Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 16 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2005. It was answered by Ivor Caplin (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Ministry of Defence
- Question
- To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to safeguard the card records of medals issued to World War I personnel pending discussions with the Imperial War Museum, the Veterans' Association and others on a possible future home for their storage; and if he will make a statement.
- Answer
-
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with (a) the national record office at Kew and (b) Army archives about the First World War records at Hayes; [222708] (2) what steps he is taking to preserve the First World War records at Hayes. [222707] Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to preserve the medal index cards from the First World War for posterity. [222699] John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to safeguard the card records of medals issued to First World War personnel pending discussions with the Imperial War Museum, the Veterans' Association and others on a possible future home for their storage; and if he will make a statement. [223245] Mr. Caplin: The only collection of records relating solely to the First World War still held by the Ministry of Defence is the Army medal cards. More than 80 years after the end of the conflict, there is no administrative reason for the Ministry of Defence to hold the cards. The National Archives has microfilmed the front of these cards, which in most cases contains all the information they hold, and they are now available to researchers (in Class WO 372) in microfilmed format at Kew and through the National Archives website online. Ministry of Defence staff routinely discuss questions relating to records which may be worthy of permanent preservation with the National Archives staff, and both recognise the historical interest in the medal cards. With the agreement of the National Archives, the Ministry of Defence has been approaching institutions in the hope of finding one to which the cards could be presented. So far this exercise has been without success, but discussions continue.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 432 c782W; 223245
- Session
- 2004-05
- Subjects
- Army Conservation Archives Documents Medals Ministry of Defence World War I Departmental records
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
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- Timestamp
- 2022-04-25 14:45:01 +0100
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