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Military Records in the India Office Library From about 1600, large parts of India were administered by the Honourable East India Company which traded and raised revenue like a Government. Also, like a Government, they raised an Army to protect their interests and maintain the peace. Officers were enlisted from the UK and other ranks were recruited from both the UK and from amongst 'Native Indians'. During the 19th century, the HEIC was assisted in keeping the peace by British regiments on temporary postings, (some of which could be for as long as 7 or 14 years), so that in effect there were two distinct military organisations, (the Army of the HEIC and the British Army), in India until 1858. These two organisations continued to operate quite separately and maintained separate records. After the Indian Mutiny in 1857, the HEIC's function was taken over by the British Government and in 1860 the Indian Army was created and the HEIC army was disbanded. The new Indian Army still had British officers but other ranks were no longer brought out from the UK and so all ranks below that of commissioned officer were Indians. The Indian Army continued to operate independently of the British Army and this independence is reflected in modern archives. The records of the British Army are held at the National Archives in Kew, whilst the records of the Army of the HEIC and its successor, the Indian Army, are held at the India Office Library which is part of the British Library. Records in the IOL other than Military Apart from military records there are parish registers for India and Burma, an ecclesiastical Index of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, archives of the Indian Civil Service, the India Office, the Burma Office, private papers and newspapers for the region. Kindest regards Bob Contact us by email R W O'HARA 15 Ruskin Avenue Kew, Richmond TW9 4DR England Return to Home Page
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