The Great War
1914-1918
The British Military Service Act of 1916 stated that all men aged 18-41 were liable to be called up for service unless they were married. However, in January 1918, the Act was revised to allow the government to conscript all able bodied men aged 18-41 regardless of marital status.
All British soldiers who served in the First World War had a personal file. Unfortunately, about half of These were destroyed in the first German air raid on London on 7/8 September 1940. The records that survived were released to the National Archives of the United Kingdom: Public Record Office at Kew in November 1996 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/). The original documents were so fragile that only microfilm is available for inspection. Whether an individual soldier’s file survived is entirely random.
Officers’ files had a higher survival rate and were released to the National Archives in February 1998. The criteria for release were: that the officer had served in the British Army between 1914 and 1920 and that he had left the Army by 31 March 1922. It is often possible to locate an officer’s file on line, by typing the surname into the National Archives Catalogue accompanied by a record class number. Officers’ files are mostly contained in record series WO 339 or WO 374 (especially Territorial officers).
The contents of both soldiers’ and officers’ personal files are unpredictable.
Service Records
WO97 records are attestation and discharge papers, often referred to as soldiers' documents. The types of document that have survived are:
WO116 and WO117 are pension books which contain similar information, but are split into disability and long-service respectively, and are indexed chronologically by date of admission to Chelsea pension.
WO120 contains pension books arranged regimentally by order of precedence, then chronologically by date of admission to Chelsea pension.
War Diaries All units from battalion level upwards were required to keep War Diaries on active service. These diaries are preserved in the National Archives: Public Record Office, Kew, in record series WO 95. War Diaries rarely mention ordinary soldiers, but they do provide a detailed account of the unit’s movements and activities.
This link is a guide to find a British Army war diary at the National Archives. Knowing the theatre of war that the unit was in or under whose command is a vital piece of information. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/11116-a-guide-to-finding-war-diaries-at-the-national-archives-kew/
Absent Voters Lists Absent Voters Lists were compiled by local authorities at home. They show the names of soldiers and sailors who were absent from their normal homes because of World War I service. The lists are organised in ward and street order. They are particularly valuable, as they give the man’s rank or rating, unit, battalion, ship, etc and his service number. These details are the key to further research on WWI servicemen. In order to find the relevant list you must know the person’s actual address during the period 1914-18.
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps The National Archives announced on 9 March 2006 that it is now possible to search and download the service records of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (1917-1918), later Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (1918-1920). Over 57,000 women served in the Corps. An air raid in 1940 destroyed many of their service records but over 7,000 survived. Click on the link below:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/waac.asp
Further Information
The Long, Long Trail is a superb website focused on the British Army in the Great War, and has an excellent section called ‘Research a Soldier’ http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/research.html
The British Military Service Act of 1916 stated that all men aged 18-41 were liable to be called up for service unless they were married. However, in January 1918, the Act was revised to allow the government to conscript all able bodied men aged 18-41 regardless of marital status.
All British soldiers who served in the First World War had a personal file. Unfortunately, about half of These were destroyed in the first German air raid on London on 7/8 September 1940. The records that survived were released to the National Archives of the United Kingdom: Public Record Office at Kew in November 1996 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/). The original documents were so fragile that only microfilm is available for inspection. Whether an individual soldier’s file survived is entirely random.
Officers’ files had a higher survival rate and were released to the National Archives in February 1998. The criteria for release were: that the officer had served in the British Army between 1914 and 1920 and that he had left the Army by 31 March 1922. It is often possible to locate an officer’s file on line, by typing the surname into the National Archives Catalogue accompanied by a record class number. Officers’ files are mostly contained in record series WO 339 or WO 374 (especially Territorial officers).
The contents of both soldiers’ and officers’ personal files are unpredictable.
Service Records
WO97 records are attestation and discharge papers, often referred to as soldiers' documents. The types of document that have survived are:
- attestation forms, which are documents signed by the new recruit. They offer information about age, physical appearance, birthplace and trade or occupation on enlistment in the Army. There may also be details of next of kin.
- discharge forms, which were issued when a soldier left the regiment.
- Record of service, including decorations awarded, promotions and reductions in rank, crimes and punishments, and the reason for the discharge to pension. In some cases, the place of residence after discharge and date of death are also given.
WO116 and WO117 are pension books which contain similar information, but are split into disability and long-service respectively, and are indexed chronologically by date of admission to Chelsea pension.
WO120 contains pension books arranged regimentally by order of precedence, then chronologically by date of admission to Chelsea pension.
War Diaries All units from battalion level upwards were required to keep War Diaries on active service. These diaries are preserved in the National Archives: Public Record Office, Kew, in record series WO 95. War Diaries rarely mention ordinary soldiers, but they do provide a detailed account of the unit’s movements and activities.
This link is a guide to find a British Army war diary at the National Archives. Knowing the theatre of war that the unit was in or under whose command is a vital piece of information. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/11116-a-guide-to-finding-war-diaries-at-the-national-archives-kew/
Absent Voters Lists Absent Voters Lists were compiled by local authorities at home. They show the names of soldiers and sailors who were absent from their normal homes because of World War I service. The lists are organised in ward and street order. They are particularly valuable, as they give the man’s rank or rating, unit, battalion, ship, etc and his service number. These details are the key to further research on WWI servicemen. In order to find the relevant list you must know the person’s actual address during the period 1914-18.
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps The National Archives announced on 9 March 2006 that it is now possible to search and download the service records of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (1917-1918), later Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps (1918-1920). Over 57,000 women served in the Corps. An air raid in 1940 destroyed many of their service records but over 7,000 survived. Click on the link below:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/waac.asp
Further Information
The Long, Long Trail is a superb website focused on the British Army in the Great War, and has an excellent section called ‘Research a Soldier’ http://www.1914-1918.net/soldiers/research.html