Detective work by a British historian has unearthed information that could enable thousands to piece together their family histories.
Peter Barton had been commissioned by the Australian government to carry out research, following the discovery of a mass grave on World War I battlefield at Fromelles in France.
That trail led him to the Red Cross Museum in Geneva, and to the card indexes and registers compiled between 1914 and 1918. Details include whereabouts of prisoners, their condition or injuries at the time of capture, and the location of field burials.
Some of the records refer to other mass graves, with exact directions as to where they were dug, and the identities of the soldiers who were buried. Where possible, the registers include home addresses and next of kin.
The Red Cross is working to bring the archive to digitise the records and they hope to have the archive online by 2014. Read more about WW1 Records Found in Red Cross Archives
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For more Military Records see The Canadian Military Heritage Project
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What wonderful news that one day in the future I may be able to identify where my Grandfather is buried. My Grandfather James Russell was killed in action 2nd April 1917, unknown grave. Have researched for James, but sadly his records are among the 'burnt documents' in WW2.I look forward to more news, so I can complete my Grandfathers history.
ReplyDeleteMy grandad Albert Dolan (2nd west yorks prince of wales own reg. no 3/9173) died in Mash valley on 1.7.1916. We visit the Thiepval memorial and the front line of 1.7.1916 every year to leave flowers for him, but it would be wonderful to find out where he is actually buried. His records too were burnt in the bombings of ww2.
ReplyDeleteKath Mardle Leeds
My Great-Grandfather George Earle 499 served with the Rifle Brigade and died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave and his name is on the Thiepval memorial. I would like to know what happened to him.
ReplyDeleteThis is great news I am in the process of researching and visiting 100 NZ WW1 memorials by 2014 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary. In the process I am doing a small amount of research on the men and women recorded on the memorials. Such extra information when it becomes available will be an added bonus to all us researchers,
ReplyDeletehttp://100nzmemorials.blogspot.com