Historian Peter Barton has unearthed archive records from WW1 which may help relatives finally discover the whereabouts of fallen soldiers and fill in gaps in their family histories. The archives, which have laid virtually untouched since 1918, are at the Red Cross HQ in Geneva. It is estimated there could be 20 million records there in card indices and ledgers and the hope is now to digitise the records and put them on-line by 2014.
"[T]he capture, death, or burial of servicemen from over 30 nations drawn into the conflict; personal effects, home addresses and grave sites cover page after page" is recorded, the information being passed to the Red Cross by the various combatants. Incredibly no one has inquired about the records until now.
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