If you order the pension file, and there was no pension application, you will not be charged.

The pension files are far and away the most useful. They are often very, very thick and cover information as varied as health, occupation, relatives, friends and war experiences. Some even include photographs and marriage certificates. It is possible to make many family, religious and community links with pension records, since not only medical information was necessary to determine eligibility. Widow's needed to validate their own status, service dates might be validated through other soldier's affidavits.

Unless your relative was a non-commissioned officer (corporal or sgt.)who participated in many battles-where there is record of medals, injuries, etc. the service record may only consist of muster rolls-ie, signature cards/sheets that said soldier was present at time of muster or payroll.