Catalogue description Discharge Papers of Madras Army European Soldiers

The four volumes of discharge papers for 1859-61 [L/MIL/11/278-281] each cover one of the four regiments involved, namely the Madras Artillery, and the three regiments of Madras European Infantry. Also included in the list below is a volume of miscellaneous papers [L/MIL/11/277] for European soldiers discharged in the years 1851-1874 on medical grounds or upon completion of service. The discharge papers for 1859-61 contain for each individual soldier the proceedings of the regimental discharge committee in India, a discharge certificate and a protection ticket, or any combination of the three. They include his enlistment details (which duplicate the information obtainable in the recruitment books L.MIl/9/1-46), plus details of service, and a character reference - they are thus the primary source of information for all soldiers discharged in 1859-61 under this scheme.

Registers of Bengal, Madras and Bombay discharged European soldiers, compiled at East India House, giving rank, regiment, length of service, personal details and reason for discharge, 1830-1856, 1857-1882 [L/MIL/10/301-302]

No restrictions

In 1859-61 the East India Company's Madras European troops were transferred to the British Army, the infantry becoming British regiments of the line and the artillery and engineers being amalgamated with the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Those EIC European soldiers who did not wish to transfer to the British service were allowed the option of unpensioned discharge - about 95% of the names listed below related to these discharges