Research

We offer a research service for relatives of individuals who have served for a small donation, which is used to support the work of the Project. See details here: Research for you.

We carry out our research using primary and secondary source information and use the information these to create a time-line biography of the person. All the sources we use are fully referenced in our archive. Our database holds information on local people who served as far back as the Peninsula War and the Battle of Waterloo.

Some examples of primary sources that we use:
Birth, Marriage and Death records
Census records
Electoral and Burgess rolls
Medals and Awards rolls
Service records
Pension records
Silver War Badge rolls
Soldier's Effects records
Local hospital registers
Wills and Probate records
International Red Cross archives
War Diaries
Memorial inscriptions
Burial records

Some examples of secondary sources that we use:
Newspaper Archive records
Family stories
Personal accounts
Oral histories
Diary accounts

We also access several unique local archives held at Keighley Library:
Keighley News on Microfilm (WW1) (servicemen's names listed in index cards)
Keighley War Scrapbook (WW2) (servicemen's names listed in index cards)
Keighley's Gallant Sons (this book lists those who volunteered before conscription began)
Herbert A. France Archive [BK424] (He was a sub-editor for the Keighley News who saved everything in scrapbooks and diaries for the period)
6th Volunteer Battalion West Riding Regiment - Adjutant's Photo Album [BK34/1a] Local obituaries (names listed in index cards)
Keighley War Hospital - Register of Patients [BK39] over 13,000 names of patients, soldiers and other servicemen who were treated here between July 1916 and June 1919. This has been transcribed by us and we can search it for you very quickly.

If you are interested in working with us to carry out research we will be able to help you to locate and interpret these records.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to help.