armourersergeant Posted 19 April , 2003 Share Posted 19 April , 2003 I'm thinking of visiting the PRO in mid may for the first time and was wondering if anybody could give me some good advice on what to do and what not to do, sounds daft i know but its something i have never done before and i dont wish not ot be prepared for what sort of things will come up. I have read the appropriate articles etc on this site and know where to look so to speak but any seasoned campaigners advice would be gladly accepted. I am attemping to find Grandad and his brothers who all servived the war and i have some info etc but its not the areas to look but other aspects im concerned about, what facilities are there(i dont mean the toilets either) for copying info etc and help from staff etc etc etc. thanks in advance. Arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 19 April , 2003 Share Posted 19 April , 2003 Everything you need to know is in William Spencer's book 'Army Service Records of the First World War', a Public Record Office Reader's Guide. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 19 April , 2003 Author Share Posted 19 April , 2003 read an article on amazon about this that said not only was the book of poor quality it fell to bits it was also poorly laid out and difficult to follow. I assume as you have recommended it you feel its well worth the investment and 8.99 is not a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinglma Posted 19 April , 2003 Share Posted 19 April , 2003 Just read the review on Amazon - not my experience of this particular book which I found very useful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris basey Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 You couldn't have anyone better qualified than William Spencer - although one of the senior people at NA (no longer PRO!) he is very often dealing with queries at the desk and I have found him very approachable. The staff are all very helpful and with your half-hour induction and tour as well as the guidance leaflets you should soon get into the system. Very often it's not so busy in the afternoons and I have found it very comfortable on a Tues or Thurs pm when they stay open till 7pm. Don't forget to take your driving licence - and the best of luck - hope you find something interesting! Chris Basey PS You can order his book on line from NA - their delivery is very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan Saunders Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 As has been pointed out you wold be best off reading William Spencer's book - make sure you buy the updated version written by him only and not the old version he wrote with two other researchers. Take no notice of the review you have read which I think is inaccurate and misleading. It is an essential read for the beginner. With regard to personal experience. I have been thinking about this and it is a difficult question to answer. The best advice I can think of giving is to tell you to go to the PRO and get some first hand experience of yr own. The staff are friendly ... there are several printers but not all of them are always working and sometimes there is a queue for them, but then others days the room is oractically empty. Make sure you go to the correct printer for either film or fische. I have always found the staff very friendly and helpful. The burnt/unburnt records are in alphabetical order but there are a lot of misfiles. One thing I can tell you is that time passes very quickly when yr there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 Everything you need to know is in William Spencer's book 'Army Service Records of the First World War', a Public Record Office Reader's Guide. Ian You might prefer to get: Ian F.W. Beckett, The First World War: The Essential Guide to Sources in the UK National Archives (London: Public Record Office, 2002) ISBN1 903 365 414, hbk, 304 pp £19.99 Reviewed by John Lee at: http://www.firstworldwar.bham.ac.uk/review...n%20Beckett.doc It depends how specific or general your research is - individuals or units, etc, etc. Also take a really good look around the PRO's website - there's lots there that will save you time when you get to Kew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 Spencer's book was invaluable to me for my first visit. Read through the relevant sections in conjunction with the information that can be printed off the PRO website, take the tour/induction, use the leaflets and if stuck ASK! The staff are all knowledgable, helpful and friendly. Yes, it's a bit daunting and everyone else seems to know exactly what they are doing but you quickly get the hang of it. Check the PRO website for what ID you need to get a readers ticket, get there early and enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Lines Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 It would really help if you took someone who has been several times before and knows the ropes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 Bryn, Agree that Beckett's book is good, but for the beginner Spencer's book is by far the best bet. I read the review on Amazon As for it being of poor quality and unstructured rubbish! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lesley Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 If you look back on chit chat to a post called "am going to PRO" dated 20th Feb you will find lots of useful info given to me prior to my first visit. The best advice I received was not to expect too much. I didn't and was pleasantly surprised by the amount I did achieve. When you decide on a date post it in "i'm going to the PRO" you may find a forum member will be there and willing to help. This certainly smoothed my first visit. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosemary Clarke Posted 20 April , 2003 Share Posted 20 April , 2003 I would also recommend Jane Cox's New To Kew (1999 reprint) which is a good general introduction to the PRO system and facilities, as well as giving pointers to more specialised information. It may well have been further-revised and updated by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 24 April , 2003 Author Share Posted 24 April , 2003 thanks for all the advice greatly appreciated Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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