FIRST WORLD WAR – RESEARCHING YOUR RELATIVES CONTRIBUTION
INTRODUCTION
Tracing your ancestors can be an expensive business therefore we recommend that you only subscribe to a paid service if you have exhausted all other free options. It is also worth remembering that a paid service may not wield any results either.
The following is a guide to help you find out more information about the part that your relatives played in the First World War. The first step is to gather as much basic information as possible about the man you are researching and to remember that every snippet of information is likely to be important. Collect any information that you or your family may have on the man. Speak to relatives, ask them for information, photographs, letters, postcards, etc.
Here are some tips:
- Name: Find out their full name, especially any middle names – it will be easier to find John Algernon Smith than John Smith
- Birth: When and where were they born?
- Parents: What was his parents’ names?
- Marital Status: Was he married? Maiden name of wife, names of any children, where and when were they married, when were the children born?
- Occupation
Where possible, we have used the example of Charles Roberts of Cadishead to illustrate how to research a relative.
The following is a guide to help you find out more information about the part that your relatives played in the First World War. The first step is to gather as much basic information as possible about the man you are researching and to remember that every snippet of information is likely to be important. Collect any information that you or your family may have on the man. Speak to relatives, ask them for information, photographs, letters, postcards, etc.
Here are some tips:
- Name: Find out their full name, especially any middle names – it will be easier to find John Algernon Smith than John Smith
- Birth: When and where were they born?
- Parents: What was his parents’ names?
- Marital Status: Was he married? Maiden name of wife, names of any children, where and when were they married, when were the children born?
- Occupation
Where possible, we have used the example of Charles Roberts of Cadishead to illustrate how to research a relative.
LOCAL HISTORY
First of all, we would recommend that you find a little about the area where your relative came from as this will provide a background to all the detailed biographical information that you will find.
PHOTOGRAPHS
Can you find a photograph of the man in uniform? A military historian can tell a lot from a photograph. Typical information that may be found:
- Regiment (cap badge identification)
- Rank
- Specialist trade (musician, signals, Lewis gunner, etc)
- Whether the man was wounded – wounded men wore wound stripes on their left sleeve
- The style of uniform can provide further information, e.g. the man may be wearing Kitchener Blues, indicating a 1914/early 1915 volunteer in training before full uniforms were issued, or Hospital Blues
- They can even help identify when and where the photograph was taken. For instance, photographs are sometimes stamped with the name of the photographer
- Regiment (cap badge identification)
- Rank
- Specialist trade (musician, signals, Lewis gunner, etc)
- Whether the man was wounded – wounded men wore wound stripes on their left sleeve
- The style of uniform can provide further information, e.g. the man may be wearing Kitchener Blues, indicating a 1914/early 1915 volunteer in training before full uniforms were issued, or Hospital Blues
- They can even help identify when and where the photograph was taken. For instance, photographs are sometimes stamped with the name of the photographer
What does the photograph tell us? Charles was a corporal in the Manchester Regiment, who was trained as a machine gunner (Lewis gun). He had served at the front and been wounded. The photograph was taken at Cleethorpes where the 3rd Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, was stationed on garrison duty. The 3rd Battalion remained here throughout the war and was used to rehabilitate soldiers who were recovering from wounds before they were fit again for front line service.
LETTERS AND POSTCARDS
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Several postcards written by Charles have been kept by his family. These show vital information such as the address of his family at the time, the date when the postcard was written and clues as to where it was written. Letters and postcards were censored by the military but the view of the front of the postcard could indicate whether it was written in England or in France or the Middle East. For instance a postcard was sent to Charles’ mother, Mrs H. Roberts at 52 Hayes Road, Cadishead. It is date stamped at Devonport on 6th July 1915 and contains the words “we have arrived on the boat safely and are sailing tonight”.
