Cameron2165 Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Hello All, I've just received a quote from TNA for copying a officers service record, £117! I've not used the service before, so I wasn't sure of how much it would be, but it does seem a bit steep. Is this the sort of price paid by other Forum pals? All the best Cam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4jonboy Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 From my experience they charge about 1 pound a copy. Excessive I think. I have never used TNA-got my war diaries copied from a friend I know who visits regularly for 10p each Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Cam Are you a member of WW2Talk, there is a couple of members there who offer very reasonable rates, Regards, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmbrown Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Hello All, I've just received a quote from TNA for copying a officers service record, £117! I've not used the service before, so I wasn't sure of how much it would be, but it does seem a bit steep. Is this the sort of price paid by other Forum pals? All the best Cam. Cam I'm not sure the exact rate at which they charge. however the issue is the cost per page multiplied by the number of pages of information, letters, etc, that are in a file. Clearly if they are quoting £117 there must be a significant number of items in that Offer's record. I have had an odd page copied for me previously which is not so bad. However, as others have now said there are people who visit regularly who can copy, or photograph pages for you at a much more reasonable rate. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anneca Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 My goodness, I am quite shocked as I am waiting for an estimate for copying all pages of an Officer's Service Record and haven't a clue if a lot of them will yield little or no information. Cam, like yourself, I haven't used this service before but I wonder if they let you know what kind of information is on each page before you pay? Regards Anne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 I've had a couple of quotes recently and yours (by comparison) is quite cheap. It would be cheaper to go to TNA but it's a heck of a trek for me. Does anyone if there are plans for Ancestry to take these on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepoy Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Officer service records can vary greatly in quality and quantity. They quite often contain a lot of general admin paperwork relating to Medical Boards or the administration of Soldiers estates which dont say much, but they can include quite useful enlistment papers and copies of moving telegrams etc. Surprisingly, they do not always give details of gallantry awards. That sounds negative, but they can contain that crucial piece of information needed to complete a person's story. These files can contain a few sheets or hundreds and personally, I am not surprised that the National Archives charge so much. Unfortunately, due to illness, I am unable to offer a research service, however I may be able to assist in the future. Sepoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 27 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2013 This officer enlisted pre Boer war as a Pte and was commissioned in 1915 and died in 1917 so I suppose his file could be quite large, but I don't think I'll be shelling out on it. Thanks Graeme I'll have a look. I am a member of WW2 Talk, I don't go on there very often though. Thanks for your comments Cam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernard_Lewis Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Officer files I've seen tend to be fixed by a tag to a thick beige paper file. Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaforths Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 I'm quite shocked that it is so much money. I do get to Kew occasionally and the state of some boxes is very frustrating. I am also a little confused. Are the service records not on ancestry? I found a distant relatives records there. He was with the ASC then took a commission with the Gordon Hrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 27 August , 2013 Share Posted 27 August , 2013 Who are you looking at Cam? Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 28 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2013 Hi Steve, The officer is Lt and QM Alfred William Betty (Retd), 13th Btn Rifle Bde. Born 1869 in Taunton. Died 23.03.17 in Taunton. All the best Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 28 August , 2013 Share Posted 28 August , 2013 Right, WO 339 / 20384 I MAY have time this week to take some photos of it but I have to re-register for a new Readers Card, so I may be all day with that! Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 28 August , 2013 Share Posted 28 August , 2013 I suspect it will be a reasonable assumption that the NA doesnt really want to be in the business of photocopying and is pricing its business accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 28 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2013 Hi Steve, Thank you very much for the offer. If you can get a copy of anything that looks interesting that would be great, but please don't go out of your way. John, I think you maybe correct. It does seem a bit pricey for some photocopying, even if they have to locate the file first. Thanks again Cam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Tulloch-Marshall Posted 28 August , 2013 Share Posted 28 August , 2013 I suspect it will be a reasonable assumption that the NA doesnt really want to be in the business of photocopying and is pricing its business accordingly. TNA, which is financed by the taxpayer remember, has a "cost-recovery" obligation. They have to charge what it costs them to produce copies without adding to our tax burden (that's the theory). My goodness, I am quite shocked as I am waiting for an estimate for copying all pages of an Officer's Service Record and haven't a clue if a lot of them will yield little or no information. Cam, like yourself, I haven't used this service before but I wonder if they let you know what kind of information is on each page before you pay? I liked the joke you dropped in at the end there Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retlaw Posted 28 August , 2013 Share Posted 28 August , 2013 I was told at Kew that photocopying is not allowed as it damages the documents, they are prepared to photograph the documents, they then charge for the film, developing & printing, they keep the film. That was some years ago, don't know how digital copying will affect the situation, but all the stuff on Ancestry was done on 35mm film. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anneca Posted 29 August , 2013 Share Posted 29 August , 2013 I liked the joke you dropped in at the end there Tom Well actually it wasn't a joke, but I expect it is now if they can't give me a clue as to which pages I need to get copied. Until now I have researched men in the rank and file but this is my first officer so I'm a bit of a novice. Anne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 29 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Hi Anne, That's the problem with using the copying service, I assume they will copy everything in the file and charge you for it whereas if you go to TNA you can copy what you want. Unfortunately many of us can't get there. I hope your quote is a reasonable one Anne Regards Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Tulloch-Marshall Posted 29 August , 2013 Share Posted 29 August , 2013 ... That's the problem with using the copying service, I assume they will copy everything in the file and charge you for it ... As opposed to TNA reading all the papers for you, writing a report which details what is on each sheet and maybe making a recommendation as to what might interest you and what might not, and then leaving you to cherry pick what is to be copied for a couple of quid ? (and leaving, in that scenario, the taxpayer to pick up the probably several hundred £££ bill for what you expect TNA to do). Sorry, but I've encountered that sort of attitude dozens and dozens of times over the years and it really ****** me off Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 29 August , 2013 Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Sorry, Cam. I am a failure! Well, actually it probably has to go down to irony. I couldn't order the file up to take your pictures because ...... it was out for an estimate!! Despite the staff going out of their way to find it (thank's anyway to the staff) it was still "in limbo" between departments. In other news a random file with the name "Frederick William Higginbotham Caughey" on it seems to have fallen under my camera lens whilst I was clicking away - do you know anyone who might be interested in copies, Anneca? (this one was also in limbo but we managed to send a man out into the mists with a rope to retrieve it!) (59 pages incidentally) Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 29 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Tom, I wasn't suggesting any such thing. I was saying what I think they would do at TNA as opposed to going there yourself. I don't expect them to go through the file and report back to me what is in there. So the tone and swearing in your post wasn't necessary was it? Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 29 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Steve, Sorry for wasting your time. I will have to go there myself in the future. Thanks again Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebie9173 Posted 29 August , 2013 Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Things like that are never a waste of time - divining the workings of the NA is a learning experience - some might say a learning curve.... Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron2165 Posted 29 August , 2013 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2013 Hi Steve, Having never been there it will be a very steep learning curve for me. I'll have to give it a go at some time though. All the best Cam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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