Exploring your canal ancestry: war heroes
In the latest in her family history series, Nicola Lisle looks at how canal workers contributed to the war effort and how to trace their records.
CLOSE to the Canal & River Trust office in Birmingham there is a plaque commemorating the hard work and heroics of boating men, women and children during the twoworld wars.
It is a simple but touching tribute and a reminder that the people who worked on our inland waterways wereavital cog in the war machine, fromboat builders supplying boats for the armed forces – including many of the Little Ships that sailed to Dunkirk – to those who kept vital supplies, such as coal, food and munitions, moving along the canals.
There was a mass exodus from the canals during both wars as boatmen enlisted with the armed forces – many, sadly, never to return – and women had to shoulder more of the responsibility for operating the boats. At the beginning of the Second World War, the Ministry of War Transport supplemented its depleted numbers by recruiting a volunteer force of around 50 women, who becameknownas the ‘IdleWomen’ due to the ‘IW’ initials on their badges.
For anyone with ancestors who served in the world wars, there are millions of records available giving a wealth of information. It is useful to know which service your ancestorwas in, together with rank and approximate dates of service, as this will help to narrow downyour search.
The National Archives ( www. nationalarchives.gov.uk) isagood place to start. From the home page, select ‘Help with your research’, then choose ‘FirstWorldWar’ or ‘SecondWorldWar’. Both give detailed information and links to their own records and those held elsewhere.
Use these links to track down service and pension records, prisoner of war records, casualty lists, campaign and service medals, gallantry medals, lists of officers and other ranks, discharge papers, operational histories and much more. Many of these records are available to view online, some free of charge and some for which a fee is payable, whileothers can only be viewed in person at the National Archives.
For First World War service and pension records the National Archives redirects you towww.findmypast.co.uk, and for British Army Second WorldWar casualty lists to www.ancestry.co.uk. These are both subscription sites, but you might find your local library offers free access.
Museums are also invaluable resources. The National Army Museum (www.nam.ac.uk), theNationalMuseum of the RoyalNavy (www.royalnavy.mod. uk) and the Royal Air Force Museum ( www. rafmuseum. org. uk) all have extensive archives as well as displays that will give you an idea of what life was like for your ancestor in the forces. Their websites also give links to other relevant archives.
The library at the Imperial War Museum (www.iwm.org.uk) has more than 150,000 books and periodicals, which can be viewed by request. The museum website is also worth a look for its detailed guidance on tracing your military ancestors, with plenty of useful links. You can also track down any memorials associated with your ancestor through the IWMMemorials Register, which contains details of around 90,000 memorials in the UK. War memorials include not only freestanding memorials but alsomemorial plaques, tablets, windows and rolls of honour.
Search the register by location or name at www.iwm.org.uk/memorials. The register gives a description of each memorial together with its location, type of memorial, inscription and a list of names, each of which can be clicked on for further information.
Another essential website is that of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org), which has the largest database of graves and memorials relating to the two world wars. Searchbyname or cemetery. Each entry includes a personal record with full name, regiment and unit/ship, date of death, age at death, location of grave and/or memorial, awards, personal inscription, citation and any other information. You can also download an official CWGC certificate.
It is worth searching The London Gazette website (www.thegazette.co.uk), whichhas notices of service appointments, promotions, awards and deaths.
Don’t forget your ancestors on thehome front as well. Search relevant local record offices for information about evacuees, civil defence organisations, conscription, conscientious objectors, wartime committees and fundraising efforts.
Finally, the 1939 Register, established to gather information for issuing identity cards and ration books, among other things, contains details of more than 40 million people in England and Wales in June 1939, including full name, address, gender, date of birth, marital status and occupation. Go to www.findmypast. co.uk where the register is searchable.