Sub-sub-series
Discharge Papers of Bengal Army European Soldiers
Catalogue reference: IOR/L/MIL/10/303-317
What’s it about?
This record is about the Discharge Papers of Bengal Army European Soldiers dating from 1859-1871.
Is it available online?
Maybe, but not on The National Archives website. This record is held at British Library: Asian and African Studies.
Can I see it in person?
Not at The National Archives, but you may be able to view it in person at British Library: Asian and African Studies.
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
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IOR/L/MIL/10/303-317
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Title (The name of the record)
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Discharge Papers of Bengal Army European Soldiers
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Date (When the record was created)
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1859-1871
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Description (What the record is about)
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The 15 volumes of discharge papers for 1859-61 [L/MIL/10/303-317] each relate to one of the 15 regiments involved, namely the 5 regiments of cavalry, the Bengal Artillery, the 6 regiments of infantry, the Engineers and Sappers and Miners, the Local Infantry and the European Invalids. Also included in the list is a volume of miscellaneous papers [L/MIL/10/323] for European soldiers discharged in the years 1859-1873 on medical grounds or upon completion of service. The discharge papers of 1859-61 contain for each individual soldier the proceedings of the regimental discharge committee in India, a discharge certificate and a protection ticket, or any combination of the three. They include his enlistment details (which duplicate the information obtainable in the recruitment books L/MIL/9/1-46), plus details of service, and a character reference - they are thus the primary source of career information for all soldiers discharged in 1859-61 under this scheme.
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Related material (A cross-reference to other related records)
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1) Registers of Bengal, Madras and Bombay discharged soldiers, compiled at East India House, giving rank, regiment, length of service, personal details and reason for discharge, 1830-1856, 1857-1882 [L/MIL/10/301-302] 2) Embarkation lists of Bengal Army s
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- British Library: Asian and African Studies
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
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Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
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English
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Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
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16 volumes
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Access conditions (Information on conditions that restrict or affect access to the record)
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Unrestricted
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Administrative / biographical background (Historical or biographical information about the creator of the record and the context of its creation)
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In 1859-61 the East India Company's Bengal European troops were transferred to the British Army, the infantry becoming British regiments of the line and the artillery and engineers being amalgamated with the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Those EIC
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/dd0ac834-0d3b-4385-8249-575031c47bbc/
Series information
IOR/L/MIL/10
Bengal Army Records
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
This record is held at British Library: Asian and African Studies
Within the fonds: IOR/L/MIL
Records of the Military Department
Within the series: IOR/L/MIL/10
Bengal Army Records
Within the sub-series: IOR/L/MIL/10/301-326
Bengal Army Discharges
You are currently looking at the sub-sub-series: IOR/L/MIL/10/303-317
Discharge Papers of Bengal Army European Soldiers