Stories from our community for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings In part 2 of our D-Day 80 community stories series, we explore the fascinating story of Norman Davies, a Shropshire-man…
D-Day 80: Four fathers and their D-Day stories – Part 1
Stories from our community for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings We’ve reached a major anniversary in the history of WWII: D-Day 80, 80 years since the launch of Operation Overlord,…
Community Story: Tracing my ancestor’s military service – Part II
Our ANZAC Walter prepares for the next offensive In Part I, we met ANZAC Walter Oscar Johanson, who lied about his age to enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) during…
The D-Day rehearsal, codenamed Exercise Tiger, or Operation Tiger at Slapton Sands in Devon
Slapton Sands in Devon seemed the perfect place for the American Forces to simulate practice landings for the D-Day assault on Utah Beach, France on 6th June 1944. Though the operation was…
Community Story: Tracing my ancestor’s military service – Part I
Researching an ANZAC ancestor’s military service during WWI: his story and legacy New Zealander Walter Oscar Johanson answered his country’s call and left his homeland to serve during World War I (WWI),…
Royal Canadian Air Force records: researching your air service ancestors
Where to find Royal Canadian Air Force records and how to research Canadian air force ancestors. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) achieved a huge milestone on 1 April, 1924: 100 years…
The Great Escape: a true story
Researching the names of all 76 escapers during the real Great Escape. What does the term ‘great escape’ mean to you? For many, it conjures vivid images from the iconic 1963 prisoner-of-war…
4 inspiring women’s stories from WWII
Celebrating inspiring women’s stories from our collections: March is Women’s History Month, and 8th March is International Women’s Day. Inspiring women’s stories can be found throughout our vast world of collections on…
Fred Simpson: two times prisoner of war
Not long out of a prisoner of war camp in Korea, Fred Simpson returns home to marry his fiance. However, there’s more to this photo than meets the eye. Read on as…
Author’s pick: top 5 WWII records to help you research your military ancestors with Forces War Records
Our subscribers have access to a diverse range of WWII records, from medal records and casualty collections to officer lists. Below are my top five records to help you learn more about…