Half pay and pension records
Until 1871 officers were not entitled to pensions. Before that date, officers either sold their commissions and lived off the amount, or they went on half-pay, and became in effect retired, but available for active service when called upon. A very few officers were entitled to retired full pay.
Half-Pay
Registers of half-pay officers are in series WO 23
. Half-pay records of commissioned officers from 1737 to 1921 are in series PMG 4. To 1841 they are arranged by regiment, thereafter they are alphabetical. Lists of officers´ entitled to half-pay between 1713 and 1809 arranged by regiment are in WO 24/660-747. There are also nominal lists for 1712 to 1763 in WO 25/2979-3002.
Full Pay
Registers of those officers receiving full pay from 1830 to 1870 are in WO 25/3000-3004, and from 1872 to 1894 in WO 23/66-74. Payment ledgers of officers retired on full or half-pay from 1813 to 1920 are in series PMG 3.
Pensions for wounds
Pensions to wounded officers between 1812 and 1897 are in series WO 23/83-92. Claims for pensions between 1812 and 1855 are in WO 4/469-493.
Payment ledgers of officers retired as wounded between 1814 and 1920 are in series PMG 9.
Widows´ Pensions
From 1708 widows of officers killed on active service could apply for pensions. Several series of registers survive of those receiving payments, including from 1713 to 1829 in WO 24/804-883 and from 1815 to 1892 in WO 23/105-113. Other records are in PMG 11 from 1808 to 1920 and PMG 10 from 1870 to 1882.
Royal Bounty and Compassionate Fund
Registers of compassionate allowances to dependants from 1773 to 1812 are in WO 25/3124-3125. Registers of the names of those placed on the Compassionate List from 1858 to 1894 are in WO 23/114 to 119.
