FindmyPast adds Merchant Seamen's Campaign Medal Records 1939-1945

FindmyPast (www.fundmypast.co.uk) has added a new merchant seamen wartime collection:

Merchant Seamen's Campaign Medal Records 1939-1945

Discover the campaign medals awarded to Britain’s Merchant Navy during the Second World War. These records list the men and women who kept Britain supplied across dangerous wartime seas, detailing their name, birth information, rank, and medal entitlement. Use this set to trace your ancestor’s wartime service and recognise the vital role merchant seafarers played in the Allied victory.

For a link to the record set, and for other news from the company, visit https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/merchant-seamens-campaign-medal-records-1939-1945

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Second World War Merchant Seamen Registry added to FindmyPast

The latest FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) additions this week include the following:

Britain, Merchant Seamen Registry 1939-1945
These 24,406 new records will help you to understand your maritime ancestors' Second World War experiences in more detail than ever.

British Rolls of Honour and Nominal Rolls
But that's not all - we've also updated our existing collection of British military rolls, with 293 records covering the Second World War.

For further details visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/barry-railway-nominal-rolls

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist adds 1.6 million records to commemorate Remembrance

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

Remembering the fallen with more than 1.6 million newly released records

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday in the UK, when we remember the two world wars and later conflicts, TheGenealogist is marking Armistice Day by adding to its collection of Military records.

This release of over 40,000 Rolls of Honour, over 65,000 Medal awards and over 1.5 Million War Memorial Records significantly adds to the suite of fully searchable Military records on this family history website.

The new War Memorials can be searched from the TheGenealogist’s Master Search or by locating the memorial on the georeferenced maps displayed on their Map Explorer, which also lets you search the area around where your ancestor lived.

For those with ancestors who were mariners and served in the Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets, the Rolls of Honour and Medal Awards from The National Archives Series BT 339 will be especially poignant.

The Rolls of Honour name the deceased and missing-presumed-dead from the ranks of the merchant marine fleets and fishing trawler crews who were employed on minesweeping and patrol duties during World War II (1939-1945) and further years up to 1953.

The list of Medal Awards from 1866 to 1970 includes Mercantile Mariners recognised for gallantry and service. Among these honours is the Albert Medal, initially awarded for saving lives at sea.

Additionally, the Mercantile Marine Officers Nominal List 1916-1920 records recipients of the Order of the British Empire, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Distinguished Service Medal, along with issues of the London Gazette listing many other medals (such as the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and Commendations) citing the deeds of gallantry these Mercantile Marines performed. The images of these records include the details of these deeds, some of which reveal intriguing stories of shipwrecks, shark attacks and gallant heroes.

Read TheGenealogist’s feature article: Rolls of Honour for Unsung Heroes of the Rolling Sea
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2023/rolls-of-honour-reveal-unsung-heroes-of-the-rolling-sea-6860/

* SCOTTISH GENES READER OFFER 

TheGenealogist is also offering Scottish GENES readers a Diamond Subscription for the price of a Gold plus a free gift! For just £98.95 this Diamond Annual Subscription will renew at the same discount price every year that you stay with them! To sign up visit https://thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBMR1123 

Offer expires 10/12/2023.

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

FindmyPast adds First World War Campaign Medal record transcriptions

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added the following collection:

Britain, First World War Campaign Medals

This week's biggest addition comes in the form of a brand-new collection of British First World War Campaign Medals, containing a grand total of 6,527,684 detail-rich records.

This set of transcriptions contains the names of millions of men and women who were awarded campaign medals for overseas service in the First World War. From RAF personnel to medical volunteers and labourers, all manner of heroic stories are contained within this fascinating set.

With women's names also included, this collection enables us to fully understand the sacrifices made by all members of society - even those who didn't serve as soldiers on the front. 

For further details visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/crimean-war-campaign-medals-hospital-records

Comment: The following is the card for my great grandfather William McKeever Smyth:

Compared to the original medal index cards I had found for him:

The transcript is accurate, an may certainly help with some cards that I have seen which are busier and almost impossible to decipher!

