Links
General Resources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
An invaluable aid to researchers. It lists the burial place and details of every Commonwealth serviceman killed in the First and Second World Wars.
The London Gazette
The archives of the London Gazette, available here, contain information on decorations awarded and officers' appointments. The search facility can be rather temperamental, but persistence with variations on date, speling and number is often rewarded.
The National Archives
The central records repository in the United Kingdom. The online catalogue can be difficult to navigate, but the sheer volume of information available is astounding.
Freebmd.org
These people deserve medals. A database of civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths transcribed by volunteers and made available at no charge. Relatively complete up to around 1930, with more information being continuously added.
Freecen.org
Related to the above, this project transcribes Census data from the 1841 to 1891 Census'. Coverage is patchy but improving rapidly.
Freereg.org
Related to the above, this project transcribes births, marriages, and deaths records from parish and non-conformist register books.
Specialised Sites
The Whirlwind Fighter Project
Home of an ambitious project to recreate a Westland Whirlwind, as flown by 263 Squadron, to museum standard.
7 EFTS, Windsor, Canada
A site dedicated to 7 EFTS. A number of the Squadron's pilots passed through here, including Edgar Brearley, Len Unwin, Richard Reed, and Fred Le Gear.
The Arnold Scheme
Part of the arrangments to train pilots and aircrew overseas in relative safety, the Arnold Scheme saw nearly 8,000 men shipped to Canada and then transferred via train to various locations in the south-eastern United States to undergo training.
http://www.eregbaker.info/
This excellent website is dedicated to the memory of Wing Commander Ernest Reginald Baker DSO, DFC and Bar, OC of 263 Squadron from June - December 1943 before being promoted Wing Commander (Flying) of 193 Squadron and later of 146 Wing.
General Resources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
An invaluable aid to researchers. It lists the burial place and details of every Commonwealth serviceman killed in the First and Second World Wars.
The London Gazette
The archives of the London Gazette, available here, contain information on decorations awarded and officers' appointments. The search facility can be rather temperamental, but persistence with variations on date, speling and number is often rewarded.
The National Archives
The central records repository in the United Kingdom. The online catalogue can be difficult to navigate, but the sheer volume of information available is astounding.
Freebmd.org
These people deserve medals. A database of civil registrations of births, marriages, and deaths transcribed by volunteers and made available at no charge. Relatively complete up to around 1930, with more information being continuously added.
Freecen.org
Related to the above, this project transcribes Census data from the 1841 to 1891 Census'. Coverage is patchy but improving rapidly.
Freereg.org
Related to the above, this project transcribes births, marriages, and deaths records from parish and non-conformist register books.
Specialised Sites
The Whirlwind Fighter Project
Home of an ambitious project to recreate a Westland Whirlwind, as flown by 263 Squadron, to museum standard.
7 EFTS, Windsor, Canada
A site dedicated to 7 EFTS. A number of the Squadron's pilots passed through here, including Edgar Brearley, Len Unwin, Richard Reed, and Fred Le Gear.
The Arnold Scheme
Part of the arrangments to train pilots and aircrew overseas in relative safety, the Arnold Scheme saw nearly 8,000 men shipped to Canada and then transferred via train to various locations in the south-eastern United States to undergo training.
http://www.eregbaker.info/
This excellent website is dedicated to the memory of Wing Commander Ernest Reginald Baker DSO, DFC and Bar, OC of 263 Squadron from June - December 1943 before being promoted Wing Commander (Flying) of 193 Squadron and later of 146 Wing.