Family History in the Wars – 50% Off – just $4.00
Military service, especially during war time, can have a traumatic effect on an individual and families alike. Families, both at the time of war and descendants alike can have little appreciation for the dramatic events which unfolded around their loved ones. Sometime family members failed to come home. Sometimes they came home but would speak little upon their experiences. Yet, military records can be a key resource for genealogists. These records can explain a lot about one’s ancestors, including shedding light on their active service. For those who served in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, or as a civilian with these organizations within Great Britain, then those service records will be found at the [British] National Archives. This includes records for those whose descendants may have moved to other countries, or for those from other countries who have served with Britain. Family History in the Wars is a guide to military records, both in paper and digital, within the National Archives.
Published by the Archives, this guide is intended to provide the necessary knowledge and skills required to research the archives for those who served in war between 1899 and 1953. These wars and conflicts include:
- Abor 1911-12
- Ashanti Rising 1900
- Second Beor/South African War 1899-1902
- The Third China War (Boxer Rebellion) 1900
- Burma 1930-32
- Operations in India and Afghanistan 1919-39
- Iraq (various between Dec. 1919 and Nov. 1920 and again in 1928)
- Kenya 1952-1960
- Korea (1950-1953)
- Malaya (between 1948 and 1960)
- North West Frontier 1908
- Palestine 1936-9 and Palestine 1945-8
- Persian Gulf 1909-15
- Somaliland (various time between 1901 and 1920)
- Tibet 1903-4
- The First World War
- The Second World War
The book suggests having certain upfront knowledge about what theatre and ancestor served in, along with regiment or ship information, etc. will help speed the process. Other questions suggested in the Introduction will also help lead to greater information resources. For example, having or knowing what medals someone earned may help lead to information on specific lists or rolls. Learn from this book about fields of battle, which services and groups participated, types of medals awarded for service and honor, and where to find associated records in the archives.
Included with those services mentioned above, this book covers women’s auxiliary and nursing units, prisoner-of-war files, civil defence, casualty lists, medals and gallantry awards. Not to mention, the chapters are rich with tips, techniques, and practical advice from an expert military researcher.
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
1. From 1899 to the end of the First World War
2. The inter-war years: 1919-39
3. The Second World War: 1939-45
4. Post-war: 1945-53
5. Consequences of war
6. Research Advice
Useful addresses and websites
Further reading
Picture captions and credits
Index
For your own copy of Family History in the Wars, published by the [British] National Archives, contact Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA06, Reg. Price: $8.00 – 50% Off making it just $4.00!
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Family History Companion – 50% Off – Just $4.00!
The Family History Companion: Fast-forward your family history search, by Mark Pearsall, is like a cross between a dictionary and and encyclopedia. Published by the National Archives (British), this pocket-sized guide provides an a to z listing of hundreds of family history terms, entities, and resources. Written for both beginners and practiced researchers, this guide carries a wealth of information useful to any genealogist seeking their English ancestry.
Some terms are listed with a brief description, like a dictionary entry. Other entries, however, contain more information, reading more like an encyclopedia entry. For example, the entry for the Royal Navy runs nearly five pages, and contains information on the following important subtopics:
- the Naval Biographical Database
- Ratings
- Ships’ pay books
- Ships’ musters
- Continuous service
- Registers of Seamen’s Service
- Commissioned officers
- Warrant officers
Inserted throughout the book are breakout pages containing short essays and advice on numerous subtopics, written by experts at The National Archives (British). Some of the titles include:
- Tackling the census by David Annal
- Hearth Tax by Peter Seaman
- Searching Parish Registers by Mark Pearsall
- and more…
Entries in the book, for which known sources are available, are listed with those source locations. For example, Chatham Chest: “Established in 1851, a fund for sailors hurt or wounded in the war…Ledgers recording payments covering various dates from 1653 to 1799 are in TNA series ADM82.” A list of abbreviations is provided at the beginning of the text to help readers identify these sources. This little book offers the collective knowledge of experts from the National Archives. Their knowledge is published in an easy to read fashion with insights a plenty for all levels of family historians researching their British ancestors.
Contents
Picture acknowledgements
Introduction: A Companion for the 21st century
A note on the text
A–Z Entries
Useful addresses and websites
Order a copy of The Family History Companion: Fast-forward your family history search from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA05, Reg. Price: $8.00 – On sale for just $4.00!
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Smart Family History: Fast Track Your Family Research – 50% Off – Just $4.00!
