Help needed at Kew Records

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by RoughEngineeringMadeEasy, Aug 11, 2011.

  1. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    I'm about to go to the Records Office at Kew with the intention of looking for my Grandfathers WW1 Service Records.
    First of all, will this be possible? If so, what would I need?
    I have his discharge papers, and his Mons Star and two other medals. Would they allow me to access his records?
    This will be the first time I've ever done this so I'm completely in the dark. Any help would be very much appreciated.
    Cheers
    Steve
     
  2. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Steve,

    To save yourself a trip to Kew, you might want to check to see if your local library has access to Ancestry.co.uk. Many (all?) of the surviving WWI service records are available there.


    Lee
     
  3. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    HI Steve

    You dont need to go there, you just need an Ancestry subscription. Those records that have survived are online there, see-
    Military - Ancestry.com.au
    See on the right had side, the list of things available.
    Having his service number, you will be able to find his MIC (medal Index Card)
    Also read here - How to find records of British soldiers of the First World War
    This site is a great source of information and where to look and understand it

    hope this helps

    regards

    Robert
     
  4. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    I'm about to go to the Records Office at Kew with the intention of looking for my Grandfathers WW1 Service Records.
    First of all, will this be possible? If so, what would I need?
    I have his discharge papers, and his Mons Star and two other medals. Would they allow me to access his records?
    This will be the first time I've ever done this so I'm completely in the dark. Any help would be very much appreciated.
    Cheers
    Steve

    Steve,

    What is his full name? Someone with an Ancestry account might be able to find them for you. The downside is, that a lot were destroyed by fire in WW2.

    Cheers - Rob
     
  5. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    Amazing. I can't believe how quick answers come back on this forum :rocker:

    His name was William John Manns, born 1894 in Egham,Surrey.
    Started the war in the RAMC, service number 5127

    The odd thing is, he ended up in the Black Watch but his Mons Star, Victory Medal (?) and the other standard medal (war service?) are made out to him in his RAMC rank/Corps

    Cheers
    Steve
     
  6. eddie chandler

    eddie chandler Senior Member

    I have a copy of his medal card for you :D
     
  7. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    I have a copy of his medal card for you :D
    Eddie
    :sign_wow: Brilliant!
     
  8. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    Eddie
    All received. Thank you very much for your trouble. I think it's time I got myself an account at Ancestry, I've a few more family members military service to investigate.
    Regards
    Steve
     
  9. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    I thought you might be interested in seeing a photo of the old fella, inexplicably wearing what I believe to be the uniform of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders....which he wasn't in!
    He must have been in the 2nd Bn Black Watch, because he served, and was wounded in, Mesopotamia. He carried a fragment of a Turkish bullet in his foot until his dying day. I remember him having a huge respect for the Turks.
    Another odd thing, he was one of two Englishmen in the battalion, and the other one used to live about 100 yards from where I live now. Talk about a small world.
    The other photo is of him in his hospital blues after being wounded and/or gassed on the Western Front.
    A fine old chap, and hugely funny.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Found the medal card same as Eddie. I could not find any service records though. Beyond H, I believe that's where the majority of records were destroyed.
     
  11. RoughEngineeringMadeEasy

    RoughEngineeringMadeEasy Junior Member

    Found the medal card same as Eddie. I could not find any service records though. Beyond H, I believe that's where the majority of records were destroyed.
    That's a shame. Pity his surname wasn't Aardvark :)
     

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