National Archives - Kew Tips?

I'm well beyond the diminishing returns scenario with my project and hopefully will be at Kew on Tuesday for a "long" session, all being well, to go even further down this path...

Armed with camera, batteries and the usual lists of items to hopefully complete some this time round...

 

Well done Graham. It sounds like you had a very productive day and the preparation really paid off.

Lee

 

Hi All,
Yes I had a great experience and can't wait to go again. Yes the 7 P's really paid off! The help here was invaluable next visit will be a cinch. For those that offer copying services you really do earn your money. I am busy writing up now, but it will not be a quick job, it is a labour of love.

Thanks again,

Graham

 

The long days from 9 am to 7 pm almost constant copying can be a killer. I always have a backache and headache the next day.

Although the copying at Kew is only half the job what with sorting out the images, zipping them up, uploading to server, the correspondence, etc. Forunately I've automated most of that stuff to a large extent.

Not complaining by the way, still a much better way of earning a living than working duwn pit.

Hi All,
Yes I had a great experience and can't wait to go again. Yes the 7 P's really paid off! The help here was invaluable next visit will be a cinch. For those that offer copying services you really do earn your money. I am busy writing up now, but it will not be a quick job, it is a labour of love.

Thanks again,

Graham

 

Coffee at 0830 and no break (excluding a chat with Mr B43) until closing - 1593 images to sort and hopefully another session on Thursday...

 

Coffee at 0830 and no break (excluding a chat with Mr B43) until closing - 1593 images to sort and hopefully another session on Thursday...

It is true, you could barely see his head under all those files!

 

The 3rd Indian WO172's are monsters...!
Booked on 19E (possibly) for another full days worth so coffee at 0830 in the morning... packed out on the carbs tonight so ready for the off... and most importantly... ALL the batteries are charged this time...

Zeezee's assisted with another project so dipping into a file or two for her family project too with any luck...

 

Where could I find the missing files for Royal Marines? I know they are not WO 361 (war office) so would come under ADM, but does anybody know where the missing files are for 45 Commando?

Looking for information on Lt. Peter Stanley Winston (taken prisoner and liberated) and Mne. Donald (PW) who parachuted with the 6th Airborne Division on D-Day.

 

Wish you luck with that one...

My day was curtailed by a family emergency but I now have 2800 images of files to process, and for my project found some significant material...

Curiously enough it transpired I was sitting back-to-back with Jedburgh... a charming gentleman to meet and hopefully we'll bump into each other again soon, once I get the clear space for a BL trip, mind you...

 

Thought I'd bump this excellent thread as I'm getting a fair few requests for advice and tips. This thread explains it all far better than me and it's what I used the first time I went to Kew, which went as smooth as Owen in the 80's on a garrison night club floor :p

 

Planning a few trips to TNA late Jan/early Feb with my Australian mate who is over for 8 days.
What is the current state re car parking - is it still free?
Are spaces usually available?

 

Yes and yes - went last Saturday.

 

Cheers for that Idler, spaces usually available weekdays?

 

I usually go on Saturdays, but did a Thursday near the beginning of December and had no problem getting a space. I got there about nine, so it might have filled up later...

 

Cheers mate, that helps me a lot.

 

The car park does get full as I'm sure folk who commute or work in the area park in there. Get there between 830am and 10am and you shouldn't have a problem. I wouldn't wait until lucnhtime to arrive.

 

Thanks Drew, unfortunately it seems we won't get to meet you there with your enforced absence, but I will keep your chair warm on table 5 (that still the preferred WW2Talk table?).

 

Mike
I have been up here all week, and some of next week too! TomTas met me last Tuesday and there were plenty of spaces when he arrived (before 8am!!!) (yes still free)
so we had plenty of time for breakfast in a local cafe before our industrious day!
I commute across from east london on the jolly tube system, takes me an hour (ish) each way

I won't probably be back up for a while now as 1) Mrs ABE might have something to say about another week + away, 2) my free accommodation is soon to be no more as my granddaughter wants her room back!!

Have fun

Andy

 

Cheers Andy, we are planning a few days searching and copying from Tuesday 29th onwards until we either find everything we are looking for (most unlikely) or Mike B has to go back to Oz (almost certainly).
Although I am in Hornchurch, on the District Line, it takes an hour and a half to get to Kew so as there will be 2 of us I will probably drive most days.
We are searching for more about 2 Mk1 LCTs lost in Crete and are meeting a surviving Skipper (94 years young) and another Vets daughter for a video recorded interview before we go to TNA.
BrianM59 is recording the interview for us - Thanks Brian!!!.

 

Mike
I used to live in Hornchurch so used to do that journey often- hated it. Now though its much nicer as i get the DLR then tube from Tower Hill, and have it down to a fine art.... hope you find the information you are looking for, I now bulk order, so much easier to start with 50 files and work on them, have had 3 of those this week, now just need to catalogue them, then start on going through them all (reminds me must have some sort of plan in place for when I get home!0