Records Information Leaflet No. 123
Before 1835 there were three separate departments dealing with the pay and related matters of the Army: the Paymaster General of the Forces, the Paymaster and Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital, the Treasurer of the Ordnance. These three offices were amalgamated in 1835 to form the office of Paymaster General.
Treasurer of the Ordnance
The Treasurer of the Ordnance was first appointed in 1670 to act as banker to the Ordnance Office, making payments on its behalf to its contractors, civilian staff and Ordnance troops. The Office, which had absorbed that of the Treasurer of the Ordnance for Ireland in 1832, was itself abolished in 1835 when it merged with that of Paymaster General.
Documents relating to the transfer to the Royal Hospital Chelsea of the payment of Ordnance pensions can be found in WO 49/268-269 and cover the years 1833-1844. Registers of the Ordnance out-pensions being paid in 1834, when they were transferred to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, are in WO 23/141-145.
Registers of Ordnance pensions paid between 1816-1844 are in WO 54/338-493. Original warrants of the Ordnance Office to its agents for payments on accounts of pensions covering the years 1804-1839 are in WO 55/529-535.
WO 18/1-147 contains vouchers for agents' disbursement of artillery pensions, 1770-1808. Ordnance Office pension minutes can be found in WO 47/2760-2851 covering the years 1808-1834 and WO 55/540-572 covering the years, 1822-1855.
Paymaster General of the Forces
The origins of the Paymaster General of the Forces can be found in the Treasurers of War of the parliamentary army, of which there were two from 1649 onwards. With the disbandment of the army at the Restoration these offices were abolished and replaced by a Receiver and Paymaster General of the Guards. Later called Paymaster General of the Guards and Garrisons, he shared his duties with a Paymaster General of the Guards Garrisons and Land Forces after the accession of George I. By 1743 he was known as the Paymaster General of the Forces and held in addition the Office of Paymaster General and Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital. Both offices were abolished in 1835.
Paymaster General of the Forces and Paymaster and Treasurer of Chelsea Hospital
By letters patent of 22 December 1681, Charles II initiated plans for a permanent hospital for disabled soldiers. Land for the hospital was acquired at Chelsea, while a fixed rate of deductions from pay and pensions. Charles II appointed the Paymaster General of the Forces as receiver general and treasurer of the monies raised. The building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was completed in 1680, with its first pensioners being admitted in 1692. Originally it was intended to house all Army pensioners but the accommodation proved inadequate and so a system of out-pensions was also devised.
This was the origin of the Army pension system of in-pensioners and out-pensioners which has continued fundamentally unchanged to the present day.
To be eligible for admission as an in-pensioner a candidate must be either
(a) a life pensioner of the Army (ie in receipt of a service or disability pension)
(b) aged 55 or more (unless a receipt of a disability pension)
(c) free from the liability of financially supporting a wife or children
Similar functions with regard to pensioners on the Irish Establishment were performed by the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, founded in 1679. From 1698 it also operated a system of out-pensions until December 1822, when this system was transferred to Chelsea Hospital. Proposals to transfer out-pensioners of Royal Hospital Kilmainham to Royal Hospital Chelsea can be found in WO 251/1 covering the years 1820-1.
The two hospitals' commissioners did not handle all military pensions; except for a few officers admitted as in-pensioners, they were not concerned with officers' pensions. The office of Paymaster and Treasurer to Chelsea Hospital was generally combined with that of Paymaster General of the Forces, until in 1835 both were merged with the corresponding Navy and Ordnance offices in a single Office of Paymaster General who thereafter acted as paymaster for all service pay and pensions except for war pensions arising from the first and second world wars, which were made the responsibility of the Ministry of Pensions.
PENSION RECORDS - OFFICERS
Army Half Pay
One of the features of the purchase system for Army commissions which survived until 1871 was that Army officers were not entitled to a pension at a right. Officers wishing to retire either sold their commissions, recouping their investment or went on half pay. The half pay system was introduced in 1641 for officers of reduced or disbanded regiments. During the eighteenth century any surplus on half pay was used to pay pensions to officers unfit for service. Half pay became a retaining fee paid to the officer, so long as he held a commission and was in theory, if not in practice, available for future service; although from 1811 there was provision for its payments to officers unfit for service.
