Hints and Tips to Help You Discover the Story of Your Family at War

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII


This Section is under construction, more information will be added soon.

This page provides a selection of hints and tips to help you discover the story of your family at war.

With a section for The Great War 1914-1918 and another for The Second World War 1939-1945

We are also working on a list fo Frequently asked questions for The Great War 1914-1918 and another for The Second World War 1939-1945

Please add the story of your family member to our website so that their contribution can be remembered.



The Great War 1914-1918



Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund supporting our TimeSlides Event,

we now have a Great War Family History Leaflet and accompanying sheet to record your discoveries available to download and print.

  • Search for Records of those who served:



  • Casualties of War

    • The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provide a searchable database of those buried in war graves or commemorated on memorials under their care. This is the most complete listing of British and Commonwealth personnel, with almost all names listed.
    Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
    Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, provides information on soldiers who lost thier lives, often recording thier home town, it is available via Ancestry.co.uk originally published in 1921 by His Majesty's Stationery Office these books give details of over seven hundred thousand men serving in the British Army who were killed in action or died of wounds or disease. It is also known as "HMSO listings of War Dead"
    Silver War Badge
    The Silver War Badge was given to injured and ill servicemen to show they had done their duty, each badge has a unique number and records are available via Ancestry.co.uk These records provide details of dates and injuries or illnesses suffered.

  • Looking at Photographs

    • Uniforms and Badges
    Our Army Cap Badge page is under construction, but most are now available to view.
    The Photo Detective website has some excelent examples to help you identify uniforms and badges.

  • British Army

    Cap Badges
    Our Cap Badge page is under construction, but most are now available to view.
    Medal Cards
    Medal cards give the entitlement to service medals for the Great War and are the most complete record of those who served, unfortuantley not all cards survive.
    Copies of Medal Cards are available via Ancestry.co.uk

    Copies of Medal Cards are also available via The National Archives a fee of £2 is charged.
    Life at the Front
    The Long Long Trail website is an excellent resource for finding out more about the actions your relative was involved in. By sifting through the information listed for the regimental battalions(s) and division(s) for dates served, you can gain a good over view of life at the front.
    Army Service Numbers
    Paul Nixon's excellent website with information about regimental numbers and the dates on which these were issued to soldiers joining the British Army between 1881 and 1918.British Army Service Numbers 1881-1918

  • Royal Navy

    Ratings Service Records
    The service records of seamen serving in the Royal Navy are available via the National Archives: Registers of Seamen's Service
    Royal Naval Officers' Service Records
    Royal Naval Officers' Service Records are available online via The National Archives: RN Officer's Service Records
    Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS)
    Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) Service Records are available online via The National Archives
    Surface Ships
    World War 1 Naval Combat is an excellent site to find out more about the war at sea, with information about the major battles and individual ships.
    WW1 - The Martime War is another very informative website with lots of detail about life at sea.

  • Royal Flying Corps & Royal Air Force

    Officers Records
    RAF Officers Records 1918-1922 are available online via The National Archives.
    Some RFC medal cards are available online via The National Archives a fee of £2 is charged.
    Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF)
    Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) Service Records are available online via The National Archives

  • Australian Army

    • Service Records
    All Australian WW1 service records (series B2455) have been digitised and are available to view online: Search by Name

  • Australian Flying Corps

    • Service Records
    Some Australian WW1 Naval service records (series B2455) have been digitised and are available to view online: Search by Name

  • Royal Australian Navy

    • Service Records
    Search for a record

  • Canadian Army

    • Records
    Search for records of Soldiers, nurses and chaplains of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
    Last Post on the web has a searchable database of death notices for Canadian war veterans from The Great War

  • Indian Army


  • South African Army


  • New Zealand Army


  • US Army

    • World War I Draft Registration Cards, American Soldiers of World War I - Death Index and World War I - U.S. Naval Deaths
    Records are available via Ancestry.co.uk
    The LDS (Mormon) Church has microfilmed the records World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 for soldiers of the USA, you can obtain copies of the cards from the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City or the microfilm rolls can be ordered for viewing and photocopying from local Family History Centers for a small fee. Their website is: http://www.familysearch.org/

  • Medical Services

    • British Nursing Service Records
    Nursing Service Records for the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve) and the Territorial Force Nursing Service are available online via The National Archives
    Australian Army Nursing Service
    The WW1 service records (series B2455) have been digitised and are available to view online: Search by Name

  • Non Combatants

    Australian
    The records of Australian non-combatants such as artists, photographers, chaplains, nurses, and historians (series B2455) have been digitised and are available to view online: Search by Name

  • Books

    Books are perhaps one of the best ways to learn more about what your relative went through in the Great War.
    Naval and Military Press have a fantastic range of books on almost every military subject at very competative prices
    We also have a list of Great War Books which may be of assistance.



