Tracing Roots

Just in time for Remembrance Day 2025, a landmark release is set to transform British family history research.
Ancestry.com, in partnership with The National Archives (TNA), is making over 100,000 British Army service records from the Second World War available online for the first time.

For anyone tracing relatives who served between 1939 and 1948, this could be the most important record release in years.

What’s Been Released

The collection, titled “British Army: Service Records, 1939–1948 (WO 422 series)”, includes detailed service histories for non-commissioned personnel — the ordinary soldiers who formed the backbone of the British Army.

According to Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the new records will be published on 6 November 2025, coinciding with the UK’s Remembrance commemorations.

Each record can include:

• Full name and service number
• Regiment, battalion, or corps
• Dates of enlistment and discharge
• Ranks held and campaign service
• Next of kin and home address
• Occasional disciplinary or medical notes

The records were previously held at The National Archives under restricted access. This release marks the first time they’ve been digitised and made searchable online.

Why This Matters

Until now, researching Second World War ancestors has been notoriously difficult.
Unlike First World War service files (many of which are online), WW2 personnel records have remained closed or accessible only via lengthy Freedom of Information requests.

With this release:

• Families can finally trace individual wartime service without waiting months for MOD approval.
• Researchers gain insight into the ordinary soldier’s experience — not just officers or decorations.
• Ancestry subscribers can link these files directly into their family trees, creating a clearer picture of military generations.

How to Search the New Records

• Visit Ancestry’s UK Military Collections.
• Choose “British Army: Service Records, 1939–1948” once live (expected 6 Nov 2025).
• Search by surname and regiment — or browse by alphabetical list if exact details are unclear.
• Use Ancestry’s hints to connect the record to existing relatives in your tree.

Historical Context

These records cover soldiers who served:

• In the British Army at home or overseas (Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East)
• Through demobilisation up to 1948, including post-war occupation forces
• Across famous campaigns such as Dunkirk, El Alamein, Normandy, and Burma

It’s an extraordinary opportunity to uncover stories that have stayed hidden for generations.

Tips Before You Dive In

Tip	Why It Helps
Check multiple spellings	Surnames often vary — use wildcards (e.g. Mac / Mc).
Cross-reference regimental numbers	They’re more reliable than names alone.
Save images immediately	New record launches often experience high demand and slow loading.
Verify with medal index cards or CWGC	Use CWGC.org to confirm service or casualty details.

A Chance to Honour Their Service

As we approach Remembrance Day, this release gives families across the UK and Commonwealth a way to reconnect with those who served — not as statistics, but as individuals with lives, families, and stories.

If you’ve ever wondered what your grandfather or great-uncle did during the war, now’s your moment to find out.