Records of officers on half pay, 1713-1809, giving name, rank and regiment are to be found in WO 24/660-747. Alphabetical registers of officers on half pay 1858/9 - 1879/80, giving name, regiment, date of commencement, rate and records of payments and sometimes date of death are in WO 23/75-78; this series continues for 1880/1 - 1893/4 in WO 23/68-74. Similar registers for artillery and engineer officers' half pay c.1810 - c.1880 are in WO 23/82.
Army officers' half pay registers for 1737-1921 are in PMG 4, the period 1841-1921 is arranged alphabetically. Registers of half pay to Commissariat Department officers are in WO 61/61-71 covering the period 1812-1835 and in PMG 5 for 1834-1855. Records of Ordnance officers half pay, 1839-1857 can be found in PMG 12. Officers on half pay can be traced in the Army Lists which give the date of commencement of half pay.
Records of Half Pay to Officers Abroad
Records of half pay to foreign officers, 1819-1824, can be found in WO 24/763-766. Registers of half pay for officers of foreign regiments. 1858-1876, are in WO 23/79-81 and 1822-1885 are in PMG 6. Registers of Chelsea out-pensions to officers at Hanover, 1844-1878, are in PMG 8/1-6. Registers of Commissariat officers' pensions abroad, 1811-1817, are in WO 61/74-76 and for the period 1817-1833, WO 61/83-85. General letters from the Secretary of War concerning foreign department out-pensions are to be found in WO 4/376 covering December 1815 - March 1817.
Ledgers recording issue of half pay, 1713-1809, arranged by regiment can be found in WO 24/660-747. Similar lists for British-American forces, 1783-1813, are in WO 24/748-762. Further nominal lists, 1712-1763, and registers of warrants for half pay, 1763-1856, are in WO 25/2979-3019.
Other records relating to foreign half pay to officers can be found in PMG 6 covering 1822-1885. Records relating to Army establishment half pay, Hanover, 1843-1862, can be found in PMG 7.
Records of Retired Officers on Full Pay
Few officers, mainly those with a letter of service for raising an invalid or a veteran corps, were entitled to retired full pay.
Registers of those receiving full pay are included in WO 23/66-82, covering the years, 1872-1894. The registers covering the years 1880-1894 are arranged alphabetically. Ledgers of payment of retired full pay gives the name of the officer, rank and regiment and sometimes address. They cover the years 1813 to 1920 and are in PMG 3.
Records of Officers' Widows' Pensions
Although officers were not entitled to a pension, provision was made from 1708 for the payment of pensions to widows of officers killed on active service, at first from a fund created by placing two fictitious men in every company or troop, later from an annual grant. From 1818, fifteen annuities were also paid to widows of officers whose annual income did not exceed £30 a year out of a fund created by the will of Colonel John Drouly. Widows' applications for pensions together with service details of officers covering the period, 1760-1818, are to be found in WO 25/3090-3108. These records are arranged alphabetically. A nominal card index for WO 25/3090-3108 can be found in the Research Enquiries Room. Registers of those receiving widows' pensions and Drouly Annuities, 1815-1892, are in WO 23/105-112.
Indexes to widows' pensions covering 1748-1811 can be found in WO 25/3120-3123, details given in index include name of widow, husband's name, rank, regiment and in some cases marriage details.
Records of pensions to widows of full pay officers, 1735-1811, are in WO 25/3020-3045. Records of pensions to widows of half pay officers, 1755-1778, are in WO 25/3046-3058. Ledgers of payment of widow's pensions and Drouly annuities, 1713-1829, are in WO 24/804-883 and ledgers for 1808-1920 are in the class PMG 11, with the exception that from April 1870 - March 1882 they are in PMG 10.
Ledgers for Pensions to Widows of Foreign Officers
Ledgers of widows' pensions for officers who served abroad, 1822-1885, are in PMG 6, for those at Hanover, 1843-1867, in PMG 7, for Commissariat officers widows, 1840-1855, in PMG 5 and for Ordnance officers' widows, 1836-1857, in PMG 12.
