Geoff's Search Engine for ww2

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by museumtom, Nov 20, 2007.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just like to apologise to Geoff as in Rich's Lancastria Graves thread I said I couldn't find someone with Geoff's Serch Engine.
    Well I had found him, I'd just didn't realise I had the correct result until I checked the name with the chap at work.

    All I used to search for this chap was 17/06/1940, Wiltshire and ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS.

    3 results one of which was the man I was after.

    Geoff's Search Engine strikes again!!!

    :)
     
  2. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Just like to apologise to Geoff as in Rich's Lancastria Graves thread I said I couldn't find someone with Geoff's Serch Engine.

    :)

    Search engines? Never trust 'em :mad:
     
  3. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    Geoff,

    A question I've been meaning to ask for some time is, "What does the CWGC think of your Search Engine?" Indeed, have you told anyone at the Commission?

    Sorry if this has already been asked/answered. Couldn't find anything through Search.

    Steve W.
     
  4. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Geoff,
    A question I've been meaning to ask for some time is, "What does the CWGC think of your Search Engine?" Indeed, have you told anyone at the Commission?
    Steve W.

    A good question and my answer is, I have no idea and no, I've not contacted them or they I.
    I'm sure they are aware of it, having certainly being told of its existence and probably they also visit GWF, etc.
    I understand from a reliable source that they plan to enhance their on-line search in the future. What and when I do not know. It may be faster and more accurate than my effort but I'm not sure it will have all the features. Who knows?
    To put things into perspective, they get 20,000 requests for information world wide per year by letter, email or telephone. My search engines have clocked up 83,000 searches in 15 months. Sure its much easier to punch something into an on-line form, but the figures must show a real need.

    I'd love to know what they really think, should I ask? Would they have said already if willing to comment?

    One possibility is they could pull the plug on my system. I hope not. I could have pulled the plug myself considering recent developments. But then I thought about Why I did this and would it be appropriate. There is only one answer.

    Have a great new year, whatever you're doing.

    Geoff
     
    von Poop likes this.
  5. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Geoff... please don't junk your search engine!! The number of hits you get shows there is a need for it, and I suspect any site developments with CWGC are a long way off.

    Plus your work is very much appreciated by many here, and probably a silent majority in other places.
     
  6. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Geoff... please don't junk your search engine!! The number of hits you get shows there is a need for it, and I suspect any site developments with CWGC are a long way off.

    Plus your work is very much appreciated by many here, and probably a silent majority in other places.

    No worries,

    Geoff

    ps bit shocking not even a MBE, Henman got a OBE for not winning Wimbledon:sign_rofl:
     
  7. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Well Geoff, Good name also!

    With the help of your "engine" I was able to extract an extra 202 Australians who were killed/died while in the RAF and listed as United Kigdom. This brought my total from 10,835 to 11,037. There will still be more due to the fact that I was searching for "Australia" however I have not devised a way to extract any more with the search parameters available.

    With respect to WW1 RFC/RNAS/RAF I extracted another 34 which brought my total to 328 from 298.

    The Australian War Memorial are usually very obliging with information however this is not so with their "Commemorative Roll". Unless you know the name, you are unable to check.

    The Commemorative Roll records the names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour. It includes those Australians who died while members of Allied Forces, the Merchant Navy, philanthropic organisations attached to the forces, or as war correspondents or photographers.
    Please read the Introduction for information about the background and content of the Commemorative Roll. The Introduction also includes search tips.


    It describes an advanced search however there isn't one.
    Australian War Memorial - Commemorative Roll

    When I contacted them to get a copy of the database as a researcher they said the book was at the War Memorial in Canberra. Simply, I would have to go to Canberra from Melbourne 600kms (same as London to Edinburgh) and write the names down one by one for both wars.

    I have been lucky to date with a few as I have used the same names as I already have. I found brothers who were not placed together on the Australian roll of honour because one joined the RFC in England.

    Hopefully I will find a way to get a hold of that database in the future.
     
  8. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    I'd love to know what they really think, should I ask? Would they have said already if willing to comment?

    Geoff

    I have a couple of contacts at the Commission: people who I think would comment (and favourably). Would you like me to call them?

    Best to you for '09.

    Steve W.
     
  9. AndyBaldEagle

    AndyBaldEagle Very Senior Member

    As I put on an other thread I only used your Search engine in earnest the other day for my list of chaps I cant find! Not only have I found/identified them as spelling was slightly off, but with some different combinations I have found some I didnt know about at all!! So more for me to add.

    Great thing to use, I will be using or asking for help no doubt when I get totally confused!!!

    Andy
     
  10. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Would you like me to call them?


    Give them a call.



