Military Masterclass: Skills for tracing British Armed Forces Ancestors, 30 April & 7 May, with Graham Bandy

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Join us for a family history military masterclass with Graham Bandy. The two-part masterclass will equip you with knowledge of the key steps to take to trace your British Armed Forces ancestors, advising you on useful records to research, how to decipher and identify documents, medals, badges and old photographs, and how to put your ancestor’s military experiences in context.

Military Masterclass - BOOK NOW!

During the two-part Military Masterclass, military historian, writer and author Graham Bandy will explain how to trace an ancestors’ military career, whether officer or other ranks.

  • All three branches of the Armed Forces (British Army, Royal Navy and, since the early 20th century, the Royal Air Force) will be touched on
  • Examples of the key personnel records and unit records and historical sources will be provided, with advice on how to decode and decipher original military records;
  • Demonstrations of how to identify old photos, uniforms, badges and medal will be given;
  • Warnings of notable common mistakes will be advised, to enable you to make more accurate research deductions.

 

Who is this Military Masterclass for?

The Military Masterclass is aimed at people wishing to learn about the historic records which can help to trace those who served in the British Armed Forces over a two century period, 1760-1960


The guidance given will equip people both with practical tips to employ when conducting military research, and also provide many useful points for further reading and research.
 

VEDay 80th anniversary commemorative event

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day (8th May), part 2 of the Masterclass (7th May) will provide concentrated material on Second World War ancestors and the lead up to VE Day and VE Day itself.
 
The Military Masterclass with Graham Bandy aims to be a thoroughly enjoyable and informative class, taking place on two evenings, 7-9pm 30th April and 7th May.

How to attend the Military Masterclass:

The Military Masterclass will take place on Zoom on Wednesday 30 April and Wednesday 7 May, 7-9pm UK time with Graham Bandy, hosted by Family Tree. The online learning sessions will last up to 2 hours: with a presentation, followed by time for questions.

Get your ticket for £45 (£40 for Family Tree subscribers or members of Family Tree Plus).
Join Family Tree Plus for just £5, and you will save that £5 right away when you book your place on the Military Masterclass.

About the speaker:

Graham has been collecting militaria since he was a small child, when he started pestering the aged great-uncles from WW1 and 2 for badges and ephemera. He went on to serve in 2nd bn The Royal Anglian Regiment, later being commissioned as a Nursing Officer in QARANC, where he Nursed through the end of the former Yugoslavia crisis, Gulf War 2 and most of Afghanistan. Graham specialises in identifying military photos, and has an extensive WW1 and WW2 medical living history collection, which has led to several TV appearances, including Who Do You Think You Are?
Graham now spends his time writing books (see https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Graham-Bandy/a/4195), and helping people with their military “brick walls”, for instance via Facebook and the Society of Genealogists’ monthly Armed Forces Hour. Graham lives with his wife in a small village in East Sussex, where they are slowing drowning under his military artefacts, archives… and Warhammer.