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From research into the Manchester Regiment (see Forum section below), it was possible to find that it was the 11th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment that sailed from Devonport on the 6th July 1915, heading for Gallipoli (from Keyham Dock on HMT Ascania). This was the only Manchester Battalion to sail from Devonport on this day. We now know which regiment Charles served in.
There is another postcard which confirms that he was in Cleethorpes in May 1916. A later postcard, written from London in July 1917, confirms that Charles was returning to the front (it had taken almost two years to recover from his wounds).
From the research into the 11th Battalion it was found that the 11th Battalion served in Gallipoli from August to December 1915, in Egypt from January to May 1916 and then sailed from Egypt for France to serve in the Battle of the Somme in May 1918. At no time did the regiment return to the UK. Therefore, knowing that Charles was in the UK from at least May 1916 (possibly earlier), that he was photographed in Cleethorpes and has a wound stripe, it was now possible to work out that he could only have been wounded at Gallipoli, at some point during the period between 7th August and 15th December 1915 (when they were evacuated).
There is another postcard which confirms that he was in Cleethorpes in May 1916. A later postcard, written from London in July 1917, confirms that Charles was returning to the front (it had taken almost two years to recover from his wounds).
From the research into the 11th Battalion it was found that the 11th Battalion served in Gallipoli from August to December 1915, in Egypt from January to May 1916 and then sailed from Egypt for France to serve in the Battle of the Somme in May 1918. At no time did the regiment return to the UK. Therefore, knowing that Charles was in the UK from at least May 1916 (possibly earlier), that he was photographed in Cleethorpes and has a wound stripe, it was now possible to work out that he could only have been wounded at Gallipoli, at some point during the period between 7th August and 15th December 1915 (when they were evacuated).
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS
A free useful resource for finding information about births, marriages and deaths is www.freebmd.org.uk. This allows searches on names, dates and registration areas.
Caution: The date provided by freebmd is the quarter when the birth, marriage or death was registered (i.e. 3 month period ending either March, June, September or December). For example, a child born in December 1893, may have been registered in January and will show as March 1894 on freebmd. This can be misleading as the researcher can wrongly assume that the person was born in 1894 not 1893.
Census:
The census was taken every ten years. Census information is available from various online sources, although they all require a payment. Libraries provide free online access to both the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
This information can be found on a number of paid subscription sites, including:
http://www.1901censusonline.com/
http://www.1911census.co.uk/
From the 1901 and 1911 census it was identified where the Roberts family were living and also the names and occupations of each family member.
Births:
From the 1901 and 1911 census records we can identify that our Charles Roberts was born in Cadishead (Barton I.) in 1895. However for the purpose of this example, I searched for all Charles Roberts, born in Barton I. between 1880 – 1900. A soldier, such as Charles, who volunteer for military service in 1914 or 1915 would have to be 19 to serve overseas (unless he lied about his age, which was not uncommon). There when Charles went overseas in July 1915 he should have been 19, meaning that he must have been born in 1896 at the latest.
Example search using www.freebmd.org.uk:
Caution: The date provided by freebmd is the quarter when the birth, marriage or death was registered (i.e. 3 month period ending either March, June, September or December). For example, a child born in December 1893, may have been registered in January and will show as March 1894 on freebmd. This can be misleading as the researcher can wrongly assume that the person was born in 1894 not 1893.
Census:
The census was taken every ten years. Census information is available from various online sources, although they all require a payment. Libraries provide free online access to both the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
This information can be found on a number of paid subscription sites, including:
http://www.1901censusonline.com/
http://www.1911census.co.uk/
From the 1901 and 1911 census it was identified where the Roberts family were living and also the names and occupations of each family member.
Births:
From the 1901 and 1911 census records we can identify that our Charles Roberts was born in Cadishead (Barton I.) in 1895. However for the purpose of this example, I searched for all Charles Roberts, born in Barton I. between 1880 – 1900. A soldier, such as Charles, who volunteer for military service in 1914 or 1915 would have to be 19 to serve overseas (unless he lied about his age, which was not uncommon). There when Charles went overseas in July 1915 he should have been 19, meaning that he must have been born in 1896 at the latest.
