Just added to the Internet Archive are a series of potted histories of British Regiments from their formation to about the mid-19th century. You won't find mention of individuals, other than commanding officers. Use these publications to see what actions the regiment was engaged in while your ancestor was enlisted.
There's a list of these histories below, but its best to browse the listing here which may also surface other publications of British military interest at the Internet Archive.
Historical record of the First, or Royal Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the origin of the regiment in the reign of King James VI of Scotland and of its subsequent services to 1846
Historical record of the Forty-second, or, the Royal Highland Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of six companies of Highlanders in 1729 ... and were regimented in 1739 and of the subsequent services of the regiment to 1844
Historical record of the Forty-Sixth, or the South Devonshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1741 and of its subsequent services to 1851
Historical record of the Fourteenth, or the Buckinghamshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1865 and of its subsequent services to 1845
Historical record of The Fourth, or, Royal Irish Regiment of Dragoon Guards [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1838
Historical record of The Fourth, or, The King's Own Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1680, and of its subsequent services to 1839
Historical record of The Fourth, or The Queen's Own Regiment of Light Dragoons [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685 and of its subsequent services to 1842
Historical record of The Nineteenth, or, The First Yorkshire North Riding Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688 and of its subsequent services to 1848
Historical record of The Second, or, Queen's Regiment of Dragoon Guards, (Queen's Bays) [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685 and of its subsequent services to 1837
Historical record of the Seventh, or, Princess Royal's Regiment of Dragoon Guards [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688 and of its subsequent services to 1839
Historical record of the Seventh Regiment of Light Dragoons-Lancers [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1759 and of its subsequent services to 1841
Historical record of the Seventh Regiment, or, The Royal Fusiliers [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1846
Historical record of the Seventh, or, The Surrey Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1758, and of its subsequent services to 1848
Historical record of the Seventy-First Regiment, Highland Light Infantry [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1777, and of its subsequent services to 1852
Historical record of the Seventy-fourth Regiment (Highlanders) [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1787, and of its subsequent services to 1850
Historical record of the Seventy-Third Regiment [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment from the period of its being raised as the Second Battalion of the Forty-Second Royal Highlanders in 1870 and of its subsequent services to 1851.
Historical record of The Sixty-Seventh, or, The South Hampshire Regiment [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1758 and of its subsequent services to 1849
Historical record of The Thirty-ninth, or, The Dorsetshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the regiment in 1702 and of its subsequent services to 1853
Historical record of The Thirty-Fourth, or, The Cumberland Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing in account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and its subsequent services to 1844
Historical record of the Thirty-first, or, The Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1850, to which is appended an account of the services of the Marine Corps, from 1664 to 1748 : the Thirtieth, Thirty-First and Thirty-Second Regments having been formed in 1702 as Marine Corps, and retained from 1714 on the establishment of the army as regiments of regular infantry
Historical record of the Twenty-Third Regiment, or, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1689 and of its subsequent services to 1850
Historical record of The Twentieth, or, The East Devonshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688, and of its subsequent services to 1848
Historical record of the Sixteenth, or, The Queen's Regiment of Light Dragoons, Lancers [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1759 and of its subsequent services to 1841
Historical record of the Sixteenth, or the Bedfordshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1688 and of its subsequent services to 1848
Historical record of the Thirteenth, First Somerset, or the Prince Albert's Regiment of Light Infantry [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1865 and of its subsequent services to 1848
Historical record of the Twelfth, or the East Suffolk Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685 and of its subsequent services to 1847
Historical record of the Tenth, the Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment of Hussars [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1715, and of its subsequent services to 1842
Historical record of the Tenth, or the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and its subsequent services to 1847
Historical record of the Sixth, or Inniskilling Regiment of Dragoons [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1689, and of its subsequent services to 1846
Historical record of the Sixth, or Royal First Warwickshire Regiment of Foot [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in the year 1674, and of its subsequent services to 1838
Historical record of the Sixth Regiment of Dragoon Guards, or the Carabineers [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1839
Historical record of the Third, or Prince of Wales' Regiment of Dragoon Guards [microform] : containing an account of the formation of the Regiment in 1685, and of its subsequent services to 1838
"Just added to the Internet Archive are a series of potted histories of British Regiments"
ReplyDeleteI would suggest "of SOME British Regiments" The Forty-First, also known as the Welsh, is not there. I have not checked know how many others are also not there.
archive.org does have other books of historical interest in British Regiments, although not "potted histories". One example is:
ReplyDelete"A narrative of a light company soldier's service in the Forty-first regiment of foot (1807-1814), by Shadrach Byfield" at
http://www.archive.org/details/lightcompanysoldi00byfirich
The 41st is one of several regiments that are of interest to Canadians whose family histories include British soldiers who settled in Canada after the war of 1812.