The content of these diaries varies, but they often mention the battles in which the men were engaged as well as the more mundane duties required of a unit in the field. Armed with this information you may want to read the regimental war diary, which can help to build a daily picture of war service. Once you have identified which medals the serviceman was entitled to, you should be able to identify the campaigns he was engaged in and the regiment or units he belonged to. One of the most popular series of records used by genealogists is the World War One Campaign Medals Index, which can be searched online at The National Archives website (the correct link is As with all such searches, common names may present problems. Virtually every serving soldier, sailor or airman qualified for a campaign medal and that entitlement is recorded within the rolls. If all you have to begin with are scant details - perhaps just a name - one of the best places to start is the medal rolls. War diaries can help to build up a picture of daily service While some research can be done online, most requires a personal visit to TNA, or, if this is not possible, you can engage a freelance researcher. Their informative website at has details of the services on offer, as well as detailed research guides and a growing collection of online records. The National Archives (TNA) at Kew, West London is as close as you will get to a 'one stop shop' and an excellent place to start. Unfortunately, one of the problems with researching military records, particularly in the United Kingdom, is the widespread physical locations of the material. Numerous books exist on the subject, as well as useful web-based resources. No matter how much information you begin your search with, a good starting point is to read a basic history of the two world wars to gain some understanding of the events and terms you will come across during your research. The Early Records Enquiries Unit at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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