Discover and honour their legacy

Discover and honour their legacy

This Remembrance, explore over 6.9 billion wartime records to preserve your family's memory.

This Remembrance, explore over 6.9 billion wartime records to preserve your family's memory.

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Getting started on Ancestry

Getting started on Ancestry

1. Search our wartime records

1. Search our wartime records

From service records to electoral rolls, uncover where your ancestors were and what role they played during the world wars.

From service records to electoral rolls, uncover where your ancestors were and what role they played during the world wars.

2. Start your family tree

2. Start your family tree

Read the firsthand accounts of prisoners of war and find out what life was like for ordinary people living in extraordinary times.

Read the firsthand accounts of prisoners of war and find out what life was like for ordinary people living in extraordinary times.

3. Discover your family’s story

3. Discover your family’s story

Using Ancestry's tree builder tools, start making connections and adding branches to your family tree.

Using Ancestry's tree builder tools, start making connections and adding branches to your family tree.

In partnership with

NEW FOR 2025

An exciting new release of British Army Records
with The National Archives

An exciting new release of British Army Records with The National Archives

This newly digitised collection which forms part of British Army Service Records from WWII is now available to explore online for the first time, with the rest due to launch on Ancestry over the next few years. Nationally significant, this latest release from this collection begins to offer an unmatched insight into the lives of those who served. Trace your ancestor’s, movements, uncover the details of their service, and better understand their wartime experience.

Discover how to interpret these historic documents with expert guidance from our Military Genealogist, Simon Pearce.

This newly digitised collection which forms part of British Army Service Records from WWII is now available to explore online for the first time, with the rest due to launch on Ancestry over the next few years. Nationally significant, this latest release from this collection begins to offer an unmatched insight into the lives of those who served. Trace your ancestor’s, movements, uncover the details of their service, and better understand their wartime experience.

Discover how to interpret these historic documents with expert guidance from our Military Genealogist, Simon Pearce.

Our newly released collections

Our newly released collections

From detailed British Army service records and civilian defence files, to rare hand-drawn portraits of POWs, our new collections offer so much to discover. Trace your ancestor’s movements, uncover the realities they faced, and honour their stories for generations to come.

How to get the most out of wartime records

Getting started

Learn how to search our wartime records with our helpful videos. From service files to civil defence records, we’ll show you how to uncover their military stories.

Useful advice on how to get the most out of your research and tips on Ancestry's key collections.

  • WWII Tips & Tricksy

    WWII Tips & Tricks

  • Finding the Stories of Your Military Ancestors

    Military Ancestors

  • Getting Started

    Getting Started

Escape, endurance, and the fight to survive:
The story of Major John Nicholson, POW

Escape, endurance, and the fight to survive:
The story of Major John Nicholson POW

Born in 1913, Nicholson was just 19 when he enlisted in 1933 and served with the Royal Engineers, HQ Malaya Command. He became a Prisoner of War in April 1943 and was liberated in August 1945.

Nicholson's WWII Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire reveals how, in February 1942, as Singapore faced imminent surrender to the Japanese, he was ordered to leave the island to deliver a message to an outlying island - with permission to attempt escape if he wished. Travelling by dinghy under the cover of night, Nicholson reached Sumatra, hoping to make his way to safety in India.

Unfortunately, Nicholson and his comrades were later captured by a Japanese supply ship and endured years of captivity as POWs in camps across Asia.

Born in 1913, Nicholson was just 19 when he enlisted in 1933 and served with the Royal Engineers, HQ Malaya Command. He became a Prisoner of War in April 1943 and was liberated in August 1945.

Nicholson's WWII Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire reveals how, in February 1942, as Singapore faced imminent surrender to the Japanese, he was ordered to leave the island to deliver a message to an outlying island - with permission to attempt escape if he wished. Travelling by dinghy under the cover of night, Nicholson reached Sumatra, hoping to make his way to safety in India.

Unfortunately, Nicholson and his comrades were later captured by a Japanese supply ship and endured years of captivity as POWs in camps across Asia.

