FindmyPast adds WW1 UK soldiers' medical records

As well as adding 85,000 records to the 1939 National Identity Register for England and Wales, FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has also added the following records this week:

British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records
More than 21,000 additional records have been added to the collection. This fascinating National Archives’ collection allows you to discover when and where servicemen were wounded, the nature of their injuries, where they were treated and notes on their recovery as well as details relating to their service.

The records in this series are a representative selection of the original collection. The records include admission and discharge registers from hospitals and casualty clearing stations, field ambulances, an ambulance train and a hospital ship.

United States, National Veterans Cemetery Index
Explore more than 1.8 million transcripts covering over a century of veterans who fought in various conflicts, from the American Civil War and the two world wars through to the Afghanistan war. Each result will reveal a variety of details relating to the deceased’s life, family and military service. Transcripts may include birth years, death years, service, rank, death date, home town, burial place, father’s name and spouse.

British & Irish Newspaper Update
With over 195,000 new pages recently added, there are a variety of new and updated titles available to search, including:

New Titles
· Western Evening Herald covering the years 1895, 1900-1920, 1922-1924
· Newtownards Chronicle & Co. Down Observer covering the years 1873-1874
· Warrington Advertiser the years 1865, 1877, 1879, 1884, 1887, 1889

Updated Titles
· South Wales Gazette covering the years 1903 & 1961
· Newcastle Evening Chronicle covering 1926
· Daily Review (Edinburgh) covering the years 1884 and 1886
· Witness (Edinburgh) covering the years 1842-1845, 1848, 1854, 1861

Further details and collection links at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/new-1939-register-entries-and-military-records

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Fold3 adds UK militia attestation papers 1803-1915

From Fold3 (www.fold3.com):

New UK Military Records on Fold3

Our UK military records are expanding! We’ve recently added a new collection, “UK, Militia Attestation Papers, 1806-1915”. These records or attestation forms were filled out at the time of recruitment, and in most cases, annotated to the date of discharge. They form a record of military service for soldiers who fought in conflicts during that time period.

The collection is arranged alphabetically under regiments and in order of seniority.

Attestation Papers contain wonderful details for researching specific soldiers. They list parish, town, and county of birth, address at the time of enlistment, age, and trade or job. The papers also include a physical description including a place to list any distinctive characteristics or scars. The files list military service rendered and whether a soldier was wounded or received medals or decorations. They also list the name and address of next of kin.

Here are a few examples of what you might learn in this collection. John Hart from Wales served in the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers. His papers reveal that he didn’t show up for training in 1891 and was liable to serve for an additional year. In 1894, he was discharged by purchase, in other words, he obtained a discharge by payment.

The Attestation Papers for Robert Eastburn from Leeds record that his superiors deemed him unlikely to be an effective militiaman with defective intelligence and insubordination. He was discharged in 1906.

James Allison from Paisley, Scotland, was just 17-years-old when he joined the 26th Foot (Scottish Rifles) in 1875. His service record shows military service for 20 years before being discharged in 1895.

This collection of Attestation Papers provides a glimpse into the history of militias and multiple conflicts in the United Kingdom. If you are researching ancestors that served for the United Kingdom during this time, be sure to check out the collection on Fold3 today!

COMMENT: I find Fold3's user interface to be fairly uninspiring, with searches involving a lot of faffing about. Ancestry has a basic index to this collection entitled Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Militia Attestation Papers, 1800-1915, available at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/61643/.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Ancestry adds UK Officer Service Records 1764-1932 database

The election's over, back to business again!

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has released the following collection:

UK, Officer Service Records, 1764-1932
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/61807/
Source WO76, National Archives, England

Here's the blurb:

The British military can be divided into two clear tiers - officers and other ranks. Officers hold the positions of command and authority within the military and are often in a different uniform to other ranks servicemen. Officer ranks include all commissioned positions from Lance Corporal up to General and Field Marshar l.

This Collection

This collection comprises service papers for officers in the British military for the years 1764-1932. Records often include information about the officer's family and details of his service history.

The following information can be found, where available:

Name
Name of relative(s)
Relationship to serviceman
Place and date of birth
Place and date of death
Age
Place and date of enlistment
Place and date of discharge
Gender
Marital Status
Regiment and unit
Service rank
Service number
Marriage date


Sadly, the original record images cannot be consulted on Ancestry, only some basic details from the records - yet again they are redirecting folk to a second site Fold3 (www.fold3.com) to see the originals, for which you will need a separate subscription.

How many subscriptions does a person need to view a record? Ho ho ho...

