Genealogy Chat

Thanks to all for the advice.

I know h one of my relatives signed with the Durham Light Infantry in 1908 so there is a starter for 10.

Thanks again everyone

Terry

CWGC site quoted above is only any good if the person you are searching for has died in the line of duty (ie: killed durng WWI). If he survived he won't be on there.

The best place to look as an initial starting point, which lists all soldiers, is The National Archives - link here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/

Put your name into the search box and a list will come up - it will cost £3.50 to download the medal card you want. HOWEVER!!!!! there may well be lots and lots and lots and lots (literally thousands) of men with the same name as the person you are researching. If this is the case the only way to eliminate them is to know the man's regiment and service number, if you have that it will be a relatively easy search.

If you don't have his regiment and service number it could be a long long trail, in which case go to this link here:

http://www.1914-1918.net/

Scroll down, and on the right hand side under 'Recommended' there is a link to the 'Great War Forum'. Go on there and ask about your man - giving as much information as you can.

If your man survived and you have access to Ancestry you MIGHT (a 30% or thereabouts) have a chance of finding his Attestation papers (where he signed on the dotted line to join up) but the availabily of these vary enormously because of air raids during WWII - they also vary in content as well, some having 20/30 pages whilst others have 2/3.

Research it properly, don't just plump for the first bloke you come across because he's got the same name - I've seen this SO many times.

You'll be glad you did when you get all the results at the end!!

Read Tips for Newbies

Terry,
Never pay more than 7.00 a certificate.

bmds from start of registration on July 1 1837 to ca 1925/1930 are on www.freebmd.org.uk ........ a FREE site!!!


Volunteers are working hard to get all the records upto 1983 transcribed and onto the internet, so you need to keep checking back.


You can NOT see the details of any certificates online

........ you have to get the information from freebmd or ancestry, including the GRO reference number, then BUY the certificate from www.gro.gov.uk or a local records office.


sylvia

This website may be of use

http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp

Some WW1 records are on Ancestry.............many were destroyed during WW2

All bmd indices from 1837 to 2005 are also on Ancestry.

You cannot look at English/Welsh certs without buying them

Hi everyone, totally new to this but already absorbed to an unhealthy degree.

Could someone explain how I would go about searching for service records including medal issues (Mainly from WW1).

Also, after searching the census etc, how easy is it to access birth, marriage and death serts online?

Any help/advice would be immensely appreciated.