Invaluable Resource Tools ENLISTMENT AND DISCHARGE BOOKS

Every now and then I do a quick search on the Durham Records Office site and how I`ve missed this one is beyond me;-
ENLISTMENT AND DISCHARGE BOOKS
These records are no longer public records and Crown copyright ceases to apply
Ref. nos: D/DLI 15/1/6-14

These enlistment books, from mid-1921 onwards, include a few entries for soldiers who enlisted before 1921. Information is recorded in the following format:

Number/Names (in full) (Surname first)/Date of Attestation/Whether Serving in Regular Army, Militia or Territorial Force/Period for which enlisted, in years/Age, Yrs. Mths./Place of Attestation/Trade on Enlistment/Place of Birth (a) Parish (b) Town (c) County/Period for which Re-engaged, in years/Particulars of Transfers (a) Corps stating whether transferred to or from (b) Date of transfer (c) Former Number, if changed/ Period of Mobilized or Embodied Service/Former Service in Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Regular Army, Militia, Special Reserve, Territorial Force, or Royal Air Force, and number therein (1) Particulars of Force or Corps (2) Former Number, Period Yrs. Days/Full Name and Nationality of Woman to whom married, and Name of each child (if any)/Place of Marriage, and of birth of each Child/Campaigns, Wounds, Medals or Rewards of any kind/Discharge or becoming Non-Effective (a) Date (b) Place, Cause, Rank and Character on Discharge, Rate of pension awarded (if any), Address on Discharge/Remarks. There is a name index at the end of each volume


There are lots of different formats not all of the books contain the same information for a full list go to
Durham Record Office Deposit - Durham Light Infantry Records

are they available for all regiments?

Verrieres

 

The MOD offered them to TNA who declined them. Some CROs and Regimental Museums took them, but I fear that many may have been destroyed.

 

The MOD offered them to TNA who declined them. Some CROs and Regimental Museums took them, but I fear that many may have been destroyed.


Thats terrible!

Verrieres

 

Yep, sadly all too common in recent decades. Little excuse for it now, though.

 

it scares me to think of the things that get destroyed. mind you, in my un-named workplace, a senior figure was heard to say when pondering the issue of archive storage...

'cant you just chuck it all?'