Monthly Returns of British Regiments

Annual Returns of British Regiments

Stationed in Nova Scotia, 1807 - 1865

(see additional notes at the end of this list)

This list was prepared from monthly returns on file at the Public Records Office in Kew (London), record class WO17. For simplicity, I have consolidated these into yearly blocks; therefore, please bear in mind that the regiments listed were not necessarily in that location for the entire year.

WO17 lists all officers by name and rank. Names and ranks of other officers are contained in payrolls/muster books. More detail on individual soldiers’ careers MAY be obtained from a variety of other documents housed at the Public Records Office including, among others, payrolls and muster books, discharge documents and pension records. Generally speaking, the earlier the record, the less detail you will find.

So, you’re wondering, what good does this information do me? I anticipate its main use will be for those who have reason to believe an ancestor served with the British Army in Nova Scotia but have no idea of the regiment. If you have a reasonable idea of the period your ancestor was in NS, this list will considerably narrow down the number of regiments you need to check to locate your ancestor and obtain details of his service.