In cases where an officer died in service or on half pay and his widow applied for a pension or a child's compassionate allowance, records of such claims can be found in both WO 42 and WO 43 for the period 1809-1857. Letters from officers' widows claiming pensions, 1746-1816 are in WO 4/1023-1030.
Children and Dependent Relatives' Allowances
The Compassionate Fund was created to give relief to children of deceased officers who were incapable of maintaining themselves. The mother or guardian of the children had to swear an oath, that they were legitimate children of the deceased officer and that they had no other allowance, or pension from the government of Great Britain or Ireland and if they were claiming on behalf of a boy, that he was not 18 years of age or on behalf of a girl that she was not 21 years of age or married.
From 1720 pensions were paid from the Compassionate Fund and the Royal Bounty to children and dependent relatives of deceased officers. Records of those on the Compassionate List, names and amounts paid only, 1779-1812, can be found in WO 24/771-803. Registers and amounts received by those placed on the Compassionate List, 1815-1894, are in WO 23/113-123.
Ledgers recording payments from the Compassionate Fund and the Royal Bounty, 1812-1916, are in PMG 10 and also PMG 5/7-11 covering the period, 1840-1855. Claims by widows of officers for payments from the Compassionate Fund, 1803-1860 can be found in WO 4/521-590 and ledgers concerning payment to those on the Compassionate List, 1837-1921, are in PMG 18.
WO 25/3124 covers 1773-1812 and gives details of those on the Compassionate List and in some cases name of relatives receiving payments. WO 25/3118-3119 covers 1827-1846 and provides the following information concerning those people claiming from the Compassionate List. Name of person, number and name of officer, rank, regiment, service details, date of marriage, number of children, scale of payment. These registers are arranged chronologically.
Pensions for Wounded Officers
Rules had been laid down in 1798 entitling an officer to one year's pay for the loss of an eye or limb in action and to be cured at the king's charge. As naval officers received pensions for such losses it was thought just to give army officers the same allowances and a Royal Warrant of 20 June 1812 was issued with a scale of the pensions according to the rank of wounded officer and the nature of the injury.
These provisions applied to all officers wounded since the commencement of the war in 1793 and subsequently all officers wounded at an earlier date.
Supplementary Officers' Pension Records
Records of rewards to officers for distinguished service, 1873-1928, are in PMG 35. Pension records and allowances to widows and children of army civil officers, 1857-1920, are in PMG 57.
Records of allowances paid to Militia and Yeomanry officers, 1793-1927, are in PMG 13.
Pension Records - Other Ranks
Soldiers who left the Army after completing an agreed term of service or as invalids were entitled to a pension or institutional care in the Royal Hospitals at Chelsea or Kilmainham. The major series of records created as a result of the grant of a pension was the soldiers' documents, WO 97, covering 1756-1913. These are attestation and discharge documents which give a record of service and all except a few give place of birth, age on enlistment and details of physique and appearance. From 1883 details of next of kin are given.
The documents fall into three main series: the first two series cover soldiers discharged to pension between 1756-1882. In the first series, documents are arranged alphabetically by name under regiment. In the second series documents are arranged alphabetically by name for cavalry, artillery, infantry and corps. The third series covers 1883 to 1913 and those soldiers discharged to pension and for other reasons such as limited engagements or discharge by purchase. These documents are arranged by soldiers' name for the whole army.
Certificates of service similar to those in WO 97 for men discharged between 1787 and 1813 and awarded Chelsea out-pensions are in WO 121/1-136. These records are arranged chronologically by admission board and give the following information, cause of discharge, name, rank, regiment, details of service, age, place of birth, trade/occupation. Later volumes give physical descriptions. There is a second series of certificates of service for invalid and veteran battalion, date of application, character, service total, date of discharge. Registers of men discharged without pension March 1884 - December 1887 are to be found in WO 121/239-253. These records are arranged by place, home and abroad, and give the following information, regimental number, name, rank, regiment, cause and fate of discharge and date of attestation. Nominal indexes to WO 121/239-253 can be found in WO 121/254-257. Certificates of service of soldiers awarded deferred pensions, 1838-1896, are in WO 131. A nominal index to WO 131 is available in the Research Enquiries Room.