What happens once a genealogist learns the basics? What happens once a few names are on the lists? What happens when that first error is discovered or an expected name doesn’t appear in a census? Sometimes dates don’t match or a place of birth on a certificate doesn’t match the family bible, or even other “official” records. This is where beginners either become so frustrated that they quit or, they seek professional help, preserver, and find themselves on the way to becoming advanced researchers. Help in making it over these early stumbling blocks can be found in Smart Family History: Fast Track Your Family Research by Geoff Swinfield.
“This book has been structured so that you can follow each stage of your ancestor’s life from birth, through marriage and work, to death. At each stage there are sources you can research and shortcuts you can make to fast track the process.” Ever learning more about each ancestor from a full set of sources in key to bypassing road blocks. New clues can be found in almost any document. Learning about someone’s life, their career, their relationships, when and where and why they moved, all add to the story. According to the author, “by adopting a holistic approach to the lives of our ancestors, the answers to your research question may become clearer. If just one idea works for you, then the book has been a success.”
Though this book was published by the [British] National Archives, every genealogists, regardless of country of residence, can learn key research techniques and skills from this book. Specific registries and source locations are listed primary for UK centric research; which, will benefit anyone with British ancestors or possibly immigrant ancestors who passed through England on their way to America or elsewhere. Yet, the types of resources, such as census, school, or court records will be found in almost any country. Taking the advice provided herein, and simply locating sources within the reader’s own country will serve any family historian; especially, considering the relatively low cost of purchase for this book.
Contents
Introduction: Getting smarter
1. A start in life
2. Out of school
3. Settling down
4. The fighting man
5. Courts and criminals
6. A matter of status
7. Passing away
8. Exploring further
Useful addresses
Useful websites
Further reading
Index
For your own copy of Smart Family History: Fast Track Your Family Research, published by the [British] National Archives, contact Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA08, Reg. Price: $8.00 – on sale for just $4.00!
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Family History on the Move – Where Your Ancestors Went and Why – 50% Off – Just $4.00!
Throughout history, people have always been on the move. Even before planes, trains, and automobiles, the world saw not just families moving between towns and countrysides, but also mass migrations over great distances. For a physically small country, the United Kingdom has seen its own share of immigrants and emigrants. Over the centuries the Flemish, Huguenots, the Irish, Jews, and even the Polish have flooded into the United Kingdom. However, the country has seen its own share of emigration as well. Family History on the Move: Where Your Ancestors Went and Why, examines the movement of people, the reasons they moved, and the records they left across the United Kingdom.
Why do people move? The obvious answer is to search for a better life; though, seldom is the answer quite so simple. This book reviews the reason people moved and to help identify sources of information for the family historian about their mobile ancestors. In this book you will find:
- “Expert advice on tracking down your roaming ancestors
- How and why people came and went, from refugees and wartime aliens to families seeking better lives
- Find out more from passenger lists, arrival records, settlement documents and community sources”
Family History on the Move is focused on the in flux and out flow of people through the United Kingdom. The book was written by Roger Kershaw and Mark Pearsall and, published by the British National Archives. This pocket size book travels easily inside pocket or handbag, and can be taken along during research trip. While the book was produced in the UK, its value is relatively obvious to those living in countries, like the United Sates, who were destination countries for those who emigrated from, or simply passed through, the UK over the centuries.
Contents
Introduction: why migrate?
1 Records of arrival
2 Settling into the community
3 Becoming British
4 Refugees in Britain
5 Aliens in wartime
6 Beyond the seas
7 Crossing the pond
8 Down under
9 Further afield
10 Child migration
11 Matters of life and death
Useful addresses
Useful websites
Index
Order a copy of Family History on the Move: Where Your Ancestors Went and Why from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA07, Reg. Price: $8.00 – On sale for just $4.00!
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Air Force Records: A guide for family historians
Air Force Records: A Guide for Family Historians, Second Edition is part of a series of books covering military records available at the British National Archives. From the Boer War, through two World Wars, Korea, Kenya, Suez, and other interwar actions, this book provides the necessary information for genealogists to trace ancestors who served in any of the many British air forces. The earliest service records predate mechanical flight with the Royal Engineers Balloon Section. Other forces include the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Air Force (RAF), the Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF), Glider Pilot Regiment, Fleet Air Arm, and the Royal Naval Air Services.
