Family HistoryYour guide to resources.

Ian Hislop had always been interested in military history, having produced an in-depth study of the Boer War for a school project. This fascination for the army was spurred on by the knowledge that his paternal grandfather, David Murdoch Hislop, fought in the First World War, whilst his maternal grandfather, William Beddows, served not only in the First World War but also in the Boer War. Ian’s journey took him from the battlefields of France across to South Africa to retrace the places where his ancestors fought.

However, an even earlier Scottish ancestor born in 1773 on his father’s side was a surprise discovery. The career of Murdo Matheson reflected the experience of many Scotsmen who made soldiering their career; he enlisted in a Highlander regiment and served seventeen years overseas in hot climes, mainly in India but for a while in Cape Town – exactly where William Beddows was posted nearly a century later. Murdo’s pension record survives at The National Archives, along with the musters and paylists for the 78th infantry regiment known as the Seaforth Highlanders.

Catalogue reference: WO 97/897/9
Discharge to army pension for Murdo Matheson, 78th infantry regiment Seaforth Highlanders These documents provide information on his enlistment and discharge to pension, including where he was born, how long he served in the army, and why he was eventually discharged.

Catalogue reference: WO 12/8314
Muster and paylist for 1st battalion of the 78th infantry regiment Seaforth Highlanders. The battalion – including Ian’s ancestor Murdo Matheson – was stationed at Cape Town.

Going Further

The National Archives holds an impressive range of service records for all branches of the armed forces prior to c.1923, with operational papers available to provide context to your ancestors’ military careers. You can now search the First World War army campaign medal indexes via Documents Online to see if your ancestor served in the army during the conflict. Further information about all military records held at Kew can be found in our research guides.