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Genealogy Research at the Public Record Office
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What is available at the PRO
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The Public Record Office in Kew, London holds records of soldiers and officers who were discharged up to 1921. There are records of Royal Navy ratings who joined the service up to 1923, Royal Marines, Merchant Seamen, Metropolitan Police, Royal Irish Constabulary Royal flying Corps/RAF and Foreign & Colonial Office records including those for the West Indies and North American Colonies.
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Royal Naval Records
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Until Continuous Service was introduced in 1853, information is very varied for ratings. Personal service records are available up to 1923. The first issue of Steele's Navy List was published in 1782 which gave a list of serving officers but there is an incomplete list of 'Sea Officers' from about 1660 to 1815. Two surveys of serving officers were conducted - in 1817, (amended to 1822), and 1846. If the officer responded and if the results have been preserved, these surveys can show quite a lot of personal details of the officer.
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Royal Naval Ratings
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In searches for ratings, the service record would probably show most of the following but some details may change depending on date:-
Name, age and place of birth, trade or calling, and date of enlistment. Also, promotions/demotions, his ships, where he served and date of discharge. Details of any campaigns, wounds, medals and an assessment of his conduct on discharge. If the discharge was for medical reasons, then this would probably be mentioned, but if the discharge was following long service there might be pension details although most pension details merely confirm information already found in the service record. If he joined as a Boy, sometimes his father's permission would be given which might result in some details of the father. There is unlikely to be information about schools attended or previous employment.
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