Free Online Records: Myth Setting

Supporting guides

• Free or Paid: How Do I Tell?
  Tell free from paid by checking the holder's own pages, not a search result snippet. Official archives state what is free to view, what is free to download, and what carries a copy or research charge, and those terms differ by series.
• What Can I See Free at The National Archives?
  The National Archives offers free catalogue searching and some free digitised series, with other series available on site or through partners. The free set changes as digitisation proceeds, so check the current research guides rather than relying on an old list.
• Free Index, Paid Copy: What Is the Difference?
  A free index gives names and references, while the full record copy may carry a charge or require a visit. An index entry is a lead, not the record, so budget for the copy step when the index is all you have.
• Are War Graves Records Free Online?
  Commonwealth War Graves Commission records are searchable online without charge through the Commission's own site, giving commemoration details for those it commemorates. That search is a commemoration record, not a service record, so use it alongside the service file.
• Is The Gazette Free Online?
  The Gazette is the official public record and its archive is searchable online without charge. It is free to search, which makes it one of the most reliable free starting points for awards, commissions and notices.
• What Do Service Museums Offer Free Online?
  Service museums offer free online collection searches, histories and research guidance, with depth varying by museum. Museum sites are best for context and object records, while personal service files remain with the official holders.
• Are Commercial Genealogy Sites Free?
  Commercial genealogy sites generally charge for full access, with free trials or free indexes that do not include the full record. A free index on a commercial site is still a lead to the official holder, not a substitute for the record.
• What If a Record Is Not Digitised at All?
  A record that is not digitised can still be consulted on site at the holding archive, or ordered as a copy where the holder offers that service. Digitisation is a convenience, not the record itself, and absence online is not absence from the archive.
• What Are the Common Free Online Myths?
  Common myths include that all service records are online, that a single site holds every service, and that a free search that finds nothing proves a person did not serve. Each myth fails on the same point: holdings differ by service, date and digitisation.
• How Do I Plan Research Around Free Sources?
  Plan in this order: free indexes and official catalogues first, then free full records, then paid copies only for the records that matter. That order keeps costs tied to records you have already proved relevant.
• Are Free Online Transcriptions Reliable?
  Transcriptions, free or paid, are readings of a record, not the record itself. Check any transcription that matters against the original image or the holder's catalogue entry, especially for names, numbers and dates.