I am just back from a visit to a shopping centre and I could not miss the veterans and young cadets selling poppies on every street I walked down. It is, of course, at this time of the year that we, as a nation, pause to remember our fallen servicemen and women.
As a family historian I began to think of the records that are available to us and came across a press release from TheGenealogist.co.uk that lays out what is gathered together on their website. To begin with there are the Rolls of Honour.
Rolls of Honour
The Roll of Honour collection on TheGenealogist.co.uk contains over a million records and is included within all Premium and Personal Plus subscriptions.
Original images and full transcripts are available. Some of these are very detailed and include a portrait photograph.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-1918
This online database includes biographies of over 25,000 men of the armed forces who lost their lives in the Great War. Many of the entries have linked photographs. The level of detail given varies due to the variety of sources used but all include the persons regiment, place and date of death. The families often lodged the biography with the publisher and these entries go into great detail about their lives.
The National Roll of the Great War
A tribute to the men and women who survived and died in the First World War, with 14 volumes in total, and contains over 110,000 records. This includes a collection of biographies of those who served during the Great War (1914-1918) and also includes brief accounts of how they joined up and demobilisation date. Many of the entries refer to combatants who survived the War and the National Roll of the Great War is the only detailed information available.
Bond of Sacrifice
Contains an alphabetical biographical record of all British Officers who fell in the Great War, from August 1914 to June 1915, with details of rank, regiment and date of death. Also includes portraits.
British Roll of Honour 1914-1918
Records can include detailed biographies with portraits and information on birth date, birth place, father’s name, education, career, and circumstances of death.
Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth Memorial Register 1914-1921Includes over 25,000 biographical records of officers and men of the Royal Navy who were lost at sea and were not recorded in any cemetery or on any battlefield.
The memorials were erected at the three home ports which are the manning ports of the Royal Navy. As well as listing the names of the dead, they also serve as a “Sea-mark†or “Leading-mark†for ships entering the ports.
These printed registers contain more detailed descriptions than are shown on the panels on the memorials. Each biography contains information on name, rank, ship, age, date of death, immediate family including address and photos.
The Victoria Cross and Distinguished Service Order records 1857-1923
This database includes nearly 25,000 biographical records of officers, non-commissioned officers and men of his Majesty’s naval, military and air forces who have been awarded these decorations from the time of their institution, with descriptions of the deeds and services which won the distinctions and with many biographical, and other details.
So as we get closer to the 11th of November perhaps it is a time to take a look at some of TheGenealogist’s records online.
Disclosure: The Links in the above are Compensated Affiliate links. If you click on them then I may be rewarded by The Genealogist.co.uk should you sign up for their subscription.
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