De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918
Originally published in five volumes, Marquis De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour features biographies of over 26,000 Army, Navy and Air Force men (both officers and other ranks) killed in the Great War. 7,000 of these include photographs.
About De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour
The notion of an all-encompassing biographical listing of each serviceman killed in the Great War, at the war's outset, would have seemed perfectly feasible. In the early months a quick, easy victory was expected, and would-be soldiers volunteered in their droves. For many, at this stage, their main fear was not one of death, but that the war would have ended before they saw any action.
It quickly became clear, however, that the war would be long-lasting; the disasters of 1916 and 1917 making those early months of patriotic optimism seem a distant memory. By then it was perfectly clear that the De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour’s ambitions were entirely unachievable. Nonetheless, this roll offers a unique glimpse at over 26,000 men who gave their lives, and stands as a tribute both to the men themselves and the perseverance of the roll’s compilers.
What's included?
The length and style of the entries varies considerably. Where official sources have been used, the detail is restricted to the man's regiment and place and date of death. Where the family has been consulted, however, the entries are much more detailed and, for both officers and men, can extend to well over 1,000 words, detailing their pre-war life and exact circumstances of death.
Over a quarter of entries include photographs of the deceased, but these do differ in quality due to their age and the varying sources the Marquis De Ruvigny obtained them from.
Which period of the Great War is covered?
The majority of the biographies relate to deaths in the early years of the war, although there is some coverage of deaths in 1917 and 1918, too.
What's the cost?
It costs 10 credits to view a De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour record, regardless of the amount of detail or whether or not a photograph is featured. It is free to view the De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour records if you have an Explorer subscription. De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour scrolls can be purchased at a cost of 50 credits.
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If you can't find the entry you want in De Ruvigny's Roll Of Honour and it's an army death, then there's a good chance you'll find it among our Soldiers Died in the Great War records.
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