Book Review: Tracing your Irish Ancestors through Land Records: A Guide for Family Historians” by Chris Paton (Pen & Sword Famly History, Yorkshire, 2021)

Genealogist and writer Chris Paton, originally from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, who now  lives in Scotland and runs the Scotland’s Greatest Story research service, has put together a fantastic book.   With a look at the turbulent history of the Emerald Isle, as well as details of the availability of records, plus where and how to find them, this book is an absolute must for anyone who has, or thinks they may have, Irish ancestors.  There are photographs, a detailed bibliography and an index.  

Some years ago, my husband and I met an elderly gentleman who had lost a leg at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy in the Second World War.   He told us that when war was declared in 1939, he had wanted to join the Royal Tank Corps. I don’t remember the exact details, but apparently the recruiting officer asked him to run round the block and dig up a Welsh relative. That would definitely be possible these days, due to a wonderful selection of books published by Pen and Sword – “Tracing your Welsh Ancestors”.  Facing the title page inside “Tracing your Irish Ancestors through Land Records: A Guide for Family Historians” is the awesome full list of those books, which is what made me think of that story.

Initially known as the Tank Corps, then the Royal Tank Corps, The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) is the oldest tank unit in the world. It was formed by the British Army in 1916 during the First World War. Today, it is the armoured regiment of the British Army's 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade and is part of the Royal Armoured Corps.   Incidentally, there is also a “Tracing your Tank Ancestors” on that list of Pen & Sword Family History books...

But I digress!  For further information about this and any of the Family History books from Pen & Sword, please visit their website https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Family-History/c/58 

Lucy London, May 2022