For men awarded out pensions by the Board of Kilmainham Hospital, the hospital for pensioners in Ireland, 1783-1822, certificates of service are in WO 119.
They are arranged by discharge number, which can be traced in the admission books in WO 118.
Other Ranks: Out-Pensions
Out pensions cover the vast majority of both British and Overseas pensioners.
Admission Books
These are arranged chronologically and therefore it is necessary to know an approximate date of admission to pension before a search is undertaken. Pensions awarded by the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea are to be found in two series of admission books, (1) pensions awarded for disability, 1715-1882, in WO 116, (2) pensions awarded for length of service, October 1823 - December 1913, in WO 117. Some records in WO 117 are closed for 75 years. They are arranged by year of examination or claim and provide, name, rank, age, total service, rate of pension, foreign service/stations, character report, place of birth, trade; later volumes give medal allocation.
WO 116 contains a special series of admission books for Royal Artillery pensions, 1833-1913 in WO 116/125-185.
For pensions awarded by the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, 1704-1922, there is a single series of records in WO 118. In each case the date of examination, a brief record of service, the complaint, place of birth and a physical descriptions is given. For the years 1830-1844, Chelsea admission books are duplicated by registers in WO 23/1-16, where in addition the intended place of residence is given, the final seven registers in this series covering the years 1838-1844 are indexed. Letters relating to out-pensions and claims, July 1816 - September 1858, are in WO 4/892-942.
Regimental Registers
These registers in WO 120 are in two distinct series, pieces 1-51 cover circa 1715-1843 and are arranged chronologically within regiment, giving date of admission, age, a brief record of service, rate of pension, "complaint", place of birth and physical description; volumes for 1839-1843 are indexed. Pieces 52-70 record pensions being paid between 1845 and 1857. In this second series the admissions before 1845 are arranged by rate of pension, those from 1845 to 1857 are arranged chronologically.
The registers give rate of pension, date of admission and residence and are marked up with the place of payment of pension, dates of pay and dates of death. These registers are duplicated and extended to 1876 in WO 23/26-65. A similar series of registers and pensions being paid in 1806 is in WO 23/136-140.
An index to WO 120/21-30 is available at the Reference Room, Kew, reference B 4/25.
Pension Returns
Before 1842 pensions were paid by local officials such as excise officers, however in 1842 this responsibility passed to Pensions staff officers in various districts. Each staff officer made monthly returns to the War Office recording who had moved in, or out of his district, whose pensions had ceased, or who had died.
These returns in WO 22 give the pensioner's name, regiment, rate of pension, date of admission to pension, rank and the district to which or from which he had moved. The returns also include various items of statistical information. The returns for British Payments districts cease in 1862, but returns relating to pensions overseas and the colonies extend into the 1880's.
Foreign Regiments
Registers of pensioners from the King's German Legion, 1801-1815, are in WO 23/135. Reports of medical boards on invalids, recommendations for pensions and discharge documents for soldiers of foreign regiments, 1816-1817, are in WO 122.
Colonial Pensions
Registers of Indian army pensions, 1849-1868, are in WO 23/17-23, admission books for pensions payable in the colonies, 1817-1875, are in WO 23/147-152.
Lists, registers and admission books of negro and Cape Corps pensioners, 1837-1879 are in WO 23/153-159 and an admission book of native and colonial pensioners, 1880-1903 is in WO 23/160. A nominal list of out-pensioners discharged between 1821 and 1829 and who had served in tropical climates, for which an additional pension was payable, is in WO 23/25.
Other Ranks: In-Pensioners
For in-pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea there are muster rolls, 1702-1789, in WO 23/124-131 and for 1864-5 in WO 23/132: a list of in-pensioners, 1795-1813 is in WO 23/134 and an alphabetical register, 1837-1872, WO 23/146. Admission books and rolls arranged chronologically extend from 1824-1917, WO 23/162-172 and 174-180. They give regiment, name, age, service, rate of pension, cause of discharge, date of admission to pension and the decision of the board, in addition an address is often given.
