GREATWAR-L Archives

Archiver > GREATWAR > 2001-05 > 0989210069


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Obtaining Records
Date: Mon, 07 May 2001 05:34:29 +0100
In-Reply-To: <00ea01c0d673$84501dc0$980d2cc3@oemcomputer>


At 22:28 06/05/01 +0100, Shirley Camfield wrote:
>Could anyone tell me how I obtain the full military records of my Great
>Uncle who was discharged from the British Army in 1915? And does anybody
>know how much it costs?
>
>Thanks
>
>Shirley

Shirley,

The British armed services personnel records for those serving in 1914 up
to 1921 are currently being released from the Ministry of Defence to the
Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, United
Kingdom; (Telephone: General Enquiries, ++44 (0) 208 876 3444; Records
Information, ++44 (0) 208 392 5200; Fax: ++44 (020) 8878 8905). There they
are being microfilmed to occupy a number of new archives. This is a major
project that is forecast to take a number of years to complete from the
start of the work in 1997. The original documents cannot be viewed due to
their fragile condition. It will be some years before all surviving
information from these documents will be available remotely due to the
complexity of the information and volume. The records are available in the
PRO microfilm reading room as follows:


British Army commissioned officers whose service ended in 1920 or before
(in WO 339) and Territorial Force officers (in WO 374);

The so-called "burnt" British Army Other Ranks records for surnames
beginning with A, B, C, D, E, F, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y and
Z. These are in WO 363 - First World War Soldiers' Documents. The year
2001 will see release of those beginning K, L and M. In 2002 those
starting H, I and J will be released. The programme concludes in Summer
2003 with the letter G. It was announced in November 2000 that the filming
of these documents is to be accelerated with a new target completion date
for the project of 30 April 2002. Revised target completion dates for
remaining surname letters will be announced by the PRO as soon as they have
been agreed with the contractor.

You should note that there is some risk that the official archives of more
recent British Army personnel records are incomplete. It is reported that
up to half of the original pre-World War II British Army soldier's personal
records were badly damaged by fire and water following a 1940 German
bombing raid on the Hayes Record Office during World War II. Those that
survived are often incomplete and in a poor condition.

These records are open for personal search by the enquirer or a nominated
agent. Details of the PRO can be found at their web site URL:
http://www.pro.gov.uk/

The PRO does not have an on-line searchable archive. Nor do they usually
undertake any research for personal or postal enquirers. However they have
a list of independent researchers, with a useful search facility. The
address is: http://www.pro.gov.uk/readers/irlist/default.htm
Yours aye,

Iain Kerr in Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
RootsWeb Sponsor and Listowner for the WORLDWAR2 Mailing List.

This thread: