The Royal Engineers STEP 2: Finding an Individual’s Regiment STEP 4: Finding a Regiment or Unit Museum: or Unit without a Service Record How to Research your If a service record cannot be found, an With their full name, see if you can find their individual’s regiment or unit can be traced Family History service record. through other means:

 Gallantry medal rolls sometimes hold unit

information.

STEP 3: Finding an Individual’s Service  Look at the addresses on any letters they

Record wrote This leaflet provides information on how to research those individuals who served for the  Look at any uniform or equipment they The Royal Engineers does not hold any Royal Engineers. Searching for individuals owned, has it been stamped? service records. To find information about an can be tricky and you might not always find  Look at any photographs; is there a sign individual’s personal service history visit the anything. with the unit number? Or are they following websites: wearing particular badges?

 Were they an officer? You can sometimes The National Archives for pre 1920s and use the Army List to determine their STEP 1: Starting Point World War One: regiment. www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Please note  You can always bring these to the So you want to research a family member that roughly 60% of service records between museum for help. that you know served with the Royal 1914 and 1920 were destroyed during the Engineers. Before going any further, what do bombing raids in 1940. you already know? Do you have information about their year of birth, date of death, rank, The Army Personnel Centre for World War years of service, regiment or whether they Two and later: www.army.mod.uk. This received a gallantry medal? Work out what service is only available for next of kin at a you do know first. The more information you fee of £30.00. Please visit their website for have before you start, the easier it becomes! further information.

1 STEP 5: Once you know their Regiment or Useful Websites Useful Books Unit The following websites are useful for records The following books are useful for a more As soon as you know an individual’s that we do not hold and further information. detailed guide into researching your family regiment or unit, you are ready to use our history. library and archives. We currently hold the The Commonwealth War Graves following records: Commission (www.cwgc.org) for information Fowler, S., Spencer W. & S. Tamblin, Army  Official Corps Histories on grave sites, dates of death and next of Service Records of the First World War  Journals, including a complete run of the kin. (Surrey, 1997). Sapper Magazine and the Professional Papers of the Royal Engineers The General Register Office Watts, M. J. & C. T. Watts, My Ancestor was  Medal Rolls (www.gov.uk/research-family-history) for in…The British Army (London, 2009).  Photographs birth, marriage and death certificates. A small  Plans and technical drawings fee applies; please visit their website for  Unit Histories further information.  War diaries for the First World War and a small selection from the Second World The Ministry of Defence Department War (www.gov.uk/medals-campaigns- descriptions-and-eligibility) for more information about medals and how to claim a STEP 6: Make an Appointment! medal that has not been awarded. Access to the Library and Archive is by appointment only. We ask for a two week The London Gazette (www.london- notice period. Please contact the museum gazette.co.uk) for further information about (details below) if you have any questions medals. about your enquiry prior to you visit or wish to book an appointment. Please address all The National Archives written enquires to ‘Library and Archive (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk) for records on Appointments’. Army lists, British Army medal index cards

1914-1920, British Army muster rolls and pay Opening Times: The Library is opened on Royal Engineers Museum – Library and lists c.1730-1898, census records 1841- Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 to Archive 1911, certificates of service, commander-in- 16:30 (it is closed between 1-2pm). Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, chief’s memoranda papers, ordnance office Gillingham, Kent, ME4 4UG and war office registers, soldier’s certificates Prices: The entrance price in included with 01634 822839 of service 1787-1813, soldier’s pensions [email protected] the Museum entrance fee. Please visit our records1760-1913, and many more. website for further details. Registered charity number: 295173 2