GREATWAR-L Archives

From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] First World War -Army Records.
Date: Sat, 06 Oct 2001 08:16:03 +0100
In-Reply-To: <014601c14e94$5b566700$f0e2223f@arthur>

At 04:25 07/10/01 +1000, Arthur Chittenden wrote:
>Hi Everybody,
>
>I am trying to find out if there is a Surname
>List of soldiers who served in WW1 ?.
>Unfortunately I do not know the Regiment,
>but believe he served in the Artillery ?.
>Any assistance will be sincerely appreciated.
>
>Best Wishes Arthur Chittenden
>Sydney Australia

Arthur,

Try and apply some logic here and imagine the scale of the task in
compiling such a list!

In the Great War, the United Kingdom is estimated to have had some
4,970,902 men serving in uniform - about 22% of the male population.
Australia had some 331,814 men in uniform or 13.4% of the male population.

The Royal Regiment of Artillery was, and still is, one of the largest corps
in the British Army - perhaps 15% of its strength during the Great
War. It was made up of hundreds of individual units - some pre-war
regular, some pre-war territorial, many war raised.

If he served in an operational theatre, then it would be sensible to
establish the basic details from the Great War Medal Rolls at the Public
Record Office, Kew.

World War I 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, United Kingdom
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
RootsWeb Sponsor and Listowner for the WORLDWAR2 Mailing List.

This thread:

• [WW1] First World War -Army Records. by "Arthur Chittenden" <>

  • Re: [WW1] First World War -Army Records. by Iain Kerr <>