War Office records, 1770-1960 [microform] / as filmed by the AJCP

The administrative history of the War Office is a fragmented and at times confusing one, if for no other reason than the existence of a plethora of independent offices all claiming some jurisdiction over Army administration. Although administrative reform of the War Office did not cease with the War Office Act, it provides a convenient cut-off date for the purposes of a background history to the War Office records copied under the auspices of the Australian Joint Copying Project. The records filmed relate mainly to Australia and New Zealand and deal with most of the various offices. Troops in the Colonies were under the control of each Governor, although administratively they were controlled from London. Thus a great deal of material concerning troops and defence, especially before 1840, is to be found in the Governors' despatches in the Colonial Office records. In 1870 the Colonies became responsible for their own defences. The selection filmed from a number of Classes is very small, and in other cases extensive.