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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2005-03 > 1110660826


From: "Robert Campbell" <>
Subject: Re: WW1 medal records - under threat of being destroyed?
Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 06:56:39 +1000
References: <00ab01c52739$8944be10$0a221dd3@yourdlbx5ye5uv>


I don't know about you guys out there but just for good measure I have
passed this on to our Queensland branch of the RSL so that they a fully made
aware of this.
I suggest others in other States do likewise.
Bob in Brisbane
----- Original Message -----
From: "DA & TR Shean" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 5:27 AM
Subject: WW1 medal records - under threat of being destroyed?


This appeared earlier on the Warwick list and is forwarded in it's entirity.
I thought it was important enough to be copied (with permission ) to this
list.

I shall now be 'unsubbing' for a while as we are currently on a Category 5
(severe) cyclone warning!

Teresa
Darwin Australia

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jacqui Simkins" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 11:18 PM
Subject: [WAR] WW1 medal records


> Dear List,
>
> I just picked up a copy of a magazine and read the editor's column with
disbelief. I hope Hugh will please not unsub me for this <grin> but it will
affect everyone now and in future who is undertaking research into family
members who were involved with WW1 - Warwickshire included.
>
> Start of quote:
> As we go to press, it has come to my attention that in April the MOD
intends to destroy some 6 million records of medals issued to WW1 personnel.
I think you will agree that we cannot let them do so.
>
> Our military expert Paul Reed has been looking into the matter and it
appears that the private facility used by the MOD to hold the records at
Hayes wants to relocate and charge the MOD for moving the cards. The MOD's
response is to get rid of the 140 filing cabinets that contain the 4-6
cards. The National Archives doesn't want to take on the cards because it
has already microfiched them and the microfiche has been digitally scanned
(see www.documentsonline.nationalarchives.gov.uk).
>
> This isn't good enough. This is the only complete and untouched record of
First World War soldiers left. Other service records were burned during
WW2. Only the fronts of the cards have been scanned and we believe that
written on the back of many of these cards is the address that the medals
were sent to. Often, it isn't possible to determine whether the record of
the medals issued relates to your ancestor or another person without
checking this address.
>
> First, the cards need to be preserved. They then need to be scanned
properly, front and back, and re-indexed. If the National Archives won't
step in, perhaps someone else will. The Imperial War Museum? The Veteran's
Association?
>
> The MOD claims its holds copyright on the cards and that it can do what it
wishes with them. I'd argue that these cards are part of the nation's
heritage. They are public records, and I'd remind the MOD that the
descendants of WW1 soldiers pay their taxes. The cards remind us of the
enormous sacrifice and loss incurred by men and women in this country during
WW1, and of their bravery in adversity. They enable the children and
grandchildren of those who died, and those who survived, to find out some of
the lost details of their forebears.
>
> To save the cards we must take action. We're instituting a campaign to
urge the Minister of Defence, Geoff Hoon, and the Director of the National
Archives, Sarah Tyacke, to prevent the destruction of these records straight
away. Address your letter to us and we'll pass it on to these authorities:
> Rt Hon Geoff Hoon & Sarah Tyacke
> Save the Medal Index Cards
> c/o Your Family Tree
> 30 Monmouth Street
> Bath BA1 2BW
> Alternatively, send an email headed 'Save the Medal Index Cards' to us at
. Do it now - the records are due to be destroyed in
April.
>
> Garrick Webster,
> Editor, Your Family Tree"
>
> End of quote
>
> I apologise for typos in the above. As we know now that the 1911 census
is in one almighty mess with the enumerator's books lost and the household
schedules badly damaged, the thought of yet another valuable - priceless -
resource being deliberately destroyed is beyond belief. Such destruction
will prevent those following in our footsteps in family history research in
generations to come from achieving their goals.
>
> If you wish to post this to other lists, please feel free to use the
above.
>
> Jacqui
>
>
> ==== WARWICK Mailing List ====
> - Send messages and queries of general interest to
> the list, but personal messages directly to the individual.
> - Don’t return copies of complete mails to the list when
> replying, but edit them down to the relevant passage.
>


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