RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: wendyandrews on Monday 15 August 11 12:00 BST (UK)
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Hello, I hope someone can help me. I am planning a trip to the National Archives at Kew to view war diaries covering certain dates for various regiments. For example, my Gt Grandad served in WWI in France and Salonika. On his medal card the date of entry into the war in France was 21.09.1915 and he was with the RFA. As his service records were amongst the 'burnt documents' I have looked at different websites and believe that he must have been part of the 26th division (probably the 116th brigade). I have tried to look at the National Archives website but find it really confusing. How do I look up what the reference is for the war diary covering this division? Hope someone out there can enlighten me as I have a few relatives that I want to see the war diaries for when I go.
Wendy. ???
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Hello Wendy,
This link will take you to the start of the 26 Division war diaries. Just click the next page arrow to browse your way through them.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0en3/
The specific diary for 116 Brigade RFA is in WO 95/4865.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0en4/
All the war diaries are in the series WO 95.
Phil
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Phil,
Thank you very much, I have a few others I also need to find the reference numbers for. I will try my best to do so on my own, but I may be back!!!
Wendy :)
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Wendy,
Just shout if you need more.
One of the rules is to enter 1 Battalion, not 1st Battalion, 116 Brigade, not 116th Brigade in the Word or Phrase box.
Leave the year boxes empty and put WO 95 in the Series box.
Sometimes you just have to put in minimal information and suffer scrolling through all the hits. The search engine is totally intolerant.
Phil
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Thanks for the tip Phil. I understand that the National Archive website is being altered, hopefully thins will improve when the revamp is completed.
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Wendy,
Just seen your post. If its not too late - hope you find what you are looking for at the National Archives. I spent two days there last year trawling through WW1 war diaries - its both hard work and quite heart rending. Suggest you make sure you have plenty of material you want to look at as it is impossible to predict what you will find.
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Thanks Tony
Haven't made it to the National Archives as yet, but I do have a growing list of things I want to look at there!
Wendy.
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Wendy,
Just seen your post. If its not too late - hope you find what you are looking for at the National Archives. I spent two days there last year trawling through WW1 war diaries - its both hard work and quite heart rending. Suggest you make sure you have plenty of material you want to look at as it is impossible to predict what you will find.
I found a war diary in the archive last year regarding an action in which my father took part. From the Regimental History (Cambridgeshire Regiment) I already knew the precise dates and location involved. This enabled me to access the diary despite, rather than with the help of the catalogue.
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Wendy,
It's not clear from your post whether you have been before to the NA - if you have then ignore this, but if it's your first time then it's worth checking this page out:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/before-you-visit.htm
The staff at the help desks are usually very friendly and always willing to help you find the right reference for documents. Good hunting,
jds1949
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hi wendy,
for a first time vist to tna you will need a passport and a current bill (usually utility).
it can be daunting at tna, mainly because you are likely to be looking at microfilms.
war diaries may only be useful if there is a mention of an award, otherwise they tend to give regimental movements etc.
to view original documents you will need a readers ticket (not quite sure about this process asi have not used it). however, as usual, apart from the staff, other researchers, who are experienced are approachable and helpful.
tony
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Wendy,
Just to add to my previous post - all the war diaries are original documents [except those which have been digitalised and may be viewed on the computers in the reading room] so you will need a reader's ticket, the process for obtaining that is described on the link I posted earlier.
You can photocopy the originals [cost 20p per sheet] or print from the digitalised versions [same cost] - if you have a digital camera then you can photo as much as you like for free [much the best way of doing it.]
Tony's point about other researchers being helpful and friendly is also a good one - I know that I have been helped many times by fellow researchers at Kew. and, I repeat, the staff are well used to any queries you may have about finding what you want and are, in my experience, always friendly and approachable.
jds1949
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The problem I had was with the Officer's handwriting. I had other samples from my late father's papers so I was sort of prepared. Think he must have become a doctor when he left the army; the officer not my father!