Military records

Military records provide some of your most emotional discoveries. Find the war heroes in your family in our millions of service records, medal records, casualty lists and other Army records and Navy records.

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Military Awards1935-1990

Recommendations for Honours and Awards Index, 1935-1990, reveals some of the UK’s most celebrated heroes. It has been released as part of our new Web Search project.

Web Search helps you find certain records that aren’t currently on our site. For example, the Honours and Awards Index is provided by The National Archives, but you can search the index and see detailed transcriptions for free here.

Learn more about Web Search

Navy Lists1888-1970

The Royal Navy is the main reason why Great Britain has never been invaded. Discover your relatives among the brave sailors who have protected our shores, in our Navy Lists, 1888-1970.

These military records reveal officers from admirals to boatswains. Because they were created annually, you can trace your ancestors’ careers through the years.

Memorial Books1914-1945

Some of the most moving tributes to Britain’s war heroes were created locally, by people who often knew those who served. Memorial Books, 1914-1945 includes three particularly poignant volumes.

The first two honour World War I recruits from the University of London Officers Training Corps and London City Council. The third remembers residents from the Borough of Croydon who fought in WWII.

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Top Tip: Choosing the right WWI records

Recommended military records

WWI Service Records1914-1920

Service records are the perfect place to start your search for World War I heroes. They reveal their ranks and regiments, where they served, what medals they received and many more personal details.

This collection, British Army WWI Service Records, 1914-1920, includes soldiers who either died during WWI or remained in service until the end of the War. Its sister collection, British Army WWI Pension Records, 1914-1920, covers soldiers who were discharged to pension — usually because they were injured.

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WWI Medal Records1914-1920

Just about everybody who served in WWI was due a medal of some sort. As a result, British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 — put together to record what awards each soldier had earned — is the most complete list of Britain's heroes.

If you find a relative received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, you can learn more about the courageous deeds that earned it for them in our separate DCM collection.

Campaign Medals1793-1949

Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949, provides details of over 2 million soldiers over three centuries of warfare. It lists those who were eligible for a huge variety of campaign medals — which were usually awarded to everyone who fought in particular battles.

You can discover whether your relatives fought in the Napoleonic Wars, The Indian Mutiny, The Crimea or dozens of other conflicts. The two World Wars aren‘t included — you‘ll find the WWI rolls in our separate collection.

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