Genealogy Chat

Just wondered if anyone can help. I would like to find out if my Grandfathers WW1 service records survived. I called the National Archives and was told that it costs about £60 to get someone to search these records for me. Not that I mind spending out money,but as only 50% of WW1 records survived I could be paying for nothing. I was wondering if anyone out there is going at some point and would mind checking to see if they are there or not before I spend out. Thanks Julie

The figure is more like a 1/3 if you cant get to Kew then do you live near a family history center? check on www.familysearch.org you can order in the relevent film for a few pounds. The series title is Military records of the British Army, 1914-1920 There are also whispers that Ancestry are currently copying all of the burnt files and hope to have them available to view online at some point this year. But this just for the burnt files, there is another range WO 364 (pension files) and these would have to be checked at Kew.

Hi Willow Would that include family research heritage centres in Scotland.

Dont know, these are listed under the centers in Scotland Family History Centers in Scotland Aberdeen Scotland North Anderson Drive Aberdeen, Grampian, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 122-469 2206 Hours: T-Th 10.30am-3.30pm; Th 7pm-9pm; ST-Th 10.30am-3.30pm; Th 7pm-9pm; Sat 10.30am-12.30pm Alloa Scotland Grange Road Westend Park Alloa, Central, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 125-921 1148 Hours: W 10am-12pm & 6:30pm-8:30pm Other times by arrangment Ayr Scotland Corner of Orchard Ave & Mossgiel Road Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland Hours: T, Th 10am-1pm; T 2pm-5pm; Th 7pm-9pm Dumfries Scotland 36 Edinburgh Road Albanybank Dumfries, Dumfrieshire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 138-725 4865 Hours: T 9am-3pm, 7pm-9pm Dundee Scotland Bingham Terrace Dundee, Tayside, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 138-245 1247 Hours: T-Th 9am-3pm; W, Th 6pm-9pm. Edinburgh Scotland 30A Colinton Road Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 131-313 2762 Hours: M-F 10am-2pm; T, W 7pm-9pm. Elgin Scotland Pansport Road Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 134-354 6429 Hours: W 7pm-9pm; Th 1.30pm-4pm; Sat 9.30am-12pm Glasgow Scotland 35 Julian Avenue Kelvinside Glasgow, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 141-357 1024 Hours: M 11am-2pm; T 10am-9pm; W 2pm-6pm; Closed: 2-15 April 2007 inclusive Attention: Please book by telephone before coming Invergordon Scotland Kilmonivaig Seafield Portmahomack, Ross-shire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 186-287 1631 Hours: T, Th 10am-12pm, 7pm-9pm Inverness Scotland 13 Ness Walk Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 146-323 1220 Hours: M,F 10am-2pm; Th 6pm-8pm 3rd week only Attention: please ring for an appointment Kirkcaldy Scotland Winifred Crescent Forth Park Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 159-264 0041 Hours: T, Th 10am-4pm; T-W 7pm-9pm; Th 6pm-9pm. Lerwick Scotland 44 Prince Alfred Street Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 159-569 5732 Hours: Th 6pm-9pm; All other times by appointment Montrose Scotland LDS Chapel Coronation Way Montrose, Angus, Angus, Scotland Phone: 44-0 167-467 5753 Motherwell Scotland Orbiston Street Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland Hours: T, Th 6pm-9pm. Paisley Scotland Glenburn Road Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 141-884 2780 Hours: T 9.30am-3.30pm; W 10am-1pm; Th 6.30-9pm; Sat 9.30am-2.30pm. Stornoway Scotland Newton Street Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland Phone: 44 (0) 185-187 0972 Hours: W 7pm-9pm; Th 3pm-9pm.

I suggest getting a cheaper researcher. Chap called Kevin Asplin specialises mainly in the Boer War I believe (and has several websites), but is a serving solider himself and will take on most military research for a very reasonable fee on his weekends off when he visits Kew. Charged me a mere £10 for a quick check of the WO/363 registers to see whether my own Gt grandfathers WW1 record had survived - it hadn't, but it was definately £10 well spent. He also got a Naval Record for me from the 1850s and an army record from the 1860s, and in both cases charged a flat £15 fee for the copies and postage. I don't know of anyone cheaper or friendlier! His email address is kevinasplin-at-aol-dot-com. I'm sure he won't mind the plug!

Willow Thanks Elgin is good for me as my parents up that area. Do they order or do you have to order yourself. Sorry so many questions. Julie

If you go to the website, have a look in the library catalogue because you will need the fiche/series number etc for them to order it in. Look under the series title that I gave you Military records of the British Army, 1914-1920, they are organised alphabetically. You have to go to the center and pay before they will order the film in, then it takes a few weeks to come in. They keep the film on site for a few weeks for you. They only charge a few pounds...they are a wonderful resource that really are under used.

But like I said this is only for the Burnt files...his record could still survive in the Pension file series WO 364 but these have to viewed at Kew. But id try the cheap option first, then beg on here for someone visiting Kew.

Thanks Willow an Micheal. Will search both options. Julie

i went on the site national archives and i found my dad and printed all his war record out,just that i cant remember the name somethink like c.wgc i even got apicture of my grandfathers grave just google war records it should come up joyce,good luck

Hi Julie, Sorry to jump on your thread, But i was thinking of taking a trip to kew in the next couple of months. Was just wondering if anyone knows what information army records would hold? For example, would it give a place of birth as well as ranks and places served? Julie K

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Hi all of the attestation papers I have ask for place of birth, town, age (not date of birth) it will be in years and months, trade occupation, and it will ask if married.

I think Joyce is talking about the commonwealth graves commision site www.cwgc.org, your relative should be listed here if they died.

yes that was it willow thank you could.nt remember the name,but i also got my dads records from australia and printed them all good luck in your search joyce

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I just found the WW1 service records of one of my family on A2A. He was in the RND (Royal Naval Division) which apparently many north-east miners joined. It only cost £3.50 to download the records and well worth it - and it saved me a visit to Kew. Lyn

Hi Yes you can view and download copies of seamen who joined the Royal Navy between 1873 and 1923 online at the national archives. You can also view and download chelsea pension records from the national archives, the date range of discharge to pension is 1760-1854.