    WW2 Searches for 2008:


    http://www.********.co.uk/WW2talk/W2searches2008.jpg
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Geoff,
    Not wanting to remain part of the silent majority, I really wouldn't have got started with my IG research if it weren't for your search engine.

    Thanks again, and a happy New Year to you,
    D
     
  12. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Geoff,
    Not wanting to remain part of the silent majority, I really wouldn't have got started with my IG research if it weren't for your search engine.

    Thanks again, and a happy New Year to you,
    D

    Diane,

    I learned many years ago that if you give something away free on the internet, most people just take it and run. Suppose I've been guilty of this myself. There is a silent majority.
    I'm very pleased that you found it helpful for your IG database. Thank you for the feedback and good luck with your continued work.

    Have a great new year.

    geoff
     
  13. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    The Australian War Memorial are usually very obliging with information however this is not so with their "Commemorative Roll". Unless you know the name, you are unable to check.

    It describes an advanced search however there isn't one.


    Yes there is, Spidge. I just found it (through a bit of guesswork). Looking at the URLs for the ROH and its advanced search:

    Roll of Honour:
    Australian War Memorial - Roll of Honour
    Australian War Memorial - Roll of Honour

    I tried adding on the extra characters to Commemorative Roll URL:
    Australian War Memorial - Commemorative Roll
    Australian War Memorial - Commemorative Roll

    And it works! Strange that they have no link to it on the simple search option. The advanced search is mentioned in the search tips section but they just seem to have forgotten to provide the link anywhere. Maybe someone should tell them?

    I find the advanced search of the Roll of Honour particularly handy, as you're able to put in the name of a ship in the unit field to get the casualties.

    regards,
    Martin
     
  14. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    I've sent an email to the Webmaster of the AWM site suggesting that a link to the advanced search be placed on the basic search page, similar to the Roll of Honour.
     
  15. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Yes there is, Spidge. I just found it (through a bit of guesswork). Looking at the URLs for the ROH and its advanced search:

    Roll of Honour:
    Australian War Memorial - Roll of Honour
    Australian War Memorial - Roll of Honour

    I tried adding on the extra characters to Commemorative Roll URL:
    Australian War Memorial - Commemorative Roll
    Australian War Memorial - Commemorative Roll

    And it works! Strange that they have no link to it on the simple search option. The advanced search is mentioned in the search tips section but they just seem to have forgotten to provide the link anywhere. Maybe someone should tell them?

    I find the advanced search of the Roll of Honour particularly handy, as you're able to put in the name of a ship in the unit field to get the casualties.

    regards,
    Martin

    Hi Martin,

    Well done and thank you for your interest.

    I have tried it however it seems that you still need to know the surname or date of death or both. I do not know who I am looking for until I see the names in total.

    I wonder if you could add a letter /A for it to give you all those names?

    That is the situation that frustrates me. If I had a name, all of the information is freely available.

    What makes it further frustrating, is that I can place Merchant Navy in the box and the WW2 for the conflict and it comes up with 648 names.[​IMG]

    The only other option is to go to the War Memorial and photograph each page which is feasible these days with a good digital camera.

    This is what I did with the Point Cook archive files and it worked very well.

    Cheers

    Geoff
     
  16. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Its possible I could create a WW1 AIF search engine, just like my other efforts; I have all the necessary tools and information. But would it be useful? Would they mind? (don't think I broke any rules with the others;))
    It would be a different challenge, I've identified around 44 different fields, although not all are used in every records. Food for thought...

    B)
     
  17. Martin Elliget

    Martin Elliget Senior Member

    Spidge.

    There doesn't seem to be many names, in total, in the AWM's Commemorative Roll. Using the advanced search, a search on each service for all conflicts (no names), returns the following totals:

    Allied Forces = 20
    Australian Munitions Workers = 45
    Australian War Workers = 18
    Civilians = 0
    Merchant Navy = 829
    Other Forces = 7
    Photographer = 0



    That's only a total of 919. Why so few, I wonder?

    regards,
    Martin
     
  18. Jerome

    Jerome Junior Member

    Geoff, Your search engine was suggested to me by Kyt at WW2 Chat and I just want to say what a fantastic service it is. At last I now have the means to search the CWGC more effectively. It is sad that only a handful of those killed in the war have their names recorded on the POS St James Memorial. With your SE, I hope to compile a list of all Trinidadians – specifically -, and West Indians, generally, with the intention of presenting same to the folks at City Hall so see if somehow these names can be placed on or near to, our Cenotaph (which record only WW1 casualties). Again, a big thank you.
     
  19. GPRegt

    GPRegt Senior Member

    Have been researching my Grandad's Tunnelling Company (175) and the Engine was superb in finding all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

    Cheers

    Steve W.
     
  20. Pete Keane

    Pete Keane Senior Member

    Excellent resource, going to be very useful !
     

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