David_Underdown Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 1 hour ago, Skipman said: Is there anything available now that is not available on any of the other sites? Mike Off the top of my head (looking at First World War records only), RNR service records, registers for the DSO, MC and DCM (these add date and place of action, and sometimes unit information that were not included in the gazetted citation for security reasons), unit war diaries for corps and above units on the Western Front and war diaries for East Africa and Mesopotamia theatres. For other things, Second World War (and later) RAF squadron operational record books, recommendations for army honours from 1930s up to 1990s and a whole host of other stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 12 minutes ago, David_Underdown said: Off the top of my head (looking at First World War records only), RNR service records, registers for the DSO, MC and DCM (these add date and place of action, and sometimes unit information that were not included in the gazetted citation for security reasons), unit war diaries for corps and above units on the Western Front and war diaries for East Africa and Mesopotamia theatres. For other things, Second World War (and later) RAF squadron operational record books, recommendations for army honours from 1930s up to 1990s and a whole host of other stuff. Many thanks David. It's fantastic to be able to download a full diary, free. Must have a look at Corps and above. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 2 hours ago, Skipman said: Is there anything available now that is not available on any of the other sites? Mike Mike, Follow the link in post#59 or 70. Depends what your interests are really. I'm going for Army & Corps level diaries & other medical diaries not available online. Doesn't have to be WWI related. Using Discovery I've searched on my home town and can then filter for 'downloads' only IE those now free and I have 715 hits with date range AD 1000 to 1950+. Wills, Board of Trade, etc etc. Perhaps a well planned shopping list and double checking you really want it is the way to go? Otherwise the 50 quota may be used up and then you find you really wanted 'that one'. Perhaps spend time on discovery and see what's there before filling the basket! TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 8 minutes ago, TEW said: Mike, Follow the link in post#59 or 70. Depends what your interests are really. I'm going for Army & Corps level diaries & other medical diaries not available online. Doesn't have to be WWI related. Using Discovery I've searched on my home town and can then filter for 'downloads' only IE those now free and I have 715 hits with date range AD 1000 to 1950+. Wills, Board of Trade, etc etc. Perhaps a well planned shopping list and double checking you really want it is the way to go? Otherwise the 50 quota may be used up and then you find you really wanted 'that one'. Perhaps spend time on discovery and see what's there before filling the basket! TEW Thanks TEW. Will study your sound advice. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlaamse Verhalen Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 2 hours ago, Skipman said: Is there anything available now that is not available on any of the other sites? Mike Yes, loads.....especially if you're interested in things like War Diaries for the higher echelons of the Army, covering Corps, Army formations & units that were subsidiary to those (R.G.A., Tunneling Companies etc.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 1 minute ago, Vlaamse Verhalen said: Yes, loads.....especially if you're interested in things like War Diaries for the higher echelons of the Army, covering Corps, Army formations & units that were subsidiary to those (R.G.A., Tunneling Companies etc.) Thank you. What would I enter to (for example) find II Corps Diary, or Fourth Army Diary Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vlaamse Verhalen Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 2 minutes ago, Skipman said: Thank you. What would I enter to (for example) find II Corps Diary, or Fourth Army Diary Mike This page is always my own personal starting point....then navigate through the echelons from there: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/h/C78426 Hope it helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 23 April , 2020 Share Posted 23 April , 2020 5 minutes ago, Skipman said: Thank you. What would I enter to (for example) find II Corps Diary, or Fourth Army Diary Mike "WO95" and "2 CORPS" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 (edited) I was up till all hours last night looking up military and local stuff. The age and variety of stuff in the NA in Kew is astounding. It gives an idea of the huge loss of Irish archival material when the Public Records Office in Dublin was destroyed in 1922. Many Irish Kew items seem to be copies and transcriptions of now-lost documents. Well done the NA for many reasons. Dave Edited 24 April , 2020 by depaor01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 4 hours ago, depaor01 said: Many Irish Kew items seem to be copies and transcriptions of now-lost documents. Have you seen the Beyond 2022 project https://beyond2022.ie/ Basically trying to rebuild as much as possible of what was destroyed in 1922 via means of these sorts of copies and transcripts. Project's had a bit of a rough time with the unfortunate death of TCD associate prof Seamus Lawless while climbing Everest and of course the current situation has pretty much closed down reaerch, but there should still be a lot to show, even if there's not perhaps quite so much available at launch as they would have hoped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 David_Underdown. Do you know of any plans to digitise the Palestine War Diaries, or other theatres not yet covered? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 42 minutes ago, David_Underdown said: Have you seen the Beyond 2022 project https://beyond2022.ie/ Basically trying to rebuild as much as possible of what was destroyed in 1922 via means of these sorts of copies and transcripts. Project's had a bit of a rough time with the unfortunate death of TCD associate prof Seamus Lawless while climbing Everest and of course the current situation has pretty much closed down reaerch, but there should still be a lot to show, even if there's not perhaps quite so much available at launch as they would have hoped. Hi David, I had heard of the project and to be honest I didn't believe it was possible to meaningfully recreate any of what was lost. Having skimmed through Kew's holdings I've certainly changed my mind. Normality will return, and hopefully the project too, if it doesn't fall victim to cutbacks. