Australian Joint Copying Project: War Office - WO

War Office records

Browse these records online via Trove.

The administration history of the War Office is a fragmented and at times confusing one, simply because there existed a plethora of independent offices all claiming some jurisdiction over Army administration.

The office was first made a political appointment in 1704, but it wasn't until 1783 that the Secretary-at-War was made responsible to Parliament. From that time payment of troops and expenditure on recruiting was removed from the regiments and became the responsibility of the Secretary-at-War. The Secretary-at-War became the Secretary of State for War and the Colonies in 1801. As the affairs of the Colonies became more and more demanding these two offices were separated in 1854 and the Colonial Office was established. Further steps were taken to amalgamate various departments dealing with the civil administration functions of the military until 1858, when the 'War Office' was created and moved into new headquarters in Pall Mall.

The records filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) relate mainly to Australia and New Zealand. Troops in the Colonies were under the control of each Governor, although administratively they were controlled from London.

Contents of reels have not been described in detail or individual items indexed, however a general description of reel contents may be found in the Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook, Part 4, War Office produced jointly by the National Library of Australia and the State Library of New South Wales. 

WO 12 - Returns - muster books and pay lists - general

WO 22 - Returns - out-pensions records - Royal Hospital Chelsea - pensions returns

WO 25 - Returns - registers - various

WO 86 - Judge Advocate General's Office - courts martial - district courts martial