Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Egypt and Palestine Campaigns
By Stuart Hadaway
Researching family ancestors who served during the First World War has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, for those new to this particular field of research the quest of the family genealogist can sometimes be a daunting one. There are many avenues for research, and even when a particular archive or family history website is chosen the researcher is often faced with – initially at least – quite a confusing task ahead. Thankfully, books such as Tracing Your Great War Ancestors: The Egypt and Palestine Campaigns by Stuart Hadaway are available to help.
As the title suggests, the focus is on the campaigns fought in Egypt and Palestine between 1914 and 1918. The book, therefore, is far more than just a list of suggestions and guidance as to where to look to find your ancestor’s records; it also includes quite detailed information about the campaigns themselves. This is particularly useful, since to properly understand what your ancestor experienced the researcher should make him or herself aware of the actual campaigns in which he took part, and the associated conditions and dangers he was forced to endure.
The author, of course, also goes into much detail about where to get started. This includes information on archives that might hold records of your ancestor – such as The National Archives in Kew – and useful web sites that hold digitised collections online. Basic information you need to get started is examined, as are some of the common pitfalls and tricky issues often encountered during this type of research.
Hadaway has produced a particularly useful book that is easy to follow, informative and well-illustrated, not to mention a joy to read. This title sits within a wider series dedicated to family research during the First World War, but if your ancestor served in Egypt or Palestine this is the book for you!