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEW Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 My first batch downloaded. Noticed something about the name of a map maker! TEW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 49 minutes ago, TEW said: My first batch downloaded. Noticed something about the name of a map maker! TEW I like that, ha ha Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battle of loos Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 On 23/04/2020 at 18:42, Skipman said: Thank you. What would I enter to (for example) find II Corps Diary, or Fourth Army Diary Mike good evenig, thank's a lot for this information. regards Michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianjonesncl Posted 24 April , 2020 Share Posted 24 April , 2020 Royal Artillery War Diaries Diary Search Criteria RFA Brigades XXX Brigade Royal Field Artillery RFA Army Brigades Army Troops. XXX Army Field Artillery Brigade RHA Brigades XXX Brigade Royal Horse Artillery RHA Battery 'X' Battery Royal Horse Artillery RGA Siege Battery xxx Siege Battery Garrison Artillery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 To avoid getting zero results, or hundreds, I find that less is more. So for example 264 Siege battery I find WO95 264 Siege Garrison Is adequate And for 53 Brigade/ HAG RGA WO95 53 Brigade Garrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 On 23/04/2020 at 17:42, Skipman said: Thank you. What would I enter to (for example) find II Corps Diary, or Fourth Army Diary Mike Armies and Corps did not keep single diaries. Here is the list for II Corps: 2 CORPS WO 95/629 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1914 Aug. - Dec. WO 95/630 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff Appendices to 629 1914 Aug. - Dec. WO 95/631 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1915 Jan. - June WO 95/632 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1915 July - Aug. WO 95/633 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1915 Sept. WO 95/634 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1915 Oct. WO 95/635 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1915 Nov. - Dec. WO 95/636 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1916 Jan. - Mar. WO 95/637 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1916 Apr. - July WO 95/638 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1916 Aug. WO 95/639 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1916 Sept. - Dec. WO 95/640 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff Appendices to 639 1916 Oct. WO 95/641 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1917 Jan. - Mar. WO 95/642 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1917 Apr. - July WO 95/643 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1917 Aug. - Dec. WO 95/644 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1918 Jan. - Sept. WO 95/645 Headquarters Branches and Services: General Staff 1918 Oct. - 1919 Nov. WO 95/646 Headquarters Branches and Services: Adjutant and Quarter-Master General 1914 Aug. - 1915 May WO 95/647 Headquarters Branches and Services: Adjutant and Quarter-Master General 1915 June - Dec. WO 95/648 Headquarters Branches and Services: Adjutant and Quarter-Master General 1916 Jan. - Dec. WO 95/649 Headquarters Branches and Services: Adjutant and Quarter-Master General 1917 Jan. - Dec. WO 95/650 Headquarters Branches and Services: Adjutant and Quarter-Master General 1918 Jan. - 1919 Nov. WO 95/651 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Royal Artillery 1916 Apr. - Nov. WO 95/652 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Royal Artillery 1916 Dec. - 1917 Dec. WO 95/653 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Royal Artillery 1918 Jan. - 1919 Mar. WO 95/654 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Heavy Artillery 1916 Apr. - Nov. WO 95/655 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Heavy Artillery 1917 Jan. - Dec. WO 95/656 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Heavy Artillery 1918 Jan. - May WO 95/657 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Heavy Artillery 1918 June - Dec. WO 95/658 Headquarters Branches and Services: Deputy Director Medical Services 1915 Apr. - 1916 Dec. WO 95/659 Headquarters Branches and Services: Deputy Director Medical Services 1917 Jan. - Dec. WO 95/660 Headquarters Branches and Services: Deputy Director Medical Services 1918 Jan. - 1919 Nov. WO 95/661 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Royal Engineers 1916 Apr. - 1917 July WO 95/662 Headquarters Branches and Services: Commander Royal Engineers 1917 Aug. - 1918 Oct. WO 95/663 WO 95/663 Headquarters Branches and Services WO 95/663 Assistant Director Ordnance Services 1915 Feb. - 1919 Oct. WO 95/663 Assistant Director Veterinary Services 1917 June - 1919 Oct. WO 95/663 Assistant Director Labour 1918 June - Dec. The list continues with Corps Troops. For Armies, the arrangement is similar but there are more of them. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 Many thanks Ron. Just shows the enormous amount of diaries available doen't it. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 (edited) This is probably obvious to many but I find it useful. If you have the first WO Ref number for a unit, for example "WO 95/2844/1" is the 51st Highland Division Diary April 1915-December 1915 (in 3 separate downloads) By manually changing the ref number in the Discovery search box to "WO 95/2844/2" the next diary can be accessed i.e., the 51st Highland Division January 1916-March 1916 and so on. Mike Edited 25 April , 2020 by Skipman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 On 24/04/2020 at 16:07, Skipman said: David_Underdown. Do you know of any plans to digitise the Palestine War Diaries, or other theatres not yet covered? Mike Not at present I'm afraid (even without current circumstances) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 Just now, David_Underdown said: Not at present I'm afraid (even without current circumstances) OK thanks David. I suppose it won't be top priority. Just curious, is there any scanning still being done? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 Right now? or in normal circumstances? Right now the building is completely closed except for security, rotating team of IT Helpdesk staff, estates etc see https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/sending-the-giant-to-sleep/ In general yes, though often these are projects funded and run by licensing partners - scanning teams can set up on site as Public Records don't generally leave the building once accessioned. Plus the general record copying orders are processed as well of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skipman Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 6 minutes ago, David_Underdown said: Right now? or in normal circumstances? Right now the building is completely closed except for security, rotating team of IT Helpdesk staff, estates etc see https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/sending-the-giant-to-sleep/ In general yes, though often these are projects funded and run by licensing partners - scanning teams can set up on site as Public Records don't generally leave the building once accessioned. Plus the general record copying orders are processed as well of course. Yes I meant in normal circumstances. Many thanks for your interesting responses. I know you're very busy. Can I bother you once more. Would you know if the Palestinian diaries have been considered at all, or do you think I would be as well to not count on that, and ask my usual source to copy them for me (when it's open again) Thanks agin for your time. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 25 April , 2020 Share Posted 25 April , 2020 As I said, no current plans I'm aware of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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