This is a brief guide to researching Indian army records during British rule. The vast majority of these records are currently held by the British Library.
This guide will help you to find out if the information you are looking for exists and, if it does, where to find it or more information about it.
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What do I need to know before I start?
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Try to find out:
- the name of the person
- their regimenta unit of infantry or cavalry forces in the British army and rank
- a geographical location and date range to focus search
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What records can I see online?
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There are no significant collections of Indian army records online.
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What records can I find at The National Archives at Kew?
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There are no significant collections of Indian army records available at The National Archives.
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What records can I find in other archives and organisations?
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Indian army service records
Contact the British Library for information on Indian Army service records held in the Asia, Pacific and Africa Collection. These also include records of the Honourable East India Companyan English trading company which had administrative and military responsibility in India before direct rule in 1858.
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What other resources will help me find information?
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Websites
Search the India Office Family History Search database for births, baptisms, marriages and deaths of mainly European people in India from about 1600 to 1949.
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Births, marriages and deaths in the armed forces
African forces under British control
British Army soldiers up to 1913