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Scottish-Ancestry-through-Church-and-State-Records-Paperback/p/16848. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Latest additions to FindmyPast

Added this week to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Britain, The Great War, I Was There
Learn about the Great War from those who experienced it first-hand. The Great War: I Was There is a magazine that was first published in 1938. Edited by Sir John Hammerton, its 51 editions ran from 29 September 1938 to 19 September 1939 and are available to view in PDF format. The magazine was a weekly periodical, available on Thursdays, which aimed to capture the undying memories of the 1914-1918 war. It contained excerpts from other sources but mainly consisted first-hand accounts and previously unpublished images.

Burma Star Association Membership Forms
Did your military ancestor serve in the Burma campaign of World War 2? Search over 53,000 membership forms of the Burma Star Association, to become a full member of the Association, an ex-Serviceman, ex-Servicewoman or Nurse must have been awarded the Burma Campaign Star for service in Burma during World War 2 for the necessary qualifying period or the Pacific Star with Burma Clasp. The Association is Tri-Service and for members of The Merchant Navy who hold the Burma Star with permanent representatives from the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal British Legion on the National Council.

Dekho, Burma Star Association
Search over 4,000 records to find out if your World War 2 became a member of the Burma Star Association. Dekho! Is the journal of the Burma Star Association, it is published three times a year. It informs members of the Association who are unable to get out and meet their comrades with information about events that are going on in the Burma Star Association. These editions run from 1951 to 2018.

British & Irish Newspaper Update
This week we have added over 115,000 new pages and five new titles; the Musselburgh News, Coatbridge Leader, Fifeshire Journal, Port-Glasgow Express and Blairgowrie Advertiser. We have updated twelve of our existing Scottish titles this week, with highlights including the 26,378 pages we have added to the North British Daily Mail, spanning the years 1849 to 1894. Other significant updates include those to the Wishaw Press, with 17,552 pages covering the later half of the twentieth century.

Further info and details at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/learn-about-the-great-war-from-those-who-experienced

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Free access to Ancestry's British military records

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

Find out how your ancestors played their part in the war

From serving in the military to looking after our land, there were so many ways our ancestors served in wartime Britain. Discover your family’s contributions this Remembrance Day with free access to wartime records until Monday.*

*Access to the records in the featured collections will be free until 11 Nov 2019 at 23:59 GMT. To view these records you will need to register for free with Ancestry.co.uk with your name and email address. We will then send you a username and password to access the records. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using an Ancestry.co.uk paid membership. To see a full list of the records in the featured collections please click here.

You can also access the records at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Ancestry adds WWII Royal Artillery Tracer Cards 1939-1948

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added the following Second World War collection:

UK, WWII Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/royalartillerycards/
Source: Royal Artillery Tracer cards, Royal Artillery Museum, Larkhill, Wiltshire, England.

From the collection page:

About UK, WWII Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948

Historical Context

Since its inception in 1716, the Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as 'The Gunners', has served as the artillery arm of the British Army, supplying it's firepower. At its peak during the Second World War, there were over one million men serving in 960 gunner regiments and at the end of the War, the RA was larger than the Royal Navy.

This Collection

This collection comprises cards created to track the movements of soldiers between units within the Royal Artillery during WWII. The role of the Tracer card was to answer the question 'where is that man right now?', saving the burden of administration and searching through many files. Only 'Other Ranks', or in other words those who were not commissioned officers, are included. Please be aware that some cards will include dates outside of 1939-1948.

The following information can be found, where available:

Name
Inferred date of birth
Place and date of death
Place and date of enlistment
Date of discharge
Inferred gender
Regiment and unit
Service rank
Service number

Please Note: In this first release, we have included all records for servicemen with surnames starting A-P. We will be adding all remaining cards in a future update. Please also be aware that not every member of the RA will have a corresponding Tracer Card but this collection will include all surviving cards.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Forces War Records adds Long Service Good Conduct Medal collection

From Forces War Records(www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

Title: Was your ancestor's conduct recognised in this new collection from Forces War Records

RELEASE DATE: Today

An exciting ‘new’ collection of records has been added to the Forces War Records database that may contain your ancestor. A collection of over 500,000 records for the recipients of the Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal and its later incarnation the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military) across various regiments of the military are now available to view online.

These military records could hold the information you are looking for. Search for a record in this new collection today.

Also included in this unique collection are records from the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, Territorial Efficiency Medal and the Efficiency Medal (Territorial) and variations

For more information visit https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/was-your-ancestors-conduct-recognised-in-this-new-collection

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New Regimental Histories released on TheGenealogist

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist has just released a set of 50 Regimental Records to join its ever-growing military records collection bringing its total coverage to over 70 different regiments. Researchers can use the collection to follow an ancestor’s regiment, discovering the battles they took part in and trace their movements. You can also find ancestors who were mentioned in the war movement diaries or listed in the appendices of men and officers of the regiment.