Example search using www.freebmd.org.uk:
Result of search:
This shows that there is only one Charles Roberts born in the Barton I. (Barton-upon-Irwell) registration area between these dates.
Marriage:
A search on the freebmd website revealed that Charles married Louie Clark in June 1915, and that they had a child, also named Charles, in the quarter June 1917 (research within the family eventually identified his date of birth as 28th April 1917).
Further searches on the website revealed that the birth of Charles Roberts senior was registered in 1894 at Barton-upon-Irwell. It was also possible to name his siblings and establish when they were born.
The information from freebmd can be used to order birth, marriage and death certificates (there is a charge – currently £9.25 per certificate) from:
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
Marriage certificates can be very useful as they confirm the date of marriage, parents’ names (if there is any doubt) and occupation.
Some of the records are available online at http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Salford/index.html
Charles marriage entry is as follows:
Marriage: 22 Jun 1915 St John the Baptist, Irlam, Lancs.
Charles Roberts – 20 Soldier Bachelor of Cadishead
Louie Clark – 20 Spinster of Cadishead
Groom’s Father: Hamblet Roberts, Labourer
Bride’s Father: Edgar George Clark, Coal Trimmer
Witness: Edgar George Clark; Hilda Marchment
Married by Banns by: Robert Martin, Vicar
Register: Marriages 1907 – 1916, Page 107, Entry 214
Source: LDS Film 1786242
Charles Roberts put his occupation as soldier. On his son’s birth certificate in 1917 he stated “Corporal, 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment.” For soldiers who died in the UK, the death certificate will provide the cause of death.
Marriage:
A search on the freebmd website revealed that Charles married Louie Clark in June 1915, and that they had a child, also named Charles, in the quarter June 1917 (research within the family eventually identified his date of birth as 28th April 1917).
Further searches on the website revealed that the birth of Charles Roberts senior was registered in 1894 at Barton-upon-Irwell. It was also possible to name his siblings and establish when they were born.
The information from freebmd can be used to order birth, marriage and death certificates (there is a charge – currently £9.25 per certificate) from:
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate
Marriage certificates can be very useful as they confirm the date of marriage, parents’ names (if there is any doubt) and occupation.
Some of the records are available online at http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Salford/index.html
Charles marriage entry is as follows:
Marriage: 22 Jun 1915 St John the Baptist, Irlam, Lancs.
Charles Roberts – 20 Soldier Bachelor of Cadishead
Louie Clark – 20 Spinster of Cadishead
Groom’s Father: Hamblet Roberts, Labourer
Bride’s Father: Edgar George Clark, Coal Trimmer
Witness: Edgar George Clark; Hilda Marchment
Married by Banns by: Robert Martin, Vicar
Register: Marriages 1907 – 1916, Page 107, Entry 214
Source: LDS Film 1786242
Charles Roberts put his occupation as soldier. On his son’s birth certificate in 1917 he stated “Corporal, 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment.” For soldiers who died in the UK, the death certificate will provide the cause of death.
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
The CWGC has a searchable Debt of Honour which lists every serviceman killed or died during the period from 4th August to 31st August 1921 (to cover those who may have died after the war of wounds or other causes resulting from the war).
www.cwgc.org
The database contains name, rank, service number battalion, regiment, age, date of death and place of burial (or memorial for those with no known graves). It also has additional information – usually next of kin information (although many entries are blank) and awards (i.e. gallantry medals)
The CWGC entry for Charles Roberts:
www.cwgc.org
The database contains name, rank, service number battalion, regiment, age, date of death and place of burial (or memorial for those with no known graves). It also has additional information – usually next of kin information (although many entries are blank) and awards (i.e. gallantry medals)
The CWGC entry for Charles Roberts:
SOLDIERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR (SDGW)
SDGW is a searchable database that records similar information to the CWGC Debt of Honour but it also records where a soldier was born and resided and also the type of death, most commonly killed in action, died of wounds, died of illness. This is available through subscription websites such as Ancestry and Find My Past.
