Your research
Medals can be very useful if you are trying to find out more about the person who received them. To issue and name the medals correctly, extensive records (‘medal rolls’) were compiled. The Army created an index of over 5 million cards - it is the best single source for most people starting First World War family history research, since if a soldier served overseas, they would have been eligible for at least one medal, and so would have an index card. The originals of the medal roll index cards are held atThe National Archives (TNA) at Kew and their website gives a comprehensiveexplanation of what a medal index card can tell you.
The medal index cards have all been digitised and are available online. You can search the index of the medal roll cards for free throughThe National Archives website. You can also view the digitised images of the cards themselves for a fee.
The digital searching can help with tracing where only partial details are known – such as surname and initial, rank or unit, or service number. The Medal Index Cards (or MICs) are a comprehensive and indexed source, usefully bringing together several factual elements, armed with which a researcher can know where next to try.
What about the Navy and the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Naval Air Service/Royal Air Force?
The Navy created ledgers to record the issue of First World War Service Medals, which are also digitised and indexed at the National Archives at Kew.
There are no RAF medal rolls as such at Kew, although see the sources below for more details. If the ancestor returned from overseas service with the Royal Naval Air Service or the Royal Flying Corps before they merged to form the RAF in April 1918, then they may be listed among the naval or army medal records.
Useful websites and books for further research
Websites
The Great War 1914–1918
General introduction to the range of six First World War service medals.
There is also a good introductiononhow to develop researchbased on First World War service medals.
The Long, Long Trail
Introduction to the main army medals and help onInterpreting a Medal Index Card.
The National Archives [TNA]
The website has lots of great information including anintroductory guide to campaign service medals,an explanation ofFirst World War Medal Index cardsand general information and tips abouthow to use archives.
Books
Copies of all these books can be freely consulted from open shelves at the Explore History Centre at IWM London.
British Campaign Medals of the First World Warby Peter Duckers
(Shire Publications, Oxford, 2011)
Widely available, also covers some badges and other material often found with medals, and gives guidance on researching in medal records.
The Medal Yearbook 2012,John W Mussell and editorial team of Medal News
(Token Publishing, Honiton, Devon, 2011)
A comprehensive and widely available introductory work on British medals, published annually. Well illustrated, it is useful for: orders, decorations and medals; ribbons in full colour;order of precedence, for correct mounting. for wear;some foreign awards; as might be seen in groups awarded to British First World War service personnel;adverts for the main medal dealers and medal mounting providers; valuations
Great War Medal Collectors Companionby Howard Williamson
(Anne Williamson, Harwich, Essex, 2011)
A large reference book that covers the topic in extensive detail, attractively printed in full colour. It covers not just the medals but also the boxes and envelopes of issue, as well as the numbering systems, rank and unit abbreviations, related records, and lines of further research.
