Soldier Research Service

Would you like to know more about your ancestors in the First World War?
Have you found their burial record but don't know how to interpret it?
Have you heard family stories you would like to know more about?

I can help! My personal soldier research service will provide the answers to your questions by discovering the life and service of men who served in the First World War. By filling out a short online form, I will be able to discover a soldier's military service, personal experience of the war (where possible) and their pre-war life. Not only will I be able to provide you with the facts but will also write a report interpreting the records and explaining of how and where the soldier served.

To do this, I will use medal index cards (supplied to each soldier), personal service records, battalion war diaries and histories of the war. I will put your soldier's involvement in the war in the context of wider battles to show how they and their battalion contributed. For soldiers from the Gloucestershire area I am also able to provide information from local newspapers which can include republished letters to family members.

Not all records survive for all soldiers and I therefore offer different levels of competitive pricing. After you submit an enquiry I will let you know what is available and the cost before research begins. We can also work on a bespoke package which suits you and what you wish to find out. Once complete, copies of all records used and a report of my findings will be emailed to you, or can be posted.

Submit your enquiry here (Google form)

You can also email kathrynemwhite@gmail.com

Sample pricing

Did your soldier survive the war?

A copy of his medal index card and interpretation of the information - £7
The above plus pre-war census records - £15
Research into his involvement in the First World War using his personal service records - £25
Full life research using pre-war records and his battalion's war diary - £35
(Gloucestershire only) The above plus local newspaper study - £40

Did your soldier die in the war?

A copy of his medal index card and interpretation of this and his Commonwealth War Graves record - £10
The above plus pre-war census records - £18
Research into his involvement in the First World War using his personal service records - £30
Full life research using pre-war records and his battalion's war diary - £40
(Gloucestershire only) The above plus local newspaper study - £45

Supplementary optional £3 charge for postage of hard copies of all records and research.


Terms and conditions

  1. After an application for research is made through the Google form, Kathryn will confirm what records and information are available and will then propose the suitable price and time-frame for research (usually less than 28 days).
  2. Prices displayed on waltertheraleigh.blogspot.com, and on associated documentation, are for guidance only and vary according to records available for each soldier. The final price is at the discretion of Kathryn but will be agreed with the customer before research begins.
  3. The customer will provide confirmation of agreed price by email and pay a £10 or 50% deposit (whichever is lower) before research begins.
  4. Outstanding payment will be taken after research but before delivery of records (either by email or post).
  5. All payment (deposit and final) is non-refundable unless research is cancelled by Kathryn.
  6. Records and research will be delivered by email within 48 hours of receipt of payment unless the customer requests hard copies, when it will also be posted by 1st class Royal Mail for the additional £3 cost.
  7. Copyright of the records remains the property of the provider (usually Crown Copyright) and are subject to their terms. Copyright of the report written by Kathryn remains with Kathryn, but may be reproduced for non-commercial use by the customer.
  8. Kathryn reserves the right to reuse any research in future publications, on her blog, or for advertising purposes.
  9. The cost of research includes the price of accessing a soldier's records and making downloads from the National Archives.

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