Here are some - I hope - useful tips for searching the ICRC records.
Bear in mind that there may be more than one card for the PoW and they may not necessarily be together. There is also the possibility that the name has a different (phonetic) spelling. Phonetic and mis spellings are common place. In a few instances fore and surname have been interchanged and the prisoner is listed under his forename. 25% of the Manchesters listed under THOMAS have had their fore and surnames reversed.
Some index cards have supplementary ones on the right had side - check them all as they are not always connected to the same person. Common names are sub-divided by Regiment, there is also a miscellaneous sub-section at the top - also worth checking. If there is no sub-section for the Regiment which is being searched for, try looking at the sub-sections above and below where it should be.
The search engine is in some cases rather useless as it takes you past where the name is. For example entering the letter U into the search engine takes you through to the name UPEX giving the impression that names such as UNDERWOOD etc are not listed. The names beginning with U actually start under TWELTREE. This is a re-occurring problem throughout the database.
It is not uncommon to find Infantry Regiments recorded not by their title but as a numbered Regiment of Foot, eg 96th Infantry Regt for 2nd Bn Manchesters. This seems to be contained to 1914-15. Ones that I have seen used are 1 (Royal Scots), 16 (Bedfordshire Regt), 38 (1st Bn South Staffordshire Regt), 60 (KRRC), 63 and 96 (1st and 2nd Bns Manchesters). There are bound to be others.
The abbreviations Batt and Bat (indicating Battalion) are sometimes wrongly interpreted as Battery. The PoW then being incorrectly indexed under Royal Artillery.
Some Royal Fusiliers particularly A Coy are wrongly indexed as Royal Field Artillery, some RAF are to be found there as well.
There are quite a number of LF's listed wrongly as Manchesters. They have their LF's numbers but are indexed as Manchesters. Some RF's/London Regt are also listed as Manchesters. They are mostly attachments to City Bn's in 1916. Some RAMC are filed under ASC and vice versa.
Among the Manchesters sections there are a few Middlesex Regt using the abbreviation "M R". Quite a few of these are those taken on 27.05.1918 at Berry au Bac
RSF, SCOTTISH RIFLES, SCOTS GUARDS are sometimes to be found under ROYAL SCOTS
NZ Soldiers are indexed with the Australians
The "R" series of numbers on the index cards finishes at R53543, any higher numbers found on the index cards lead to a dead end. The documents either no longer exist or have not been digitized.
The following common Manchesters names have been listed under the MGC sub-section. Some RE, RM & London Regt are also to be found there.
Brady
Bromley
Burgess - to be found under Burgeess
Conroy
Conway
Craig
Henry
Henshall
Lambert
The names in the GALLIPOLI file are indexed badly. In 90% of the cases the search engine takes you past the name being searched for. eg names starting with AN start under ALVIN, BAL starts under BAIRD, AD starts under AARONS etc,etc. This also applies when the Index letter changes eg the first names beginning with B are to be found under the last section of names beginning with A etc. This also applies to the MACEDONIA and BRITISH SERVICEMEN INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND files.
The GALLIPOLI file also contains the PoWs taken in MESOPOTAMIA, EGYPT & PALESTINE.
In many cases the Scottish Regts are not separated, look at the Scottish Regts which are listed.
In some cases Mc And Mac have been omitted from the name and they are filed under the next letter eg MacKenzie is filed as Kenzie.
B
Ball is listed under Bell.
BAINBRIDGE are to be found under the miscellaneous subsection of BAILIE.
BURGESS - is to be found under BURGEESS
BOWEN - YORK & LANCASTER REGT contains names beginning with BOW* from other Regiments.
BOYD - YORKSHIRE REGT contains names beginning with BOY from other Regiments.
BOYLE - ROYAL WEST KENT REGT contains names beginning with BOY from other Regts
BOLTON - YORK AND LANCASTER REGT contains names beginning with BOL & BOM from other Regts.
BIRD - YORK AND LANCASTER REGT contains BIRD from other Regts.
BIRD - WARWICKSHIRE REGT contains BAIRD - WELSH FUSILIERS.
BLACKBURN - WEST YORKSHIRE REGT contains 24123 WILFRED BLACKBURN YORKS AND LANCS and 27791 E BLACKETT 23/NF.
