The Basic Search for Officers and Soldiers - The Great War 1914-1918

The Service
I will search the National Archives for the documents described below and photocopy them. Based on what I find there and from any other source I deem necessary plus my own extensive reference library built up over many years I will compile a report. Examples of a typical officer's and soldier's reports can be found in the case studies section of this web site.

Medal Index Card
This document can be found for most officers and soldiers. It should tell us his Regimental number(s), Rank, Regiments and Corps served in. The date of arrival in the theatre of war in which he first served, plus a list of Medals and Awards he was entitled to. We will also find the reference number for the relevant Medal Roll. - View An Example Medal Index Card

The Medal Roll
This is a very important document if your officer or soldier was killed, wounded or won a gallantry award. It will enable us to pinpoint the sub unit he was serving in ie the 1st or 3rd Battalion ect this in turn will enable us to find the relevant War Diary. - View An Example Medal Roll

War Diaries
Officers were frequently mentioned in the unit War Diaries. Giving dates of postings in and out, UK leave, any hospitalisation, wounded or killed or what duties employed. They may also give details of any gallantry awards won.

Individual soldiers were not normally named in unit War Diaries but if a unit only had, one or two casualties in a day or a soldier won a gallantry award for example, they could well be named and details of the event given. - View An Example unit War Diary

Officers Service papers
Most officers service papers survive and should be a source of much information. They should give dates of commissioning, postings, promotions, next of kin details, home address and letters to and from The War Ministry. They may also contain details of earlier war service such as the Boer War.

Soldiers Service Papers
Not all Soldiers Service Papers survive (Details Can Be Found Here). If yours survive they can give a wealth of information. They may include the Attestation Sheet giving physical description, next of kin details, and where joined. Medical records. His military history sheet with dates of postings, promotions, courses of instruction taken. Conduct sheets. They may also include letters from home.

The Fees
The hourly rate for basic research is £20 and depending on the information you supply, a typical search should not take more than two hours. All photocopying is charged @ £0.50 per sheet. The report and actual postage is extra.

Everyone has different requirements and if you do not require the full package we can tailor our work to meet your needs

Additional Services - The Great War 1914 - 1918

Gallantry Awards
All gallantry awards came with a citation and were gazetted in The London Gazette.
A search for the gazetted entry costs £5 including a photocopy.
A search for gallantry award Medal Cards cost £4 including a photocopy.
- View An Example Gazetted Entry & A Selection Of Medal Cards

Free No Obligation Quotation
To obtain a free no obligation quotation just contact us with as much detail as you can provide on the officer or soldier for example, Number, Rank, Name, Regiment or Corps, date and place of birth. Where did he live? Was he killed in action?