Military Collection Newsletter November 2009

1 Million New Military Records added to Familyrelatives.com - Newsletter November 2009

From Wellington to General Gordon of Khartoum

From Waterloo to the Charge of the Light Brigade to the Great War

Familyrelatives.com is proud to announce the addition of 1,000,000 New Military Records spanning over 100 years.

This autumn marks the 201^st anniversary of the beginning of the Peninsular War and to commemorate, the event Familyrelatives.com has added over 1 million army records covering a broad range from 1808 through to De Ruvigny's biographical record of World War I soldiers.

The Peninsular Medal Roll 1808-1814

In 1808 Napoleon deposed the Spanish monarch and replaced him with his brother Joseph Bonaparte. Recognising the increased threat that Napoleon posed to Great Britain - British Forces under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, landed in Portugal to check Napoleon's progress. After 5 years of prolonged and bitter campaigning Napoleon's forces were routed at the Battle of Vitoria, on June 21, 1813and the liberation of Spainwas complete.

The Peninsular Medal Roll is one of most valuable and unique records covering the conflict and sets out invaluable information about some of those who fought in the Iberian Peninsular. The following information is given in the database; Forename, Surname, Rank, Number of Clasps, Particulars of Clasps, Remarks, Regiment.

De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918

We continue to add to our First and Second World War collection and are excited to have added De Ruvigny's Roll of honour (2 volumes). The Roll of Honour includes the Biographies of over 25,000 men although we have currently uploaded 12,500 men who lost their lives in the Great War. The detail varies however, the example below gives a good indication of what kind of information can be found.

AKEHURST, ALEXANDER JAMES,

Private, No 1539, 5^th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., s/ of Alfred Akehurst, of Walters Farm Cottage, Ticehurst, Sussex, Farm Labourer, by his wife, Sussanah, dau. of George Cheesman; b. Etchingham, co. Sussex, 22 June, 1896; educ. Frimwell School ; was a farm labourer on Walters Farm ; joined the Sussex Territorials, 29 Aug, 1912 ; mobilised, 5 Aug. 1914 on the outbreak of war ; went with battn. To Dover and then to the Tower, where he volunteered for Imperial service ; left England for the Front, 18 Feb, 1915, and was killed in action at the Battle of Careney, 9 May, 1915,; unm. He was buried about about half a mile from St Vaast.

Furthermore a quick check of the World War I Army Deaths database details Alexander Akehurst - allowing you to order a certificate of his death.

But don't stop there - a further search on the database Soldiers Who Died in the Great War shows the following

Thereby giving a better picture of individuals within the British Forces.

Charge of the Light Brigade

Lieutenant General James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, KCB (16 October 1797 - 28 March 1868) commanded the charge of the Light Brigade of the British Army during the Crimean War. A colourful individual who by order of King William was dismissed from the 15^th Hussars early in 1834, only to be prosecuted for a duel with one of his former officers in 1841.

Perhaps his most infamous exploit was during the Crimean War on October 25 1854. He led the Charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava in which almost half of his men were killed.. Although ascribed to a misunderstood order it was a heroic event that left its mark in history. On a more mundane note Cardigan's name is better known for the knitted waistcoat he wore in campaigns and to this day it carries his name

A simple search in the 1850 Harts Army List shows that he was:

Military Records

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Please Note: that NEW DATABASE collections refers at time of going to press on Familyrelatives.com

Military Records World War I

Military Records World War II

National Roll - World War I

The collection is part of over 650 million historic records available online to all members and visitors by way of an annual subscription of only £30.00 or US$50.00 at https://www.familyrelatives.com/index.php

Since the Military records were launched in November 2008 Familyrelatives.com have released more Military records in 2009 these include the following:

New records collection online

	Military Records
	Charterhouse Register 1872-1910 - New
	Annual Army List & Militia List 1858 (Harts) - New
	Tasmanian Nurse's War Record 1914-1918 - New
	Tasmanian War Record 1914-1918 - Roll of Honour - New
	Indian Army List 1939 - New

New Military Collection

New military collection released online commemorates the 90^th Anniversary of First World War I

The online collection contains the Rolls of Honour and death indexes produced by the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as well as biographies of individuals. The records provide an insight into the service and of the individuals themselves and the sacrifices they made. The Military records contain information from various parts of the Commonwealth including Australia, New Zealand and India.

When we quietly consider what the Great War, with its gains and losses, its cares and anxieties, has taught us, we are at once struck by the splendid heroism of all who took part in it. Many by reason of special qualities of mind or soul stand out more prominently than the rest ; but the names and deeds of others, who toiled no less meritoriously, are officially left unsung. Learn more>>

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Honour and courage

"The two Officers were wonderful. They were not only up and down the trench keeping the men in good heart, but they did excellent work with the bombs themselves. The part they played has been the talk of the battalion since"

Find out if your Family relatives served in World War I ... using the National Roll database

The Great War - a soldiers contribution

Private E. Baxendale 25th Manchester Regiment, and 7th Lancashire Fusiliers.

Volunteering in May 1915, he proceeded four months later to the Western Front. There he played a prominent part with his unit in many important engagements including the Battles of Loos, St. Eloi, Vimy Ridge, Arras, the Somme I, Ypres III, and the Somme II, and was wounded at Amiens in August 1918.

He was awarded the Military Medal and bar, for bravery and consistent devotion to duty in the Field, and when demobilised in January 1919 was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star and the General Service and Victory Medal

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Other records Collection

Below is a brief list of other collections that may be of interest.....

Military Records

Anzac Roll of Honour 1914-1919 - NEW
Artist Rifles - NEW
British Naval Biographical Dictionary, 1849 - NEW
Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1660-1815 - NEW
New Zealand Roll of Honour - NEW
Waterloo Roll Call - NEW
WW I & II Army Deaths
WW I & II Royal Navy Deaths
WW II Royal Air Force Deaths
Soldiers who died in the Great War
WW I National Roll
WW II US Enlistment - FREE
WW II US Prisoner of War - FREE
Korean War Prisoner of War - FREE
Korean War Casualties - FREE
Royal Air Force Lists 1920 - NEW
Royal Air Force Lists 1922 - NEW
Royal Air Force Lists 1929 - NEW

Royal Air Force Lists

A valuable collection of the serving officers of the Royal Air Force.

As the junior service - the Royal Air Force was born out of the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corp and the Royal Naval Air service towards the end of the First World War. Renamed in 1918, its role became increasingly important as it helped to maintain Britain's strategic interests from Gibraltar to Cairo taking in Palestine, Jordan, Iraq and India.

Sir Hugh Montague Trenchard headed the Service and the structure from the department of the Secretary of State of the Air Ministry down to lowly stores depots are fully detailed with every serving officer featured, including name, rank, date of seniority, unit and location. Recipients of the Victoria Cross, deaths and the retired list for the year provide added information.

Search Royal Air Force Lists

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Please Note: that NEW DATABASE collections refers at time of going to press on Familyrelatives.com