Family History Using Military Sources

Regimental archives have very little personal information and tend to focus on the history of the Regiment.  Researching family history using military sources involves looking in several different locations, often using the National Archives.  A list of these addresses is given at the end of this page.

Before 1914

1.  I know which Regiment he served with

Service records for both men and officers are held at the National Archives in Kew, along with other forms of information such as muster rolls and pay lists.  These are organised by Regiment.  Further information on the records held at the National Archives can be found on their web site at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.  The address is also at the end of this page.

2.  I don't know which Regiment he served with

If you know the approximate years in which he served, you could check the Army List and proceed as above.

3.  He served with the Manchester Regiment

The Manchester Regiment archives are held at Tameside Local Studies Library.  The archives do not include much personal information on ordinary men.  There is some information on officers, including lists of officers service and a few commissions.  The Records of Service also record when officers were commissioned into the Regiment and describe where the Regiment served.

Please note that archives will not be produced within thirty minutes of closing time and that all archives must be returned fifteen minutes before closing time.

First World War

1. He Was Killed

Service Records

Officers' service records are now available at the National Archives. Many service records were destroyed during WWII bombing.  Surviving service records for men and NCOs are gradually being restored and transferred to the National Archives from the Army Records Centre and the National Archives web page has information on the current situation. Also some films listed A-Z are available at Latter Day Saints Church at a minimal charge.

Roll of Honour

If you do not know when, or even if, he was killed, Soldiers Died in the Great War covers all Regiments and is now available on CD-ROM. We can check this for you and obtain the date of death, Regiment, Battalion and service number.  You will need his service number to trace the service record at the Army Records Centre.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission database is also available on the internet at http://www.cwgc.org and this will show where he is buried or commemorated on a memorial.  If you do not have access to the internet we can also search this for you.  We also have the National Roll for Manchester.

General Register Office Index

If you are sure he was killed but cannot find him through either means, he may have died of related injuries such as gassing after being discharged.  In which case, he would not be recorded as an official war death. Your local Record Office should have the General Register Office Index, which is an index to all births, marriages and deaths recorded in England and Wales, (if he was Scottish you will need to contact the Scottish Record Office in Edinburgh).  This should give you the date of death to help you trace the certificate at the local registrar's office and thus find the cause of death.

Courts Martial and Executions

If he is not listed in the Roll of Honour, or on the local War Memorial, he may have been shot for desertion.  We have an index of Courts Martial on microfiche.  We can check this for you, although the actual records at the National Archives are still closed.

Newspapers

Local newspapers usually had quite comprehensive obituaries.  If he was from Tameside we have local newspapers on microfilm, and you will need to book a microfilm reader to view them. Otherwise, we can give you the address of the relevant local studies library.

Manchester Regiment Archives

If an Officer was killed, he would usually be mentioned by name in the War Diary or in some of the Battalion histories.  It is therefore important to know which Battalion your ancestor served with, as the Battalions did not fight together.  Men and NCOs would not usually be mentioned by name.  However, if we have the War Diary or history for that Battalion, we can give you information on where he was killed. The War Diaries should otherwise be held at the National Archives.

2. He Survived the War

The National Archives have microfilmed additional pension and discharge documents for soldiers who survived the war.  These are available in the microfilm reading room at the National Archives (WO 329) and are organised alphabetically, so you do not need to know the Regiment.  We also have the Manchester City Battalions book which lists everyone who enlisted in the service or "Pals" Battalions.

3.  He Received a Medal

Manchester Regiment

We have a medal roll for the Manchester Regiment on the oversize section in the reading room at L355.1.  This gives the date the award was listed in the London Gazette.  He may also be mentioned by name in the Battalion history if we have one.

London Gazette

Manchester Central Library has the London Gazette.  This lists medal awards and, except for the Military Medal, usually gives the citation.  If you know why he was awarded a medal, we can check the Battalion history to see if he is mentioned.  If he did not serve with the Manchester Regiment, we can give you the address of the relevant military museum.

Local Newspaper

The local newspapers usually had articles on local boys who received medals.  If he was from Tameside you can check our newspapers.  You will need to book a microfilm reader to do this. Otherwise, you can consult the newspaper at the relevant local studies library.

4.  Was he a Prisoner of War?

The National Archives and the Red Cross have some information on POWs from both sides.

Second World War

1. Was he Killed?

Roll of Honour

We have a Roll of Honour for the Manchester Regiment in the archives.  If he did not serve in the Manchester Regiment you may also find him through the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Service Records

Service records for men and officers are at the Army Records Centre.

Manchester Regiment Archives

We do have some War Diaries, Battalion histories, personal letters and diaries.

2. He survived the War

Again, the best source of information are service records.

3.  He was a Prisoner of War

As for First World War .

Photographs

The Imperial War Museum has a wide range of photographs and documents for both World Wars which researchers may find useful.

