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First World War Records

Posted by Yasmin on 12/7/2024, 11:54 am

Good Morning, I am trying to find the Naval records of a couple of my ancestors who served in the first world war. Do I have to go to the National Archives to look at these records or does one of the Family History sites hold them.
I use Find my Past quite a lot but they don't seem to have the military records.
Any advice is much appreciated.

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Karen Newman on 12/7/2024, 12:53 pm, in reply to "First World War Records"

Both Ancestry and FMP have images of various groups of British Navy records.

What names are you looking for?

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Yasmin on 13/7/2024, 9:03 am, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

Hi Karen, I am looking for any information on Arthur Edgar Parker. I have photos of him in Naval uniform but cant find him on FMP. He lived in Lympstone in Devon. When I search I get a bit of information from newspapers on his son Herbert who died quite young but I cant seem to find any military records on his father.

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Karen Newman on 13/7/2024, 3:44 pm, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

Born in Exmouth, 1883?

Ancestry have 2 links to the National Archives:

You can download the records from the National Archives website for £3.50 each or register with them and get them free

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8483841

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8495389

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Karen Newman on 13/7/2024, 4:09 pm, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

Is it possible he was in the Merchant Navy, rather than the Royal?

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Yasmin on 14/7/2024, 11:22 am, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

Thank you for your help Karen, that is definitely him, I didnt realise that he had actually joined up in 1904.
I have downloaded the records and will now attempt o read them fully.
Yasmin

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Judith on 14/7/2024, 5:07 pm, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

It looks from his service records that he was in the Royal Naval reserve, with his occupation shown as a fisherman. (reserved occupation?) He would have been called up if he was needed , but not part of the regulars.
His parents names on the form given as Henry and Olivia
He married 1910 Florence Thorne, and I found a son Arthur Thomas born 1910.
Could not find Herbert.

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Yasmin on 17/7/2024, 11:19 am, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

His son Herbert was born in 1923 and died in 1929. I have the newspaper reports of his death, and also my mother told me the stories of how he died it was very sad.
Thank you again for all your help I really struggle with finding anything on the National Archives site it is definitely not user friendly. Could do with a course I think.

Re: First World War Records

Posted by Judith on 19/8/2024, 9:15 pm, in reply to "Re: First World War Records"

It is a bit complicated on that site. Keep the name simple, then narrow the dates, and filter to the devon records, that should help.
If you register with them, and find a will which can be downloaded, or service records, then you can view for free. You have to go through the process of "buying" but you do not pay anything, just click on the download , on left side of page I think.
Hope that helps.

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