Beselare Posted 22 October , 2012 Share Posted 22 October , 2012 I am going slightly crazy trying to navigate the new National Archives website to the WO 95 files for the war diaries. Could someone who knows how to do this please let me know. Many thanks Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidswarbrick Posted 22 October , 2012 Share Posted 22 October , 2012 From the home page click on "Discovery our new catalogue" In tiny blue writing under the keyword box it says "Advanced Search" - click on that Put your Regiment - battalion number etc in the 1st [Keyword] box 4th box down gives you the option to enter WO 95 That usually works. Dave Swarbrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 22 October , 2012 Share Posted 22 October , 2012 Nice one Dave. That's the clearest set of instructions I've seen for one of the worst search engines ever to grace the web Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Evans Posted 22 October , 2012 Share Posted 22 October , 2012 Bob, You can still use the old Catalogue - it's just harder to find than it used to be. Discovery drives me mad as well trying to find MICs, where there is now no alternative. And thanks Dave for the tips for the future. The day must be drawing near. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 22 October , 2012 Share Posted 22 October , 2012 I think you missed a "dis-" off there, Stephen. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beselare Posted 23 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 October , 2012 To Dave: Thank you very much for the information. I thought I was becoming a little senile by not being able to navigate such a famous website, but obviously I am not alone. I wonder what kind of person the N.A. put in charge of the design, or was it a committee? Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beselare Posted 23 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 23 October , 2012 To Dave once again: I have now diagnosed myself as senile. I followed your suggestion (I am researching the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade) and did not find any WO 95 files (they might not be online). However, I then tried the 4th Battn., Middlesex Regiment, which I know is in WO 95/2158 and nothing came up! Can you suggest anything I can modify? How to get to WO 95/2158 would be a great help. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 Bob, 3rd Rifle Brigade is WO95-1613 and you are correct in that they are not online. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 Bob It is quite easy to find war diaries and Mics in Discovery. For the former, just type into the search box "Rifle Brigade" AND "war diaries" then scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find 3 Bn. With Mics you have two choices: type his name into the search box and then scroll through the results or even better type in "Medal index cards" and then scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find a search box the same as the original. TR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 This straight forward easy to use website may help http://arcre.com/wdsearch Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidswarbrick Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 Hi Bob, I followed my own instructions - put "Rifle Brigade and 3" in the search box and WO 95 in the appropriate place and came up with this: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C4555357 This piece has a different WO 95 piece number to the one given by Andy - not sure why that should be so. Dave Swarbrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin spof Posted 23 October , 2012 Admin Share Posted 23 October , 2012 Hi Bob, I followed my own instructions - put "Rifle Brigade and 3" in the search box and WO 95 in the appropriate place and came up with this: http://discovery.nat...ls?uri=C4555357 This piece has a different WO 95 piece number to the one given by Andy - not sure why that should be so. Dave Swarbrick Dave That's because Discovery is rubbish and the Catalogue search is still the best way to go. Andy's reference is for 3RB until October 1915. Glen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 This piece has a different WO 95 piece number to the one given by Andy - not sure why that should be so. It's because there are two separate items. WO95/1613 is for the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade between August 1914 and October 1915 WO95/2206 covers the period November 1915 to April 1919 If you use the advanced search as mentioned in post two, specifying WO95 as the class number, you'll get a full list that you can scroll down and both items will be there. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndavidswarbrick Posted 23 October , 2012 Share Posted 23 October , 2012 Quite right Sue, I just stopped at the first reference and didn't look any further - my fault for not checking properly. Whilst I don't really want to get into the argument about the new Discovery versus the old Catalogue I would just make the observation that until the new system is fully in place it does seem a little premature to write it off as not fit for purpose. I believe that TNA are trying to respond to a massive increase in public accessibility to our national records. I'm old enough to remember going to Chancery Lane where a much smaller reading room than the existing one at Kew was often barely half full and there was absolutely no online access of any description - because there was no internet. The system that was then in place was the one that had grown up over scores of years and worked only because it was never really put under pressure. TNA are now trying to put in place a system that can cope with a much higher level of demand against a background of cuts in personnel and a culture which demands that they outsource records to profit making concerns whether or not that is the right or proper way of achieving better access. On my many visits there I have always found the staff to be helpful and knowledgeable and - often - as frustrated as we sometimes are with the problems of dealing with a catalogue system that was increasingly creaking, having been designed, if that is the right word, for a much smaller number of actual documents and a very much smaller number of potential users. Dave Swarbrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Nulty Posted 24 October , 2012 Share Posted 24 October , 2012 Dave I'm not writing Discovery off as not fit for purpose - as your instructions show, it clearly can be used. But that doesn't mean it is well designed or implemented, because it isn't. I fully appreciate and readily acknowledge all the points that you make, but in my opinion (and that's all it is), they have spent a lot of money on a product which could have been a lot more intuitive and easier to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beselare Posted 25 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 25 October , 2012 Hi Everyone Thank you once again for all your help. I have now managed to navigate through the system. I think the problem with the new site is that it has been designed by someone, or a team, with a highly specialised knowledge of web design: in this case they are 'writing to themselves' instead of 'writing for their readers'. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bodie31 Posted 29 November , 2012 Share Posted 29 November , 2012 I've found it easier to use the "browse by heirarchy" function, especially if you know what division a particular battalion belongs to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aradgick Posted 29 November , 2012 Share Posted 29 November , 2012 I have this page bookmarked: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/war-diaries-ww1.htm If you type: 4 Battalion Middlesex in the first box, you get 'No rseults' Now click on the 'All Collections' tab, and it shows the undigitsed diaries Andrewr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now