An index of in-pensioners admitted between 1858-1933 is in WO 23/173. A sample of pensioners' certificates for both the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospital can be found in WO 900/9-38, Royal Hospital Chelsea and WO 900/39-42, Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
Discharge Under Special Conditions with Modified, Free Deferred and Free Permanent Pensions
Discharges under special conditions with modified pensions, free deferred pensions and free permanent pensions, 1830-1870, are in WO 25/3850-3877. These records are arranged by regiment and give the following details: rank, name of applicant, date of application, date of authority, description of character, length of service after the age of eighteen, date of discharge.
Further Information
Additional information about both in and out-pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea can sometimes be found in the Board minutes and papers, WO 250 and the Invaliding Board minutes and papers, WO 180, especially where appeals were made against decisions as to eligibility for and rate of pension. There is an incomplete series of appeal minute books, 1823-1915 in WO 180/53-78.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea, letter books containing inward and outward correspondence and occasional lists of pensioners, 1715-1962, are in WO 246. WO 251, Royal Hospital Chelsea correspondence, 1806-1920, also contains information relating to pensions. WO 248 contains royal warrants relating to pensioners, 1703-1861. Records concerning enrolled pensions, April 1847 to August 1855, can be found in WO 4/943-963. Commander-in-Chief's letters relating to invalids and pensions, August 1815 - March 1817, are in WO 3/589-590. Miscellaneous files relating to pensions can also be found in WO 32 code 4 and WO 4/943-963 covering the years, November 1819 - September 1858. WO 1/1116 folios 93-95 and WO 25/40 folios 157-179 concern the method of payment of pensions to pensioners, 1806-1807. WO 4/848 folios 109 and 212 gives the numbers of Chelsea and Greenwich out-pensioners, 1852-1855.
Registers of pensions and superannuation payable to civilian employees, 1820-1892, are in WO 23.93-104. Records of army chaplains on retired pay are in WO 25/252-253 covering the period 1806-1837. WO 25/252 contains an index. Army chaplains' certificates of service, 1817-1843 are in WO 25/256-258. An alphabetical index of those East India Company pensioners in receipt of a pension, 1849-1876, is in WO 23/21-23.
The Paymaster General after 1835
The Paymaster General's duties, originally confined to the pay and pensions of the armed services, were extended to cover the payment of retired pay and pensions to officers of the Armed services and their widows and dependants and pensions bourne on the Consolidated Fund. These duties are delegated to an assistant paymaster general and to other permanent officers of the Paymaster General's Office. The Paymaster General is virtually a minister without portfolio available for any duties which the government of the day may entrust to him.
Records of Ordnance Office officers' half pay, military and civil pensions and payments to widows and children, 136-1875 are in PMG 12.
Paymaster General Files in Relation to Payments made on behalf of the Ministry of Pensions
Payments of temporary retired pay and gratuities, to invalided officers of the Army PMG 42/1-2, Army Officers, 2 April 1917 - 3 February 1919. These records give the following details: rank, name, address, date of warrant, amount paid.
Supplementary allowances and special grants to officers' widows and dependants: PMG 42/2, Army Officers, 2 April 1917 - 3 February 1919. These records give the following details: rank, name, address, date of warrant, amount paid.
Supplementary allowances and special grants to officers' widows and dependants: PMG 43/2, Army 1916-1920. These volumes are indexed and give the following information: name and address of claimant, rank and name of officer, date of birth, payment.
Pensions paid to relatives of deceased officers, PMG 44/1-7, Army, April 1916 - March 1920. These documents are arranged by relative, ie parent, sister, other relatives. The index appears at the front of the volume, on finding the relevant entry, a number is given, these numbers run in numerical order within the document and give the following information, name and address of claimant, rank and name of officer, date of birth and date of payment.
Army Officers' widows' pensions' 1 September 1917 to 7 July 1919, PMG 45/1-6. Information given: name and address of widow, officer's name, rank and date of birth, date of payments. These volumes are indexed in the same way as PMG 44.
Allowances paid to Army officers' children, 1916-1920, PMG 46/1-4. Information given: child/children's names, name, rank and regiment of father, record of payments and who collected monies.
Pensions paid to relatives of missing Army officers, March 1915 - March 1920, PMG 47/1-3. Information given: name and address of relative receiving pension, relationship to missing officer name and rank of officer, dates of payment. These volumes are indexed in the same way as PMG 44.
