The following announcement was written by Find My Past:
With two brand new record sets and substantial additions to two other military collections, there’s so much to uncover this Findmypast Friday.
British Army, Recommendations For Military Honours and Awards 1935-1990
This fascinating collection from The National Archives includes nearly 80,000 records. The transcripts include British Army personnel and some dominions armies’ personnel. They also contain some recommendations for members of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. Reasons for recommendations vary, including gallantry in the face of the enemy, ‘meritorious service’ (not in the face of the enemy), or distinguished service. Covering the years in the lead up to World War 2 and beyond, the records reveal soldiers’ names, units, ranks, home addresses, and often poignant descriptions of the actions that warrant an award.
South Africa, Local Armed Forces Nominal Rolls, 1899-1902
Another entirely new collection from The National Archives, this series comprises over 53,000 records detailing some of the British Army units raised locally in South Africa during the Second Boer War. These local units mainly consisted of British men who had emigrated to South Africa before the war. The record transcripts feature names, ranks, army units and in many cases, enrolment and discharge dates.
Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards
Findmypast has added over 51,000 new records to this collection, which details those that showed strength and courage in the face of war.
Specifically, these latest additions cover recipients of:
Long Service Good Conduct Medal
India General Service Medal Pegu (Army) 1852-53
India General Service Medal Pegu (Navy) 1852-53
These records have been collated from multiple sources, including The National Archives and the British Library, but also from musters, pay lists, and other service records. As a result, each record varies in its information but usually includes a combination of regiment and rank, reason for award, any other known medals, discharge date and more.
British Royal Navy & Royal Marines Service and Pension Records, 1704-1919
Findmypast has added over 19,000 more records to this collection, including a shore list of men who joined the Royal Marines in 1810. The records reveal the rank and division of the seafaring servicemen, as well as the date they joined and any remarks made by their superior.
In case you missed our announcement, Findmypast has made their entire newspaper archive free until 6 June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Their latest releases are included in the free access promotion, including:
New titles:
Eastleigh Weekly News and Hants Gazette, 1895-1900
St Neots Town Crier, 1994
Stockport Times, 1989
Updated titles:
Abergele & Pensarn Visitor, 1990
Accrington Observer and Times, 1912, 1990
Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser, 1946
Aldershot News, 1978-1979
Anfield & Walton Star, 1992
Ashby Mail, 1992
Bebington News, 1991
Billingham & Norton Advertiser, 1992
Birkenhead News, 1991
Birmingham Journal, 1839
Burton Daily Mail, 1997
Cambridge Town Crier, 1992
Cheltenham Chronicle, 1860
Crewe Chronicle, 1980, 1994-1995
Daily Record, 1988, 1994
Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser, 1986
East Grinstead Observer, 1991
East Kilbride News, 1995
East Kilbride World, 1991, 1993
Galloway News and Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser, 1991
Gateshead Post, 1994
Glamorgan Gazette, 1984
Heartland Evening News, 1998
Herald Cymraeg, 1952
Herald of Wales, 1950
Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 1981
Herts and Essex Observer, 1980
Hinckley Times, 1993, 1998
Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury, 1993-1994, 1998
Horley & Gatwick Mirror, 1992
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 1993, 1995
Huntingdon Town Crier, 1987, 1989, 1996
Ilfracombe Chronicle, 1891-1892
Ilkeston Express, 1989, 1992
Kensington News and West London Times, 1937, 1951, 1964, 1968,
Long Eaton Advertiser, 1988, 1994
Loughborough Echo, 1912
Loughborough Mail, 1990, 1994
Macclesfield Express, 1989, 1998
Maghull & Aintree Star, 1991
Merthyr Express, 1990
Middlesex County Times, 1995, 1998
Midweek Visiter (Southport), 1995
Nantwich Chronicle, 1993-1994
Northampton Herald & Post, 1991
Nottingham Evening Post, 1994
Nottingham Guardian, 1872
Nottingham Recorder, 1996
Oldham Advertiser, 1992
Ormskirk Advertiser, 1876, 1894
Perthshire Advertiser, 1919
Peterborough Standard, 1986
Port Talbot Guardian, 1981-1982, 1984-1985, 1995
Rhondda Leader, 1987
Ripley Express, 1992
Rossendale Free Press, 1987
Rugeley Mercury, 1988, 1990, 1992
Runcorn & Widnes Herald & Post, 1989-1990, 1993
Sevenoaks Focus, 1992
Solihull News, 1994-1997
Solihull Times, 1994-1996, 1998
Somerset Standard, 1980
Southall Gazette, 1979, 1995, 1998
Southport Visiter, 1989
Stafford Post, 1989, 1991
Staines Informer, 1988, 1990
Stanmore Observer, 1987-1988, 1990
Stirling Observer, 1989
Stockport Advertiser and Guardian, 1877
Stockport Express Advertiser, 1992
Stockton & Billingham Herald & Post, 1989
Tamworth Herald, 1989, 1997
Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 1884
The People, 1998
Uttoxeter New Era, 1887
Wellingborough & Rushden Herald & Post, 1989, 1992
West Surrey Times, 1873, 1912
Western Evening Herald, 1993
Westminster & Pimlico News, 1998
Winsford Chronicle, 1996-1997