Searching for War Diaries

[beekay48]

Can anyone tell me how easy/difficult it is to search for war diaries at TNA and IWM?  I've not been to either so have no idea.

[kyt]

Firstly you should search online:

http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Once you have the reference for the relevant file(s) you can either reuest copies online (would cost quite a bit), request for them to be made available to you on a specific day that you can visit, or just go along and request at Kew in person and wait for them to be retrieved.

What unit and timescale are you looking for - we maybe able find the file reference for you

K

[beekay48]

Hi K,

Unit is 23 Fd Coy Royal Engineers, and I am trying find a diary that would cover Italy 5 December 1943.

Thank you for your help.

Bill

[kyt]

Hi Bill

the diaries for July to December 1943 are WO 169/10583 entitled 23 FD Coy Royal Engineers

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=1527245&CATLN=6&accessmethod=5
(you may need to click the link more than once as sometimes it takes you straight to the NA homepage)

Hope that helps

K

[kyt]

BTW if you are interested the diaries for:

Feb to Dec 1945 are WO 169/20210

Still working on the reference for 1944

edit: this appears to be the 1944 diaries but only a visual check would confirm that:

WO 170/1611 Companies: 23 Coy. ROYAL ENGINEERS 1944 Jan.- Dec
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=1302859


K

[beekay48]

Thank you very much for your help kyt, I can now plan for a trip!

Bill