ororkep Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Over the past year I have looked through the Burnt files and 364 at the NA for the service records of approx 50 men. For all regiments but about 30% were RGA. I have only ever found 3 of them. I wondered just what the experiences of other forum members were and just where the 30-40% success rate figure you always read about comes from and on what it’s based. Or have I just been terribly unlucky? Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGWR Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 My hit rate has been similarly unspectacular / frustrating. It does seems to depend on which regiment one is researching. I know someone who found the service records of 19 out of 20 Sherwood Foresters he was researching. Does anyone know how the records were organised at the time of the Blitz? Regards, AGWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lund Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Sent for two and received two. The only common factor is both were Yorkshiremen and both were discharged through Clipstone. It must be just pure luck. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSoldier Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Hello Tony. Sent for War Records at the NA? I was not aware that this facility existed, is it very complicated? PS. Have not forgotten the photo's of Pte Lewis Hirst, I will be visiting the area in three weeks. Regards. Terry W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Hello Always had quite a good sucess rate - but not once found a casualtys papers Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Although I have found papers to some casualties, the overall success rate has been around 20% for me. So 30%, although seemingly disappointing,is quite good really. Good Luck with future searches. Regards PAUL JOHNSON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pooter Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 I've found 1 out of 4 which is a 25% success rate I suppose. However it was a very good find as it was my wife's great grandfather who had enlisted in the Scots Guards in 1890 and left in 1913 as a sergeant. He enlisted again on 14th August 1914 as a private in the East Kent Regiment but by the 31st August he was a sergeant again. His record was 25 pages long which I photographed with my digital camera, a real find indeed and full of personal information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lund Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 Terry W. Links to a couple of earlier treads give the procedure I used. I know that it hasn't worked for everyone, all I can say is it worked for me. Ordering service records. A Bit More! Using the NA website I found a reference and then applied for my ASC grandfather’s records and his son in law’s RFA father’s records. For a cost of £20 I received both through the post a few days later, no trouble at all. It seems like it must be a case of pure luck. What about the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints? I have heard these people did the donkey work of photographing the Burnt Records and that they can get rolls of film of these records ordered into their local family history centres. I have not asked about it at Huddersfield yet, but if I wanted a service record now I think it would be worthwhile checking that out first. If only to clarify what is or isn’t available locally. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 I've just done a quick analysis of the results of record searches for the 293 men whose details I have on my PC right now. Found records, died: 19 = 6.5% Found records, survived: 57 = 19.5% Total where we found records = 26% No records, died: 69 = 23.5% No records, survived: 148 = 50.5% Total where records could not be found = 74% They are from just about as random a selection of regiments, types of enlistment, ages, places etc as you can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 7 June , 2006 Share Posted 7 June , 2006 For a cost of £20 Now ask 'em to look for a John Smith ... it will be the best £20 you ever spent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretswell Posted 8 June , 2006 Share Posted 8 June , 2006 Chris your analysis works out near to the expected figure , I went last month with five names and didn't find one. However I was impressed by the place and the helpfull staff and I had some good results with other aspects of my research. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ororkep Posted 8 June , 2006 Author Share Posted 8 June , 2006 Thanks all, So it would seem from this very small survey that 20-25% is a much more realistic figure to expect. If you are obtaining more than this then can I suggest you start doing the lottery as well, because your very lucky! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiletto_33853 Posted 8 June , 2006 Share Posted 8 June , 2006 Seems to be about right, however, I have been digging up some records for a forum member that all came from a particular area. The results astounded me, out of the 37 records searched for 21 were found. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 8 June , 2006 Share Posted 8 June , 2006 I must just be unlucky (or blind), but my hit rate is c.15-20% currently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSoldier Posted 8 June , 2006 Share Posted 8 June , 2006 Tony. Thank you for the information, appreciate it. Looking for three family members, I hope I get lucky! Terry W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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