14 million world war medal records launch onlineThe complete medal records of British soldiers, and also those for many Colonial soldiers who fought in World War One were published online as Ancestry.co.uk launches the WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1922. A testament to the bravery of 5.5 million soldiers and including many famous names such Academy Award winning actor Noel Coward, father of the last Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten, and Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackelton, as well as that of the last surviving ‘Tommy’, Harry Patch, these records form the most comprehensive WW1 British and Colonial military collection still intact. In all, the collection contains the records for more than 14 million commendations. During WW1 all medal entitlements were compiled by the Army Medal Office in lists called Medal Rolls. From them index cards were produced for every soldier containing details of medals awarded, the reason for decoration, and also corps, unit and regiment. More than 50,000 cards also listed details of covert operations undertaken or letters from next of kin on their reverse. The original index cards are now held by the Western Front Association (WFA), an organisation dedicated to furthering interest in the period 1914-1918. Through a partnership with the WFA,Ancestry.co.uk has for the first time colour digitised both sides of the cards and launched them online. The collection will provide millions of people the opportunity to uncover their heroic ancestors, many of whom sacrificed their lives for their country in battles from the Western Front to Gallipoli. Without it, tracing many such heroes would be impossible as the majority of official WW1 service records were destroyed in the bombings of WW2. In all there were 15 different WW1 commendations from campaign medals such as the 1914 Star, theVictory Medal and the Silver War Badge, to awards for extreme gallantry such as the Military Medal andVictoria Cross. Full details of every medal are included on the website. The collection also contains famous names from politicians to aristocrats, actors, poets, sportspeople, artists and scientists, including: Noel Coward – Academy award winning actor and playwright, Coward saw active duty before being discharged due to ill health. He was awarded the Silver War Badge Lord Mountbatten – serving as the First Sea Lord, the senior position in the Royal Navy at the outbreak of War, he was forced to resign due to anti-German feeling. He was awarded Victory and British War Medals, and the 1914/15 Star Ernest Shackleton – The Irish explorer best known for his Antarctic expeditions was employed on diplomatic missions to South America, despite repeated requests to be sent to the Western Front, for which he was deemed to old. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals Harry Patch – The second oldest living man in the UK and oldest surviving ‘Tommy’ to have served in the Western Front, Patch served in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and was involved in the Battle of Passchendeale. He is decorated with the Victory and British War Medals
Ancestry.co.uk Managing Director Simon Harper comments: “This fascinating collection preserves forever the heroic actions of an entire generation of young men and is the single most comprehensive resource for anyone with an interest in researching British or Colonial soldiers who fought in the Great War. “This collection will be relevant to just about anyone with ancestors living in the UK during World War One and is both a rich source of military information and a means of ensuring that the exploits of these brave soldiers are remembered for generations to come.” Western Front Association spokesperson Martin Hornby comments: “We are delighted that this important set of historical records has been completely digitised and will now be made widely available to anyone with an interest in this defining time in British and colonial military history.” |
