FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added a collection entitled Royal Naval Division Service Records - the full announcement is at www.findmypast.co.uk/content/news/rnd. Helpfully, the site has stated the source at The National Archives to be the Royal Naval Division Records of Service in the series ADM339, and that the original record cards are held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Somerset. The RND contained men from the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Royal Fleet Reserve, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Army.
Coincidentally, I have actually just been researching my great great grandfather John Montgomery, and his brother Robert, both of whom were merchant navy men from Islandmagee who were also in the Royal Naval Reserve. I have obtained a great deal of info on their activities and service - and on Robert's death - from the National Archives at Kew, which has made a collection available at http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-reserve-service-records.htm entitled Royal Naval Reserve Service Records 1860-1955. Its sources are series BT 164 and BT 377/7. The FindmyPast records include the Royal Naval Reserve men who were signed up to fight on land as part of the Royal Naval Division, but my man John remained ship based, serving on HMS Engadine, one of the navy's first aircraft carriers, with which he saw service in the Cuxhaven Raid and the Battle of Jutland. Poor Robert faired less well - breaking his back in a fall on a ship in Swansea in 1913, and dying a few days later.
Chris
My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!
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