Courts martial

For an example, see our First World War exhibition.

There are different types of courts martial; general, field general, general regimental and district. No records of minor offences tried at regimental courts martial survive, except where found on a soldiers conduct sheet among his service papers.

Officers were only tried by general courts martial, an index to these from 1806 to 1904 is in WO 93/1B. Surviving papers are in WO 71/121-343 covering 1688 to 1850, papers after 1850 to 1914 (except one file from 1879) were lost in 1940. Proceedings, detailed until the mid-nineteenth century, are in WO 71/13-98 and WO 91. Later records just give brief details.

Other ranks were tried by general regimental (before 1829) and district courts martial (from 1829), as well as by general courts martial. Full proceedings do not survive - only registers of cases recording brief details. Registers of general regimental courts martial are in WO 89 between 1812 and 1829, and district courts martial in WO 86 from 1829 to 1971. There are separate series for London between 1865 and 1875 in WO 87, and for India from 1878 to 1945 in WO 88. General courts martial records are in WO 71 and WO 91 as for officers. Registers of Field General Courts Martial from 1900 to 1963 are in WO 213.