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Wales Borderers Museum: Fact sheets Fact Sheet No. B25 In Brecon, we are not always able to answer all questions asked of us. Although we do hold substantial archives, we have never received all material relating to the Regiment or to the soldiers who have served with the Regiment. It may simply not be possible to take your enquiry any further, but in some cases the following organisations may be of greater assistance. It is recommended that you write to them, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope, with as much information as possible. As the organisations are likely to be busy, it is often easier for them to deal with written requests for information, rather than to attempt to answer queries over the telephone, and, of course, you are likely to get a more considered reply. Army Personnel Centre The Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow handles enquiries about soldiers who were discharged from the Army after 1919. A fee is charged (about £30) for each search, even if no material is discovered. A special form has to be completed prior to the search. It is essential that you quote the Regiment and personal number of the soldier concerned. (Note this information is engraved on the medals of WW1 soldiers). There is a long backlog of enquiries at present so it may take some weeks to receive a reply. There are NO e-mail facilities available. Most surviving WW1 soldiers' records have been moved to the National Archives at Kew ( see next column ). However, bombing during the Second World War destroyed more than two-thirds of those records covering the period 1914-1920. If you are looking for a WW1 soldier, it is best to start at Kew with a Medal Index Card search. If your relative claimed a war disability pension, it is likely that the papers have been removed and filed either with PIN71 series of records in the National Archives or held at the Veterans Agency, Tomlinson House, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP telephone: 01253 866043 (helpline)
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency The tri-service MOD Medal Office handles the issue and replacement of medals. For WW2 medals, which have never been claimed, it will be necessary to first obtain an official record of service from the Army Personnel Centre before applying. For replacement medals, proof of loss (i.e. police report or insurance claim) is essential and claimants may be required to pay the full cost of replacements. There are NO e-mail facilities available.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission telephone: 01628 634221 ask for register enquiries The CWGC provides information on the location of graves and official memorials around the world. As much as possible of the following information is required: Surname, rank, forenames, personal number, unit/service detail, date of death, age, home town, and place of death. For those enquirers compiling family history, the CWGC are often able to verify a soldier's next of kin details. The CWGC are able to answer straight forward enquiries over the telephone. Alternatively, the CWGC Register is now available continuously over the Internet.
National Archives (formerly The Public Record Office) WW1 Medal Index Cards on-line: 1901 UK Census on-line: National Archives shop: The National Archives (TNA) are open to the public and houses substantial records of officers and soldiers who served in the British Army. Details such as enlistment, movements, gallantry award citations (published in the London Gazette), discharge and date of death can sometimes be traced. Most of these records are still on paper or microfilm/fiche and NOT available on-line. Medal rolls and individual WW1 medal index cards are also held here. It is often worth contacting the National Archives in advance of a visit to see what information they may have available - also their catalogue is available on-line. WW1 medal index cards are now available on-line under 'documents online'. If you are unable to visit in person, you can use the TNA paid research service (rate £60 per hour) (see under 'Freedom of Information' on TNA website) or employ an independent military researcher (see under 'Getting Started' on TNA website). There is free car parking at Kew and a reader's ticket is issued, on proof of identity (passport or driving licence), on your first visit. The following National Archives reader's guides available from the TNA shop are recommended reading before you start any research: No.2 'Army Records for Family Historians'
The Family Records Centre The Family Records Centre, which is part of the National Archives, holds records of the census of England and Wales (1841-1901), non-parochial registers (i.e. births, marriages and deaths) and probates.
Local Reference Libraries Reference Libraries often hold copies of local newspapers which during wartime frequently included details about soldiers who were killed, injured or awarded medals. Some libraries hold copies of the 1901 census for their local area and CWGC Registers. The Central Library, St David's Link, Cardiff , (Telephone: 029 2038 2116), for instance, holds a complete set of 'Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-19' and the CWGC Registers for WW1. Most libraries hold a CD-ROM of 'Soldiers died', other reference guides to researching family history and contact names for the local Family History Society. Or try: www.genuki.org.uk
County Archives The County Archives Office is generally located at County Hall. It usually holds details of parish registers - births, marriages and deaths - census returns, electoral registers, street directories etc. for the county concerned. The 'absent voters' lists' for 1918 and 1919 are helpful records to find out the regiment and personal number of a soldier who survived WW1 before initiating a search at the Army Personnel Centre. Contact your local County Hall or library to ascertain the location of these archives. Gwent (Cwmbran) telephone: 01633 644886
National Army Museum NAM holds general records of the British Army and covers the history of the army from the year 1485 to the present day. If you require access to the Reading Room, you must obtain a reader's ticket prior to your visit.
Imperial War Museum IWM holds material relating to all British military Campaigns since 1914.
MoD Army Internet Web Site The Army Web Site has much useful information, including details of regiments and corps of today's Regular and Reserve Army. This web site provides a definitive guide to regimental museums in the UK , ancestor tracing and reference to 4,000 books of regimental bibliography.
Other Welsh Military Museums 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Museum Welsh Guards The Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Museum The South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regimental Museum of The Royal Regiment of Wales The Barracks Brecon, Powys LD3 7EB telephone: 01874 613310 facsimile: 01874 613275 web: www.rrw.org.uk email: swb@rrw.org.uk The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) Museum The Castle, Monmouth, Gwent NP25 3BS telephone: 01600 771175 facsimile: 01600 716930 web: www.monmouthcastlemuseum.org.uk email: curator@monmouthcastlemuseum.org.uk
The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) was formed on the amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers (24th Foot) and the Welch Regiment (41st/69th Foot) in June 1969. The Regimental Headquarters is at: Maindy Barracks, Cardiff CF14 3YE
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