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War Office

This page summarises records created by this Organisation

The summary includes a brief description of the collection(s) (usually including the covering dates of the collection), the name of the archive where they are held, and reference information to help you find the collection.

Date: 1857-1964
History: Created and initially known as the War Department from 8 February 1855. Became the War Office from 1857, absorbing the various other bodies formerly responsible for Army affairs. On 1 April 1964 was absorbed into the unified Ministry of Defence.
Functions, occupations and activities: Government (central)
References: PROGuide; PRO Hdbk 29; IC; NCA Rules
Name authority reference: GB/NNAF/C277257
Collections
Number Description Held by Reference Further information
1
1910-1926: War Office: First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen and Servicewomen
The National Archives, Kew
2
1881-1935: Ministry of Munitions: Files transferred to the War Office
The National Archives, Kew
3
1854-1979: Department of Health and Social Security and predecessors: Selected War Pensions Award Files for Service Prior to 1914
The National Archives, Kew
4
1783-1922: Major General Sir William Eyre and predecessor: Papers
The National Archives, Kew
5
1940-1945: War Office: Home Guard records, Second World War
The National Archives, Kew
6
1855-1920: Treasury: Books of Out-letters to the War Department and War Office
The National Archives, Kew
7
1885-1926: Treasury Solicitor: War Office Registers
The National Archives, Kew
8
1891-1979: Treasury Solicitor: Registered Files, War Office (WO Series)
The National Archives, Kew
9
1732-1868: War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Commander-in-Chief, In-letters and Miscellaneous Papers
The National Archives, Kew
10
1759-1858: War Office and predecessors: Indexes to Out-letters
The National Archives, Kew
11
1684-1861: War Office: Secretary-at-War, Out-letters
The National Archives, Kew
12
1793-1859: War Department and successors: Secretary of State for War and Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Out-letters
The National Archives, Kew
13
1715-1862: War Office and predecessors: Various Departmental Out-letters
The National Archives, Kew
14
1708-1878: Commissary General of Musters Office and successors: Artillery Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
15
1816-1878: War Office and predecessors: Engineers Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
16
1732-1878: Commissary General of Musters Office and successors: General Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
17
1778-1878: War Office and predecessors: Militia and Volunteers Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
18
1854-1856: War Office: Scutari Depot Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
19
1854-1856: War Office: Foreign Legions Muster Books, Pay Lists and Courts Martial Register
The National Archives, Kew
20
1877-1898: War Office: Muster Books and Pay Lists
The National Archives, Kew
21
1661-1975: War Office: Papers concerning Establishments
The National Archives, Kew
22
1660-1938: War Office and predecessors: Secretary-at-War, Secretary of State for War, and Related Bodies, Registers
The National Archives, Kew
23
1746-1926: War Office: Records of Military Headquarters
The National Archives, Kew
24
1879: War Office: Prince Imperial Verification Deed
The National Archives, Kew
25
1684-1951: War Office, predecessors and associated departments: Miscellaneous Papers
The National Archives, Kew
26
1845-1999: War Office and successors: Registered Files (General Series)
The National Archives, Kew
27
1853-1969: War Office: Reports, Memoranda and Papers (O and A Series)
The National Archives, Kew
28
1773-1799: War Office: Military Headquarters, North America: Entry Books, American Revolution
The National Archives, Kew
29
1755-1908: War Office: Officers' Birth Certificates, Wills and Personal Papers
The National Archives, Kew
30
1682-1873: Ordnance Office and War Office: Correspondence
The National Archives, Kew
31
1594-1871: Ordnance Office and War Office: Entry Books and Registers
The National Archives, Kew
32
1568-1923: Ordnance Office and War Office: Miscellaneous Entry Books and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
33
1754-1879: War Office: Printed Annual Army Lists
The National Archives, Kew
34
1768-1913: War Office: Depot Description Books
The National Archives, Kew
35
1755-1917: Ordnance Office, Military Branch, and War Office: Royal Artillery Records of Service and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
36
1758-1908: War Office: Army Purchase Commission: Records
The National Archives, Kew
37
1764-1961: War Office: Records of Officers' Services
