 |
 Updated: 27 July
2000 |
Family History Using Military Sources
Regimental
archives have very little personal information and tend to focus on the history
of the Regiment. Researching family history using military sources
involves looking in several different locations, often using the Public Record
Office. A list of these addresses is given at the end of this page.
Before 1914
1. I know which Regiment he served with
Service
records for both men and officers are held at the Public Record Office in Kew,
along with other forms of information such as muster rolls and pay lists.
These are organised by Regiment. Further information on the records held
at the PRO can be found on their web site at http://www.pro.gov.uk. The
address is also at the end of this page.
2. I don't know which Regiment he served with
If you
know the approximate years in which he served, you could check the Army List and
proceed as above.
3. He served with the Manchester Regiment
The Manchester Regiment
archives are held at Tameside Local Studies Library. The archives do
not include much personal information on ordinary men. There is some
information on officers, including lists of officers service and a few
commissions. The Records of Service also record when officers were
commissioned into the Regiment and describe where the Regiment served.
World War I
1. He Was Killed
Service Records
Officers' service records are now available
at the PRO. Many service records were destroyed during WWII bombing.
Surviving service records for men and NCOs are gradually being restored and
transferred to the PRO from the Army Records Centre andthe PRO web page has
information on the current situation.
Roll of Honour
If you do not know when, or even if, he was
killed, Soldiers Died in the Great War covers all Regiments and is now available
on CD-ROM. We can check this for you and obtain the date of death, Regiment,
Battalion and service number. You will need his service number to
trace the service record at the Army Records Centre. The Commonwealth War
Graves Commission database is also available on the internet at http://www.cwgc.org and this will show where he is buried or commemorated on a
memorial. If you do not have access to the internet we can also search
this for you. We also have the National Roll for Manchester.
St. Catherine's House Index
If you are sure he was killed but
cannot find him through either means, he may have died of related injuries such
as gassing after being discharged. In which case, he would not be recorded
as an official war death. Your local Record Office should have St. Catherine's
House index, which is an index to all births, marriages and deaths recordedin
England and Wales, (if he was Scottish you will need to contact the Scottish
Record Office in Edinburgh). This should give you the date of death to
help you trace the certificate at the local registrar's office and thus find the
cause of death.
Courts Martial and Executions
If he is not listed in the Roll
of Honour, or on the local War Memorial, he may have been shot for
desertion. We have an index of Courts Martial on microfiche. We can
check this for you, although the actual records at the PRO are still closed.
Newspapers
Local newspapers usually had quite comprehensive
obituaries. If he was from Tameside we have local newspapers on microfilm,
and you will need to book a microfilm reader to view them. Otherwise, we can
give you the address of the relevant local studies library.
If an Officer was killed, he would usually be mentioned by name
in the War Diary or in some of the Battalion histories. It is therefore
important to know which Battalion your ancestor served with, as the Battalions
did not fight together. Men and NCOs would not usually be mentioned by
name. However, if we have the War Diary or history for that Battalion, we
can give you information on where he was killed. The War Diaries should
otherwise be held at the PRO.
2. He Survived the War
The Public Record Office have
microfilmed additional pension and discharge documents for soldiers who survived
the war. These are available in the microfilm reading room at the PRO (WO
329) and are organised alphabetically, so you do not need to know the
Regiment. We also have the Manchester City Battalions book which lists
everyone who enlisted in the service or "Pals" Battalions.
3. He Received a Medal
Manchester Regiment
We have a medal roll for the Manchester
Regiment on the oversize section in the reading room at L355.1. This gives
the date the award was listed in the London Gazette. He may also be
mentioned by name in the Battalion history if we have one.
London Gazette
Manchester Central Library has the London
Gazette. This lists medal awards and, except for the Military Medal,
usually gives the citation. If you know why he was awarded a medal, we can
check the Battalion history to see if he is mentioned. If he did not serve
with the Manchester Regiment, we can give you the address of the relevant
military museum.
Local Newspaper
The local newspapers usually had articles on
local boys who received medals. If he was from Tameside you can check our
newspapers. You will need to book a microfilm reader to do this.
Otherwise, you can consult the newspaper at the relevant local studies library.
4. Was he a Prisoner of War?
The Public Record Office
and the Red Cross have some information on POWs from both sides.
Second World War
1. Was he Killed?
Roll of Honour
We have a Roll of Honour for the Manchester
Regiment in the archives. If he did not serve in the Manchester Regiment
you may also find him through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Service Records
Service records for men and officers are at
the Army Records Centre.
We do have some War Diaries, Battalion histories, personal
letters and diaries.
2. He survived the War
Again, the best source of information
are service records.
3. He was a Prisoner of War
As for WWI.
The
Imperial War Museum has a wide range of photographs and documents for both World
Wars which researchers may find useful.
Useful Terms
Battalions
Each Regiment is divided into Battalions.
In the late nineteenth century the army was reorganised to ensure that each
Regiment had two regular battalions - at any point one would be at home and the
other serving abroad. Each Regiment also had volunteer Battalions, which
became Territorial Battalions in the early twentieth century.
During WWI the Territorial Battalions became full as men began to
volunteer. At this point the Battalions were spilt into sections e.g.
1/5th. 2/5th, 3/5th. The 3rd section was usually a home Battalion, for men
who were injured or in training.
Service Battalions were also created to accommodate new volunteers.
These were also known as "Pals" Battalions.
Divisions
Each Battalion served with a Brigade, which was
part of a Division within the British Army. The Manchester Regiment Battalions
did not all fight together, but served with Battalions from other Regiments
within a Division. This is why you need to know which Battalion your
ancestor served with to find out more about where he fought. We have lists
of all WWI Divisions beside the broadsheets in the reading room. Even if
we do not have a Battalion history, we can still find out where he fought.
Useful Addresses
Army Records Centre
Bourne Avenue
HAYES
Middlesex
IB3 1RF
Personnel records of men and NCOs for 1914-1918, and all army personnel
records post 1918. All enquiries made for general interest are chargeable.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
2 Marlow Road
MAIDENHEAD
Berkshire
SL6 7DX
http://www.cwgc.org
Information about place of burial or commemoration of servicemen killed in
WWI and WWII.
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
LONDON
SE1 6HZ
Rolls of Honour, published histories, photographs and document collections as
well as general military history.
Army Medal Office
Government Office Buildings
DROITWICH
Worcestershire
WR9 8AU
Enquirers will need to give the service number and Regiment.
Public Record Office
Ruskin Avenue
Kew
RICHMOND
Surrey
TW9 4DU
All pre-1913 service records, pension records and information about the
next-of-kin. WWI Officer's service records, some WWI soldiers' service
records (ongoing project to transfer all to the PRO from the Army Records
Centre). War Diaries and trench maps.
Manchester Central Library
St. Peter's Square
MANCHESTER
M2 5PD
London Gazette 1665 to date. Includes citations for some D.S.O.s and
M.C.s and all D.C.M.s awarded during 1914-1918.
International Committee of the Red Cross
The Director
International Welfare Department
British Red Cross Society
9
Grosvenor Square
London SW1X 7EJ
For information on Prisoners of War and displaced persons for both World
Wars.
Tameside Local Studies
Library, Stalybridge Library, Trinity Street, Stalybridge, Tameside, SK15 2BN,
United Kingdom
Tel:- 0161 303 7937 (+ 44 161 303 7937)
or 0161 338 2708 (+ 44 161 338 2708)
or 0161 338 3831 (+ 44 161 338 3831)
Fax:- 0161 303 8289 (+ 44 161 303
8289)
