Articles by Ellie Ayton

In September 1939, Britain braced itself for war.Civilians faced blackouts, rationing, and loss, but a strong spirit of resilience began to emerge. While men went to war, women stepped into vital roles, united in a national fight for freedom and survival.Ethel Patricia Owtram was just a teenager when she stepped into one of the Second World War’s most secretive roles. From 1942, she served as a special duties linguist in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENS), intercepting German radio transmissions,

Ghosts moving through the French streets and countryside. Coded messages carried with care. Brave souls aiming, with every careful move, to turn the tide of war. Deeds that largely went unnoticed as war raged on.By day, these women were ghosts in plain sight, hands steady as they passed coded messages in bustling cafés, eyes unreadable beneath the brims of their hats. By night, they became shadows slipping through war-torn streets, the moonlight glinting off wire cutters and radio dials.

In 1940, Britain was living under the long shadow of the Second World War. Rationing was the norm, everyone carried an identity card, and loved ones marched off to fight.It’s no wonder the Dunkleys of Ramsgate, an ordinary family, longed for a peaceful break. But where would William, Olive, and their son go for a spot of R & R? Young Leonard, aged 19, chose Guernsey – the family already had fond memories of the Channel Islands from a previous visit.Little did

Family history fans will be delighted to hear that everyone's favourite genealogy show, Who Do You Think You Are?, will return to screens for a new series in 2025 here in the UK. Previous episodes have seen everyone from Dame Judi Dench to Danny Dyer discover the stories of their ancestors. When and where can I watch the new episodes of Who Do You Think You Are?: The new series will begin on Tuesday 22 April at 9pm on BBC One, and

In 2024, Mrs Peggy Banham celebrated her 100th birthday with a cake, songs, and birthday card from King Charles III. But there is so much more to the tale of this mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. For this, we need to go back over 80 years and delve deeper into her family tree.Amidst the uncertainty of the Second World War, a plucky eighteen-year-old woman decided to do her bit for her country by joining the Women’s Land Army. What was the Women’s:

We’re delighted to see SAS: Rogue Heroes season 2 hit our television screens, having immensely enjoyed its first outing in 2022.With exploits that ‘read like a school-boy thriller’ according to one article, we couldn’t resist delving into our historical newspapers to see how the 1940s press reported on their antics. The SAS: Rogue Heroes cast: The WW2 historical drama series about the origins of the Special Air Service was created by Steven Knight, who was also the creator of Peaky Blinders

What will life be like a century from now? We ask this question today, and it’s long perturbed our ancestors too. Our newspaper archive is full of predictions for the future – some hugely off-piste, and others scarily true.But in 1925, one man was making the headlines for his 2025 prophecies… Who was he, and did any of his predictions come true?Professor Archibald Montgomery Low was born in 1888 and became an engineer, research physicist, inventor and author of over 40 books over

When historians discovered the forgotten grave of World War 1 serviceman Harry Dunn in 2004, they had no idea who he was. They had no clue about his life, military service, or family. Was there even anyone still alive to remember him?Then in 2023, our friends at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission created a new headstone for Harry, who is buried in the Arnos Vale war cemetery in Bristol. They appealed to the public for help, searching for long lost family connections,

This Guy Ritchie WW2 blockbuster is based on the 2014 book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis. The cast includes Henry Cavill as Gus March-Phillips, Alan Ritchson as Anders Lessen, Alex Pettyfer as Geoffrey Appleyard, and Freddie Fox as Ian Fleming of James Bond fame.Like the similar SAS: Rogue Heroes (the BBC historical drama which depicts the origins of the Special Air Service) The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare showcases the

Taylor Swift is one of the world’s best-selling musicians. Her songs, personality and private life influence popular culture and news, particularly with her romance with Travis Kelce of the 2024 Super Bowl-winning team Kansas City Chiefs. But are there any stories from the Swift family tree that might allude to some of the recurring themes in her music, such as love and heartbreak, but also family, change and female independence? Taylor’s ancestry is alive with fascinating characters.Whether or not you're