The handwritten questionnaire, together with official reports, is preserved in Ancestry's collections. They reveal historical events together with firsthand accounts from those years. 

Now, with Ancestry’s new UK and Allies: Far East Prisoner of War Portraits and expanded WWII record collections, you may uncover powerful records, and even a portrait, of your own ancestor who endured similar trials during one of history’s most defining moments.

The handwritten questionnaire, together with official reports, is preserved in Ancestry's collections. They reveal historical events together with firsthand accounts from those years. 

Now, with Ancestry’s new UK and Allies: Far East Prisoner of War Portraits and expanded WWII record collections, you may uncover powerful records, and even a portrait, of your own ancestor who endured similar trials during one of history’s most defining moments.

Key records for guiding your research

Key records for guiding your research

Start here to explore photographs, diaries, medals, and official documents that show
where your ancestors were, what they did, and bring their stories to life.

  • World War II Photographs

    World War II Photographs

    Browse this incredible collection of more than 15,000 photographs taken in the UK during WWII, including photos of the Second Great Fire of London, and in the aftermath of the Blitz.

    Browse this incredible collection of more than 15,000 photographs taken in the UK during WWII, including photos of the Second Great Fire of London, and in the aftermath of the Blitz.

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  • British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards

    British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards

    Discover if your ancestors' contribution in WWI was commended with our medal index cards. This collection includes awards for a range of people, for services to the allied cause, distinguished war service, and acts of bravery or valour.

    Discover if your ancestors' contribution in WWI was commended with our medal index cards. This collection includes awards for a range of people, for services to the allied cause, distinguished war service, and acts of bravery or valour.

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  • WWII Allied Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaires

    WWII Allied Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaires

    This collection shines a spotlight on those who were held prisoner during WWII. Learn when they were captured, the camps they were held in, if they were interrogated, or if they carried out any sabotage work or attempted escape.

    This collection shines a spotlight on those who were held prisoner during WWII. Learn when they were captured, the camps they were held in, if they were interrogated, or if they carried out any sabotage work or attempted escape.

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  • 1939 Register

    1939 Register

    As the 1931 census records were destroyed by fire, and no census took place in 1941, this is the most complete snapshot of the UK population between 1921 and 1951. Discover where your family were just after the outbreak of World War II.

    As the 1931 census records were destroyed by fire, and no census took place in 1941, this is the most complete snapshot of the UK population between 1921 and 1951. Discover where your family were just after the outbreak of World War II.

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  • British WWI War Diaries, Western Front

    British WWI War Diaries, Western Front

    The diaries contain daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other pertinent material. They can provide an on-the-spot description of what your ancestor may have experienced on the battlefield.

    The diaries contain daily reports on operations, intelligence summaries and other pertinent material. They can provide an on-the-spot description of what your ancestor may have experienced on the battlefield.

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  • Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services

    Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services

    These records go back as early as 1848 – you're able to check the image of the original record to find details like an ancestor's usual occupation, physical description and any reasons for discharge.

    These records go back as early as 1848 – you're able to check the image of the original record to find details like an ancestor's usual occupation, physical description and any reasons for discharge.

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  • D-Day War Diaries & Photographs

    D-Day War Diaries & Photographs

    Curious about life for those on the frontline? War diaries are a great resource with personal accounts and photographs. Explore action reports, intelligence summaries and even photos from D-Day.

    Curious about life for those on the frontline? War diaries are a great resource with personal accounts and photographs. Explore action reports, intelligence summaries and even photos from D-Day.

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  • UK, World War II Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940‑1949

    UK, World War II Civil Defence Gallantry Awards, 1940‑1949

    Acts of bravery by civilians, police, and fire during WWII were rewarded with a variety of awards and medals. This collection shows the evidence submitted for an award - including the name and age of the person and the details of their actions of merit.

    Acts of bravery by civilians, police, and fire during WWII were rewarded with a variety of awards and medals. This collection shows the evidence submitted for an award - including the name and age of the person and the details of their actions of merit.

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Search over 6 billion
records today

Search over 6 billion records today*

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