This release covers records from the 17th century in the earliest incidence, for The Ancient Vellum Book of the Honourable Artillery Company 1611-1682, through to the late 1920s for The King's Royal Rifle Corps Chronicle, 1927. There are also a large number of Regimental Histories that cover the First World War which can reveal some fascinating details for family historians tracing their ancestors in World War I.

Use these records to:

Add colour to a soldier’s story
Read the war movements of his regiment
See maps of the regiment’s progress in the theatre of war
Discover if a soldier is mentioned in the report of the action
Find if an officer or other rank is listed for receiving an Honour or an Award
Note the names of those members of the regiment wounded or killed

This expands TheGenealogist’s extensive Military records collection.

Read their article:
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2019/using-regimental-histories-to-discover-your-ancestors-war-1187/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts 4 November 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

RootsIreland adds Dun Laoghaire WW1 soldiers records

From RootsIreland (www.rootsireland.ie):

We have added to our database on Roots Ireland the records of 374 soldiers born or resident in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin (formerly Kingstown), & environs who died in the Great War 1914-18.

For a full list of sources for Dun Laoghaire Heritage & Genealogy please click here

To search these records, go to dublinsouth.rootsireland.ie, choose ‘Census Substitutes’ and select ‘WW1 Dun Laoghaire Soldier Deaths’ from the ‘Source’ drop down list. Login and Subscribe if required.

(Original story at http://www.rootsireland.ie/2019/09/new-ww-i-records-for-dun-laoghaire/)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Forces War Records new search feature

From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

Introducing a Brand-New Feature.


Forces War Records is excited to announce the launch of a powerful new update to our records page.

This update is a first in genealogy website research and could give you a brand new insight when searching for your ancestors.

When you now view a record, if details can be cross-matched with other records within our unique database that we believe to be the same person, additional records will appear at the top of the page.

This new feature means:

• Focused searching, more records in one place
• Improved chances of finding more information
• Saved time when searching

Come take a look for yourself.

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Lloyds Banking Group Virtual War Memorial

David McNay has created a new Facebook page, the Lloyds Banking Group Virtual War Memorial. Here's the description:

This page is to remember the names listed on the war memorials belonging to Lloyds Banking Group.

The organisations we will feature names from are:

Bank of Scotland
British Linen Bank
Lloyds Bank
Clerical Medical
Scottish Widows
Halifax Building Society
Union Bank of Scotland
Cox & Co.
Anglo-South American Bank
British Bank of South America
London & Brazilian Bank
London & River Plate Bank
Bank of London & South America

We hope you find the posts of interest. If you have any information on any of the names we share, we'd be glad to hear from you.

The page is located at https://www.facebook.com/The-Lloyds-Banking-Group-Virtual-War-Memorial-321739982068577/.

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

August events at PRONI in Belfast

The following events are forthcoming at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni):

Dr Raphael Ernest Grail Armattoe: The West African Scientist in 1940s Ireland
5 August, 1-2pm

Elly Omondi will explore the legacy of Dr Armattoe, his pioneering contribution as a West African immigrant, his work as a locum doctor in Belfast, as a GP in Derry~Londonderry, and his lasting work on anthropology as a science.
Book tickets via http://www.eastsidearts.net/event/dr-raphael-ernest-grail-armattoe

East Belfast and the Blitz
6 August, 1-2pm
The presentation will focus on the people from East Belfast who died during the German air raids of 1941, and on public and family commemoration.
Book tickets via http://www.eastsidearts.net/event/east-belfast-and-blitz-nigel-henderson

Women in the Archives
7 August, 1-2pm
Lynsey Gillespie and Jason Burke will explore hidden stories from the archives of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the Linen Hall Library.
Book tickets via http://www.eastsidearts.net/event/women-archives-lynsey-gillespie-and-jason-bourke

The "Wee Yard" and the Great War
8 August, 1-2pm
This presentation marks the 100th anniversary of the Workman Clark war memorial which is now located at the Pumphouse in the Titanic Quarter. The presentation will provide a wide-ranging account of the involvement of the Workman Clark shipyard and its employees in the First World War.
Book tickets via http://www.eastsidearts.net/event/wee-yard-and-great-war

'Men Behind the Glass' Exhibition
From 19 August
The exhibition will be on display in the PRONI atrium and will run from 19 August until 30 September.
Further details via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/talks-and-events

(With thansk to the PRONI Express)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Free access to UK Military records this weekend

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

Discover the untold military chapter in your backstory

So many people have played a part in Britain’s military story. Their everyday acts of bravery are waiting to be discovered. See what part your family played with three days’ FREE access to all UK military records.

