Ancestry's medal index cards free access until November

From Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk):

FREE MEDAL RECORDS

Mark the centenary by finding your family’s WWI story 

As we honour the centenary of the Great War, our thoughts turn to the last, deciding battles. This week marks 100 years since the start of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line.

A key turning point in the war-ending Hundred Days Offensive, the Hindenburg battles led to the collapse of Germany’s main defensive lines on the Western Front, and the enemy’s realisation that war must end.

Discover your ancestor’s experiences of these key battles in more than 30 million WWI records at Ancestry. Just about everybody who fought received some sort of medal as recognition. That means that our Medal Rolls Index Cards, free until November*, are a great place to start, as they form a virtual roll call of the British Army during the War.

*Medal Index rolls are free to access until 11 November 2018. Registration required. Terms apply.

The collection is accessible at https://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1262&o_xid=91999&o_lid=91999

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.

Royal Air Force centenary conference

2018 sees the 100th anniverary of the Royal Air Force. To mark the year, the National Archives in England (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) is hosting an academic conference entitled There will be wings: the First World War origins of the RAF on March 2nd 2018, in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the RAF Museum, and the National Army Museum. Here are the programme details:

Programme

09.30 - 10.00 Registration and refreshments
10.00 - 11.00 2 into 1: Wing Commander (ret'd) Jeff Jefford MBE and William Spencer (The National Archives)
11.00 - 11.15 Break and refreshments
11.15 - 12.15 Body and Soul – health and morale in Britain’s Air Arms: Dr Lynsey Shaw-Cobden (Air Historical Branch - RAF) and Dr Emma Hanna (University of Kent)
12:15 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 14:00 Air Vice-Marshal (ret’d) Dr Peter Dye (Cross and Cockade International) and Peter Hart (Imperial War Museum)
14:00 - 14:15 Break and refreshments
14:15 - 15:15 Keynote – The Creation of the Royal Air Force, Professor Richard Overy (University of Exeter)
15:15 - 16:00 Open Discussion and close

To books tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/there-will-be-wings-the-first-world-war-origins-of-the-raf-tickets-39324353199

Chris

For my genealogy guide books, visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html, whilst details of my research service are at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further content is also published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BritishGENES.