BENNETT - WORCESTERSHIRE REGT contains BENNETT- YORKSHIRE REGT
BRADLEY - WEST YORKSHIRE REGT contains BRADLEY - YORKSHIRE REGT and YORKS AND LANCS.
BRIGHT - WORCESTERSHIRE REGT contains names beginning with BRI* from other Regts.
BROMLEY - YORKSHIRE REGT contains names beginning with BROM* and BRON from other Regts.
BUCHANAN - SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES contains a few names beginning with BUC* from other Regts.
BRADY - WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT contains BRADY - YORKS AND LANCS and YORKSHIRE REGT. It also conatins names from other Regts beginning with BRAE*, BRAG* and BRAH*.
BRETT - WEST YORKSHIRE REGT contains names from other Regts beginning with BRET*
BRIGGS - WEST YORKSHIRE REGT contains BRIGGS - WELSH REGT.
BUCK - WEST YORKSHIRE REGT contains BUCK - YORKSHIRE REGT and names from other Regts beginning with BUC*
BULLOCH - YORKSHIRE REGT contains names beginning with BUL* from other Regts
BYRNE and BARNS are indexed under BURNS.
BURROWS - WORCESTERSHIRE REGT contains names beginning with BUR* from other Regts.
BUTCHER - YORK AND LANCASTER REGT contains names beginning with BUT* from other Regts.
BAKER for those Regts not listed under BAKER are under BAINSDALE
C
Quite a few names beginning with CAP are to be found under CANTRELL
Under the section CLAA (121 entries) there are probably 70 entries starting with CE and about another 30 starting with CHA. Many of the "CE"s would seem to be phonetic spellings that could be of names beginning with S.
The section COOMBE (Royal) Air Force has 303 index cards, 302 of these look to be blank. They have been uploaded showing the reverse side, the information is contained on the other side. They contain names from all Regiments from COOMBE through to and including COOPER.
Under the section CRONIN - YORK AND LANCASTER REGT, there are 2 Y&L CRONINS and 15 others from other Regt's with the names: CRONK, CRONSHAW, CRONT, CROWTHER, CROOKE and CROOG.
CAIN WORCESTER RGT - Contains CAI* from all Regiments
CAINS RAF - contains a few CAI from Scottish Regts
CALVERT YORKSHIRE REGT - contains CALV*, CALW* and CAM* from all Regts
CAMPBELL YORKSHIRE REGT - contains CAMP* and CAN* from all Regts
CHANDLER WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains CHAN* from all Regts
CHAPMAN ROYAL SCOTS - contains CHAPMAN from other Scottish Regts
CHISHOLM SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS - contains CHIS* from all Regts
CLEMENS WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains CLEM* from all Regts
COATES YORKS AND LANCS - contains COA* and some COB* from all Regts
COLLIN WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains COLL* from all Regts
COLLIN YORKSHIRE REGT - contains COLL* from all Regts
CORNWALL YORKSHIRE REGT - contains CORN*, CORP* and CORR* from all Regts
COX SHERWOOD FORESTERS - contains COX SOMERSET LI
CROOK WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains CROO* and CROP* from all Regts
CROSSBY YORKS AND LANCS - contains CROSS* from all Regts
CRUICKSHANKS are listed under CRUICKBANKS
D
DIXON is to be found under DICKSON
20 names from all Regiments starting with DUR* can be found under DURRANT - YORKSHIRE REGT.
E
EDWARDS from the London Regt and Royal Fusiliers are mixed in with the MGC and Marine
EMERY YORKSHIRE REGT - contains EME* and EMI* from all Regts
EVERETT YORKSHIRE REGT - contains EVER* from all Regts
F
FISH, FITCH, FISK, FISKE, FYSH and some FISHER are to be found under FISKE.
FISHER RE are to be found under FISKE RE.
Some FISHER, FISH, FITCH, FISHBURN, FiISHELL and FISHENDEN from various Regiments are to be found under FISKE ESSEX REGT
FOSTER is listed under both FOSTER & FORSTER
FIELDING WILTSHIRE REGT - contains FIEL* from all Regts
FINCH WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains FINC* and FIND* from all Regts
FORBE WILTSHIRE REGT - contains FORB* and FORC* from all Regts
FORD YORKSHIRE REGT- contains FORDA* and FORDG* from all Regts
FOWLER YORKS AND LANCS - contains FOWL* from all Regts
G
GEORGE Gloucester Regt are listed under MGC.
