Lives of the First World War

There does not appear to have been a tie up between this site and the excellent CWGC site which has vast data. However early days, hopefully by 2018 the IWM site will have developed as intended.

Am also making some progress. Its just getting the time to input the data from my files to theirs.

Thanks.

I am actually making progress having linked the CWGC site to my Uncle so as to confirm his date of death. Posting the family’s only image of him was relatively easy. Like you I am adamant that when I am gone he is not forgotten.

The reason I asked was purely out of interest to read your Father’s story.

Moggy

Moggy
If it helps, look up William Powderly RASC. Hope that it will help with your efforts, I am very keen that all these details are recorded before it is too late.

Regards

Bill

Can we have a link to your father’s page?

Moggy

To validate I was able to use family census forms from 1911, death notice in Parish magazine to add date of birth an death. I also uploaded other documents i.e. my father’s 10 day leave pass from Rouen in 1915. I think as it develops this will be a great way to store history.

A shame but guess a lot of history will be lost as it is too hard to put down.

The ‘problem’ is you have to validate every piece of evidence and track the source.

It’s not as simple as just typing the details in, but if it were then it would become a very unreliable archive full of family myth and legend, plus some mischievous fantasy.

Moggy

This site has actually turn out well for me, I have been able to add all the details that I want about my late father at no cost. It may be different for those searching for information. One thing I have found, is that searching records for those on the War Memorial in my Parish Church, many do not appear.

Just an update for those interested in this project, I have now been able to upload a lot of details with no charge. I used photo of 1911 census for my Dad’s date of birth and then was able to upload that fact. I have also been able to add photos of before,during and after the war also his leave sheet from 1917. It does take a little bit of work, but it is worth it in the end.

I was able to add some images last night, but still have problems trying to insert my father’s date of birth/ death etc.

There is very little in this damned country which isn’t tainted with commercialism.

Same here, managed to upload a photo, Did manage to add a bit of info but would not let me alter it.
Went and read some of the comments, and a lot of people find it too complex, to import the data.
A shame but guess a lot of history will be lost as it is too hard to put down.

All that I was able to add during the trial process was a photo of my father, I understood from their email that once it went live you could add other details i.e. date of birth,place etc. However this does not seem to be the case. It is a great project but if it is going to cost people a lot of money to remember their relatives that is a great shame. I have tried to add further details this evening but like you I am having some difficulty, hopefully this can be resolved, as I say the idea is great, before all these stories are lost.

I can understand them needing some sort of control over what is put on from external contributors and verification of facts being true-hence the genealogy site but to then charge for it seems abit much.
If it is a small donation type fee that covers costs and maybe goes towards the site then ok but if it is there to make a 3rd party money on the back of this which is basically goodwill in memory to those who have paid the ultimate price.

Recently signed up on this forum and never expected that this would be my first post! Saw this thread earlier and thought I would take a look at the IWM site. Have to say that I’ve just spent the past hour looking at it and have abandoned it in frustration. My great uncle, John Clifford Browne, who went over the top on the first day of the Somme, and survived that only to die some weeks later, is there thanks to his medal card, upon which the whole site is populated. I have a whole lot that I could add about him (dates, family, home, etc), but the site is not set up to permit anyone to just add stuff easily – it’s set up to ‘buy’ information from a lesser known genealogical group. So to add his date of birth or death I’ve first got to go and pay to get access to his birth and death records – I can’t just add it! This really is a poor show by IWM where a commercial enterprise has hijacked what should be an amazing way of permanently recording the existence and experiences of these soldiers, for all to add to and grow. I’m very disappointed.

People can fill in details of their family members…

I heard about this on the radio last week and had a look a couple of days ago; an excellent project!

I haven’t registered yet but with just my grandfather’s name it linked him (correctly) to documents relating to his marriage in Germany (while on occupation duty) and British national census information; very impressive stuff!

I already have many details of his British Army service but it will be really exciting if I can open all these documents on-line. Must get a photograph organised.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]228354[/ATTACH] The lion above the Menin Gate in Ieper/Ypres where last post is played by Fire Brigade buglers at 8 pm every evening 365 days. A truly amazing place to visit, I try to go at least once a year. The story is told that 15 mins after the last Germans had left in WW2 the buglers were back in place !

So was my maternal grandfather, John. June 1918 and is buried at Staglieno, Genoa. I have followed the progress of his regiment from the Somme in 1916 to Northern Italy but prior to that his and other related records were destroyed.

I will try the IWM website – thank you Argonaut.

Argonaut.

Thanks for that. Many people know little about the second WW and even less so about the first. I hope that many will use this useful opportunity.

My grandfather was killed during the last few weeks before the end of WW1 at the battle of Caporetto, in I believe, Northern Italy.