Army nurses' and schoolmistresses' pensions, 1909-1928, PMG 34/1-5.
Before a search of any of the above mentioned documents is made, it is useful to bear in mind when the pension was granted and when the officer was killed or went missing. General correspondence and papers relating to the Paymaster General's Office policy and administration of various armed services pensions can be found in PMG 74.
Ministry of Pensions
The state first assumed responsibility for the support of dependants of servicemen killed or disabled in war during the South African war, 1899-1902. Prior to that an organisation known as the Royal Patriotic Fund Commission funded by private subscriptions had made grants to dependants and the disabled since the Crimean war. Material relating to the setting up and funding of the Royal Patriotic Fund Commission can be found in PMG 74/160 covering the period 1854-1945. The Royal Patriotic Fund was reconstituted in 1903 with statutory duties in connection with the payment of additional allowances by the service departments.
In 1915, a statutory committee of the Commission was appointed to regulate the payment of supplementary pensions and allowances and the provision of medical care from the fund. Voluntary subscriptions proved insufficient and in August 1916 the Treasury agreed to accept financial responsibility for the statutory committee's needs and to bring it under parliamentary control together with various other organisations dealing with war pensions.
In September 1916 a cabinet committee recommended the formation of a pensions board under a minister of the Crown. The committee's proposals were modified in Parliament and enacted as the Ministry of Pensions Act 1916 providing for a single department to administer both military and naval war pensions. Correspondence, minutes and papers of the Cabinet Committee on pensions are in PIN 4/111. A copy of its printed report is in CAB 37/157/30. Papers relating to the formation of this department are in PIN 15/336-337.
The Ministry of Pensions was established in December 1916 and in February 1917 took over the statutory responsibilities of the Admiralty, War Office, Army Council and the Chelsea Hospital commissioners for the administration of naval and military death and disability pensions and allowances, including those of naval and military nursing services arising from World War One or granted prior to 18 September 1914. The Ministry later became responsible for RAF pensions under the Air Force Act 1917. Special pensions taken over by the Ministry included those paid under the Naval and Marine Pensions Act 1865 as supplements to Greenwich Hospital pensions to dependants of naval seamen and royal marines whose deaths were attributable to service other than warlike operations and from 1920, pensions formerly paid by the Admiralty under the injuries in war compensations acts to merchant seamen employed in fleet duties. It also administered the Greenwich Hospital pensions mentioned above and service pensions held in conjunction with war disability pensions since September 1914. These arrangements continued until March 1924 and March 1925 respectively.
In 1917 the service departments had retained responsibility for service pensions including those under older regulations based upon disablement, gallantry and special campaign pensions, Chelsea Hospital in-pensions and pensions from Greenwich Hospital Funds. They continued under special arrangements to deal with disability pensions held in conjunction with pre-war service records. The scheme of mercantile marine and fishing fleet war pensions also remained outside the control of the Ministry of Pensions and was administered from 1915 by the Board of Trade. Following the war the powers of the Ministry were reduced.
In October 1921 responsibility for peacetime death and disability pensions and allowances and special pensions was restored to the service departments. The Ministry of Pensions retained general control of war pensions arising from the war of 1914 to 1918 and former wars and from 1920 took charge of officers' wounds pensions arising from the war.
In the Second World War the Ministry of Pensions took over the responsibility for wartime death and disability pensions for the armed services and also the mercantile marine. The Ministry of Shipping (1939-1941) and later the Ministry of War Transport took over from the Board of Trade responsibility for mercantile marine pensions from the First World War.
In 1953 the Ministry of Pensions was combined with the Ministry of National Insurance in a new Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. The establishment division of this new ministry dealt with the local administration and the investigation of pensions claims. A general administration and awards division initially determined policy with regard to pensions and claims to entitlement; after the Second World War these functions were dealt with by the Pensions Policy and General Division and the Awards Division.
In 1954 the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance took over the administration of death and disability pensions for merchant seamen and fishermen killed or injured in the First World War. In 1966 this department was abolished and its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Social Security and the Supplementary Benefits Commission.
Ministry of Pensions, Military Pension Records
PIN 15 files relating to the administration by the Ministry of Pensions of the various war pension and allowance schemes in the United Kingdom and overseas. The majority of the files relate to the consideration, award and payment of pensions and allowances due from the South African war, 1899-1902, the First World War and the Second World War. Other files deal with the establishment, organisation and functions of the Ministry of Pensions. Some files also deal with the constitution and working of the statutory committee of the Royal Patriotic Fund Commission, the Special Grants Committee, the Local War Pensions Committee and the Pension Appeal Tribunals. There are also many files relating to Imperial pensioners both residents in the United Kingdom and abroad. Other useful records contained in this class are:
PIN 15/570-589 Entitlement to pension, 1916-1930
PIN 15/277-279 Service and disability pensions for those with over 14 years of service, 1917-1927.
The materials in this class (PIN 15) covers the period 1901-1982 and the class list contains a subject index.
PIN 26 contains selected 1914-1918 war disability pension award files, the cases are listed in order of date of termination of pension or death. Details of the type of award and the personal information that can be obtained from these files are indicated by the codes index of the class list, the files cover the period 1920-1972. Most pieces are closed for 50 years and only three relate to officers.
PIN 45 contains selected war pension payment files; whole class closed for 75 years.
PIN 41 contains minutes of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions, 1921-1978 as constituted under the War Pensions Act 1921 and amended by the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1921.
PIN 14 contains manuals of codes and instructions, 1918-1978, sent to local offices of the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, medical boards and war pensions committees relating to the administration of war pensions including copies of the instruments governing such pensions.
PIN 59 these files covering the period 1920-1985 relate to the policy concerning the award and administration of pensions and allowances to men and women injured while on war service and to dependants of the killed and injured.
PIN 67 these files consist of war pensions policy files, 1916-1963, mainly in relation to the disposal of deceased pensioners' estates and the imprisonment of pensioners.
PIN 69 during the Second World War a Public Relations Officer was appointed to be responsible for public relations and the information policy of the Ministry. This system continued with the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. The files contain material in general and leaflet policy for the period 1947-1949. There is also a collection of in-house Ministry of Pensions' war pension bulletins, 1917-1959, in PIN 69/6-9.
Arising from claims for pension from ex-service men or their widows or dependants, a Pension Appeal Tribunal was set up in July 1917 which operated in an advisory capacity as a branch of the Ministry of Pensions. By 1919 its duties were to consider and decide appeals against decisions as to entitlement by the Ministry of Pensions. By 1921 the jurisdiction of the tribunals was extended to the consideration of appeals against decisions of the Ministry of Pensions concerning the final award and assessment. In the Pension Appeal Acts of 1943 and 1949 provision was made for the consideration of appeals concerning the award of pensions arising from death or injury as a result of serving in the armed forces and mercantile marine. The appointment and regulation of pension appeal tribunals is vested in the Lord Chancellor.
Pension Appeal Tribunal Records
LCO 2 correspondence and papers of the Lord Chancellor's Office contains material on Pension Appeal Tribunals and bills, LCO 2/640-643, 969-978, 1551, 2780-2787, 3694-3742, 4600, 4673, 5767-5782, 6904-6905.
BF 1 contains registers of cases of appeals against decisions on entitlement to or assessment of war disability pensions, 1943-1978. The registers record the date of each hearing, the members of the entitlement/assessment tribunal, the appellant's name and the result of the appeal. Entries are arranged in chronological order.
BF 2 contains the Pension Appeal Tribunal case files, 1957-1977, however the whole class is closed for 75 years.
PIN 15/101-125 contains general material on Pensions Appeal Tribunals and files concerning appeals, 1917-1941.
J 96 consist of a random sample of applications for leave to appeal and of appeals from decisions of tribunals appointed under the Pension Appeal Tribunal Acts, 1943 and 1949, in connection with claims concerning the awards of pensions arising from death or injury as a result of the Second World War and serving in the armed forces. These papers are closed for 75 years and are held at Chancery Lane.
PIN 40 contains reports of selected war pension appeals made by legal advisors to the Ministry of Pensions on behalf of servicemen and civilians, 1944-1971.
