I recently made transcriptions of the under mentioned forms as part of the "Families in British India Society" project for the British Library and to expand on their content in a talk to the Society I noted the Illiteracy levels - taken where "His/Her Mark" is used. The Soldiers forms indicated an illiteracy rate of 30% and the Widows at 38%. Though the remark "This man can write" appears as in official hand on several forms ~ as several of those so "exposed" had lost an arm or hand this may be conjectured!!! One supposes that relatives collected the pensions on occasions. The soldiers were all ex Honourable East India Company men, though some did sign on with the British/Indian Army after 1860, and so were of considerable age and there are only some 500 forms to work from. FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION OF INDIAN ARMY PENSIONERS & WIDOWS, 1896 The India Office catalogue describes L/MIL/14/214 as: - Forms of identification of Indian Army Pensioners, forwarded to the India Office by local Magistrates, Police Officers or other Authorities in the UK giving date & place of birth, present address, former regiment, number, details of enlistment, service, discharge and medals and L/MIL/14/215 as: - Similar forms for Soldiers Widows in receipt of Pension, adding date & place of marriage. Peter D.Rogers.