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Research - Useful Sources
Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX.
Holds extant service records of soldiers and officers who served during the Second World War and later. For identification purposes the following facts must be supplied: regimental number, full name, regiment from which person was finally discharged and year of discharge. Written enquiries only from next of kin; research fee is charged.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 7GX
www.cwgc.org
Maintains records of men who died during the two world wars who are buried and commemorated in the cemeteries in its care. Written requests for information on the grave locations should give as many of the following facts as possible: full name, rank, number, unit, date of death, age, home town, place of death. Write to The Enquiries Office.
The National Archives, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU
Tel: 0181 876 3444
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
The extensive collection includes War Diaries for both World Wars, citations for gallantry awards and the Roll of Honour for the Second World War (WO304). It also has extant service records for the World Wars, although many for the First were destroyed during the Second. There is an alphabetical index (WO372) and a medal roll (WO329) of campaign medals awarded during the First World War. As The N.A. does not undertake research you need to visit in person or employ a researcher.
Army Medal Office Government Building, Worcester Road, Droftwich, Worcs WR9 8AU
Holds medal rolls and card indexes of those who served in World War II. It also has master rolls for the Home Guard. Access is restricted to official enquiries.
Ex-Service and Old Comrades’ Associations
A list is maintained by the Imperial War Museum’s Department of Printed Books. Reference might also be made to the Royal British Legion, 49 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY
National Museums
www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
The National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London SW3 4HT, which has copies of DCM citations
The Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
www.iwm.org.uk
General Reference
S L Mayer and W J Koenig: The Two World Wars – A Guide to Manuscript Collections in the United Kingdom, London 1976
GM Bayliss: Bibliographic Guide to Two World Wars – An Annotated Survey of English Language Reference Materials, London and New York 1977
A G S Enser: A Subject Bibliography of the Second World War and its Aftermath 2 vols: 1939–74 & 1975-87, Andre Deutsch 1977-1990
A S White: A Bibliography of Regimental Histories of the British Army, London Stamp Exchange 1988 (reprint)
Officers’ Regiments and Promotions
Monthly Army Lists
Gradation Lists (regular officers only)
Casualties
Soldiers Died in The Great War 1914-18, 80 vols London 1975. Now available on cd-rom from National & Military Press
Decorations, Campaign Medals
The London Gazette.
P E Abbott and J M A Tamplin: British Gallantry Awards London 1981
E C Joslin, A R Sutherland and B T Simpkin: British Battles and Medals, London 1988
Uniform / Badge Identification
M Chappell: British Battle Insignia (1): 1914-18, Osprey Man-at-Arms Series 1986
M Chappell: British Battle Insignia (2): 1939- 45 Osprey Man-at-Arms Series 1987
B Davies: British Army Uniforms and Insignia of World War II, Arms & Armour Press 1983
Regimental Museums
T Wise and S Wise: A Guide to Military Museums, 10th edition 2001
Museums and Galleries of Britain (an annual publication)
Museums and Galleries Yearbook produced annually by the Museums’ Association
Most of the items listed above can be consulted in the National Army Museum Reading Room which is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10.00 am to 4.30pm. Admission is by Reader’s Ticket only. Application forms for these can be obtained on request. These can also be located at the website
www.armymuseums.org.uk
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