WAR MEMORIALS
War memorials are an excellent source of information. They contain names and they often also include rank, regiment/ship and some even have dates. Caution: Because the memorials were created from information provided by family it can sometimes be inaccurate.
ROLLS OF HONOUR
Rolls of honour are lists of employees, students or members of a congregation who served in the war. Churches and major companies kept roll of honours. Although some haven’t survived there are still others which are available, usually in local churches and/or Salford Local History Library.
PRISONERS OF WAR
The International Committee of the Red Cross have digitised the prisoner of war cards and made them available on line (free). The cards are difficult to read and often the name has been written phonetically by a German scribe, meaning that you may have to be creative in searching for the record. The amount of information varies but it should at least give the name of the POW camp, and where and when the soldier was captured:
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Search
http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Search
LIBRARIES
Local libraries contain many relevant sources of information including:
- Local history books and booklets
- Newspapers
- Free access to subscription websites (not all – please check)
- Cemetery records (not all)
- Local history books and booklets
- Newspapers
- Free access to subscription websites (not all – please check)
- Cemetery records (not all)
NEWSPAPERS
Contemporary newspapers can be found in some of Salford’s libraries:
- Salford Local History Library contains films of the Eccles and Patricroft Journal and Salford City Reporter. The SWARM website includes a downloadable indexes for both newspapers
- Central Library, Manchester holds archives of the Manchester Evening News. The SWARM website has a downloadable index
Newspapers contain a wide variety of relevant information such as:
- Letters from the front (more common during 1914 and 1915)
- Obituaries
- News of POWs
- War time marriages
- Home leave
- Wounds
- Salford Local History Library contains films of the Eccles and Patricroft Journal and Salford City Reporter. The SWARM website includes a downloadable indexes for both newspapers
- Central Library, Manchester holds archives of the Manchester Evening News. The SWARM website has a downloadable index
Newspapers contain a wide variety of relevant information such as:
- Letters from the front (more common during 1914 and 1915)
- Obituaries
- News of POWs
- War time marriages
- Home leave
- Wounds
WAR DIARIES
War diaries are a daily record of a battalion’s service throughout their time in a theatre of war. They contain an entry for each day describing where a battalion was located and what is was up to each day.
War diaries can be downloaded from the National Archives for the small fee of £3.30 (the amount of information provided in a war diary is immense):
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/war-diaries-ww1.htm
War diaries can be downloaded from the National Archives for the small fee of £3.30 (the amount of information provided in a war diary is immense):
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/war-diaries-ww1.htm
MEDAL INDEX CARDS (MICs)
Medal Index Cards can be obtained from the National Archives website for a cost of £3.30 per MIC or from subscription websites such as Ancestry and Find My Past (sometimes free from your library).
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/medal-index-cards-ww1.htm
Medal Index Cards will identify the medal entitlement for a serviceman, including the date of entry into a theatre of war (if they went overseas before 1st January 1916) and which theatre they served in. The National Archives link above explains how to decipher the cards.
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/medal-index-cards-ww1.htm
Medal Index Cards will identify the medal entitlement for a serviceman, including the date of entry into a theatre of war (if they went overseas before 1st January 1916) and which theatre they served in. The National Archives link above explains how to decipher the cards.
SERVICE AND PENSION RECORDS
Subscription websites such as Ancestry and Find My Past provide access to service and pension records, however, many libraries provide free access to subscription websites to its members. If you are researching an Officer please check the National Archives who hold records not yet released to the subscription sites. Read more at http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/officersrecord.html
Link to the National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/officerbritisharmyafter1913.htm
Caution: Unfortunately a large number of records were destroyed in the Blitz during WW2. Therefore it is pot luck whether your ancestors has survived. Where the records have survived they can be difficult to read owing to water and fire damage.
