WW1 service records ?

[Mariam82]

Thanks to posts previously I now have the medal record for ancestor patrick cavanagh WO 372/4.  Priavate 3/8133 highlanders.     Just wanted to ask - do they not all have service records I have looked on ancestry but maybe not carefully enough ??  Many thanks Mariam

[km1971]

Hi Mariam

The records for army men discharged between 1914 and 1920 (inclusive) were 70% (?) destroyed during the 1940 blitz. SKS in the PRO (as was) obtained files from the Ministry of Pensions, and elsewhere, and these became WO364 which are on microfilm in Kew. Ancestry have now scanned, indexed (not very well) and published these records on their website.

The 30% (?) of records that survived WW2 were microfilmed about 4-5 years ago and became WO363 in Kew, a.k.a. the 'burnt documents'. Ancestry are currently publishing these for men with surnames beginning A to H, of which I believe only the As are complete. Indexing of these has been done to a higher standard.

Ancestry incorrectly call these 'WW1 Service Records', when actually they also contain papers for men discharged from the start of 1914 to the start of WW1 in August 1914.

Ken

[Wendi]

Ken my apologies, but I thought I'd post anyway 

Hi Mariam !

Sadly they don't all have service records, as ^60% were lost in the German Bombings of 1940.  Also Ancestry (I don't think) have uploaded them all yet.  The ones they are uploading are loosly known as the burnt documents.

You have more chance to locate any information on your ancestor actually at the national archives, so don't overlook their resources which include this guide

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=18

Wendi 
 

[Mariam82]

Thank you both for your quick replies - very helpful.
Mariam