GEORGE is really mixed up, it would be worth looking through all of them if who you are looking for isn't where he should be.
Some GARDNER are listed under GARBRETT
GREEN - RFC/RAF are listed under GREEN (Misc)
GREEN - RFA, RGA & RHA are listed under Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Some GROV*,GROVE, GROVER, GROVES are to be found under GROSS.
GROVER, GROSS, GROSSE and GROSE are to be found under GROUND.
Names beginning with GRU* start under GROVETHER.
GULLUM and GUNN are to be found under GUM.
Some GUN* are to be found under GUMB.
GRANT WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains GRANT YORKSHIRE REGT
GREEN LONDON REGT - contains GREEN LOYAL NORTH LANCS
GRIFFIT MARINE - contains GRIFFITHS MONMOUTHSHIRE REGT
GRIFFIT WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains GRIFFITHS YORKSHIRE REGT
GRIFFIT YORKS AND LANCS - contains GRIFFON from all Regts
H
HILL North Staffordshire Regt are to be found under Northumberland Fusiliers
HIGGINS WORCESTERSHIRE REGT are listed under Manchester Regt
HISLOP contains some names beginning with I and L’
HONE is to be found under HOMBA
HONER and HONNER are to be found under HOMER
Some HONEYW* are to be found under HONEYCOELL
HETHERINGTON YORKSHIRE REGT - contains a few HET* from other Regts
The index cards for the name HALL are missing.
HOBBS SHERWOOD FORESTERS - contains HOBBS NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND MIDDLESEX REGTS
HOBBS SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES - contains HOBBS RND
Some HOBBS are listed under HOBROYD
HODGESON YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HODIER MIDDSEX REGT and HOLDER KINGS OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGT
HOGAN YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HOGARTY RMF
HOLMES YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HOLMES WORCESTERSHIRE REGT
HOLMES WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains HOLMES SCOTTISH RIFLES
HOOPER CHESHIRE REGT - contains HOOPER DEVONSHIRE REGT
HOPE QO ROYAL WEST KENT REGT - contains HOOPER QORWK and HOPE WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
HOPE ?? - contains HOPE ROYAL ARTILLERY
HOPE NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS - contains HOPE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGT
HORN WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HORN* from all Regts
HOSKIN WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains HOS* from all Regts
HOUGHS GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains HOQ* from the IRISH REGTS
HOWARTH is listed under HOWARD
HUNTER YORKSHIE REGT - contains HUNTERSTONE RND and HUNTING RAMC
HUTCHING YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HUTCHERAFT RIFLE BRIGADE
HYDE YORKSHIRE REGT - contains HY* fro all Regts
I
Some names beginning with I are to be found under HISLOP.
INGRAM YORKSHIRE REGT - contains ING* from all Regts
IRWIN WORCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains IRW* from all Regts
IRWIN YORKSHIRE REGT - contains IRVING from all Regts
J
JONES is to be found under JOHNE.
JACKSON RAMC are under JACKSON RAF
JACKSON RA - contains JACKSON BEDFORDSHIRE REGT
JACKSON KINGS LIVERPOOL REGT - contains JACKSON KINGS OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGT
JACKSON GRENADIER GUARDS - contains JACKSON HAMPSHIRE REGT
JOHNSON RAF - contains JOHNSON from all Regts
JOHNSON ?? - contains JOHNSON from all Regts
JONES RAF - contains JONES A CYC CORPS
JOWETT YORKSHIRE REGT - contains JOW* from all Regts
JOYCE LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE - contains JOYCE LINCOLNSHIRE REGT
K
Some KELLY MGC and RND are mixed in with the Manchesters
Some KNE* are to be found under KMOTT
233 names beginning with KIRK* from all Regiments are to be found under KIRK, YORKSHIRE REGT
KAY YORKS AND LANCS - contains KAY* and KEA* from all Regts
KEAM contains KEAN,KEEN and KEENE from all Regts
KEAM ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS - contains KEAN, KEEN and KEENE from RA, RAMC, AIF and BEDFORDSHIRE REGT
KEAT YORKS AND LANCS contains KEAT* from all regts
KELLY WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains KELLY YORKSHIRE REGT
KID RIFLE BRIGADE - contains KID* from the Scottish Regts
KIRBY YORKSHIRE REGT - contains KIRBY WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
KIRK YORKSHIRE REGT - contains KIRK* from all Regts
KNIGHT QORW SURREY REGT - contains KNIGHT SUFFOLK and SUSSEX REGTS
KNIGHT SUFFOLK REGT - contains KNIGHT SUSSEX REGT
L
Some names beginning with L are to be found under HISLOP.
