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How to find your First World War military ancestors : #forcessources

Key Record Series
Army
WO 363 – First World War Service Records for Other Ranks of the British Army

WO 364 – First World War Pension Records for Other Ranks of the British Army

WO 339, WO 374, WO 138 – Service Records for Officers of the British Army

WO 338

WO 372 –Medal Index Cards for Officers and Other Ranks of the British Army

WO 329 – Medal Rolls for Officers and Other Ranks of the British Army

WO 95 – Unit War Diaries of the British Army

Naval Services
ADM 188 – Ratings’ Service Records for the Royal Navy
ADM 196 – Commissioned Officers and Warrant Officers Service Records for the Royal Navy and for Commissioned Officers of the Royal Marines
ADM 171 – Medal Rolls of the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and Royal Marines
ADM 242/1-5 – Card Index of Naval Officers killed between 1914-1920
ADM 339 –Service Records for Officers and Other Ranks of the Royal Naval Division
BT 377 – Ratings’ Service Records for the Royal Naval Reserve
ADM 240 – Officers Service Records for the Royal Naval Reserve
ADM 337 – Service Records for Commissioned Officers, Warrant Officers and Ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
ADM 340 – Officers Service Records cards for Royal Navy, Royal Navy Reserve and Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.
ADM 159 – Service Records for Other Ranks of the Royal Marines
ADM 273 – Service Records for Officers of the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Air Force
AIR 79 – Service Records for Other Ranks (Airmen) of the Royal Air Force [if transferred on 1st April 1918]
AIR 76 – Service Records for Commissioned Officers of the Royal Air Force [if transferred on 1st April 1918]
AIR 1 – Papers received from Air Ministry Departments.
PMG 42/13-16 – Records of RAF Officers who were invalided and pensioned.
PMG 44 – Records of RAF Officers who were killed in action where a pension was awarded to their next of kin.
Prior to the formation of the RAF records of men (including medal entitlements) who served in either the RFC or RNAS that did not transfer to the RAF will be found in the relevant records series for the Army (RFC) or Navy depending on whether they were Officers or Other Ranks/Ratings. This is with the exception of Officers of the RNAS whose service records can be found in ADM 273. Furthermore, some Medal Index Cards of the Royal Naval Division are with the Army in WO 372.