How to find out about your ancestors’ military service

The best place to begin is with family knowledge. Ask relatives if they remember any military service, wars your ancestors may have fought in, or medals, uniforms or photos passed down through generations. Even small details – a regiment name, a conflict, or a rough idea of where someone was stationed during the First or Second World War – can guide your search. 

If you already know your ancestor's full name and approximate dates of birth or service, you're in a good position to search online service records for more information. 

Millions of British and Irish military service records held by The National Archives have been digitised and are searchable on genealogy websites like Findmypast. These include service records, pension files, draft registrations, medal rolls and casualty lists. You can search these record sets by a soldier's name, birth year, and service branch. 

Key collections to explore

To build up a clear idea of your relative's service history, make use of key record sets:

• British Army Service Records. These may list your ancestor’s rank, regiment, physical description, next of kin and even conduct. 
• Medal Index Cards. These medal records are particularly useful for First World War soldiers, as they show what medals were awarded and when. 
• Pension Records. Pension documents are helpful for finding service personnel injured during conflicts. 
• Royal Navy and Royal Air Force records. These offer insight into roles at sea or in the air, from engineers to pilots. 

When searching military records, remember that names may be misspelled. Be sure to try name variants and use filters like birth place or service number if known. 

The 1911 Census often includes military personnel stationed in Britain or abroad, especially within the British Empire. You may spot regimental details listed alongside their occupation. 

The 1921 Census goes even further – it includes those serving in the armed forces, plus detailed employer information for those working in military-related industries or recovering from the First World War in hospitals. 

Many local communities created memorials or rolls of honour listing those who served or were lost during the First and Second World Wars. Many of these have been transcribed online. Findmypast has gathered newspaper tributes to fallen soldiers from across the nation - you can explore the Faces of the Fallen Collection here.

Derbyshire Courier, 25 July 1916.

You might also find your ancestor in unit histories or regimental war diaries, which document the daily life of military units and offer clues to where and how they served. 

Military service often appeared in newspapers, particularly if your ancestor received a medal, died in action, or returned home with honours. Newspaper archives may include personal mentions, letters from the front, or accounts of key battles involving their regiment. 

You might even find photographs of, or interviews with, British Army soldiers, especially for those who served in notable roles or actions. 

Even if you only uncover a few facts about your ancestor’s service, learning about the regiment or conflict they were part of helps bring their experience to life. Did they fight at the Somme? Serve in the RAF during the Blitz? Knowing what they faced helps you to build a more vivid picture, so be sure to carry out background research and look beyond traditional military records.

Some service records, particularly from the Second World War, are still held by the Ministry of Defence and may require a formal application to access. Older records may have been lost to time or fire (as with the ‘Burnt Documents’ of the First World War). 

How to fill in the blanks

Don’t be discouraged. Clues from censuses, newspapers, medals or even family stories can still help you piece together a story. 

Whether your ancestor served on the front line or worked tirelessly behind the scenes, military records can help you to understand their wartime experiences in startling detail.