The National Archives, Kew
38
1856-1977: War Office: Correspondence and Papers Concerning the Victoria Cross
The National Archives, Kew
39
1793-1984: War Office: Campaign Medal and Award Rolls (General Series)
The National Archives, Kew
40
1845-1996: War Office: Meritorious Service Awards, Registers
The National Archives, Kew
41
1831-1979: War Office: Long Service and Good Conduct Awards, Registers
The National Archives, Kew
42
1803-1965: War Office and Associated Departments: Submissions for Royal Approval
The National Archives, Kew
43
1837-1962: War Office: Directorate of Military Operations and Military Intelligence, and predecessors: Correspondence and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
44
1763-1946: Office of the Commander in Chief and War Office: Quartermaster General's Department: Correspondence and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
45
1901-1967: War Office: Army Ordnance Corps: Orders and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
46
1876-1960: War Office: Army Estimates
The National Archives, Kew
47
1711-1992: Ministry of Defence and predecessors: Army Circulars, Memoranda, Orders and Regulations
The National Archives, Kew
48
1830-1963: War Office: Personal Files
The National Archives, Kew
49
1826-1901: War Office: Correspondence Subject Indexes
The National Archives, Kew
50
1912-1946: War Office: Registered Papers (Special Series)
The National Archives, Kew
51
1801-1980: Royal Military Asylum for Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army, later Duke of York's Royal Military School, and Royal Hibernian Military School: Records
The National Archives, Kew
52
1883-1994: War Office: Registers of Recipients of the Royal Red Cross
The National Archives, Kew
53
1855-1909: War Office: Distinguished Conduct Medal, Submissions to Sovereign
The National Archives, Kew
54
1900-1905: War Office and Colonial Office: Civilian Claims to Military Compensation Boards, South African War
The National Archives, Kew
55
1914-1944: War Office: Miscellaneous Unregistered Papers, First World War
The National Archives, Kew
56
1938-1947: War Office: Directorates (Various): War Diaries, Second World War
The National Archives, Kew
57
1918-1964: War Office: Orders of Battle and Organisation Tables
The National Archives, Kew
58
1920-1963: Contracts Co-ordinating Committee and Sub-committees: Minutes, Papers and Reports
The National Archives, Kew
59
1941-1947: War Office: International Red Cross and Protecting Powers (Geneva): Reports concerning Prisoner of War Camps in Europe and the Far East
The National Archives, Kew
60
1943-1945: War Office: Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and 21 Army Group: Microfilms
The National Archives, Kew
61
1900-1947: War Office: Committee Lists and Recommendations' Abstracts
The National Archives, Kew
62
1906-1913: War Office: Directors' Meetings, Minutes
The National Archives, Kew
63
1942-1971: War Office: Directorate of Supplies and Transport: Papers
The National Archives, Kew
64
1874-1990: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Confidential Print
The National Archives, Kew
65
1925-1978: Ministry of Supply and successors: Branch Registry Files
The National Archives, Kew
66
1904-1949: War Office: Confidential Printed Papers (B Papers)
The National Archives, Kew
67
1957-1977: War Office: Army Air Corps: War Diaries and Operations Record Books
The National Archives, Kew
68
1705-2015: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Army Unit Historical Records and Reports
The National Archives, Kew
69
1914-1918: War Office: War of 1914-1918: Western Front: Photographs
The National Archives, Kew
70
1915-1919: War Office: War of 1914-1918: Gallipoli Campaign: Photographs
The National Archives, Kew
71
1916-1918: War Office: War of 1914-1918: Palestine Campaign: Photographs
The National Archives, Kew
72
1916-1918: War Office: War of 1914-1918: Italian Campaign: Photographs
The National Archives, Kew
73
1930-1993: War Office: Gallantry Medal and Award Rolls, Military Medal
The National Archives, Kew
74
1914-1974: War Office: Selected Civilian Personal Files
The National Archives, Kew
75
1957-1971: War Office: Headquarters British Forces Gulf Area: Files
The National Archives, Kew
76
1939-1947: War Office: Army Casualty Lists, 1939-45 War
The National Archives, Kew
77
1947-1985: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Royal Armoured Corps: Correspondence and Reports
The National Archives, Kew
78
1950-1990: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Headquarters British Army of the Rhine: Technical Reports
The National Archives, Kew
79
1900-1994: War Office: Soldiers' Documents from Pension Claims, First World War (Microfilm Copies and Medical Cards)
The National Archives, Kew
