Possible update to Ancestry WWI Service Records

[LesleyB]

Hi all

I recently contacted Ancestry with regard to the British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920.

As many of you will be aware, this record set (what remains of the service records, about 60% having been destroyed) currently goes up to letter N, and this has been the case for quite some time now (which is frustrating if you are waiting for letter "S"!!). I wrote to ask them if they had any idea when it was proposed to add the remainder of the records. They replied very promptly and this was the response:

We currently have a tentative update to the 'British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920' planned for the beginning of November, however we do not yet have a specific date.

Great news - I do hope it goes ahead as planned, as it has felt like a long wait. (And I hope my letter "S" was one whose records survived, but knowing my luck..... )

Best wishes
Lesley

[LesleyB]

Looks like the records are now updated and include all the survivng documents for the series:

About British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920
This database contains the surviving service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. With the final release, this database now contains the entire service records collection. The type of information contained in these records includes: name of solider, age, birthplace, occupation, marital status, and regiment number.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx ... 3a7858%3a0

[SarahND]

Hi Lesley,
Did you find your letter 'S'? Fingers crossed!
Regards,
Sarah

[LesleyB]

Hi Sarah

I've had a wee look and there are a good few possible looking entries in the search results, but it is difficult to tell with the minimal info displayed, so I'll have to wait until I can check through the records themselves when at the local library during the week since I don't have a sub. Looking forward to it!!

Best wishes
Lesley

[SarahND]

Have fun with it! (and if you just can't wait, let me know ) I hope after all this time the record is actually there!
Cheers,
Sarah

[emanday]

Did you find your letter 'S'? Fingers crossed!

Well, I've just found a chap called Albert Shute. Another well and truly demolished =D>

[LesleyB]

Sarah

I hope after all this time the record is actually there!

Oh so do I, so do I... but knowing my guy he will have done his "usual" and will have contrived to be conveniently absent from any records which might just give some extra detail! I'm not even sure if he served, but it seems highly likely given his age at the time and there are a couple of medal cards on TNA site which look likely too.

Mary - greatly encouraged to hear you have found Albert. The odds are against us with these records with only about 40% of them having survived, so it is wonderful that you have found the one you were looking for.

Best wishes
Lesley

[emanday]

I have to say I am very impressed with the attention to detail these folk have used scanning these. Some of the pages are so damaged that only a few words are readable, but they seem have chosen to include every one of them. They obviously realised that a couple of possibly disjointed words might just mean something important to someone.

I'll bet they are really pleased that they have these images now and can safely archive the originals out of harm's way.

Might I just say to anyone using them for the first time. Often there dozens of pages for one person, some with no entries at all. Persevere! After as many as 23 pages (or more) of mainly "rubber stamps" and little else, I've come across some real gems of tidtibs.

[Ann In the UK]

I have to say I am very impressed with the attention to detail these folk have used scanning these. Some of the pages are so damaged that only a few words are readable, but they seem have chosen to include every one of them. They obviously realised that a couple of possibly disjointed words might just mean something important to someone.

I'll bet they are really pleased that they have these images now and can safely archive the originals out of harm's way.

Might I just say to anyone using them for the first time. Often there dozens of pages for one person, some with no entries at all. Persevere! After as many as 23 pages (or more) of mainly "rubber stamps" and little else, I've come across some real gems of tidtibs

.


I agree, I came across one the other day which was barely ledgible, apart from the guy's name and a few minor details. But I'm sure it would have meant the world to someone.

Ann