Established under the War Pensions Act 1921, the committees comprised disabled ex-service men, widows and dependants and voluntary associations appointed by the Minister of Pension. The main functions of the committees was to make recommendations about the administration of war pensions, to hear complaints and to enquire into matters referred to them by the Minister and to make representations to the Minister on their pensioners' behalf. Correspondence and papers relating to select war pensions committees and copies of their minutes, reports and circulated papers can be found in PIN 9, PIN 15 and PIN 56 covering the period 1915-1977.
Pension Commutation Board
Set up under the Pensions Commutation Act 1869 and later consolidated into the Pensions Commutation Act 1871, the board considers and advises the Treasury on applications from retired officers of the armed forces and other people to commute part of their service pension into a lump sum. Pension Commutation Board minutes are in NDO 14 and cover 1869-1970, all volumes are indexed but some are closed for 75 years, see also T 213/273-277.
Supplementary Pension Records
AST 13 codes of instructions and circulars used by officers of the assistance boards and successor departments, many in connection with pensions.
Supplementary Pension Records - contd
PMG 16 any person awarded the Conspicuous Bravery Medal or Victoria Cross was entitled to an additional pension. These records cover 1857-1920 and give the name and address, rank, attorney, assignees, date of authority and warrant number, date of commencement, rate per annum, amount due each quarter, amounts paid.
PMG 74 general office files of the Paymaster General in relation to military pensions, 1730-1969.
T 21 Treasury out letters to departments relating to the Paymaster General, especially concerning the consolidated fund, 1834-1884.
T 58 letters and orders from the Treasury to the Paymaster General, especially concerning the consolidated fund, 1834-1884.
T 59 letters and orders to Paymaster General Ireland from the Treasury, 1837 1869.
T 114 temporary commissions including those concerning war pensions, 1914-1920.
T 135 Treasury letters to Paymaster General, 1 January 1914 - September 1921.
T 136 Treasury letters to Ministry of Pensions, 4 January 1917 - March 1921.
T 161 files of the supply department of the Treasury, contains material on pensions 1908-1961.
T 213 Treasury, defence personnel division files. These relate to the complementing, pay, pensions of the armed forces and of the defence and associated departments, 1911-1961. Some pieces closed for 50 or 75 years.
WO 3/589-590 Commander-in-Chief out-letters relating to invalids and pensions, August 1815 - March 1817.
WO 4/375 Secretary at War, out-letters relating to Foreign Department out-pensions, December 1815 - March 1817.
WO 4/469-493 Secretary at War out-letters relating to Foreign Department out-pensions, indexed.
WO 4/521-590 Secretary at War out-letters relating to Compassionate Fund claims, 1803-1860 indexed.
WO 4/729 Folios 172-179, report concerning Kilmainham pensions and how soldiers were paid pensions before the introduction of out-pensions, by drafting them to invalid companies on full pay until room in Kilmainham hospital became available.
WO 4/892-942 Secretary at War out-letters relating to out pensions, 1816-1858, indexed.
WO 4/943-963 Secretary at War out-letters, relating to pensions miscellaneous, November 1819 - June 1851, indexed.
WO 4/964 Secretary at War out-letters relating to pensions of staff officers, 1843-1850.
WO 4/1023-1030 Secretary at War out-letters relating to widows' pension claims, 1764-1816, indexed. These documents give names and addresses of widows and name and rank of husbands.
WO 32 Code 4A to 4K pensions, code 4B officers, code 4C relatives.
WO 33/19 folios 151-175, memorandum on the origins of half pay, Chelsea and Kilmainham pensions, retired full pay, officers' pensions, officers' pensions for distinguished service, officers' widows' pensions, pensions to the children and relatives of officers out of the Compassionate Fund, pensions to relatives of deceased officers.
WO 43 Secretary at War correspondence: selected 'very old series' and 'old series' papers, 1809-1857. Subject card index available Reference Room bay P.
WO 97/1200-1202 Royal Hospital Chelsea documents, regiment of invalids, 1760-1854 see WO 4/792 above for explanation.
WO 296 Department of the Permanent Under Secretary of State: Central Department C2 Legal and Parliamentary, 1904-1973.
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