Hello List A member of this List has advised that there is a free set of records from the British Red Cross of record cards for their Volunteers during WW1. Some 90,000 people volunteered to serve in Britain and overseas during the war. Many were females, and of those many were what were terms “general service members” – usually referred to as V.A.D. (voluntary aid detachment) The database may be accessed here: http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War or http://tinyurl.com/n5j9tkh It currently covers only surnames beginning with A, B, C and D, An interesting example is the record for the crime writer Agatha Christie https://www.icrc.org/en/document/second-world-war-archives-research-suspended-conservation-work or http://tinyurl.com/pxvgxm8 Another set of free online records is from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The website is Prisoners of the First World War - ICRC Archives http://grandeguerre.icrc.org These records seem to be quite complex to search. If anyone wants to search these records, I strongly suggest that you read the main thread on the Great War Forum called “Red Cross records to go online 4 August” (category Further centenary projects and issues) http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=215376 or http://tinyurl.com/kwlqkkr There are also smaller threads located in the category Soldiers, subsection POWs If the POW was a POW of the Germans, the records (or most of the records) will be in German. The POWs include soldiers of the Indian Army. The ICRC also has WW2 records., which they are currently conserving. I’m not sure if this is a first step to digitisation of these records. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/second-world-war-archives-research-suspended-conservation-work or http://tinyurl.com/o3bh8at Cheers Maureen

Sorry. put the wrong link for the Agatha Christie records. It should be http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War/Agatha-Christie. The tiny url link is correct Cheers Maureen Begin forwarded message: > From: Maureen Evers via <india@rootsweb.com> > Subject: [INDIA] Online WW1 Red Cross records (two free datasets) > Date: 19 January 2015 11:57:18 PM AEDT > To: "india@rootsweb.com" <INDIA@rootsweb.com> > Reply-To: Maureen Evers <maureen.evers@bigpond.com>, india@rootsweb.com > > Hello List > A member of this List has advised that there is a free set of records from the British Red Cross of record cards for their Volunteers during WW1. > > Some 90,000 people volunteered to serve in Britain and overseas during the war. Many were females, and of those many were what were terms “general service members” – usually referred to as V.A.D. (voluntary aid detachment) > > The database may be accessed here: http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Who-we-are/History-and-origin/First-World-War or http://tinyurl.com/n5j9tkh > > It currently covers only surnames beginning with A, B, C and D, > > An interesting example is the record for the crime writer Agatha Christie > > https://www.icrc.org/en/document/second-world-war-archives-research-suspended-conservation-work or http://tinyurl.com/pxvgxm8 > > > > Another set of free online records is from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The website is > > Prisoners of the First World War - ICRC Archives > > http://grandeguerre.icrc.org > > These records seem to be quite complex to search. If anyone wants to search these records, I strongly suggest that you read the main thread on the Great War Forum called “Red Cross records to go online 4 August” (category Further centenary projects and issues) > > http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=215376 or http://tinyurl.com/kwlqkkr > > There are also smaller threads located in the category Soldiers, subsection POWs > > If the POW was a POW of the Germans, the records (or most of the records) will be in German. > > The POWs include soldiers of the Indian Army. > > > > The ICRC also has WW2 records., which they are currently conserving. I’m not sure if this is a first step to digitisation of these records. > > https://www.icrc.org/en/document/second-world-war-archives-research-suspended-conservation-work or http://tinyurl.com/o3bh8at > > Cheers > Maureen > > > >

Good morning all, I hope someone can help me with advice as to where to go for info at the India Office for Railway records for George CLARKE. I have researched the family for many years with great help from listers, thank you. He was born cir 1834 supposedly on Jersey, though no record of Baptism there. In 1858 in Westminster he enlisted in the R.A. and sailed in 1861 on the Jalawar to India. He was discharged at Meerut in 1876, and then worked for the railways. I am able to spend one day at the India Office soon, and hope to find out more about George's railway career. I hope someone can perhaps tell me the best place to look and get the most info out of my day please? I have, from the bapt certs of some of his children, his occupation and postings between 1877 and 1890. George was a Sergeant, Govt. Railway Police, at Assensol, Howrah, Khagole and at Dinapore. I have him in Thackers 1881/3/4. I believe it was the E.I.Railway.? I would like to find out just what he did in his job , what was the role of Railway Police, and was 80R.s' a month a substantial wage? Photos I have of the family have them looking well dressed and prosperous. He and his wife Jane Ellen nee SMALL had 14 children, only one died young, amazing. His Burial record says he was a Govt. Pensioner, late Inspector of Police, (Railway). He died in 1912 and is buried in Calcutta. Jane Ellen died in Calcutta in 1935. I have visited their grave. Many thanks for any help, ,-._|\ best wishes, / Oz \ jill , brisbane. \_,--.x/ jill.glover5@bigpond.com v