LEA* start under LAZENBY
LO* start under LLWYD
LARGE are to be found under LAPDEN
LISTER (GALLIPOLI FILE) contains CORBETT A, DOWNER ARTHUR and FORBES ARTHUR G.
LAING RAF - contains LAING ASC, A&SH, AIF, BERKSHIRE REGT, BORDER REGT, and CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
LAMB WEST RIDING REGT - contains LAMB WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
LAWSON NORTHAMPTONSHIRE REGT - contains LAWSON NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
LAWTON WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains LAW* and LAX* from all Regts
LEE DCLI - contains LEE DLI
LEE EAST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains some LEE RE
LEE YORKS AND LANCS - contains LEE* from all Regts
LEONARD are filed under LEMON
LWEIS RA - contains LEWIS ESSEX REGT
M
"Mc" and "Mac" are all listed under MAC + the next letter of the name.
Some MacP* and McP* are to be found under MAC O.
Some MacO*, MacR*, McO* and McR* are to be found under MAC P (no Regiment)
The sub-sections for the names MOFFET (which contains MOFFET, MOFFAT, MOFFIT and MOFFITT) and MOFFIELS (which contains names mostly beginning with MOG*) are completely out of alphabetical sequence. They are at the very beginning of the names beginning with M and are easiest accessed by typing the letter M into the search engine.
MAC F RAF - contains MAC LABOUR CORPS and A&SH
MARSDEN WEST RIDING REGT - contains MARSDEN WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
MILLER ROYAL SCOTS - contains some MILLER, MILLAR and MELLOR WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
MOODY YORKS AND LANCS - contains MOO* from all Regts
N
Names beginning with NI* in the GALLIPOLI file are under MICHOLS
NEWTON, NEYLAND and NIBLOCK in the GALLIPOLI file are under MEWCOM
O
The first names beginning with O start under NYE
P
PITT Yorks and Lancs Regt contains names beginning with PITT* from other Regiments
POW* start under Povay
Some names starting with PRA* are to be found under PYROLI
PRESTON YORKSHIRE REGT - contains PRE* from all Regts
PERRY YORKSHIRE REGT - contains PERRY WEST YORKSHIRE REGT
Q
Names beginning with Q start under PYOTT
QUIN YORKS and LANCS - contains QUI* from all Regts
R
ROUTLEDGE - YORKSHIRE REGT contains about 48 names from all Regiments beginning with ROW
There are many names starting with RED* from all different Regiments under REDMOND WEST RIDING.
Some RILEY are to be found under RIMMER.
Names beginning with ROW* from all Regiments are also to be found under ROUTLEDGE (124), ROUTLEDGE YORKSHIRE REGT and ROYAL.
The index cards for the names REES(E) & REECE are missing
RADFORT YORKS AND LANCS - contains RAD* RAF
RAWLAND YORKS AND LANCS - contains RAW* and ROW* from all Regts
RAYMOND SUFFOLK REGT - contains RAX* and RAY* from all Regts
READ QO ROYAL WEST KENT REGT - contains READ, REED and RIED WEST RIDING, WEST YORKSHIRE and WILTSHIRE REGTS
READ DLI - contains READ, REED and RIED EAST YORKSHIRE REGT
REDMOND WEST RIDING REGT - contains RED* from all Regts
RENNI SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS - contains REN* from all Regts
RICHARDSON YORKSHIRE REGT - contains RICHARDSON and RIC* from all Regts
ROSE HERTFORDSHIRE REGT - contains ROSS HLI
ROSE MIDDLESEX REGT - contains ROSS MGC
ROWE YORKSHIRE REGT - contains ROW* from all Regts
RUSSELL ROYAL ENGINEERS are indexed under RUSSEL EAST YORKSHIRE REGT
S
Names beginning with S start under RYDING
SEYMOUR - YORKSHIRE REGT contains about 330 names from all Regiments beginning with SH and with the odd one or two starting with SC and SA.
