Help Tracing Granddads' Military Service.

[10ClarionSt]

I've been on the web site for the National Archive and typed his name in from WW1 service but no results. The web site says I can find him but comes up with nothing. Can anyone help please? Are you online today Dot? You know about these things.

[Mosaic]

Is it possible his surname has variants on its spelling? I speak from experience having Geoghan / Gegan in the ancestors.

[craft1948]

Can you give any details?

[knittynora]

A lot of WW1 records were destroyed during WW2 either by fire or a bomb hitting the building where they stored(not sure which). I think the National Archives and findmypast were trying to scan the pieces that remained, but I may be wrong, so it could be that your granddad's records were so badly damaged that they're illegible. My mother's uncles are only recorded in the medal cards, all other records were destroyed.

[shoota]

Some of these sites tell you that they have a record and then you have to sign up and pay to actually see what they've got.
Some times it is worth it, some times you learn nothing new.....

[knittynora]

10ClarionSt A few people on Ab have subscriptions for genealogy sites and would be willing to look him up if you post a few details.

[tonyav]

Have you tried this site.
http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/?id=237320&cID=1661240

[knittynora]

I think that's like all the other big genealogy sites - free to search but pay to view records.

[Jennykenny]

I have a theory, which may be rubbish, but have also had endless problems in trying to trace my grandfather's service record, is that unless he died in the war, they are not prepared to release the data, despite the fact that everyone who fought in WW1 is dead now.
I know this isn't much help but it is very frustrating.

[DJHawkes]

you can send me details on the same email and I can look, I don't think there's much hope with WW2 records lately, something has changed, but the WW1 records, if they survive are all online.

[anneasquith]

ive been trying to access my father's ww2 records and getting nowhere ?

[DJHawkes]

if you send me the full name, date of birth and then also details from the death certificate it's probable I can get some info (that's to anyone who needs help) [email protected]

[lyall]

In 2009 Historian Peter Barton found approximately 20 million World War One records in a Red Cross archive in Switzerland. It is expected, though not guaranteed, that these records will be available to view online in 2014, the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7940540.stm

I just wonder how much they will charge for the privilege of searching?