80
1837-1960: Ordnance Office and War Office: Warrants of Royal Approval
The National Archives, Kew
81
1814-1974: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Gibraltar Garrison: Miscellaneous Minutes and Papers
The National Archives, Kew
82
1733-1964: Ordnance Office and War Office: Personnel and Office Management Records
The National Archives, Kew
83
1956-1973: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Sovereign Base Areas Administration, Cyprus: Registered Files (SBA Series)
The National Archives, Kew
84
1911-1982: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Military Secretary's Department: Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross Registers
The National Archives, Kew
85
1798-1959: War Office: Specimens of Series of Documents Destroyed
The National Archives, Kew
86
1699-1998: Office of Works and successors: Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings: Registered Files
The National Archives, Kew
87
1932-2003: Ministry of Defence (Army): Registered Files and Branch Folders
The National Archives, Kew
88
1675-1997: War Office and successors: Defence Lands: Building and Property Files
The National Archives, Kew
89
1600-2003: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Lands Branch and Directorate of Lands: Property Record: Estate Management Plans
The National Archives, Kew
90
1939 -1945: War Office: Indian Army: Casualties
The National Archives, Kew
91
1939-1945: War Office: Indian Army: General Service Medal
92
1939 –1945: War Office: Indian Army Medal Cards
The National Archives, Kew
93
1939-1945: War Office: Indian Army: Honours and Decorations, British Officers
The National Archives, Kew
94
1939-1945: War Office: Indian Army; Honours and Decorations, Indian Nationals
The National Archives, Kew
95
1947: War Office: Indian Army: Independence Medal and Pakistan Medal
96
1939-1945: Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS): Ships' Cards
The National Archives, Kew
97
1939-1945: Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS): Royal Artillery Maritime Record Cards
The National Archives, Kew
98
[1942-1963]: War Office: The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Other Ranks: Service Records
The National Archives, Kew
99
[1939-1963]: War Office: Selected Smaller Corps Other Ranks: Service Records
The National Archives, Kew
100
1901-1995: War Office and Ministry of Defence: Lands Branch and Directorate of Lands: Property Record: Estate Management Plans for Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset
The National Archives, Kew
101
[1939-1945]: War Office: French Tchad [Chad] Other Ranks: Service Records
The National Archives, Kew
102
[1759-1999]: War Office: Grenadier Guards: Registers, Muster Rolls, Description Books and Indexes
The National Archives, Kew
103
[1939-1963]: War Office: Infantry Over Age Other Ranks: Service Records, Second World War
The National Archives, Kew
104
[1939-1963]: War Office: Other Ranks and Nurses: Service Records, Second World War
The National Archives, Kew
105
[1939-1963]: War Office: Royal Artillery Other Ranks: Service Records, Second World War
The National Archives, Kew
106
1887-1995: Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence: Registered Files
The National Archives, Kew
107
1901-1944: Air Ministry: Air Member for Personnel and predecessors: Airmen's Records
The National Archives, Kew
108
1925-1942: War Office: Air Defence Experimental Establishment: Reports
The National Archives, Kew
109
1912-1975: Ministry of Supply and predecessor and successors: Contracts, Registered Files (Series 6)
The National Archives, Kew
110
1930-1990: Ministry of Supply and predecessor and successors: Research, Registered Files (Series 7), Reports and Specifications
The National Archives, Kew
111
1917-1990: Property Services Agency: Directorate of Defence Services I (Army): Graves and Cemeteries Files
The National Archives, Kew
112
1886-1953: Photographs Extracted from WO series
The National Archives, Kew
113
1720-1985: Records of the Armed Forces from commands, headquarters, regiments and corps
114
1702-2007: Armed Forces Service Records
115
1568-1983: Records of the Ordnance Office and its successors at the War Office
116
1854-1993: Ministry of Defence prior to 1964: Registered Files (General Series)
The National Archives, Kew
117
1944-1996: Ministry of Defence - Directorate of Scientific Intelligence: Joint Intelligence Bureau; Division of Scientific Intelligence and Division of Atomic Energy Intelligence; Defence Intelligence Staff: Directorate of Scientific and Technical Intelligence: Reports, Notes and Memoranda
The National Archives, Kew
118
1736-1974: Records of Naval Ordnance Departments and Establishments
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