Army Service Records of the First World War

by Fowler, Simon

• ISBN13: 9781903365236
• ISBN10: 1903365236
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-31
• Publisher: A & C Black

Summary

Written by a military specialist at The National Archives, this third, expanded edition of the popular guide contains information on the records relating to service in British and Indian armies between 1914 and 1918. It covers officers, other ranks, and nurses, explaining in detail what you can find from their records. It also explores documents held at The National Archives and elsewhere on battles, medals, casualties, prisoners of war, and the Dominion forces. The remarkable records of the Great War and the people they concern are brought to life through case studies, examples and illustration, and provide an invaluable aid to research.

Author Biography

William Spencer is the acknowledged expert in military affairs at the Public Record Office and is well-known in both the military world and on the archive/museum circuit. His previous titles include Air Force Records for Family Historians, Army Records for Family Historians and Records of the Militia.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	ix
Foreword	xi
Preface	xiii
Using the PRO	xv
The Men and Women of the First World War and Their Records	1	(3)
How many?	1	(1)
Why the records are the way that they are	2	(2)
Officers' Records of Service	4	(19)
Introduction	4	(2)
Types of commissions	6	(1)
WO 338	6	(6)
WO 339	10	(2)
WO 374	12	(1)
Royal Army Medical Corps (temporary) commissions	12	(1)
Other record series	12	(4)
WO 25	12	(2)
WO 76	14	(1)
WO 68	14	(1)
WO 138	14	(1)
The Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force (RFC and RAF)	15	(1)
The Royal Naval Division (RND)	15	(1)
The Army List	16	(1)
Other printed lists	17	(1)
Disability pension files PIN 26	17	(2)
The King's African Rifles and West African Frontier Force	19	(1)
Case study	19	(4)
Other Ranks' Records of Service	23	(12)
Introduction	23	(1)
The 'Burnt Records' WO 363	24	(4)
Arrangement	27	(1)
The Unburnt Records' WO 364	28	(1)
Arrangement	28	(1)
Women's Auxiliary Army Corps WO 398	28	(2)
The Ministry of Pensions records PIN 26	30	(2)
Files of dead Chelsea pensioners WO 324	32	(1)
The King's African Rifles and West African Frontier Force	32	(1)
The British West Indies Regiment	33	(1)
Case studies	33	(2)
Nurses	35	(5)
Introduction	35	(1)
Records of service	35	(1)
Medals	36	(1)
Disability pensions PIN 26	36	(1)
Case study	36	(4)
Indian Army Records of Service	40	(6)
Introduction	40	(1)
Officers	40	(2)
Records held by the Public Record Office	41	(1)
Records held by the British Library	41	(1)
The Indian Army List	42	(1)
Other ranks	43	(1)
Case study	43	(3)
Records Of Service of The Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force	46	(3)
Introduction	46	(1)
RFC and RAF officers	46	(1)
RFC other ranks	46	(1)
RAF other ranks	47	(1)
Women's Royal Air Force	47	(2)
Unit War Diaries and Operational Records	49	(10)
Introduction	49	(1)
Army structures	49	(2)
Unit war diaries WO 95	51	(1)
Military Headquarters papers and correspondence WO 158	52	(1)
Intelligence summaries WO 157	52	(1)
War Office registered files: general series WO 32	52	(3)
War diary extracts in WO 154	55	(1)
Printed sources	55	(1)
Embarkation and disembarkation records (who went when)	55	(3)
Army Orders	58	(1)
Trench and Other Maps	59	(5)
Introduction	59	(1)
Trench maps	59	(1)
How to use trench maps	60	(3)
Military Headquarters maps WO 153	63	(1)
Other maps	63	(1)
Champaign Medals	64	(11)
Introduction	64	(1)
The medals and Silver War Badge	65	(1)
The Medal Index Cards	66	(3)
The medal rolls	69	(1)
How to use the medal records	69	(2)
Using H. J. A'Bear as an example	71	(1)
Operational theatres of war 1914-20 - alphanumeric codes	71	(1)
The regimental order of precedence	72	(3)
Awards for Gallantry and Meritorious Service	75	(11)
Introduction	75	(1)
The London Gazette	75	(2)
The Victoria Cross	77	(1)
The Distinguished Service Order	78	(1)
The Military Cross	79	(1)
The Distinguished Conduct Medal	79	(1)
The Military Medal	80	(1)
The Meritorious Service Medal	80	(2)
Mentioned in Despatches	82	(1)
The Royal Red Cross	82	(2)
The Order of British India	84	(1)
The Indian Order of Merit	84	(1)
The Indian Distinguished Service Medal	84	(1)
Orders of Chivalry	84	(1)
Records of the India Office	84	(1)
Recommendations for awards	85	(1)
Citations	85	(1)
Foreign awards	85	(1)
Courts Martial	86	(4)
Introduction	86	(1)
Courts martial proceedings WO 71	86	(1)
Registers of courts martial	86	(2)
Other courts martial records	88	(1)
Published sources	88	(2)
Prisoners of War	90	(4)
Introduction	90	(1)
WO 161	90	(1)
Repatriation reports	90	(2)
Other sources	92	(2)
Casualties and War Dead	94	(8)
Introduction	94	(1)
Hospital records	94	(2)
Disability pensions	96	(1)
War dead	96	(1)
Deceased soldiers' effects	96	(1)
Widows' and dependants' pensions	97	(1)
The memorial plaque and scroll	97	(1)
Other printed rolls	97	(4)
Death certificates	101	(1)
Records Of The Dominion Forces	102	(4)
Introduction	102	(1)
Operational records	102	(1)
Records of service: at the PRO	102	(1)
Records of service: Australia	103	(1)
Records of service: Canada	104	(1)
Records of service: New Zealand	105	(1)
Records of service: South Africa	105	(1)
Records Outside Of The Pro	106	(4)
Introduction	106	(1)
Absent voters lists	106	(1)
Newspapers	106	(1)
Other archives	107	(3)
Imperial War Museum	107	(1)
British Library	107	(1)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission	108	(1)
National Army Museum	108	(1)
Family Records Centre	108	(1)
British Red Cross Museum and Archives	109	(1)
Bibliography	110	(1)
Index	111