Sources of Information ref. WW1 and your Family
Below are over 40 different sources of information that you can use to research the role of any family member you suspect or know took part in WW1.
You may have been alerted by an artefact such as a medal or certificate, or by family stories. Routes into further information are many, so you are recommended to “dip in” to as many routes as seem relevant-. Sometimes one website will have nothing, whereas another gives great detail. That is the fascination of Family History!
DEATH RECORDS:
www.direct.gov.uk Death certificates are available for a cost of £9.25p.
www.familyrelatives.com A subscription site with a range of data bases including WW1 information e.g. 1919 list of war dead.
(The National Roll is available at www.ancestry.com and www.findmypast.com
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour 1914-1918 two private lists one for officers the second for other ranks which is not complete and does contain some photographs and information.to be found. See also www.archives.gov
www.ancestry.com and www.findmypast.com )
“Soldiers who died in the Great War” was published after the war by HMSO in 1921. Available from libraries, regimental museums and second hand book shops. This list has been used as the basis for the Ancestry data base.
A record of Officers killed is available from “Cross of Sacrifice” published 1993 .The Imperial War Museum, Libraries and the National Archives and www.archives.org .
The War Graves Roll of killed and wounded naval and marines available via the National Archives ADM 242
also available to view on www.ancestry.com
RAF records and information via www.rafmuseum.org.uk
Commonwealth War Graves Commission www.cwgc.org . Searchable free data base of war dead. This is the Principal “Debt of Honour List”
www.redcross.org.uk Information on all aspects of the work of the Red Cross during WW1 and in wider context. A searchable data base from their records will be available in late 2015 which may include Prisoners of War in WW1
www.gov.uk/probate-search Soldiers Wills. Free search for a name , £10 to print or read. These may be handwritten wills or collected from pay books or other sources.
www.bl.uk British Library Newspapers. A source for a wide range of information. This can be accessed by visiting the BL or on line.
www.iwm.org.uk Imperial War Museum. Currently running exhibitions, workshops, related to WW1.
The Times , The Scotsman, London Gazette all feature promotions , awards, medals, death announcements. Many families will have paid for articles to be published.
OFFICERS RECORDS:
The Army List has been published every year from 1800’s and is available on CD to purchase, from a library and a free down load from http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists . It is an annual list of all officers giving details of regiment and rank, divided either into quarters or half yearly.
MEDALS:
Book: Peter Ducker s “British Campaign Medals -WW1” is available on Amazon £5.57p giving a summary of the medals issued.
www.ancestry.com Ancestry have easy to follow videos on their WW1 site one of which will take you through a Medal card with clear a explanation and how to use them in research.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk Using the search engine will take you to a section on WW1 war medals with an explanation of medals available . The NA covers in great detail what is available to down load.
www.greatwar.co.uk This site is a generic web page covering the Great War. Medals are only a small aspect on this site
www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/themedals.html A web site dedicated to WW1 in all its aspects and another source of information about medals and entitlement.
www.1914-1918.net The Long Long Trail An excellent resource which is very readable and covers every aspect of military life. This is a first port of call in tracing or searching for information on a regiment or brigade. A resource used in conjunction with regimental war diaries to learning more about the part your ancestor played in WW1
www.wikipedia.org A general research of this site eg army regiments ,The Somme gives explanations of regiments ,battles and military information.
www.forces-war-records.co.uk A searchable data base. Offers monthly subscription to search records £8.95 a month. £71.95 per year and paid researcher s. Trial search for free and see what they hold.
SERVICE RECORDS:
www.ancestry.co.uk The most complete records available continually updated and liked to National Archives. Subscription site.
www.findmypast.co.uk A subscription site with a good range of records that can be used in conjunction with Ancestry. There are some records that are not on ancestry. The Newspaper archive is easy use and does provide information in terms of family announcements, articles and local interest in WW1.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk The original source of all military and service records. They will direct you to depositories eg Woodhorn who may have information stored. Easy searchable data bases and down loads available or can be ordered on line /post/ telephone. Looking for volunteers to help with digitalising War Diaries.