FREE access until Sunday 7 July 2019 at 23:59 GMT. Registration required. Terms apply.

Further details at https://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/free-access?o_xid=100211&o_lid=100211&o_sch=Email+Campaigns

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Lest We Forget Glasgow WW1 items digitised now online

Glasgow City Archives has announced that items digitised at its First World War digitisation day earlier this year on April 10th, for the University of Oxford-run Lest We Forget project, are now freely avalable to view online at http://lwf.it.ox.ac.uk/s/lest-we-forget/item-set/6928.

The materials available include photographs, letters, diaries, newspaper cuttings, medals, an oral history recording and more.

Further items from Britain (including Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Edinburgh), and the Isle of Man, are available at http://lwf.it.ox.ac.uk/s/lest-we-forget/page/welcome.

(With thanks to @GC_Archives)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

D-Day remembered

There can't be many of us who do not have a connection to D-Day and Operation Overlord.

My grandfather's cousin John Brownlie MacFarlane, from Inverness, did not arrive in Normandy until shortly after D-Day (I believe it was D-Day+6, at Caen), with 194 Field Ambulance, but as lieutenant colonel at the time of his RAMC unit, he continued to push through France and across the Seine as part of Operation Overlord. He was given the Croix de Guerre for his actions during the campaign.

This is just some of the coverage and resources from countries whose Allied forces took part in D-Day:

The ‘Great Crusade’: D-Day, Operation Overlord and the invasion of occupied north-west Europe
https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/d-day75/

D-Day and the Normandy Campaign, June 6 to August 30, 1944
https://thediscoverblog.com/2019/06/06/d-day-and-the-normandy-campaign-june-6-to-august-30-1944/

Records Relating to D-Day
https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/d-day

D-Day: Veterans and world leaders mark 75th anniversary
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48536906

It was a good job well done, for a Europe that was well worth fighting for.

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Ancestry releases D-Day war diaries and photos collection

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has added a new collection in time for the 75th anniversary of D-Day:

UK, D-Day War Diaries and Photographs, 1944
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/ukdday/
Source: London, England. The National Archives, Imperial War Museum.

About UK, D-Day War Diaries and Photographs, 1944

Historical Context

The Normandy Landings, commonly referred to as 'D-Day,' constituted the largest seaborne invasion in history. On 6th June 1944, a huge military force set out from the UK toward the beaches of Northern France. Allied plans and warships bombarded German defensive positions at the same time as thousands of soldiers were dropped by plane behind enemy lines. By the end of the day, 156,000 allied troops were ashore and engaged in pushing the German army back from the coast and, by the end of August, out of Northern France.

This Collection

This collection comprises selected War Diaries from D-Day as well as a collection of photographs from the front line. The war diaries document operations for select British units on 6th June 1944 and include reports on action, intelligence summaries, and other pertinent material.

Comment: The records including war diary contributions from the following regiments:

1 Hampshire Regiment Infantry
1 King´s Own Scottish Borders Infantry
1 Royal Norfolk Regiment Infantry
102 Anti-Tank Regiment
114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment
120 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
141 Regiment Royal Armoured Corps
168 Light Field Ambulance
186 Field Ambulance
2 Essex Infantry
2 Gloucestershire Infantry
2 Lincolnshire Regiment Infantry
203 Field Ambulance
223 Field Ambulance
224 Field Ambulance
24 Lancers
3 Commando Special Services
33 Field Regiment
4-7 Royal Dragoon Guards
505 Company Royal Engineers
53 Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
6 Airborne Division Armoured Recce Regiment
6 Airborne Division G
6 Commando Special Services
62 Anti-Tank Regiment
7 Battalion Parachute Regiment
716 Company Royal Army Sevice Corps
73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
76 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
8 Brigade Field Ambulance
90 Company Royal Army Sevice Corps
HQ 185 Infantry Brigade
HQ 231 Infantry Brigade
HQ 27 Armoured Brigade
HQ 5 Para Brigade
HQ 8 Armoured Brigade GP
HQ 9 BR Infantry Brigade
Inns of Court Regiment
Marines War Diary Landing Craft Reports Normandy area
Staffordshire Yeomanry

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Forces War Records search facility enhanced

From Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk):

Forces War Records are excited to announce that they have now launched a powerful new update to their records page, which could mean brand new insight for you and an industry first in genealogy website research.

