A Historian Reacts: Exploring the records of WWII

While digitised paper records can offer incredible details about our ancestors’ lives, sometimes it can be very moving to see visual evidence of the periods of time that they lived through, particularly key moments such as WWII.

Through the U.S, United News Newsreels, 1942-1946, we are given a front-row seat to some of the events and military operations undertaken by the US and overseas forces during WWII. While this footage was largely used for US propaganda and to promote patriotism during WWII, it does offer researchers valuable visual insight into the experiences of their ancestors during this time.

We invited Ancestry ProGenealogist and military specialist, Simon Pearce to watch a selection of these newsreels and to share his reaction, and research tips, from what he saw.

Eager to discover your own family’s stories from WWII? Watch the footage from the U.S, United News Newsreels, 1942-1946 collection, and explore Simon’s WWII record set recommendations. Aren’t yet an Ancestry member? You can start a 14-day free trial today.

Battle of the Atlantic

• Service records for personnel killed in the campaign: Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947
• Service Records for personnel who survived the campaign: Library and Archives Canada
• Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, Crew Lists, 1864-1942
• A useful guide from Library and Archives Canada for researching Merchant Navy personnel
• Ship’s logs and operations books for units which took part in the campaign: Library and Archives Canada

D-Day

• UK, D-Day War Diaries and Photographs, 1944
• Burial info for casualties of the campaign: UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
• Service records for personnel killed in the campaign: Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947
• Service Records for personnel who survived the campaign: Library and Archives Canada
• War diaries, ship’s logs and operations books for units which took part in the campaign: Library and Archives Canada
• Newspapers

Ferry Command

• For references to Ferry Command in voters lists: Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980
• Service records for personnel killed in the campaign: Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947
• Service Records for personnel who survived the campaign: Library and Archives Canada
• Operations books for RCAF units which took part in the campaign: Library and Archives Canada
• Operations books for RAF units which took part in campaign: The National Archives in England.
• Burial info for casualties of the campaign: UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
• Application for service records for men and women who enlisted in British forces during WWII: Ministry of Defence.
• Newspapers
• For references to those who attended the Royal Military College of Canada: Canada, Selected School Yearbooks, 1901-2010

Munitions Workers

• For references to munitions/war work in voters lists: Canada, Voters Lists, 1935-1980
• Newspapers
• UK, Historical Photographs and Prints, 1704-1989

Sydney Harbour

• UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
• UK, World War II Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945
• Australia WWII Service Records
• Australia, World War II Second Australian Imperial Forces and Citizen Military Forces Service Records, 1939-1947
• Application for service records for men and women who enlisted in British forces during WWII: Ministry of Defence.
• Ship’s Logs: The National Archives, England. 

The Blitz

• 1939 England and Wales Register
• UK, World War II Civilian Deaths, 1939-1945
• UK, World War II Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940-1949

VE Day

• Newspapers
• UK, Historical Photographs and Prints, 1704-1989