In October 2015 the Society held a seminar at the Kilmore Library on “Researching your World War One soldier”. The following notes were distributed at the seminar and briefly outline how research was carried out in preparing the WWI profiles published in the local newspaper, the North Central Review and later added to our website.

Researching your World War One soldier, seminar held by Kilmore Historical Society at Kilmore Library, 25 October 2015.

PRIVACY – Not an issue

The example shown is based on the records of Claus Valdemar GRONN

Starting point

C. V. Gronn is listed on the following Rolls

• Kilmore Shire Honour Roll – Kilmore Memorial Hall
• Kilmore State School – Honour Roll
• Kilmore Presbyterian Church – Honour Roll

First step

National Archives of Australia web site, search for Gronn 4788 (http://www.naa.gov.au/)

Second step

Check Victorian Births Index for his birth in Kilmore (http://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/home/family+history/search+your+family+history/)
Found in 1897
Then search for his death – found in 1976

Third step

Search the Australian War Memorial web site (https://www.awm.gov.au/)

Fourth Step

Learn about the 7th Battalion
General search on the internet (https://www.google.com.au/advanced_search?hl=en)

Fifth Step

Search the online old newspapers on Trove (http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/search?adv=y)

Sixth Step

Search local cemetery web sites for his burial/cremation (http://smct.org.au/deceasedsearch/)

Seventh Step

Search the Victorian Public Records Office web site for wills (http://prov.vic.gov.au/research/wills-and-probate)

Other sources

Deceased Soldiers

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission – try Francis Patrick Anderson Regimental No 9 (http://www.cwgc.org/)
• Department of Veteran’s Affairs (http://www.dva.gov.au/commemorations-memorials-and-war-graves)
• Anzac Story (http://www.anzacs.net/AnzacStory.htm)
• Victorian WWI data base (http://vic.ww1anzac.com/)
• Ryerson Index – more recent death notices in newspapers index (http://www.ryersonindex.org/)
• State Library of Victoria (http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/)

Books

Books held by the Mitchell Shire Public Library Service (http://swft.msls.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/)

Useful Booklets published by UNLOCK the Past (http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/)

• The War to End War – Tracing your Great War Australian military ancestors, Neil C Smith
• Trove – discover genealogy treasure in the National Library of Australia, Shauna Hicks

Grahame Thom
Kilmore Historical Society