WAR MEMORIALS
www.ukniwm.org.uk The UK National Inventory of War Memorials
www.newmp.org.uk North East War Memorials Project
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk The War Graves Roll of killed and wounded is on the National Archives
Royal Navy and Marines war memorial s are available via www.ancestry.com
www.rafmuseum.org.uk for RAF memorials
MUSEUMS:
www.nam.ac.uk National Army Museum. Building currently closed but website active.
www.experiencewoodhorn.com Woodhorn Museum and archives for Northumberland area.
www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk Durham Light Infantry records
www.northumberlandfusiliers.org.uk Nth. Fusilliers Museum in Alnwick Castle Alnwick. Research undertaken for anyone with a Nortumberland Fusiliers ancestor £35. ( Can be long delay). £20 to visit and read original Battalion War Diaries , St George Gazette , Trench maps , diaries and more
www.bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk/ww1 Important resource of all known local war deaths
www.iwm.org.uk Imperial War Museum Regional museums plus new WW1 feature in London site.
All Guards Regiments hold their own records and can be contacted e.g
Regimental Archivist
Coldstream Guards
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London SW 16HQ
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES
www.westernfrontassociation.com Western Front founded in 1980 by J.Giles aims to promote and keep interest in the First World War. Local branch meets at Alnmouth holds talks from interesting speakers
www.britishlegion.org.uk Origins in the years after WW1 to provide welfare, comradeship and represent ex personnel. Today continues to support armed service personnel . Best known for Poppy appeal and fund raising.
www.gazettes-online.co.uk London , Edinburgh, Belfast gazettes (Official military record)
www.thegreatwararchive.org Information, poetry etc. General Public were asked to contribute their personal memorabilia to project and 6,500 items are available to view on line
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/firstworldwar For those interested in searching for their Canadian ancestors in WW1. 70% of Canadian Expeditionary Force were originally from Great Britain. All Canadian War Diaries are on line and free to use.
www.pathsofglory.co.uk A resource to view trench maps of WW1. Can be used in conjunction with the War Diaries to trace ancestor’s experiences.
www.wikepedia.com Full lists of hospital ships/ sunk ships, military hospitals and auxiliary hospitals
1914-1918.invisionzone.com A Google search of ancestor/regiment may take you here . A chat room which answers questions about every aspect of WW1 by interested researchers. Many of the respondents have acc ess to war diaries and are happy to help..
www.britishpathe.com Films made at the time, personnel returning to hospital. Pathe have a number of films made at the time showing different aspects of WW1 eg boarding trains for France
www.scarletfinders.co.uk Comprehensive site covering nurses and hospitals during WW1
www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar Along-running project
www.historyextra.com A BBC magazine for family genealogists , free articles to read, subscription available.
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk A Genealogy web site specialising in Scottish Records, some free data bases available or pay as you go by tokens. WW1 Soldiers effects ledger available similar to a will.
www.myfamilyancestors.co.uk One-stop link to other genealogy sites
https://bailiffgatecollections.co.uk/whats-on/absent-voters-1918/ (be patient, a big file) for Alnwick Absent voters ie serving abroad in 1918 ) Other Absent Voters Lists can be found via the Northumberland Fusiliers web page or by googling Absent Voters, or local Records Office.
www.ww1centenary.oucs.ox.ac.uk Further information on WW1 general information This site is aimed at being an educational resource and has interesting general topics.
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk Millions of stories, but a subscription site. Try it!
www.veterans-uk.info Official MOD site full of information.
For service records post after 1920 you can mail to:
Army Personnel Centre,
Disclosure 2,
Mail Point 555,
Kentigern House,
65 Brown Street
Glasgow G2 8EX
Tel 0845 6009663
This address is for relatives that are deceased and you will have to complete a disclaimer and pay a fee.
Please note that every effort has been made to check that these references are as described, but the NDFHS cannot accept any responsibility for the content or accuracy of websites beyond its control.