Page 167 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects

Irish Kings, but in the very early vice preserved in the Public Record
days boih of these were somewhat Office include those of members of
numerous and most of the records the British Amy before 1900 and
those of members of the Royal
were handed down by word of
mouth, so one cannot vouch for Navy before about 1910, also those
their accuracy. Furthermore, the of other ranks (but not oficers) of
records, such as they are. pass only the Royal Marines before 1901 and
from father to eldest son and no of members of the Royal Irish Con-
details are given with regard to stabulary. They may be inspected
other relatives. Neither is there a without charge by the holders of
Tickets.
record of births, deaths or mar- Readers'
Temporary
riages, except in so far as the really Readers' Tickets, valid for 7 days,
outstanding individuals are con- may be obtained on a personal
cerned.
application at the Enquiries Desk.
The English are in many cases Application forms for three-yearly
somewhar reluctant to delve into the Readers' Tickets and copies of In-
formation for Readers will be sent
past. There is often the fear of
finding an ancestor who was born on request.
There is no general index to ser-
out of wedlock. Tliere is also a
reluctance to bring 10 light many vice records and without a certain
of the Iowly forebears, but if one amount of preliminary information
remembers the old saying that for- search is not feasible. In general it
tunes are made and lost every four is necessary to know the name (and
generations, then one can more number if possible). service. rank,
readily accept the good with the ship or regiment and dates of ser-
bad. After all, in these modern vice. Where medals are heId. this
times there is no slur on one's information will be found engraved
character even if an ancestor, of
on the rim. Records of service
Say, three hundred years ago, was have been kept in various ways in
illegitimate or if he earned his liv- different services and at different
ing as a crossing sweeper. The fact times; for certain periods records of
tIiat we are in better circumstances some kinds of service have not sur-
today should be adequate recom- vived, while for others, patticularly
pense and we can look back over before the nineteenth century, the
the years with pride. Conversely, if records of service do not give much
we find ourselves to be in a more information of a personal nature.
IowIy position than that occupied There can, therefore, be no guaran-
by the ancestor - then we can be tee that the record of service of any
inordinately proud of that ancestor. particular person can be traced or
that, if it is traced, it will necessarily
Records oE Service Fionourable East be cornplete or supply the particular
India Company and Indian Govern- information sought. The Public
ment - Records of service of Euro- Record Office reserves the right to
pean members prior to indepen- decline to make a search. When a
dence are preserved in the India search has been made, the fee will
Office of Records, Commonwealth be retained whether or not any posi-
Records Office, King Charles Street. tive result has been obtained.
London S.W.1. Alternative] y the Public Record
Office is prepared, for a fee of
Records of Service of Members of f3 Os. Od. (£3 5s. Od. for correspon-
the Anned Forces - Records of ser- dents overseas) per search to search
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