I need to research about 150 soldiers and am planning my very first visit to Kew next week for one day just to get a feel of the place and see where everything is ready for a possible week long research visit later in the year. Do I just turn up and queue or do I have to pre book a microfilm reader and do I need a readers ticket? Also If I want to view any documents such as Medical Inspection Reports how long will I have to wait to see them after I have made my request? Someone told me it could take up to two hours. Regards Peter

Hello Peter, Details on registering can be found at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/registration/ You can pre-register via the website but in practice it doesn't take too long. Make sure you bring appropriate forms of ID which are listed on the link above. The link below contains valuable information for planning your visit. Note in particular the list of prohibited items. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/visit/plan.htm Microfilm readers cannot be booked in advance and work on a first come first served basis. The procedure with both microfilm and microfiche readers is that you take either a numbered box or card which is used to replace any film/fiche you take out of the filing cabinets. The number is for the reader that you are to use and indicates therefore where the film/fiche is. The only problem with this system is that when the place gets busy all the boxes and cards might be taken even though the readers are not in use. Busy days tend to be towards the end of the week though that is not always the case. The arrival of a coach party or two can liven the place up! My advice would be to arrive as early as possible. Inevitably a first visit will involve learning the ropes. Don't expect to get too much done at first. Better that you learn a way of working that suits you. If your 150 soldiers are WW1 men be aware that you need to look at the records in: WO 363 WO 363 Missorts WO 364 WO 364 Third Collation WO 364 Missorts These records are all on microfilm (though the ones in WO 364 are those now on Ancestry and which you might therefore be able to look at remotely). Paper records need to be ordered and though delays can occur the normal delivery time is 30-40 minutes. Good luck with your research. Mike Shingleton Thursday, August 2, 2007, 8:45:48 AM, you wrote: > I need to research about 150 soldiers and am planning my very first visit to Kew next week > for one day just to get a feel of the place and see where > everything is ready for a possible > week long research visit later in the year. > Do I just turn up and queue or do I have to pre book a microfilm reader and do I need a > readers ticket? > Also If I want to view any documents such as Medical Inspection Reports how long will I have > to wait to see them after I have made my request? Someone told me it could take up to two > hours. > Regards > Peter > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the > word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message -- Best regards, Mike mailto:shinglma_64@btopenworld.com