Regiments
What do I need to know before I start?
Try to find out:
- name of the person
- name of the regiment
- regimental number
What records can I find in the Mitchell: Glasgow City Archives and Special Collections?
The Mitchell holds an important collection of material on Scottish military history with particular emphasis on the development of the Scottish regiments.
The City Archives holds records relating to some of the battalions that were raised by the City of Glasgow on the outbreak of World War 1. The regimental records most useful for family historians are:
- Highland Light Infantry (HLI): nominal roll. Contains members’ name, registration number, rank and religion (ref: D-TC19/1/57)
- Royal Field Artillery and Royal Engineers: letters of application for commissions, commanding officers and subordinate officers. As these were written by each applicant, they contain a wealth of biographical information including details about their skills, experience and credentials. (ref: D-TC19/3/2-8)
The records relating to the raising of Glasgow regiments (ref: D-TC19/1-3) include a great deal of background information about how the men were equipped accommodated, and prepared for battle. The City Archives also holds some supplementary records relating to the HLI (ref: TD366). These include notes on its history and its operations during World Wars 1 and 2.
These records are complemented by a number of often unique Scottish Regimental Histories held in Special Collections. This collection brings together material about the regiments and occasionally about individual soldiers, officers and regiment members, plus regimental magazines, biographies and memoirs. These occasionally include lists of regiments’ members.
You can find information on:
- histories of individual regiments
- campaigns and battles
- Rolls of Honour for some places, schools and universities
- muster rolls
- Jacobite regiments
- uniforms, badges and colours
What records can I see online?
A database of men who served in the 1st and 2nd Glasgow battalions of the Highland Light Infantry is available online. This contains details such as regimental number, rank, religion and often additional information like height and boot size. The original records are held at the City Archives.
What records can I see elsewhere?
Official army records after the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments in 1707 are held at The National Archives in Kew.
A number of useful pre-1707 records relating to Scottish soldiers are held at the National Records of Scotland.
Many regiments also hold their own records about members.