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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-11 > 0973404544


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Whereabouts of records? Dorsetshire Regiment
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 06:09:04 +0000
In-Reply-To: <005901c046a0$76865280$7dc7883e@oemcomputer>


At 20:47 04/11/00, wendy Linham wrote:
>Hello,
>Please can anyone help me with the location of records for my husband's
>Grandfather - Frederick Thomas Blake, Pte.3/8019. It has been suggested
>that, due to his low number, he was in the Reserve prior to the war. The
>Dorset Regimental Museum does not hold the Militia / Special Reserve
>Records. Frederick survived the War and went to the "Z" Reserve on
>16.3.1919. There are no papers at PRO - as he was in the Reserve and went
>back to the Reserve after the War, does this mean that they were included in
>the burnt papers or are they still at MOD.
>Many thanks in advance

Wendy,

You do not say which PRO archive contained no records. Presumably you are
referring to WO 363 in First World War Soldiers' Documents, the so-called
"burnt" British Army Other Ranks records. In that case those for men whose
surnames began with B have been transferred.

But have you tried the Medal Rolls? If the serviceman or woman survived
World War I and served long enough overseas to qualify for campaign medals,
then they should be found in the Medal Rolls held at the PRO Kew. The
rolls record service (campaign) medal and honours and awards; the lists are
kept in class WO 329. These rolls however give little or no personal
information being confined to the unit, service number, theatres of war in
which the individual served, and the medals awarded. Those who served in
France and Flanders between 5 Aug and 22 Nov 1914 received the 1914 Star
(the "Old Contemptibles" medal). Those who served in any war zones between
5 Aug 1914 and 31 Dec 1915 were awarded the 1914-15 Star. All British and
imperial servicemen and women who served outside the UK between 1914 and
1920 were given the British War Medal and British forces over the same
period also received the Victory Medal. [The three medals 1914 or 1914/15
Star, the War Medal and the Victory Medal became known as "Pip, Squeak and
Wilfred" to old soldiers.]

Before searching the Medal Rolls in WO 329, you should check the Medal
Index Cards in WO 372. These are held on microfiche in the Microfilm
Reading Room. It is arranged alphabetically and in regimental order of
precedence. The alphabetic listing is slightly odd in that it lists those
with one initial first, then one Christian name and then two initials, two
Christian names and so on. The card when found will provide Surname,
Christian Name or initial, other Christian names or initials, rank,
regiment, regimental number and the medals to which the individual was
entitled and usually the Army Medal Office reference. To find the actual
entry on the Medal Rolls, the Medal Office Reference must be transformed
into the WO 329 reference using a key found in WO 329/1.

Yours aye,

Iain Kerr
In Windsor, Berkshire
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
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