|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 5, 2012 20:13:54 GMT 12
G'Day,
Does anyone know how on earth you use the National Archives ( Australia) website? Every time I try and use it I get lost and give up. I need to find records on an Australian soldier killed in the Pacific.
Cheers for any help.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 5, 2012 21:15:59 GMT 12
I have had success in the past. Give me his name and I'll see what I can find.
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 5, 2012 21:29:56 GMT 12
Awesome,thanks Dave. Edward Philip Jenkinson,
Service number: NX194413,
Unit: 19th Battalion (Infantry)
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: 1939-1945
Date of death: 10 March 1945
Place of death: New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Cause of death: Killed in action
|
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Nov 5, 2012 21:51:49 GMT 12
Gents,
The format on the NAA site is a little bit messy, but if you do the following you should be able to find what you are seeking:
From the Home page, look for ‘The Collection’ heading in small blue panel at lower left.
Under this click on ‘search the collection’
Then click on ‘begin your search’
Then enter keywords (e.g. service number or full name; or in your instance try NX194413)
This brings up Jenkinson file reference
Unfortunately the documents are not yet digitised for online viewing.
You can request this to be done by clicking on ‘request copy’ (at far right of screen about half way down on green strip that runs across the screen)
Then follow step by step instructions for ordering either to view online or a photocopy (also goes online). Note that a fee applies (to NAA, not to me for my advice!).
Errol
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 5, 2012 22:44:24 GMT 12
Thanks Errol. Found what I was looking for and will pass on the link to the family to see if they would like to order it.Do you know if it would tell you anything about how he died? That's the main reason for this research.All I can find is that he was 'KIA'.
They don't make it easy to search records.They need a dummies guide to searching.
|
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Nov 5, 2012 23:21:20 GMT 12
"Do you know if it would tell you anything about how he died?"
I'm not familiar with Aussie army files. In this case there appears to be only the one file, whereas air force personnel usually have one for the service record and another for the casualty details, but that could be unique to the air and you may find both aspects are covered on the one file in the case of army personnel. There's only one way to find out for certain!
Errol
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 6, 2012 19:34:32 GMT 12
''There's only one way to find out for certain!''
Will give it a go.Thanks again.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Nov 6, 2012 22:38:23 GMT 12
You could also check the war diary for the unit (or army) he was with which will most likely give you the main events of that period. Suggest you start with the Australian War Memorial website. I don't do army records, so can't advise further.
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 6, 2012 22:56:26 GMT 12
Thanks for the suggestion.I have the war diary of his Battalion that is very detailed and notes his death. Unfortunately it doesn't say how he was killed only that he was killed in action.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Nov 7, 2012 19:23:52 GMT 12
Unfortunately it doesn't say how he was killed only that he was killed in action. Hmmm. If you know where and when, I'm not sure what more you are expecting. If you're after a cause of death, I think that may be expecting too much. Generally I suspect that level of detail would not be recorded. Regards, |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2012 20:33:59 GMT 12
It would be on his death certificate, woiuldn't it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 7, 2012 20:47:37 GMT 12
Unfortunately it doesn't say how he was killed only that he was killed in action. Hmmm. If you know where and when, I'm not sure what more you are expecting. If you're after a cause of death, I think that may be expecting too much. Generally I suspect that level of detail would not be recorded. Regards, His family told me they heard he was shot by a Sniper while trying to rescue wounded,not sure where they heard that. The war diary is very detailed and mentions how the wounded were hurt and where, so I don't see why it wouldn't be mentioned elsewhere. |
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 7, 2012 20:48:07 GMT 12
It would be on his death certificate, woiuldn't it? Any idea where to find that Dave? |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2012 20:56:32 GMT 12
Births, Deaths and Marriage office.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2012 20:58:24 GMT 12
The death certificate will say how he died, eg shot, but it won't tell you more detail like the story the family told you. That likely came to them in a letter from either his CO or a comrade, after he died. It may or may not be true.
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 7, 2012 21:03:46 GMT 12
The death certificate will say how he died, eg shot, but it won't tell you more detail like the story the family told you. That likely came to them in a letter from either his CO or a comrade, after he died. It may or may not be true. Yes, most the time it turns out to be different.My Mother always thought her Uncle was shot down over Holland when he was killed on the way back from Hanover. |
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Nov 7, 2012 21:16:57 GMT 12
I think you're after something you won't find. That level of detail isn't normally recorded with rigour, because it's not necessary or often appropriate. It may or may not be true. And that's an important point, partly what I was driving at. If you start digging for this level of detail, you need to be really sure you really want to find out what you may get - sometimes it's a nasty shock, and does not match the version of events enshrined in family lore. Personally, and from experience, I wouldn't try to find more detail in a case like this beyond what you've got without a damn good reason. Bear in mind you may find something to his (or his family's) discredit. Then what? Be aware that what you find may flatly contradict the family version of events, and it sometimes happens that some family members cannot or won't accept that revision, and blame you for presenting it. And beyond 'KIA' where and when, can you be sure what you get from further searching is actually 'true'. It's not unusual for reports to present a more palatable version of events than what happened; and someone who was pointlessly shot (by accident, for a moment's in-caution, or arguing with a mate) gets revised to a more comfortable account, perhaps involving a minor heroism. Bear in mind also that any letter to the family or the like will have nice platitudes and won't call a scoundrel a scoundrel. They don't say 'Charlie was a bit of an idiot, and the Nips picked him off because he was talking'. Proceed with great caution. |
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 7, 2012 21:28:23 GMT 12
You raise a good point on what I might find,but his Nephew has been trying to find out what happened to him for over two years now and he also said he needs to know what happened to him.Just because I am looking for detailed information does not mean that I will hand over a detailed story of the events, I will simply hand over a short and basic version.It does not matter if he was shot by a sniper for lighting a smoke of talking, I will simply say it was a Sniper and that's all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 7, 2012 21:44:16 GMT 12
Your only real way is to find someone else who was there still alive, and willing to talk about it. It doesn't always happen that way.
|
|
|
|
Post by Luther Moore on Nov 7, 2012 21:47:10 GMT 12
That thought crossed my mind.Finding someone will not be easy.
|
|
