A route to the heroes of the past

May 17 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

A route to the heroes of the past

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Liverpool Scottish can be contacted at email: ilriley@liverpoolscottish.org.uk; or Dennis Reeves, tel: 0151 645 5717.

The National Archive (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) holds all the public records for England, Wales and some Irish records. Scottish records are at The National Archives Scotland (www.nas.gov.uk).

Remember there was no separate airforce until 1918. Until then the army and navy had their own flying branches known as the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.

Further records will be found at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, who hold details of all the 1.7m servicemen and women who have died in action since 1914; Ministry of Defence website can supply ancestors’ regiments (www.mod.uk).

Local newspapers published lists of casualties between 1914 and 1918. Copies of the Daily Post are on microfilm in the records office at Liverpool Central Library.

Other websites include www.firstworldwar.com, with in-depth descriptions of WWI battles.