The Manchester Regiment archives contain a wide range of photographs and photograph albums. Most photographs of individuals are of officers or have been donated by members of the public - in which case they are often identified. The group photographs are usually of platoons or sports teams, and unfortunately individuals are usually unidentified. There is a very good selection for the Boer War.

Manchester Regiment Archives

The following list is an outline of classes of records we hold. The National Archives still holds most War Diaries and trench maps.

/1 Records of Services and Historical Records of the Regiment, 1758-1945.

Digests of services for 1st and 2nd Battalions and some War Diaries.

/2 Operational Records, 1883-1962

Orders, reports and maps.

/3 Histories of the Regiment, 1884-1974

Official histories, diaries and personal accounts

/4 Addresses and Messages of Appreciation, 1833-1962

/5 Honours and Casualties of War, 1845-1957

Rolls of honour, casualty lists, lists of P.O.W.s and medal rolls

/6 Records of Appointments, Commissions and Promotions, 1760-1967

Records of Officers' services, Army lists, Commissions and Attestations

/7 General Returns, 1771-1847

/8 Rolls of Companies and Officers, 1809-1945

/9 Miscellaneous Reports, 1814-1950

/10 Accounts and Pay Lists, 1782-1915

/11 Records of Arrests and Illegal Absences, 1920-1940 (closed for 100 years)

/12 Standing Orders, 1804-1958

/13 Papers relating to Organisation and Training, 1798-1946

/14 Papers relating to Dress, Clothing and Equipment, 1930-1979

/15 Papers relating to the Band, 1904-1951

/16 Correspondence, 1854-1979

/17 Personal Documents, 1798-1990

/18 Parades and Ceremonies, 1903-1994

/19 Messes, Clubs and Associations, 1864-1988

/20 Regimental and Battalion Newspapers and Gazettes, 1883-1993

/21 Catalogues and Registers of the Regimental Museum, 1956-1971

/22 Maps and Plans, 1903-1953

/23 Photograph Albums, 1845-1971

/24 Non-manuscript Items, 1735-1954

/25 Biographical and Historical Notes, 1869-1984

/26 Illustrations and Printed Material, 1776-1993

/27 Ephemera, 1886-1976

/28 Newspaper Cuttings, 1887-1990

MRP Loose Photographs

Useful Terms

Battalions

Each Regiment is divided into Battalions. In the late nineteenth century the army was reorganised to ensure that each Regiment had two regular battalions - at any point one would be at home and the other serving abroad. Each Regiment also had volunteer Battalions, which became Territorial Battalions in the early twentieth century.

During WWI the Territorial Battalions became full as men began to volunteer. At this point the Battalions were spilt into sections e.g. 1/5th. 2/5th, 3/5th. The 3rd section was usually a home Battalion, for men who were injured or in training.

Service Battalions were also created to accommodate new volunteers. These were also known as "Pals" Battalions.

Divisions

Each Battalion served with a Brigade, which was part of a Division within the British Army. The Manchester Regiment Battalions did not all fight together, but served with Battalions from other Regiments within a Division.  This is why you need to know which Battalion your ancestor served with to find out more about where he fought.  We have a breakdown of the WWI Divisions with which the battalions of the Regiment served in the appendices of the Manchester regiment archive catalogue. Even if we do not have a Battalion history, we can still find out where he fought.

Useful Addresses

Ministry of Defence
Army Personnel Centre, Disclosures 4 (Historical), Mailpoint 400, Kentigern House,
65 Brown Street, Glasgow G2 8EX
Tel. 0845 600 9663

All army personnel records of a soldier serving in or after 1920 and Officers serving in or after 1923. Service records are free to the serviceman in question but there is a charge for enquiries from next-of-kin and you will be required to complete a Certificate of Kinship, available with an information sheet from the above address. 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
2 Marlow Road
MAIDENHEAD
Berkshire
SL6 7DX
www.cwgc.org 

Information about place of burial or commemoration of servicemen killed in WWI and WWII.
 

Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
LONDON
SE1 6HZ
www.iwm.org.uk

Rolls of Honour, published histories, photographs and document collections as well as general military history.
 

Army Medal Office
Ministry of Defence Medal Office,
Building 250, RAF Innsworth,
Innsworth, Gloucester GL3 1HW

Enquirers will need to give the service number and Regiment. The Army Medal Office also holds all Home Guard records.

National Archives
Ruskin Avenue
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU

All service records for soldiers serving in or before 1919 and Officers serving before 1922. There are also pension records and information about next of kin and war diaries and trench maps.

Manchester Central Library
St. Peter's Square
Manchester
M2 5PD

London Gazette 1665 to date.  Includes citations for some D.S.O.s and M.C.s and all D.C.M.s awarded during 1914-1918.
 

International Committee of the Red Cross
The Director
International Welfare Department
British Red Cross Society
9 Grosvenor Square
London SW1X 7EJ
www.icrc.org

Important: Please include your name and postal address when you send us a message as this will help us provide a full response to your enquiry.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre Central Library Old Street Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7SG View local map
0161 342 4242
0161 342 4245