SCHOFIELD and SHEFFIELD are to be found under SHEFFREY
SHAW WEST RIDING REGT contains SHAW for WEST YORKSHIRE, WILTSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE AND YORK AND LANCASTER REGIMENTS
SHEPHERD RN, RND are to be found under SHEPARD MANCHESTER REGT.
SHORT is under SHORE
SHEK*, SHEL*, SK*, SHEO* and some SCH* names are listed under SHEIDEGGER
SHAW GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains SHAW from other Regts
T
Names beginning with TE* start under TAYLORN
TURNER EAST KENTS are to be found under TURNER - DLI.
Names beginning with THORN* start under THORBY
THORPER contains names beginning with THR*,THU*, THW*, TI* THY* and some but not all TIL*
Names beginning with TOA*, TOB*, and TOC* are to found under TITCOMBE
Names beginning with TOD* to the start of TOM* are to be found under TODDINGTON
Names beginning with TOO* start under TOMMINS
Names beginning with TOR* start under TOOMER
Names beginning with TOU* start under TORRANCE
Names beginning with TOW* start under TOUL
Names beginning with TOWNS* start under TOWLER
Names beginning with TRA* start under TOWNSING
Names beginning with TRE* start under TRANTER
Names beginning with TRI* start under TREE
Names beginning with TRO* start under TRIGGER
Names beginning with TRU*, TRY*, TUB*, and TUC* are under TROWER
Names beginning with TUD*, TUE*, TUF*, TUG*, TUH*, TUI*, TUK* and TUL* are to be found under TUCKERMAN.
Names beginning with TUN*, TUP* and the start of names beginning with TUR* are under TUMBELTY
Names beginning with TUS*, TUT*, TUX*, TUZ*, TWA* and the start of TWE* are to be found under TURNEY.
Names beginning with TWI*, TWO*, TWY* and TY* are under TWELTREE
TAYLOR - WORCESTERSHIRE RGT (GALLIPOLI FILE) contains names beginning with TE* from other Regiments.
U
Names beginning with U start under TWELTREE
W
WAB*, WAC* and the start of WAD* are under WAAHAM
WAK* start under WAIR.
There are more miscellaneous WARD under WARD - ARTILLERY
WARD SUFFOLK REGT are also to be found under WARD NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
WAM*, WAN*, WAP* and the start of WAR* are under WALY
Some names beginning with WARN* are under WARDALE
WARNER is under WARMER
WAS*, the start of WAT* and names beginning with WATER* are under WARRENDER
WATERSON - Y & L also contains WATERS, WATERSON and WATERWORTH from other Regt’s
WATSON is to be found under WATNER
WEBS* start under WEBBER
WED* start under WEBSTON
WHEADON and WHEATLEY are under WHAEDON and WHAETLEY
WHITB* start under WHITAKES
WHITC* start under WHITBY
WILSON RN/RND are listed under WILSON MGC in the GALLIPOLI file.
WILSON WORCESTERSHIRE REGT (GALLIPOLI FILE) contains names beginning with WI* from all Regiments
WALKER WEST YORKSHIRE REGT - contains WALKER WILTSHIRE REGT and LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS
WATERSON YORKS AND LANCS - contains WATER* from other Regts
WATTS GOUCESTERSHIRE REGT - contains WATT and WATTS GORDON HIGHLANDERS
WATTS LINCOLNSHIRE REGT - contains WATT and WATTS LONDON REGT/ROYAL FUSILIERS
WEEKS WILTSHIRE REGT - contains WEEKS YORKSHIRE REGT
WILSON CAMBRIDGESHIRE REGT - contains WILSON from other Regts
Y
Many names beginning with Y are to be found under J eg YATES is found under JASPER.