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

FindmyPast adds more military records

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added the following military records collections:

British Army, Recommendations For Military Honours and Awards 1935-1990

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.


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.


Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

We've 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


British Royal Navy & Royal Marines Service and Pension Records, 1704-1919

We've added over 19,000 more records to this collection, including a shore list of men who joined the Royal Marines in 1810.

Further details at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/britain-south-african-military

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Forces War Records adds further medal rolls

Forces War Records (www.forces-war-records.co.uk) has added medal rolls from commemorative events at former royal pageant occasions:

The new collections available online on Forces War Records include*:

· King George V 1935 Silver Jubilee Medal Roll - Nominal rolls and category lists for the commemorative medal issued to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King George V. The National Day of Celebration was held on the 6th May 1935 with a thanksgiving service held at St. Paul’s Cathedral. An approximate total of 85,235 medals were awarded.

· King George VI 1937 Coronation Medal Roll - Nominal rolls and category lists for the commemorative medal issued to celebrate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth which took place on 12th May 1937 (with original digitised documents). An approximate total of 90,279 medals were awarded.

· Queen Elizabeth II 1953 Coronation Medal Roll - Nominal rolls and category lists for the commemorative medal issued to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953 and an approximate total of 138,214 medals were awarded.

· Queen Elizabeth II 1977 Silver Jubilee Medal Roll - Nominal rolls and category lists for the commemorative medal issued to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II's accession to the throne on 6th February 1977 and an approximate total of 68,377 medals were awarded.

* A full access membership is required to view the records in the featured collection. See https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/for full terms and conditions. 

Further details at the website.

(With thanks to Neil White)

 

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Scots Guards WW2 service records added to FindmyPast

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added records from the Scots Guards to its British aemy service records collections:

Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Discover decorated military ancestors in thousands of new medal records. The latest additions cover:

    Indian General Service Medals 1854-1895, 1908-1935 and 1936-1939
    China War Medal 1900
    Second China War Medal 1857-60
    General Service Medal 1918-1962
    India Medal 1895-1902

Also added are further medal records:

Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Discover decorated military ancestors in thousands of new medal records. The latest additions cover:

    Indian General Service Medals 1854-1895, 1908-1935 and 1936-1939
    China War Medal 1900
    Second China War Medal 1857-60
    General Service Medal 1918-1962
    India Medal 1895-1902

You can focus your search on any of the above awards by selecting it from the 'Medal type' filter on the search page. The records can reveal important details for tracing someone's military past including service number, rank and regiment.

For details of all of this week's releases, and for links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/military-records-memorials

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards Discover decorated military ancestors in thousands of new medal records. The latest additions cover: Indian General Service Medals 1854-1895, 1908-1935 and 1936-1939 China War Medal 1900 Second China War Medal 1857-60 General Service Medal 1918-1962 India Medal 1895-1902 You can focus your search on any of the above awards by selecting it from the 'Medal type' filter on the search page. The records can reveal important details for tracing someone's military past including service number, rank and regiment.

FindmyPast expands Northern Irish deaths database

The following are included in this week's FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) release:

Ireland, Northern Ireland Deaths 1998-2020
We’ve also created a distinct record set for recent Northern Ireland deaths and expanded the resource with over 5,000 new records. The entire collection now stands at over 92,000 records. In it, you can discover your relatives' names, birth and death years and where they lived.

(NB: FindmyPast has also updated its equivalent England and Wales deaths database.)

Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, Mentioned in Dispatches 1940-1945
Unique to Findmypast, this useful index can help you trace high-flying family members from World War 2. The collection is compiled from lists of names and regimental details that were originally published in London Gazette.

For news of other additons, including Roman Catholic records for Philadelphia in the United States, and for the relevant links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/catholic-death-raf-records

Chris

Just out, Sharing Your Family History Online is on sale at https://bit.ly/SharingFamHist. Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is also out, as are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.