Military History & Local Stories.
Discover the People. Places and evidence behind Military History. These articles offer practical guidance for researching a life in uniform, explore the stories behind my military history talks and share occasional news from So, What Happened?
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From medal to military story: Five First Steps to Research a Life in Uniform
From Medal to Military Story: Five First Steps to Research a Life in Uniform.
A medal without its ribbon. A photograph of an unfamiliar uniform. A service number written on the back of an envelope. A family story about Dunkirk, Monte Cassino or the Western Front. Small fragments like these can be the beginning of a much fuller account of a life in uniform.
The difficult part is knowing what the clue means and where it might lead. Military records use unfamiliar abbreviations, unit structures and administrative language; some records survive, while others are incomplete or restricted. A sound investigation therefore begins with a clear question and an honest assessment of the evidence.
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