Fifth release from Military Service (1916-23) Pensions Collection now available, May 2018

On 11 May 2018 the Military Archives released the fifth instalment in its ongoing release of files from the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC). The MSPC collection gathers together over 250,000 records relating to applications for pensions, gratuities and allowances lodged by those who participated in the events from 1916 to the official end of the Civil War in 1923. The collection contains unheard voices and brings the historical narrative down to the personal, the rank-and-file Volunteer as well as the leadership figure. It illuminates the organisations, events and individuals in their particular context. As a high value source for research, the collection is a great reference for the family historian and genealogist, but the files present and highlight wider topics than just the pension administration of the time: for instance, politics, social history, medical and welfare history, women’s history, military structure and operations are all themes that are heavily present throughout the collection.

The May 2018 release relates to claims lodged by 1,442 individuals (c. 4,000 files), or by their dependants and contains new and unique information on the revolutionary period. It is the largest release of files relating to over 600 female participants in the revolution; learn more about the May 2018 release here.

Explore the Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC) blog.