The National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918 Section X Portsmouth
(14 Volumes) The Complete collection

The National Roll of the Great War is a unique series of 14 volumes of the First World War. The volumes were published by the National Publishing Company and are extremely rare. Each regional volume contains a brief biography of men and women who largely survived the Great War as well as the less fortunate and who did not. It is one of the few sources of information available to us about the War.

It is understood that the information came from those who fought and participated in the war, or their families and friends who paid for a listing. In these post war years it was unlikely that everyone would be able to participate in the National Roll or could afford to do so. "The National Roll makes no claim to being a complete book of reference - in fact no such record could be compiled - but it may safely claim to supply a wonderful memorial of splendid services, truly worthy of the thankful remembrance of a grateful Empire" stated the Editor.

The volumes are a valuable resource in finding out about individuals who served in the First World War and record the contribution and achievements of those involved and cover all sections of the armed forces. The records include nurses, drivers and civilian war workers, who worked in the munitions factories or in manufacturing of aeroplanes.

The National Roll is unusual in that many of the entries refer to combatants who survived the Great War although a small number of those remembered were killed or died of their wounds. The Roll contains over 100,000 people and is a useful resource when researching family military history as it records the contribution by the survivors, wounds inflicted, disease contracted or those discharged early.

A typical entry in the Manchester Roll is shown below and provides the individual's surname, initial, rank or position and regiment or unit:

LEE W. S. Corporal (Signaller). R. E.

He volunteered in September 1914, and in the following March was sent to Egypt, where he took part in the fighting on the Suez Canal. Later he took part in the Landing at Gallipoli, the three Battles of Krithia and other engagements until invalided home suffering from dysentery. On his recovery he was transferred to Mesopotamia and during his service in this seat of war, was in engagements at Amara and the capture of Baghdad. He was demobilised in August 1919, and holds the 1914-1915 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals.

6, Nancy Street, Chester Road Manchester  Z10669

Volume 11 Manchester

The biography provides a brief account of when they joined up, their contribution to the War, achievements and demobilisation date. The address is that of the person on the Roll or their next of kin and where residing at the end of the war. It is not clear what the reference number was for, but it may have been used as a reference system or card index by the publishers when compiling the entries.

The volumes are arranged by region and can be searched by Name, Rank, Regiment and region. Each volume is arranged alphabetically by surname.

Search the National Roll on Familyrelatives.com on the following criteria;

· Last Name
· 1st Name
· Rank
· Regiment
· Section Number

The National Roll of the Great War 1914-1918 (14 Volumes)

The National Roll of the Great War is a unique series of 14 volumes of the First World War. The volumes were published by the National Publishing Company and are extremely rare. Each regional volume contains a brief biography of men and women who largely survived the Great War as well as the less fortunate and who did not. It is one of the few sources of information available to us about the War.