With the 100th anniversary of the "Great War for Civilisation" at hand more and more people are wondering how they can find out more about what happened to their ancestors who were among the thousands of young men who fought in the terrible battles of 1914-1918. Curiosity can be sparked by a set of tarnished medals at the bottom of an old cigar box, or a faded photograph of a soldier in uniform.
The Mons Star trio of Great War Medals awarded to Private Frank Brailsford of the Royal Amy Medical Corps
But although much has been written about British military history it can be a very confusing place for the beginner. And that's where we come in. I served in the British army for 20 years and have been researching and writing on military history for over 30. I have published two books on military subjects with an emphasis on family research and have completed numerous research projects on individual soldiers going back into Britain's small wars.
If you have an ancestor who served with the British Armed Forces at any time in our history I can help you discover their story.
Major Edwin Parks
Military Historian
Author
Medal Research