If records are available they can be a mine of information, including service number, battalions, next of kin information, description (weight, hair and eye colours, complexion), disciplinary offences, wounds, diseases, movements, etc.
Caution: Sometimes the information can be upsetting. For instance, you may find that an ancestor was found guilty of an offence such as desertion, theft, etc. or had an unexpected disease. Please be careful how you use this information and bear in mind the terrible circumstances at the time.
Link to the National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/officerbritisharmyafter1913.htm
Caution: Unfortunately a large number of records were destroyed in the Blitz during WW2. Therefore it is pot luck whether your ancestors has survived. Where the records have survived they can be difficult to read owing to water and fire damage.
If records are available they can be a mine of information, including service number, battalions, next of kin information, description (weight, hair and eye colours, complexion), disciplinary offences, wounds, diseases, movements, etc.
Caution: Sometimes the information can be upsetting. For instance, you may find that an ancestor was found guilty of an offence such as desertion, theft, etc. or had an unexpected disease. Please be careful how you use this information and bear in mind the terrible circumstances at the time.
LONDON GAZETTE
The London Gazette can be a helpful tool in following the promotions of any given officer and Military Awards for both Officers and Other Ranks (a citation/description of a soldiers brave deed may be given dependant on the decoration awarded).
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices
GRAVEYARDS
Local graveyards are a great source of information. First ask at the church whether there is a record of the burials available and where it can be accessed. Next, have a walk around the graveyard and read the inscriptions. The distinctive CWGC headstones are usually easy to find in a graveyard, however, this does not tell the full story. Many family gravestones will include inscriptions such as “Also, their son, Corporal John Smith, killed in action in France, 18th May 1918.” Of course, this is not such an easy task in a large cemetery like Brookhouse.
GOOGLE SEARCHES
Everyone uses Google but very few people use the search engine properly. The following tips are provided to help with some of the more useful searches:
- Use a hyphen to search for two words that are strongly connected, e.g. Charles-Roberts
“ ” Use quotation marks to find pages that contain the same words in the same order as those within the quotation marks. Only use this if you know the exact phrase, e.g. “We shall not sleep, though poppies grow.”
* Wildcard. Use this for unknown words, e.g. though * grow. It is also useful in conjunction with quotation marks “We shall not * though * grow”
- Use a hyphen to search for two words that are strongly connected, e.g. Charles-Roberts
“ ” Use quotation marks to find pages that contain the same words in the same order as those within the quotation marks. Only use this if you know the exact phrase, e.g. “We shall not sleep, though poppies grow.”
* Wildcard. Use this for unknown words, e.g. though * grow. It is also useful in conjunction with quotation marks “We shall not * though * grow”
FORUMS
There are many forums established on the internet where researchers can communicate with specialist subject experts to ask questions and often receive quite remarkable information. Some of the best free forums in this region include:
SWARM (Salford War Memorials): http://salfordwarmemorials.proboards.com
The Salford War Memorial forum is dedicated to the protection of Salford’s War Memorials and preserving the memories of the men who served and those who died in the World Wars. It is a mine of useful information about the men and women of Salford who served in the wars and its members are extremely helpful.
The SWARM website (http://www.salfordwarmemorials.co.uk/resources.html) contains the following useful downloadable research documents:
· 1918 Absent Voters List for Salford (see Note 1 below)
· Manchester & Salford Roll of Honour (National Roll of Honour) (see Note 2 below)
· Eccles Journal Roll of Honour
· Manchester Evening News First World War Index
· Adelphi Lads' Club Roll of Honour
· Salford Reporter WW1 index
· Eccles Journal WW1 index
· Parish of St Thomas, Pendleton, Roll of Honour
Note 1 - Absent Voters Lists
The 1918 general election was the first in which nearly all men aged 21 and women aged 30 and over could vote. The large number of voters whose military service meant they were likely to be absent from their home address needed special measures for voter registration. Absent voter lists were therefore compiled listing all voters affected in this way. The lists are arranged by electoral division and then by ward and finally alphabetically by street and house number. Each voter is allocated a number and his name and identifying details are given. In the case of servicemen a person’s name, rank, regiment (or ship/naval establishment) and service number is provided.
