Marines (other ranks) and non commissioned officers (NCOs)

Service records are arranged by division, and then, in most cases, by service number. The surname indexes in ADM 313 can be used to find attestation papers in ADM 157 and service records in ADM 159.

Attestations or the forms completed on enlistment are in the series ADM 157. They contain details of birthplace, occupation, physical description, dates of service and sometimes a detail of next of kin. The attestations are filed by division, and either by date of enlistment or by date of discharge. The attestations for Chatham begin in 1790 and run to 1912. Those for Plymouth cover 1804 to 1900, and those for Portsmouth from 1804 to 1923. A few survive for Woolwich from 1839 to 1869. A few marine attestations are in WO 97/2170.

Attestations for the Royal Marine Artillery are in three groups within ADM 157. The first is alphabetical and covers various dates between 1861 and 1918. The second is alphabetical and covers 1860 to 1923. The third is a miscellaneous alphabetical series covering 1899 to 1925. There are also attestation papers for Royal Marine Engineers from 1914 to 1919 and the Royal Marine Labour Corps at Chatham, 1915 to 1919 and Deal, 1914 to 1922.

These records in ADM 157 are partially indexed by ADM 313/1-26. There is also a card index covering ADM 157/1-659.

Description Books     

Several different types of register giving personal details can be found in ADM 158. They were drawn up using information from the attestation papers, some of which no longer exist. They give date and place of enlistment, age, birthplace, occupation, physical description and details of promotions and whether injured or killed. The records are arranged within the divisions by company, then by letter of surname but are not strictly alphabetical.

Musters

Effective and Subsistence Books for marines can be found in series ADM 96/117-461. They cover various periods, 1688 to 1714, 1739 to 1755, 1758 to 1763 and 1772 to 1835. A few colonial stations are in ADM 96/462-468 for various dates from 1803 to 1834. Ships´ musters in ADM 36 and 37 will include complements of marines on board ship.

Applications for pensions, gratuities, medals, etc.

If a marine or warrant officer received a pension he maybe found in Officers´ and Ratings´ Service Records (Series II) in ADM 29. They cover the period from 1802 to 1894 and are searchable on the online Catalogue.

They give name, place of birth, age on entry to the corps, rank, dates of entry and discharge from each ship served on, and total time served.

Pensions

Registers of pensions for marines can be found in ADM 166 from 1882. Widows´ pensions from 1921 to 1926 can be found in PMG 72. Pensions paid to the children of other ranks are in ADM 166.

Wills

Wills of marines were deposited with the Navy Pay Office from 1786 to 1882 and are in ADM 48, indexed in ADM 142. Some earlier wills and letters of administration from 1740 to 1764 are in ADM 96/524.