Are they at FindMyPast? WO96 United Kingdom, Militia Service Records, 1806-1915

[kob3203]

Several years ago I looked through these at the National Archives. I was told that they hadn't been scanned/microfilmed/digitized and weren't available online

Today I was looking for records at the LDS FamilySearch site and they have indexes, transcriptions, and images of the whole WO96 collection. Unfortunately the images are only viewable from Family History Centres (none near me in Asia!) or to signed in members of the LDS church (not people with a FamilySearch account). Here's an example transcription - https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHYJ-NVF

However, it also says that the images are viewable at FindMyPast. Seeing as this is Remembrance Sunday and all UK military records are free to view there I had a look.

The FindMyPast link URL, which seems to reference a specific image (for the example above  http://www.findmypast.co.uk/army-service-records-show-image.action?sdrfnbr=960672147 ), gets redirected to the 'Create A Tree'page.

If I search the record collections ( http://search.findmypast.co.uk/historical-records ) specifying 'United Kingdom' and search term 'militia' only the Plymouth Militia Records 1625-1831 is listed.

So is "WO96 United Kingdom, Militia Service Records, 1806-1915" really online at FindMyPast, and if so how do I find it ?

[Cas (stallc)]

Go to British Army Service Records and select series W096 They are there.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-army-service-records?databasetitle=wo%2096%20-%20militia%20service%20records%201806-1915

Cas

[Rosinish]

Sorry to gatecrash,

Is there a code, do you need to have a sub or is it just a case of logging in?

Annie

[kob3203]

Go to British Army Service Records and select series W096 They are there.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-army-service-records?databasetitle=wo%2096%20-%20militia%20service%20records%201806-1915

Cas

Thanks Cas.

But how on earth would you find that if you don't know the URL already ? (This is something that I've always disliked about FindMyPast)

Here's what I tried:

1) Go to http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
2) From the menu bar at the top Search => Military,Armed Forces & Conflict
3) In the 'Record Set' field enter 'militia' or 'WO96': No sign of "WO96 United Kingdom, Militia Service Records, 1806-1915" looking for it that way, and searching from that page without specifying the record set doesn't give any results from WO96.

Alternatively search the A-Z of record sets for 'militia'or 'WO96' - http://search.findmypast.co.uk/historical-records/. See what I mean ? How on earth do you find WO96?

(Annie: I think you just need to be logged in at FindMyPast for the link Cas gave to work? Assuming that was your question?)

[Rosinish]

Thanks kob,

Got in, not tried the WO96

Went to Military & Armed Forces hoping that whatever I type in will show up on any of those records?

Annie

[Cas (stallc)]

If all else fails type what you want and where you want to find it into Google.

It took me to the British Service Records, I then looked for the series W096

Where it says browse series I came to..Wo 96 - Militia Service Records 1806-1915

Was already logged in to FindMyPast as have a sub.

Happy Hunting

Cas

[kob3203]

I've just successfully found how to search WO96 starting from the FindMyPast homepage

1) Go to http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
2) From the menu bar at the top Search => Search All Records - goes to http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-united-kingdom-records (N.B. Do NOT select 'Search Military,armed forces & conflict')
3) Scroll down and under "Useful Links And Resources" you'll find "British Army service records"
4) Click that link and it takes you to http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-army-service-records
5) On the new search page type WO into the 'Series' field and you'll see a list (you have to select 'More' at the bottom to see WO96)

I had assumed that I could get there by searching military records like this:

1) Go to http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
2) From the menu bar at the top Search => Search Military,armed forces & conflict - goes to http://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-united-kingdom-records-in-military-armed-forces-and-conflict
3) I still can't find any way from this page to get to WO96.