As a relatively new convert to WW1 history, I was delighted that a series about the Great War was being broadcast. However, I have to say I'm really disappointed in the Anglo-centric stance the programmes and the website are taking. I know there have been mention of other UK countries but the emphasis seems to me to be on English soldiers. I have searched the database for several casualties from Ireland haven't been able to find any of them. Is it just English war memorials that have been recorded so far? If so, is there anything can be done to redress the balance? I noticed on the Somme timeline that Ulster and Belfast pals battalions are mentioned. These didn't exist in the same way as the English pals battalions. Due to the Home Rule crsis their were already what ammounted to illegal organisations in military format existing in Ireland on both side of the political divide. These were the basis for the three Divisions from Ireland. Also when will English broadcasters stop substituting Belfast for the entire country of Northern Ireland? Belfast is only one city in this country.
Now my rant is over, I read some of the other postings about tracing family members. I am in the lucky position of having original papers referrign to my great grandfather who was killed in November 1917. So these were my starting point when i started to research his life. He had been awarded the DCM so I obtained his medal records from National Archives at Kew. I was able to find the Gazette record by Googling London Gazette. I searched my local newspaper libray and found entries there about him too. He received his award for rescuing 2 wounded officers during a night-time raid. I found biographies of the officers in the papers too. One didn't survive and I have been to his grave at Pond Farm Cemetary in France. I also travelled to Kew and copied the war diaries for his battalion. I have been to some of the places the battalion were at and later this year with the help of the diaries hope to follow in their footsteps from they left Ireland until he died near Mouevres on 22/11/1917 just one day after his eldest child's 12th birthday. She was my grandmother.