If I have multiple files containing an identical skeleton, but different animations. Is it possible to combine these into one file?
Just to clarify. I want to bring the animations from one blender file into another. The skeleton in each blender file is identical.
I hope that was understandable 
Thank you for any help 
Yes . File -> Append or Link (Shift F1) and then select the file you want to link/append the animation from, and in that file’s internal directories select the Action directory and just select the actions/animations you want …
Oh… that’s great! Now I feel like such a n00b Thank you very much
See this animation, this has 4 characters, same Armature, DIfferent Actions. One Blend File.
and there is my video walkthru on integrating Actions: http://www.vimeo.com/1241784
which goes with the wiki tutorial