Why is Military Information Desired?
In many countries such as the United States, and the United Kingdom, if military information is added, it allows a researcher to do further inquiry online. Specifically on military websites. These military websites give more information about the soldier's dates of birth and death, their time in the service, and will often give clues to family relationships. It is also honorable to recognize military service on memorial occasions such as Memorial Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations.
There are two methods to add military information to the form:
Direction 1: To permanently add military information to all transcriptions.
Step 1: To add military information, to the transcription currently being worked on and all future transcriptions, choose the "form settings" box under the transcription form. Once chosen, the military information box will appear under the dates of birth and death in a box.
Step 2: You can either type the information in the box and allow the computer to partially fill in the form for the transcription or you can click on "edit" and type in the information for the following categories:
- Rank- Military chain of command. Example- Private, Captain, Lieutenant, General
- Branch- Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, National Guard, or Militia. (Please place country if outside of the US. Examples: British Army, Australian Army, German Army etc. )
- Conflict- Please type in the box the war or battle the veteran was engaged in. Examples: American Civil War, American Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II, Battle of Trafalgar, Boer War, etc. If uncertain, leave blank.
- Unit- All branches of the military have units within a branch. The navy will have certain ships such as the U.S.S. (United States Ship) Constitution or the H.M.S. (His/Her Majesty's Ship) Victory. Other military units may look like: 28th Infantry Division- "Bloody Bucket" or the 11th Hussars-"Lord Cardigan's Bloodhounds".
- Awards- List awards the soldier received here. Purple Heart, Navy Cross, Medal of Honor, The Victoria Cross, Order of Merit, Member of the Order of the British Empire etc.
- Plots- Some military stones will have the plot number written on the stone.
- Notes/Additional Sources- Notes about the individual's service can be placed here. These can include the veteran's service number and items such as killed in action, died of disease, etc.
Step 3: Select the tab button to advance to the next field on the transcription form.
Direction 2: To add military information to the current transcription form.
Step 1: To add military information to the transcription in the current form only, choose the "add more information" button. Once chosen, in this format, it will appear under the dates of death and birth in a box.
Step 2: You can either type the information in the box and allow the computer to partially fill in the form for the transcription or you can click on "edit" and type in the information for the following categories:
- Rank- Military chain of command. Example- Private, Captain, Lieutenant, General
- Branch- Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, National Guard, or Militia. (Please place country if outside of the US. Examples: British Army, Australian Army, German Army etc. )
- Conflict- Please type in the box the war or battle the veteran was engaged in. Examples: American Civil War, American Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II, Battle of Trafalgar, Boer War, etc. If uncertain, leave blank.
- Unit- All branches of the military have units within a branch. The navy will have certain ships such as the U.S.S. (United States Ship) Constitution or the H.M.S. (His/Her Majesty's Ship) Victory. Other military units may look like: 28th Infantry Division- "Bloody Bucket" or the 11th Hussars-"Lord Cardigan's Bloodhounds".
- Awards- List awards the soldier received here. Purple Heart, Navy Cross, Medal of Honor, The Victoria Cross, Order of Merit, Member of the Order of the British Empire etc.
- Plots- Some military stones will have the plot number written on the stone.
- Notes/Additional Sources- Notes about the individual's service can be placed here. These can include the veteran's service number and items such as killed in action, died of disease, etc.
Step 3: Select the tab button to advance to the next field on the transcription form.
What are some great websites you recommend to further research military information and burials?
United States National Cemetery Administration Gravesite Locator
Commonwealth War Graves Commission