    Frequently Asked Questions - The Great War 1914-1918



  • Why did my relative serve in a regiment which was not local to his home?
    • At the outbreak of war many men were already serving with the Territorial Army with regiments based close to their home towns, these men were called up at once and began their war service with the same regiment. In the first few months of the war Lord Kitchener appealed for men to join the armed forces and the "Pals Battalions" were formed, with men who lived or worked in the same area joining up together and going to war with these locally based units. However, the nature of the brutal fighting meant that in a particular battle many hundreds of men from the same towns were being killed or wounded on the same day. This had a very negative effect on moral at home and at the front.
    • By the beginning of 1916 enthusiasm for volunteering had diminished and conscription was introduced, new recruits were no longer sent to join their local Regiment, but sent to join which ever unit needed replacements.
    • Skilled men who had volunteered early in the war, were also "conscripted" from the army back to the home front to undertake vital war work such as munitions manufacture and ship building.
  • Why did my relative change regiments?
    • The most common reason for changing regiment is following a spell in hospital. When a man was injured at the front and required treatment in hospital, his place in the front line would have to be filled by another. By the time the man was fit enough to return, his regiment might be fully manned, so he would be sent to join another regiment to replace another injured man.
    • Sometimes men to be transferred to fill a skills gap in another unit, sometimes permanently, sometimes as attached. Look out for the abbreviation att. on records.
    • Men who joined up as Private soldiers and then received a Commission, would be allocated to which ever regiment required new officers, on completing their training.
  • I can't find out where my relative's battalion served, how can I get this information?
    • Some battalions are easier to find than others, many have excellent books which will spell out their experience in detail, but often it is easier to follow the movements of the Division to which they were attached. The website The Long Long Trail has some excellent pages explaining the structure of the army and details the major battles by Division.
    • Reading the stories others have already posted on this site for a particular battalion can give you some good clues as to where to search for more information. Jot down the facts others have mentioned, such as places, dates and battles, you'll be surprised how much more you can find out by searching the web once you have a few facts to hand
  • Why is my relative not listed on your website?
    • All names listed on this website have been submitted by friends and relatives of those listed or by other interested parties such as those researching their local war memorial or taking part in community history schemes. If you know of someone whose name you would like to add to the website please add thier details via our online form, if possible please also write up what you know about them so that others may learn from and possibly add to their story.
  • Can't you do the research for me?
    • The aim of our project is to encourage everyone to learn more about the Great War and we simply don't have enough volunteers to undertake research for everyone, plus half the fun of Family History is finding out for yourself. But if you're stuck, why not ask a question on our Facebook Page?

Don't forget to share your stories with us!

Add Your Story


The Second World War 1939-1945

  • Obtaining Records.

    • Service Records
    Service Records for British Service Personnel in WW2 are only available to the person themselves, if he or she has died, to his or her immediate next of kin. Proof of identity will be required. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring, or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. For further information please see: www.veterans-uk.info
    Replacing Medals
    Replacement medals will not be issued by the British Government if they have been lost. For more information please see: Replacing campaign medals

  • Looking at Photographs

    • Uniforms and Badges
    The Photo Detective website has some excelent examples to help you identify uniforms and badges.

  • British Army


  • Royal Navy


  • Royal Air Force


  • Women's Land Army

    • Records of Service
    for those who served in England, Scotland and Wales records are available to view on microfiche at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. The microfilm you need to ask for is: Series: MAF 421: Ministry of Food: Women's Land Army: Index to Service Records of the Second World War 1939-1948.
    Women's Land Army Badge
    To apply for the badge you need to complete an application form, these are available by writting to: Women's Land Army Unit, Defra, 5E Millbank, c/o 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR or send an email to: womenslandarmy@defra.gsi.gov.uk or telephone the Defra Helpline on 08459 335577 or you can Download the Application Form

    For further information please see the Defra website Badges currently cannot be awarded posthumously.


  • British and Commonwealth Prisoners of War 1939-45

    • POW Records
    These books give an alphabetical list of all 169,000 men and camp locations of in German occupied territories:

    Prisoners of War British Army 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-61-4

    Prisoners of War Armies and other land forces of the British Empire 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-63-0

    Prisoners of War Naval and Airforces of Great Britain and the Empire 1939-1945, By J.B.Hayward and son. ISBN No 0-903754-62-2

    These books can be ordered for loan for a small fee from your local library.

    or can be accessed online via Ancestry.co.uk

    British Prisoners of War Record Cards
    The pension agency has copies of prisoners of war record cards and will send one free of charge to POW's or their close relatives. You will need to send proof of ID, such as a birth certificate, they will return your documents by recorded delivery. The address is:

    War Pensions Agency, Norcross Blackpool, FY53WP,England.

  • Australian Army

    • National Archives of Australia Armed services personnel records
    World War II Nominal Roll of Australia

  • Canadian Army

    • Records
    Canadian Military Service Files.
    Service Files Canadian Armed Forces War Dead
    Last Post on the web has a searchable database of death notices for Canadian war veterans from The Second World War

    The Canadian Book of Remembrance Contains the names of Canadians who died in Canadian Units in WW2.


  • Indian Army


  • Polish Army

    • Polish soldiers fighting with the Allies
    To obtain the war records of Polish soldier who fought alongside the Allies in World War II, write to the British Army records office. Send details of your relationship to the soldier in question and the possible units and dates of service: Polish Army in Exile Records-British Ministry of Defence, APC Polish Enquiries, Building 28B, RAF Northolt, Westend Road, Rusilip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG, England

  • South African Army


  • New Zealand Army


  • US Army

    • The American Battle Monuments Commission Searchable database listing monuments to US Casualties.



    Frequently Asked Questions - The Second World War 1939-1945



  • Why is my relative not listed on your website?
    • All names listed on this website have been submitted by friends and relatives of those listed or by other interested parties such as those researching their local war memorial or taking part in community history schemes. If you know of someone whose name you would like to add to the website please add thier details via our online form, if possible please also write up what you know about them so that others may learn from and possibly add to their story.



  • German Forces

    Luftwaffe Archives & Records Reference GroupA co-operative resource for world-wide research on the German Air Force, 1933-1945.
    The German Wargraves Commission
    Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) for the notification of next-of-kin of members of the former German Wehrmacht who were killed in action
    Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery
    The German Public Records Office



Other useful sources for locating information.

ancestor, ancestry, family tree, family history, r


Have you tried your local library and local historical groups?


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