In 2015, the Library launched its major WWI commemoration - a database that aimed to record the service of every man "associated" with the localities that now make up Moreton Bay Region. In the years since then, that rich dataset has lost its prominent place on the library website. This page will assist you to locate it and to use it effectively.
From the homepage, https://library.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/, select History & Heritage on the top menu bar and then scroll to the bottom of the page. In the left hand corner, under the heading World War 1 Collections, click Service Personnel.
Or you can start from here by clicking the image to the right which is linked directly to the active page. |
From this starting point, you have the option of Browsing through all the records in (alphabetical) order or Searching for particular entries. Although just how to do that is pretty well hidden. You need to imagine these big buttons and useful labels.
Since browsing will be slow and tedious, you should probably begin to search. Click on the Options button and then on the text Filter Results that appears beneath it. You will see this screen; most of which you can ignore.
To find a particular name, simply type it into the box beside the label Anywhere (which refers to the words being located in any part of the record, not just the title). When you hit the Search button (scroll down past all the Librarian stuff you are ignoring), you will see three results. In addition to the one you were expecting, there are two records for other men in which MacDonald's name is mentioned because they joined up together.
But you can do much more than search for the men's names. Perhaps you are interested in men from a particular occupation in a local area. (Notice that any of the top four boxes can be switched to search "Anywhere". Do it, always!)
But you can do much more than search for the men's names. Perhaps you are interested in men from a particular occupation in a local area. (Notice that any of the top four boxes can be switched to search "Anywhere". Do it, always!)
You could also combine place names with military terms. (Try Died of Wounds or Prisoner of War, as well.)
Notice that the AND operator can be flipped to OR at the end of each row. So if you are uncertain whether the old or new name of the township would have been used, search for North Pine OR Petrie.
There may be times when you get fewer results than expected (or even none at all). This might be because there are no records to find, but it could mean you have stacked up too many searches and they are conflicting. Look at the top of the results page. Each of the blue rectangles is a separate search, but I wanted all police who enlisted not just those in Petrie. I should have removed that first search (by clicking on the cross) before I started the next one.
That is much better.
Once you have identified the particular record that you want to use, simply click on the title in the results list.
This is what you will see, except that on this copy all the material that is included for the benefit of Librarians has been struck out, leaving just the pieces that are valuable for family history researchers. Once you have examined a few records, you will quickly recognise the "good bits". Pay special attention to the long line right at the bottom (labelled Bookmark Link). That is the key to getting directly back to this record without needing to search again. Save it now! |