Articles by Niall Cullen

Reverend David Railton first proposed the idea of having a single grave to represent the many unidentified British casualties of the First World War. While serving as an army chaplain on the Western Front he had seen a war grave with the simple epitaph;“An Unknown British Soldier”In 1920, Railton wrote to the Dean of Westminster suggesting that an unidentified British soldier be buried amongst the kings at Westminster Abbey. His idea was met with resounding support from Prime Minister

Life in 1940s Britain was tough. Families were torn apart by World War 2, many for the second time in as many generations. Not to mention the Blitz, food rationing, evacuation and general wartime anxiety. It all adds up to a very bleak period in the country's history.Yet, even amid such adversity, ‘keep calm and carry on’ was the order of the day. The war effort on the Home Front was stronger than ever and rural communities opened their doors

The year is 1848, and in the rural west of Ireland, two parents face a heart-wrenching decision as a result of the Gorta Mór - The Great Hunger. Watch their five children starve? Or uproot their home, and make an arduous journey to unknown lands?  They had already suffered three years of devastation due to the catastrophic Great Famine, which would kill a quarter of the Irish population between 1845 and 1852. Faced with starvation and financial ruin, the family makes the difficult decision

So you're ready to get started on your family tree? Are you sure you've gathered together all the information you need? A little bit of preparation can make all the difference in the early stages of family research. We've put together a useful checklist to make sure you cover all the bases.1. Start with what you already knowIt's all about family. Building on the information you know yourself with details remembered by your family can give you a great

The family history of powerful political figures is always interesting to delve into and they don't come more powerful than the President of the United States.Some American presidents' family trees are widely-documented, like Barack Obama's Irish roots. Others, you may be less familiar with. Here, we've provided quickfire summaries of all 46 US presidents' family histories. Some of them may have genes you weren't expecting.George WashingtonJohn AdamsThomas JeffersonJames MadisonJames MonroeJohn Quincy AdamsAndrew Jackson

One of the most revered warriors in popular history, Robert The Bruce was King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329. During his reign, he successfully led Scotland to independence from England and took part in William Wallace’s rebellion against Edward I.In recent times, ancestry DNA testing has helped to make it easier for Robert the Bruce’s descendants to trace their family connections back to him via a unique genetic marker held by his great-grandson, Robert III of Scotland. How amazing would

Romance, scandal, tragedy... the history of the royal family has seen it all. How well do you know each of King Charles III's ancestors and descendants? We’ve built the royal family tree to give you all the facts you need on the monarchy, including who’s related to who and the stories that they'll be remembered for. Our interactive example shows you all the nifty features available on Findmypast's family tree builder. It's perfect for having a tinker before you start

Census records are some of the most important resources for British family history. They help you track how your family changed over time and reveal information about your ancestors that you won’t find anywhere else. Historical censuses are held by The National Archives and are also available as online records at Findmypast.Using our censuses, you can trace the history of towns and counties across the United Kingdom. From Northumberland and Lancashire in the north to southern counties like Kent,

D-Day was one of the most significant actions of the Second World War. An event that played a crucial role in the liberation of western Europe and the demise of Nazi Germany.  Codenamed, Operation Overlord, D-Day, was and still is the greatest military invasion mankind has ever seen. Over 150,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, India and more took part, launching from the UK, landing via airdrops or on the beaches of Normandy to gain a foothold in

Creating a legacy that will last for generations doesn't have to be extravagant or expensive. We've compiled a list of quick and easy ways you can get started on preserving your family legacy right now. Your younger relatives will be forever grateful.1. Build your family treeKeep your family story intact forever by storing it on a family tree. Your tree documents all the members of your family in one place, making it great for sharing with other relatives. Our