I have recently been in contact with the national Archives re: War Service Records. This was their response.
Thank you for contacting The National Archives (TNA).
SOLDIERS DOCUMENTS BEFORE 1914
The basic framework of a soldier's career throughout most of the nineteenth century, can normally be traced through the surviving Muster Books and Pay lists of his regiment(s), which are kept here. Using these to find a man's whole career can take a long time. For many, but not all soldiers, it is quicker and easier to start with the Soldier's (enlistment and/or discharge) Documents in the collection known as WO 97. This does not include all soldiers. Before 1883, it normally covers those soldiers who were discharged and received a pension. From 1883 to 1913, most soldiers are included, if they survived their service. It can be difficult to find records of soldiers who died in service, especially as the muster books stop altogether by 1898.
Please click on the links below to detailed information leaflets on Soldiers' Discharge Papers 1760-1913, Muster Rolls and Pay Lists c1730-1898, and Soldiers' Pension Records 1702-1913:
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2005
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2007
http://
www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk /ExternalRequest.asp?Request Reference=ri2006
Hope this helps a bit.
Ellensophia