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Military records are also a great way to both start and enrich our understanding of our ancestors’ lives. If you’re new or just starting out, they can help bridge the gap between your living relatives and your ancestors.

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Newsreels

More than just physical warfare- WWII was a battle for hearts and minds too. Watch WWII Newsreels published by the COI (US) aimed at Allied and enemy public. There's over 60 hours worth of Newsreel footage to explore...

So dig in and start watching now

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An Ancestry first -

WWII PoW and Roll of
Honour records are here!

Ancestry.co.uk is proud to release rare WWII records. These records have been decoded from their original format so Ancestry can now offer you the chance to search for ancestors who may have died or were held as prisoners of war during WWII.

WWII PoW records

We all remember the classic film, ‘The Great Escape’, based on the true story of a mass escape of allied airforce WWII prisoners of war from a German Prisoner of War (PoW) camp. Now, as a digital first, Ancestry has made accessible for public research, over 100,000 British Army Personnel PoW records.


If your ancestors were held as prisoners of war in Germany up until 30th March 1945, you can now discover where and when they were captured and where they were held. Search these previously undigitised records here British Army PoW Records WWII.

WWII Roll of Honour records

It took over 40,000 hours for the War Office to compile one accurate ‘Roll of Honour’ a record of those who died in action. Having to punch the information onto card and then feed into an early type of data processor, (a Hollerith Machine) the job was a labour of love and respect.

This Roll of Honour has now been decoded and Ancestry.co.uk are making this available to search online.

The roll covers 349,000 people who died between 1st September 1939 and 31st December 1946, detailing those killed in action, those who died of wounds or diseases and those whose deaths were from natural causes. You can also find out where these events took place and if wounded, where they were sent. If you have an ancestor or know
of someone who was wounded in WWII, start your search here British Army Roll of Honour WWII.

Core databases

WW1 Medal Rolls Index
This collection contains the original index cards (fronts and backs) produced at the Army Medal Office, Droitwich. Includes those that were honoured with the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal, the 1914 Star, the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal, the Allied Victory Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Silver War Badge for Services Rendered, the Territorial Force War Medal and the Allied Subjects Medal. Learn more >>

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WW1 British Army Service Records
This database contains the surviving service records on non-commissioned officers and other ranks that served in WWI and did not re-enlist in the Army prior to WWII. This database has recently been updated and now contains records for all surnames in the range A-N. Names that fall outside of this range that are presently included come from records that were misfiled according to surname sequence.


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WW1 British Army Pension Records
This database contains service records of non-commissioned officers and other ranks who were discharged from the Army and claimed disability pensions for service in WWI. These were also men who did not re-enlist in the Army prior to World War II. The type of information contained in these records includes: name of solider, age, birthplace, occupation, marital status, and regiment number.


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What are they?
Biographies of men and women who served the nation during the Great War of 1914-18. Although the majority of people were military personnel there are records of civilian and support workers, such as medical staff and munitions workers etc.

The National Roll of the Great War was produced in 14 volumes plus an index and covers those who died and those who served. It was compiled on a subscription basis, which means that it is far from comprehensive. Listings were often written by family members, who may not have given correct details at the time of compilation. The publishers began to compile the volumes in 1920, but had gone into liquidation by 1922, having produced only 14 volumes.

What do they contain?
The collection contains images of pages in the original books. Originally published in fourteen volumes the series contains service details of over 100,000 people, not just soldiers but also those who served in factories, hospitals and other institutions. The majority of entries are for those who survived and this resource is often the only detailed record of their service.

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