Forces War Records

[collin]

Hello
         I have been browsing the  Forces War Records site, and only found one thing of interest. Does this site have anything that can't be found on the other sites? Thanks

[MaxD]

It does but the dilemma is that you don't know until you sign up.  Conversely, it has some records that are to be found free elsewhere (London Gazette entries for example).  Have a look at the Collection list (from the Home page) and see if the type of record you are looking for is listed.  May we ask what you are looking for?

MaxD

[collin]

Thank you, grandads  brother was
 No 5/3030 Joseph Collin Connaught Rangers discharged sick 1917, which I have but I spotted another
    3030 J Collin Connaught Rangers 1916.
It must be him, but don't know what, maybe he was wounded? I have Ancestry and FindMyPast at present but can't find it on either

[MaxD]

They are almost certainly the same man.  The 5/ prefix was added to some numbers to indicate the battalion when duplication became an issue so 3030 and 5/3030 are the one man.

On Ancestry search the Awards and Decorations of Honour with the name and Connaught in the keyword area.  The first three are his Silver War Badge, his medal card and his medal roll entry.  You will see that the latter has him as 6th Battalion and has 3030 only.  By cross checking the roll number and page from the card to the roll and the date of discharge from the Silver War badge, we see he is the same man.

FindMyPast has the link to the medal card by searching with his name and regiment (nothing else).

It is possible that a 1916 reference could be to a casualty list, Forces War Records do have those where the Ancestry doesn't and FindMyPast has a few.  However, as you have a sub, newspapers on FindMyPast are worth searching for casualty lists although they take some persistence given the number of names.  The British Library also has (for a sub) a vast newspaper library.

Your call as to whether you take a sub to Forces War Records!

[collin]

Right, thanks for all that information, he originally joined KOYLI and was transferred into Connaught Rangers, we had no connection to Ireland but he was sent there to recouperate before being discharged.
I have posted on here in the past about his and grandads army records, the MOD had them in 1984 and gave me some details but they have since lost them, they are not on Findmypast, or retained at Glasgow, it's annoying but am resigned to the fact now. Thanks

[HarbourDog]

Hello
         I have been browsing the  Forces War Records site, and only found one thing of interest. Does this site have anything that can't be found on the other sites? Thanks

Forces War Records site is a complete scam, and basically fraudulent in my opinion. They don't actually have any records!! They just have a database of records that exist elsewhere, no links, no scans, no microfiche, no images of any records, nothing. Their staff are unhelpful and actually rude in their email responses, and then they'll just stop bothering to respond at all. All Forces War Records are concerned about is getting your money.

[Ruskie]

Welcome to rootschat Harbour Dog. If you go to the dark bar near the top of the page and click on SEARCH, then enter "Forces War Records" into the search box you will find other threads about this company which may be of interest. 

[HarbourDog]

Welcome to rootschat Harbour Dog. If you go to the dark bar near the top of the page and click on SEARCH, then enter "Forces War Records" into the search box you will find other threads about this company which may be of interest. 

Hello, and thanks for the welcome! It is precisely because of Forces War Records that I joined rootschat, to warn others about them. I wish I'd realised what rubbish their site is before I parted with 25 quid yesterday!! Took me about 30 minutes to realise they offer nothing whatsoever.ß

[Ruskie]

Others have had a similar experience:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=673240.0


(added: I am not familiar with nor have I used the site, though I have read a few threads about them)