BS: Forces War Records (UK related)

Subject: RE: BS: Forces War Records
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 02:12 PM

If you we're a Canuck, you'd write a goddamned letter! I know I would. That is outlandish!

Subject: RE: BS: Forces War Records
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 02:03 PM

The Forces War Records website states:-

"Forces War Records is the definitive location for military genealogy records from WW2, WW1, Boer War, Crimean War and beyond. Our Military Records site is the ONLY location where you can find military records of over 4 million British Armed Forces personnel exclusively cross matched with over 4000 Regiments, Bases and Ships of the British Armed Forces going back to before 1350, making your military genealogy task much easier and more complete"


A pretty clear indication of what one should expect on the site I would think.

Subject: BS: Forces War Records
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 29 Jan 13 - 01:58 PM

Has anyone else had poor or no results from the Forces War Records website. I have searched for any information about both grandfathers, my father, my uncle, my great uncle, my wifes father and her brother and there is no mention of any of them, at all.

I contacted Forces War Records and received what I can only describe a literary two fingered salute. I quote:-

"Unfortunately, we can only provide access to all of the records we hold, to which sir you purchased full access.

I''m sorry you''ve experienced any problems using our site, we take all complaints very seriously.

Could you please state exactly where on our pages we have stated we can provide the information that you have now found we do not have."

Not the response I expected from the site. They go on to say:-

"Please try to provide the exact wording and the page where this is stated, as we can''t consider assumptions as I am sure you can understand we don''t know what members are searching for (if anything specifically) before they pay for the full membership"

I would have thought it was obvious that I was searching for records pertaing to seven members of my family who all served in the forces. Three during WW1, three during WW2 and one in the 1960's and 70's

I would have considered it "normal" on a site that portrays itself as "Forces War Records" that those records are EXACTLY the things that people such as myself are looking for.

I will NOT be renewing my membership and would advise others to think carefully before joining the site and, if my experience is anything to go by, wasting their money.

Just one final remark, the punctuation in the quotation marks is copied verbatim from their response to me.