Animals have provided a vital service to the armed forces for centuries, from delivering messages to carrying ammunition or offering companionship. 80 years ago, their bravery was recognised for the first time…
Tag: WWII
7 essential military records for discovering navy ancestors
Britain has a strong maritime tradition, and you may have navy ancestors waiting to be discovered. But how do you uncover details of your ancestors’ service with the Royal Navy, and what…
Researching WWII ancestors: overcoming the challenges
Why can researching WWII ancestors be so challenging? Military Genealogist Simon Pearce tackles the question and provides advice on how to make meaningful discoveries. Intro Many of us have family members who…
Researching evacuees of WWII: is it possible?
Many of us will be familiar with images of WWII evacuee children lined up on train station platforms, luggage in tow, with name tags affixed to their coats, about to head off…
Story behind the image: smoke floats and WWII rescues
In the above photo, munitions workers at a factory in the south of England stack smoke floats for aircraft in October 1941, ready for despatch. These curious-looking items played an important role…
Royal Artillery Tracer Cards: what are they, and how can they help you with your research?
Our UK, WWII, Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948 collection is a must for anyone wishing to piece together the movements of an ancestor who served with the Royal Artillery during WWII. The…
VJ Day 2023: a prisoner of war story
With VJ Day at the forefront of our thoughts, we highlight a community story and key steps for researching your ancestors who served in the Far East during WWII. What is VJ…
Who Do You Think You Are?: Episode 8 – Chris Ramsey’s navy ancestors
Episode eight of series 20 of Who Do You Think You Are? explored the family history of comedian Chris Ramsey. The episode had a strong naval theme and revealed Chris’s family connection…
Researching Military Nurses: The Story of Marjory Jean Anderson
Nurse. Prisoner. Survivor. This is the story of Marjory Jean Anderson, who displayed incredible courage, devotion and bravery during the Second World War. Marjory’s is just one of many stories waiting to…
No. 303 Squadron RAF – names behind the image: Part II
In Part II of our Battle of Britain blog, we return to the photograph of 303 Squadron and explore the names behind the image. Read on to discover what we found in…