Over 117,000 ‘Military Medals’ were awarded in the First World War for ‘acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire’. These records are now available to view online complete with an image of the actual Medal Card and a link to the official government publication of the time. It’s a unique, comprehensive set of records available only onTheGenealogist.co.uk.The Military Medal was the equivalent to the Military Cross (MC) which was awarded to commissioned officers. The Military Medal ranked below the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which was also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army but was still a very prestigious award to be honoured with.
The Military Medal was awarded to ‘Non Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks’ for showing exceptional courage in battle. It was also awarded for those that risked their lives trying to save others, often in extreme danger. The Medal Records on TheGenealogist show people from a wide range of backgrounds and social classes, including a number of young women from very privileged families who chose to drive ambulances and rescue the wounded in the mud of battle.
The role of ‘stretcher bearer’ was one of the most dangerous jobs of the time and the records show many women bridged social constraints of the time to risk life and limb to help rescue and bring in soldiers wounded in battle.
If you'd like to find out more, TheGenealogist has full details of the new medal record release including some fascinating case studies on the brave recipients of the Military Medal.
What did you think of the first episode of the new series of 'Who Do You Think You Are?' featuring Julie Walters last night? With the series celebrating its tenth anniversary, the first episode got off to a strong start with a look at the Irish ancestors of Julie Walters and their struggles to get fairer rents and conditions for Irish tenant farmers, as part of the Irish National Land League, in what was known at the time as the 'Land War'. If you'd like to read a bit more, TheGenealogist.co.uk has put together a special feature looking further at Julie's ancestry.
To view the special feature, visit TheGenealogist website. Hopefully the rest of the series will be just as good!
A great first episode of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Julie Walters
This Saturday the 9th August, it's the Midlands Family History Fair at Worcester Warriors Rugby Club. The Fair is open from 10am to 4pm and entrance is only £3 per person. As well as numerous stalls to browse, there's a number of free talks in the Hindlip Suite including the popular 'Breaking Down Brick Walls in your Family History Research' from Mark Bayley of TheGenealogist and a talk on the Women's Voluntary Aid Detachments in World War 1 from Paul Handford and also the Secret Army- British Resistance Organisations 1938-45 from Malcolm Atkin.
There's a special offer on TheGenealogist and free goodie bags for the first 100 visitors to the TheGenealogist stand as show sponsor.
It promises to be a great fair. Will you be going?
This weekend sees the Midlands Family History Fair
The ever-popular genealogy show 'Who Do You Think You Are?' which embarks upon its 10th series tomorrow night, has a special show tonight on BBC1 looking back at the high points from past series.
In this special one-off show, the outstanding moments from the previous series are shown again, featuring the likes of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Paxman, showing humour and tragedy and even moments where celebrities find links to royalty.
The series has produced so many remarkable moments, showing the surprises and shocks that can be discovered in the quest to find out more about your ancestors. The one-off special is on BBC1 tonight at 10.35pm. Will you be watching tonight?
Who Do You Think You Are? special celebrating 10 years is on BBC1 tonight at 10.35pm
The National Archives has this week announced their new Chief Executive, Jeff James, has now started his new role.
His official title is 'Chief Executive and Keeper' and his previous experience at The National Archives will no doubt be invaluable in his new role. He has previously been Director of Operations and Services at The National Archives, involved in a variety of tasks from managing customer relations to the development and delivery of public services.
More details on the appointment of Jeff James can be found on The National Archives website.
The first programme date and time has been announced for the new series of Who Do You Think You Are?
The first show features Julie Walters and will be screened on Thursday 7 August from 9pm to 10pm. Julie's roots take her back to County Mayo, Western Ireland ,where her great grandfather Anthony Clarke was one of the very first members of the Land League- a revolutionary organisation formed in 1879, which campaigned for more than 40 years for impoverished tenant farmers to have the rights to own their own land.
Julie Walters is first to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?
This weekend’s special offer from S&N Genealogy Supplies is 3 fold out charts (worth nearly £6) for free with every Window Springback Binder purchase. So why not get organised and show off your research at the same time? More details can be found on the S&N Genealogy website
Springback binder and chart offer from S&N Genealogy
The running order for series 11 of Who Do You Think You Are? has been released by the BBC. There's no date on the when the first programme is (we presume a mid August start) but the first programme will feature Julie Walters. The final episode, featuring Billy Connolly, will mark the 100th episode of the programme. It should be a great series.
The full running order is as follows:
1. Julie Walters
2. Brian Blessed
3. Tamzin Outhwaite
4. Brendan O'Carroll
5. Sheridan Smith
6. Mary Berry
7. Martin Shaw
8. Reggie Yates
9. Twiggy
10. Billy Connolly
Julie Walters is first to appear on Who Do You Think You Are?
As family historians we collect numerous valuable documents and heirlooms in our family history quest. With those family documents it's worth ensuring you keep a copy on file in case the worst happens and your collection gets damaged. One way of doing this is to use the Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner. The scanner allows you to digitise framed photos, albums, medals and pictures larger than the scanner if required.
S&N Genealogy Supplies have produced a demonstration video on the use of the Flip-Pal Scanner which can be viewed below. Have you used a Flip-Pal? What did you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
The National Archives have announced a number of talks and events, many of them free over the coming months.
With the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, there's a free talk on the 5th August 2014 at 2pm entitled: "The Royal Navy and British Army Go To War: Mobilisation and their Roads to War 1914."
This talk will discuss what happened to the Royal Navy and the British Army between the end of July and the end of the first week in August 1914, how the two services were mobilised for war and what records The National Archives holds and what the records tell us.
The speaker will be William Spencer, the Principal military specialist at The National Archives. More details including how to book a place on the event can be found at The National Archives website.
