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Hi, Is any one doing ancestry searches that include the new british Army WW1 pension records i am searching for information on Joseph Anderton Army No 170916 Royal Engineers, DOB unknow about 1889, i know his pension record will give me loads of info. If you can help i would be very grateful. Margaret

Hi Margaret, Will see what I can find....it will be the first time I have used it. Regards Vera

Hi Margaret, How very strange.......please do not pay yet........will have a look at all the josephs that come up......VERY STRANGE and I am not shouting :-)) Regards V

Hi Margaret, I put his name and regimental number in.... no luck I am sorry. It is all very new, not sure if all the A-B names have been transcribed yet. Keep trying. Regards Vera

There are five Joseph ANDERTON, but none of them were Royal Engineers. Jennifer

Hi Vera, I don't understand that when i put info in Ancestry in British records it comes up with his name and place of birth but i would have to pay £6.95 to view record are to telling me that if i click on view there is nothing there- a bit puzzled. Cheers Margaret

Margaret, What is the place of his birth please? Regards V

Hi Vera, I believe he was Stoke- Staffordshire way. Jennifer regarding the 5 Joseph doesn't his Regiment No. Help. Cheers Both

Hi Margaret, This is most peculiar, but none were born in Stoke Staffordshire. Regards V

Margaret, None of the numbers match yours, but then they were not standardised until after WW2, many men had different numbers when they changed units. Jennifer

Hi Margaret, Here are the only ones...... Joseph Anderton abt 1885 St Peters Lancaster Joseph Anderton abt 1899 Joseph Anderton abt 1898 Joseph Anderton abt 1900 Joseph Anderton William Joseph Anderton Regards Vera

Hi Vera- does the record give you any addional info as i have one photo with him in uniform on a horse- does it give regiment etc. Thanks you all for your help- Margaret

Joseph Anderton 1898 Coldstream Guards Checking the rest....one i cannot read. Regards V

Joseph Anderton 1899 Cheshire Regiment.....looks like he lived in Golbourne/ Golborne ?? Regards V

Hi Margaret The last two not much info on the cards Joseph Anderton number 51012 Labour Corp date of Disembodiment 22 March 1919 William Joseph Anderton 098030 R.A.S.C Blackpool Lancs Regards V

Hi Margaret J anderton 1900 Welsh Regiment Regards V

Hi Vera Thank you so much for extra help i will study them but they look like they are not the ones. It really is a good job i didn't pay to look. Thanks once again all the best Margaret

Hi Margaret, Good Luck with your research. Regards V

This is the historical background to these records on Ancestry. Might explain why you particular record can't be found: The British Army World War One Pension Records are War Office (WO) records also known as the WO364 records and the ‘Unburnt collection’, due to these records surviving a World War Two bombing raid on the War Office in London where they were held. During this raid, a large portion (approximately 60 per cent) of the British Army World War One Service Records, also known as the WO363 records were destroyed by fire. The surviving service records have also become known as the ‘Burnt collection’. Although many of these records suffered water damage following the bombing raid, all surviving service and pension records were digitised by The National Archives, where both collections are held, as part of a major TNA conservation project. Tips and Notes: These records are unlikely to contain information on individuals who did not claim a pension. These records are unlikely to contain documents on soldiers who were killed in action and had no dependents (as there would have been no one to claim a pension). These records are unlikely to contain documents on soldiers who were discharged from demobilization at the end of the war and did not claim a pension (since they were generally not eligible for one). Some records may have been stored and/or filmed in incorrect alphabetical order. Some records may appear to be out of order due to a misspelling or misreading of the name. Some soldiers did not record their first names; some of them only used initials, and others used nicknames or diminutive names.

Hi everyone, I have access to Ancestry but there is a lock next to the WW1 Draft registrations. Does this mean it isn't British ? Thought granddad might be there, Joan