sailors and also Jacobite soldiers during the various uprisings of this period.  This was a time of great tension between Britain and the Europe which saw an increase in the armed forces and the establishment of militia forces.  Britain was also struggling to enforce its rule in the colonies and many soldiers fought in foreign fields to suppress any rebellions.  There are so many conflicts in this era, but the major ones are The Jacobite Rebellions, The Napoleonic Wars and the American War of Independence.

Post 1815

In this period Britain focussed initially on its overseas possessions and building its Empire in the Victorian era.  As time passed tensions in Europe began to rise and Britain was forced to pay attention to issues closer to home.  This was a peiod which saw an increase in the professional nature of the armed forces, which in turn led to better recording of those in the Army, Navy and Airforce and more detailed service records.  The major conflicts of the period include the Crimean War, World War One and World War Two.