Each service is reviewed with an historical overview. Key records created and used by various government agencies which administrated the flying services and personnel are noted and referenced. Records types include operational record books, unit war diaries, individual service records, medal rolls, gallantry awards and casualty lists. Guidance is given with a focus on the National Archives, but also c0vers other resources including various museums and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Like so many books reviewed on this site, Air Force Records is an interesting read just for the historical insights it provides. This book is also exceptionally well organized with plenty of pictures and sample documents. The family historian will be able to quickly identify similar documents when conducting their own research. With a primary focus on the National Archives, the author provides useful instructions for accessing records located at the Archives, including using and searching the online catalogue. Each year, more and more of the records are digitized and placed in the DocumentsOnline section of the National Archives’ website.
The author, William Spencer, works as the principal military specialist at the National Archives. He previously served 13 years in the Fleet Air Arm and holds a MA in War Studies from the Department of War Studies at King’s College. We have previously another book in this series by Spencer, First World War Army Service Records: A Guide for Family Historians.
Note: The British National Archives are no longer in the “publishing” business. First World War Army Service Records and other books previously published by the National Archives are in limited supply and may not be available in the future.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Using The National Archives
Introduction
1 Military Flying Up to 1914
- The Royal Engineers and their Balloons
- The Royal Flying Corps
- The Royal Naval Air Service
2 Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force up to 1918
- The Royal Flying Corp
- The Royal Naval Air Service
- The Royal Air Force and Women’s Royal Air Force
3 Royal Air Force, Fleet Air Arm, Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps From 1919
- Royal Air Force
- Fleet Air Arm
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps
4 Royal Engineers Balloon Section Records of Service
- Officers
- Other Ranks
- Case Studies
5 Royal Flying Corps Records of Service
- Officers
- Airmen
- Case Studies
6 Royal Naval Air Service Records of Service
- Officers
- Ratings
- Case Study
7 Royal Air Force and Women’s Royal Air Force Records of Service
- Officers
- Airmen
- Women’s Royal Air Force
- Special Operations Executive
- Case Study
8 Operational Records
- Royal Engineers Balloon Section
- Royal Flying Corps
- Royal Naval Air Service
- Royal Air Force: First World War
- Royal Air Force: Inter-war Years
- Royal Air Force: Second World War and After
- Fleet Air Arm
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps: Second World War and After
9 Casualties and Air Crashes
- Casualties
- Air Crashes
10 Medals and Awards
- Royal Engineers Balloon Section: Campaign Medals
- Royal Flying Corps: Campaign Medals
- Royal Naval Air Service: Campaign Medals
- Royal Air Force: Campaign Medals
- Awards for Gallantry and Meritorious Service
- Royal Air Force Awards
- Fleet Air Arm Awards
- Glider Pilot Regiment and Army Air Corps Awards
- The London Gazette
- Long Service Awards
- Coronation and Jubilee Medals
11 Court Martial
- Admiralty Records
- War Office Records
- Air Ministry Records
- Supreme Court Records
12 Prisoners of War and War Crimes
- First World War
- Second World War
- War Crimes
- Missing Personnel
13 Medical Records
- Records up to 1918
- Inter-war Records
- Second World War Records
- Post-Second World War Medical Records
14 Photographs
15 Records Held by Other Institutions
- Fleet Air Arm Museum
- Royal Engineers Museum
- Museum of Army Flying
- Airborne Forces Museum
- Imperial War Museum
- Royal Air Force Museum
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
16 Research Techniques
- Printed Sources
- The London Gazette Online
- Aids to Research
Appendix 1: RAF Ranks
Appendix 2: Useful Addresses
Appendix 3: Unit Abbreviations
Appendix 4: Royal Naval Air Stations
Appendix 5: Command and Organizations found in AIR 24
Appendix 6: Regimental Order of Precedence
Further Reading and Websites
Index
Air Force Records: A Guide for Family Historians, Second Edition is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: TNA02, Reg. Price: $24.95 – 50% Off! – On sale for just $12.48!
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[British] Army Records: A Guide for Family Historians; by William Spencer – Item #TNA03 – Reg. $24.95 – 50% off – Just $12.48!
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Tracing Your [British] Naval Ancestors; by Bruno Pappalardo – Item #TNA15 – 5 in stock – Reg. $24.95 – 50% off – Just $12.48!
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[British] House History Starter Pack, All You Need to Become Your Own House Detective; by Nick Barratt – Item #TNA19 – Reg. $18.95 – 70% off – Just $5.69!
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