Genealogy Chat

This thread began with me asking about TNA's Digital Express Trial Document Ordering Service. Now it's morphed to being about the minimum ages of recruited soldiers during WW1.. See from page 1 message 17, onwards..........................Here's my original question >>>>>>>>> My great-uncle's WW1 army record is available through this ''new'' method, where they send you some .jpg images in return for minimum £8.50. Has anyone used it?? I am a bit vague about how many pages they will send you?? In one place it says 5 and in another 10 and in another, up to 20. Hmmmmm. Of course, I don't know how many pages his record will run to and it seems pointless if they don't send all of it............... Is it better to ignore this new service and go for the old Estimate of a Printed or Digital Copy (which comes by post or by pdf file)???? Any tips most welcome............Happy Hunting - Merry xx

Didnt Brenda use it Merry?

I don't know Heather?? Merry

Someone taking my name in vain, eh Heather? I have inherited my father's streak of meanness and don't pay out for anything if I can avoid it. I have used the microfilms at TNA in Kew. WW1 records can be anything from 2 - 100 pages long. Price actually sounds a bargain and the image ought to be better quality than a photocopy. And you can store the image, do printouts for rellies etc. The main cost is going to be actually finding the right film, putting it on the machine, finding the correct individual and lining up each frame. Go for it, Merry. Be a guinea pig and report back. (Does it say what happens if they can't find a record?)

I know they have the record because he was a captain so has his own personal ref number! it would cost me too much to go up there :o(( I hear what you say about the number of pages and this is what is bothering me.....there may be a lot, for him - I'm not sure. He was in the army from 1915 (joined underage!) and remained so until 1919 as he was in the Army of Occupation in Germany where he died of the 'flu (epidemic). Also won the MC. OK so I'll have to be the guinea pig!! I'll wait until this evening in case anyone else has more tips first! Merry

Hi Merry It's the season of conferences fairs and agms at the moment, and I don't seem to have a free weekend till the beginning of June, but if you are prepared to wait that long, I can order the doc, to see how big it is? If he was an officer, then it ought to be an original document, rather than on microfilm.

That's kind of you!!! Thanks.....now I'm in a quandry!! To be a guinea pig, or not to be??????? That's the question! Will see what other responses I get here first....I am quite keen to try their system if it works well......... Merry

Blimey Merry, can I borrow some of your posh rellies in exchange for a few lighermen and ag labs? Sorry for taking your name in vain Bren - you know you are a god like creature to me.

No one has as many ag labs as I do Heather......... and, yes please, I would love a lighterman.....maybe in exchange for some shoemakers......I have dozens of those. Maybe that's why I liked shoes so much when I was younger......... Do you light digging the garden, or driving a juggernaut??!!! Merry

Def no. I cant find any of my ancestors who seem to have given me any of my attributes (except the depressing/depressive Hansons). I suppose the licensed victualler lot for over 150 years may have made me seek out half price wine from Tescos. And of course GGFx2 tavern was the meeting place of London's beautiful people in the mid 1800s. So I do feel an affinity with that! Hubbies isnt fair. His main hobbies are vintage arms association and picture framing. Blow me if he doesnt have a GGFx2 who was a gunsmith (hubby started his apprenticeship for that in London but got made redundant) in Birmingham and on the other side a picture framer in Soho! I guess Im a mix of the miserable Hanson bunch, the p*** artistes Taylor/Beares and the gentle Dixons.

LOL - You have just made me realise mine are doing the reverse-psychology trick......One branch were strict Quakers and had all signed the pledge, which is probably why I spend a lot of time in Tesco wine aisle! Merry

There was definitely a thread about this a few weeks ago. Whoever it was seemed very pleased. I'll see if I can find it and nudge it up. Christine

Thanks Christine.....I remember it, but didn't read it at the time....naughty me! Merry

merry, Is this TNA Digital Express Trial open to all or just a few esteemed researchers. I would certainly be prepared to invest a few quid to find the details of my great grandfather's WW1 service record. I have previously downloaded his medal card. Unlike your ancestor, mine was a lowly private. Perhaps that's why I have not been asked to trial the site!!! Pete

It seems to be open to anyone. This was the info I got when i e-mailed them about it... << You can order the documents through both the Digital Express Pilot and Estimate Order Form. Digital Express only allows you to order up to 5 copies of your choice from a document for £6.50. This can become very costly, if you have more than one document, and you have a limit of up to 5 pages. The up side to this is that you can receive your copies in the same day as ordering. You can read more about digital express (including target times and terms and conditions) on our website: <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/legal/digitalexpress.htm> If you were to place an Estimate Request (Order Form), you can have up to 5 document references for £10.00 (which will go towards the copying costs). We will spend a maximum of 20 minutes identifying what you need copied from the references you have given us. If the requested material cannot be found within the allocated time or your order is not taken up, the £10 initial charge covers any work carried out in respect of the estimate and is therefore, not refundable. For more about the Order Forms, please visit the web page: <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordcopying> If you have any further questions about the Record Copying Process, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours sincerely, Nina Clews Customer Service Assistant Record Copying Department The National Archives <http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordcopying>www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordcopying >> Christine

LOL Pete - no, anyone can use the system if the item they want is available this way!!! and thanks Christine! I am not sure I want to be the guinea pig this time round, because I'm sure there will be (hope?) a lot more then five pages. Might go for the old fashioned Estimate route after all......... Merry

I've just gone for a copy of a report made by the Senior British officer at the POW Camp my father was in regarding the survivors. I've no Idea what it will turn up but I'll let you know when I recieve it.

I'm sorry to be a bit thick, but I've been looking at the National Archives website and can't see how to use this service. The link given by a member did not work. I've found what I think is my grand father's medals card - he was always a bit vague about his war service and I can never recall seeing a medal, so it would be really interesting to see his war record that's if it wasn't one of those which got destroyed in WW2. Incidently, can someone tell me the minimum age for conscription in WW1? Grandad was born in 1897, he did once say that he went in at the end of the war 'to clear up'. Though I would have thought that he would have been serving earlier. Thank you for your help Rachel

Rachel, I am reading a book on that very subject right now!!! At the start of WW1 there was no conscription - just volunteers. You were supposed to be 18 to join and 19 to serve overseas. However, there were generally no checks made as to the age of recruits - if you looked half old enough that would do. If your family found out you had joined underage they could apply for your discharge, but many boys who were only slightly too young and had already been sent abroad , had these requests refused. In about mid-1915 the numbers of volunteers had dropped away and it was seen that conscription would been needed. The government didn't want to introduce this, because they didn't want the German government thinking British men didn't want to volunteer! I have just got to the bit in the book where they are arguing about the age of conscripted recruits. They wanted stricter safeguards for proof of age, but some MP's were also arguing to bring the age down to 18 for overseas service.......... Ummmmmm I haven't read the next bit yet though!!! Next instalment later on............... Merry

I don't know if you can use the Digital Express service for WW1 records that are not for officers? I just went to have a look, but the PROCAT catalogue doesn't seem to be working at the moment! Merry