Note 2 – National Roll of Honour
Shortly after the cessation of hostilities in 1919, the National Publishing Company sought to publish a brief biography of as many of those participating in the war as was possible. Entries were compiled by subscription. Caution: many did not subscribe and information for the entries was generally submitted by family members or the soldiers themselves. Information provided was not verified and therefore, in many cases, is inaccurate.
The Manchester Regiment: http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php
An excellent and knowledgeable forum, with members willing to help.
The Great War Forum (1914-1918.invisionzone.com) http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/
Another great source of information is the Great War Forum, which is a forum that covers a wide range of WW1 related topics.
The Great War Forum has a sister site, The Long Long Trail, which also contains very useful information: www.1914-1918.net
Rootsweb/Rootschat
These sites are useful for family research and also contacting other distant relatives who may have information about your ancestors.
SWARM (Salford War Memorials): http://salfordwarmemorials.proboards.com
The Salford War Memorial forum is dedicated to the protection of Salford’s War Memorials and preserving the memories of the men who served and those who died in the World Wars. It is a mine of useful information about the men and women of Salford who served in the wars and its members are extremely helpful.
The SWARM website (http://www.salfordwarmemorials.co.uk/resources.html) contains the following useful downloadable research documents:
· 1918 Absent Voters List for Salford (see Note 1 below)
· Manchester & Salford Roll of Honour (National Roll of Honour) (see Note 2 below)
· Eccles Journal Roll of Honour
· Manchester Evening News First World War Index
· Adelphi Lads' Club Roll of Honour
· Salford Reporter WW1 index
· Eccles Journal WW1 index
· Parish of St Thomas, Pendleton, Roll of Honour
Note 1 - Absent Voters Lists
The 1918 general election was the first in which nearly all men aged 21 and women aged 30 and over could vote. The large number of voters whose military service meant they were likely to be absent from their home address needed special measures for voter registration. Absent voter lists were therefore compiled listing all voters affected in this way. The lists are arranged by electoral division and then by ward and finally alphabetically by street and house number. Each voter is allocated a number and his name and identifying details are given. In the case of servicemen a person’s name, rank, regiment (or ship/naval establishment) and service number is provided.
Note 2 – National Roll of Honour
Shortly after the cessation of hostilities in 1919, the National Publishing Company sought to publish a brief biography of as many of those participating in the war as was possible. Entries were compiled by subscription. Caution: many did not subscribe and information for the entries was generally submitted by family members or the soldiers themselves. Information provided was not verified and therefore, in many cases, is inaccurate.
The Manchester Regiment: http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php
An excellent and knowledgeable forum, with members willing to help.
The Great War Forum (1914-1918.invisionzone.com) http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/
Another great source of information is the Great War Forum, which is a forum that covers a wide range of WW1 related topics.
The Great War Forum has a sister site, The Long Long Trail, which also contains very useful information: www.1914-1918.net
Rootsweb/Rootschat
These sites are useful for family research and also contacting other distant relatives who may have information about your ancestors.
IRLAM & CADISHEAD WW1 ASSOCIATION
These research tips have been compiled by the Irlam and Cadishead WW1 Association, a group of volunteers which has been set up to commemorate WW1 in the area. The association works with other organisations to publicise events, provide talks and organise functions. The group has a large collection of local resources such as information, photographs, books, medals and other memorabilia which are available for other local groups to use.
If you live in Irlam or Cadishead or are researching men from this area please contact the Irlam and Cadishead WW1 Association on: IC1914-1918@hotmail.com
If you live in Irlam or Cadishead or are researching men from this area please contact the Irlam and Cadishead WW1 Association on: IC1914-1918@hotmail.com