When you now view a record, if details can be cross-matched with other records within their unique database that they believe to be the same person, additional records will appear at the top of the page.

This helps you quickly locate the records you’re looking for in one place, improves the chances of finding more information and saves you time.

Come take a look for yourself and visit: www.forces-war-records.co.uk

(With thanks to Neil White)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Tracing WW1 Belgian refugees in the UK workshop

There's a free workshop entitled Tracing the Belgian Refugees being run by the First World War Network for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers, on Friday May 31st 2019, from 12.30-16.30, at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Here's the blurb:

Are you interested in the history of Belgian refugees in the UK during the First World War? Have you been involved in researching them in your local area? Maybe you have family stories or objects that you'd like to share?

Come along to the third of our UK workshops, where you will have the opportunity to meet other people in your area who are interested in this history.

Hear interesting talks, share sources and artefacts, enjoy the opportunity to network over lunch, and meet the project team who will tell you all about how you can use the database to input your findings.

We are working with the Imperial War Museum on an exhibition on refugees opening in 2020, and are looking for the following:

1. Letters and diaries that tell the story as it was happening, including transcriptions/translations

2. Objects that people took with them (especially if there was a story as to why they brought what they did).

3. Objects/supplies/resources that people were given on arrival.

4. Paperwork, forms, passes

5. Later written memoirs

6. Photographs

If you have something that fits the bill and would be happy to bring it along we would be delighted to see it.

We look forward to seeing you in May!

To sign up for a free place, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workshop-tracing-the-belgian-refugees-tickets-54645637573

(With thanks to @FWWBRefugees on Twitter)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Free access to Fold3 military records until May 28th

From Ancestry's military records site, Fold3.com:

Free Access. All Records.

To honor Memorial Day, we're proud to offer free access* to everything on Fold3 — now through Tuesday.

Explore more than 530 million records. See how your family served our country and uncover unique personal details you won’t find anywhere else.


*Access to all records on Fold3 will be free until May 28, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. ET. After the free access period ends, you will only be able to view the records in the featured collections using a paid Fold3 membership.

Visit https://go.fold3.com/freeaccess to see the records.

NB: Access includes British records and those for Commonwealth countries.

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

British medical and military records added to FindmyPast

Just added to FindmyPast (www.findmypast.com):

Britain, Physicians and Surgeons, 1830-1923
Search for your English ancestry in thousands of pages from the Calendar of The Royal College of Surgeons in England and Members of The Royal College of Physicians. Containing over 31,000 names, these publications will provide you with your ancestor's residence and years of appointment.

Prisoners of War 1715-1945
Over 876,000 additional records created by the International Committee of the Red Cross during the First World War have been added to our collection of Prisoner of War records. Between 1914 and 1918, all belligerent countries involved provided lists of prisoners to the ICRC, which created an index card for each prisoner and detainee.

British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers' Medical Records
Over 85,000 additional records have also been added to our collection of First World War Soldiers' Medical Records. Including both transcripts and images of original documents, these records will enable you to discover when and where your ancestor was wounded, the nature of their disease or wound, the medical facility they were sent to and the dates of their treatment as well as details pertaining to their military career.

British Armed Forces and Overseas Browse
Browse through more than 85,000 additional records from The National Archives related to births, marriages, and deaths of British civilians and members of the armed forces. The records include individuals who were working or travelling abroad or who were serving their countries overseas. The details found in each record will depend on the original source.

Canada, Ontario, Oddfellows Life Insurance Applications images
Images have now been added to the index of Ontario, Oddfellows Life Insurance Applications we published last week.

International Records Update – Germany
Over 57 German million births, baptisms, marriages and burials are now available to search and explore on Findmypast. Consisting of three new indexes covering the years 1558 to 1958, these new additions will generate hints against your Findmypast family tree. The new German collections now available on Findmypast include:

Germany Birth and Baptism Index 1558-1898
Germany Death and Burial Index 1582-1958
Germany Marriage Index 1558-1929

British & Irish Newspaper Update
This week we have added 57,277 new pages to our collection of historical British & Irish newspapers. We are excited to welcome specialist sporting title – the Football Post (Nottingham) – to our collection, with 1069 issues added so far. We have also updated five of our existing titles, including three of our London titles – the Harrow Leader, the Ealing Leader and the Hayes & Harlington Gazette – as well as the Reading Evening Post and the Buckinghamshire Examiner.

Links and further details at https://blog.findmypast.co.uk/british-armymilitary-recordsarmy-ancestorsgerman-genealogyeuropean-rec-2637795508.html

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.