Author Topic: Does anyone use "FORCES WAR RECORDS" opinions needed please.  (Read 13866 times)

Offline LizzieL

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 8,951
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Does anyone use "FORCES WAR RECORDS" opinions needed please.
« Reply #18 on: Thursday 19 February 15 17:29 GMT (UK) »
I couldn't find all that I wanted on FindMyPast and Ancestry, so signed up for a short sub for Forces War records because they advertised that they had records no other site had. That may be true but they didn't have records covering the period I was interested in. I was looking for records from 1790ish to 1830, no-one seems to have much coverage of this period - presumably records haven't survived because it was so long ago.

For me it was a waste of money, they only had what I had already found through my subs for the other two sites and no more.

It was about a year ago, so they may have improved now.
Berks / Oxon: Eltham, Annetts, Wiltshire (surname not county), Hawkins, Pembroke, Partridge
Dorset / Hants: Derham, Stride, Purkiss, Sibley
Yorkshire: Pottage, Carr, Blackburn, Depledge
Sussex: Goodyer, Christopher, Trevatt
Lanark: Scott (soldier went to Jersey CI)
Jersey: Fowler, Huelin, Scott

Offline JohnDavies12345

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 11
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Does anyone use "FORCES WAR RECORDS" opinions needed please.
« Reply #19 on: Thursday 19 March 15 16:13 GMT (UK) »
What it appears that this site has done it get all the available war records and put them on their site.  And then charge for the privilege of using their site.

They have NOTHING that cannot be found on others sites.

So, as for WW1, if Ancestry etc., does not have it, it does not exist.

We have always been told that only 30% of WW1 records survived WW2.  A lady from the National Archives was on telly about 4 weeks ago and she actually confirmed that it is only about a 25% survival rate for these records.

This is the problem with military records and the amazing marketing Ancestry have done and so most people believe this common misconception that if it's not on Ancestry then it isn't anywhere which simply isn't true.

I would recommend you take a look at each sites collections list, you will see practically every site has exclusive records not available on any other site, it is of course an obvious business tactic.

There are always obscure collections that the sites transcribe from time to time, otherwise why are we are still subscribing hoping for new info to come to light if all the collections have already been done, and yet just about every site sends us regular emails telling us they've just added new collections!

There's lots of collections outside Ancestry worth looking at, whether your ancestor is in any of them is another matter of course.

Offline ShirleyMay

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 3
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Does anyone use "FORCES WAR RECORDS" opinions needed please.
« Reply #20 on: Wednesday 13 May 15 18:02 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

How about Chelsea Pensioner Records. I have a great/granduncle admitted as an In Pensioner on 1st Jan 1863 after 20yrs service in 12th of Foot. He died an Out pensioner of Chelsea Hospital in 1880. Any idea's?

Thank you
Shirley

Offline BumbleB

  • RootsChat Marquessate
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,681
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Does anyone use "FORCES WAR RECORDS" opinions needed please.
« Reply #21 on: Wednesday 13 May 15 20:06 BST (UK) »
What it appears that this site has done it get all the available war records and put them on their site.  And then charge for the privilege of using their site.

They have NOTHING that cannot be found on others sites.

So, as for WW1, if Ancestry etc., does not have it, it does not exist.

We have always been told that only 30% of WW1 records survived WW2.  A lady from the National Archives was on telly about 4 weeks ago and she actually confirmed that it is only about a 25% survival rate for these records.

AND other sites don't charge? :o :o

My grandfather's records do NOT appear on Ancestry but they are on FindMyPast.  Every site has it's merits, unfortunately Forces War Records has upset a number of people, who then take it upon themselves to malign the site.  Make your own mind up - don't be lead by others, they could be wrong.
Transcriptions and NBI are merely finding aids.  They are NOT a substitute for original record entries.
Remember - "They'll be found when they want to be found" !!!
If you don't ask the question, you won't get an answer.
He/she who never made a mistake, never made anything.
Archbell - anywhere, any date
Kendall - WRY
Milner - WRY
Appleyard - WRY