France Military Records: Difference between revisions

France Military Records (view source)

Revision as of 13:35, 17 November 2014

1,025 bytes added , 17 November 2014

added new WW ! database

VisualWikitext

JohnsonBX

1,261

edits

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 Many of these records have been centralized at the [http://www.servicehistorique.sga.defense.gouv.fr/ Military Archives in Vincennes], but the conscription records are kept at the departmental archives. The Family History Library has not filmed military records, except for a few conscription records in the department of Bas-Rhin from 1817 to 1856.
-Although military records have genealogical information, they are rarely used in French research because they are difficult to access and few are indexed. Military records are kept confidential for 120 years from the soldier's birth. Other sources (such as church records and civil registration) are more easily available and contain much of the same information.
+=== World War I Grand Mémorial Database ===
+A new database, the [http://www.culture.fr/Genealogie/Grand-Memorial Grand Mémorial]&nbsp; of military records, history, and documents focusing on World War I was launched in November 2014. Thus far, the following departmental archives in France have contributed to the various databases:
+- Ain<br>- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence<br>- Côtes-d'Armor<br>- Haute-Marne<br>- Pyrénées-Atlantiques<br>- Hautes-Pyrénées<br>- Mayenne<br>- Saône-et-Loire<br>- Sarthe<br>- Seine-Maritime<br>- Yvelines<br>- Somme<br>- Tarn<br>- Var<br>- Vaucluse<br>- Vendée&nbsp;
+Additional records will be added over the next four years. Documents from various former colonies are also included. By the time the project is completed in 2018 the Grand Mémorial database&nbsp;will document about 8.5 million soldiers.
+Many records have been indexed. Both simple and expanded search options are available. Index entries lead to images of the actual service records of soldiers with enlistment years between 1887 and 1921. The website also included links to regimental journals, a war graves index, and historical documents.
+=== Confidentiality&nbsp; ===
+Military records are kept confidential for 120 years from the soldier's birth. Other sources (such as church records and civil registration) are more easily available and contain much of the same information.
 To use French military records, you will have to determine the soldier's specific regiment or ship the sailor served on. If you do not know this information, it may be possible to learn which units were raised in the area where your ancestor lived. To do this, you must know at least the district [arrondissement] where the individual was living when he was of age to serve in the military.