soldier75 Posted 12 April , 2014 Share Posted 12 April , 2014 Hi, I have found a particular officer I am researching in a search of the NA. Never visited the NA and I am unsure as to what these papers would reveal, does anyone have any experience of documents with this description, it has not been digitized as yet so I can view by using a researcher or ordering the doc from the NA itself War Office: Officers' Services, First World War, Long Number Papers (numerical). Officers Services (including Civilian Dependants and Military Staff Appointments): Long Service Papers. 2nd Lieutenant Eric Leslie Finch BEATTY. The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. Might there just be his name on one document or will it be more than that, similar to a service record? Many thanks Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 12 April , 2014 Share Posted 12 April , 2014 (edited) The reference is wo 339/33674 The officers files vary enormously. Some have only a few pages of correspondence, others can be as thick as a 1930's Penguin. They tend to hold financial and medical information, and details of say, movements, promotions etc., have generally been weeded out, so they are a lottery. If an officer was promoted from the ranks they sometimes have the original attestation papers, but one can never be sure. They have been weeded more than once and retention was biased towards documents with a potential financial implication. Keith Edited 13 April , 2014 by Keith Roberts typo removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 12 April , 2014 Share Posted 12 April , 2014 In addition to what Keith said, files will often include the application form to become an officer which will confirm some family and pre-war employment information. Similarly, if a man was taken prisoner there will often by his account of the capture in the official exhonoration report (they will often provide the only real detail of an unsuccessful action). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldier75 Posted 13 April , 2014 Author Share Posted 13 April , 2014 Hi, Keith and John, thanks for that information. Is there any member of the forum planning a trip to the National Archives in the near future who could do a look up for me on this particular file, I will pay any costs incurred in the copying etc.. Thanks Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpf1958 Posted 1 December , 2014 Share Posted 1 December , 2014 Hi Harry I'm researching into Eric Beatty too, did you get anywhere with information from the National Archives. I see you are from Widnes where my Mum came from and I still have quite a few relatives. All the best Wihelm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soldier75 Posted 1 December , 2014 Author Share Posted 1 December , 2014 Wilhelm, No luck at all, sadly no volunteers. I will pm you re Eric Beatty. What do you know about him?. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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