Explore exclusive new Royal Navy records

Royal Navy stories are now at your fingertips, with a brand new and growing archive of naval records, published in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

With six exciting new record sets, trace submariners as they slipped beneath the surface, casualties at sea, and family legacies forged in saltwater.

British Royal Navy, Submarine Movement Cards

Trace the movements and postings of Royal Navy submariners between 1896 and 1968 with these 27,654 new additions. These cards were created by the Admiralty and reflect the highly mobile and closely managed nature of the submarine service.

British and Allied Warships Lost in the Second World War

Was your ancestor onboard a fallen warship during their Second World War Service? The 420 records in this collection may illuminate their experiences.

British Royal Navy Casualty Logs 1939-1945

Similarly, if your relative's ship was lost, damaged or involved in a serious incident, it may appear within these 36,338 Second World War casualty log records.

British Women's Royal Naval Service Enrolment, 1917-1919

While women did not serve in Royal Navy combat roles, they played an important role in the naval effort through the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS). These 4,838 WRNS enrolment records can help to restore these brave women's rightful place on the historical record.

Royal Naval Division Service Records, 1914-1920

Spanning the First World War and beyond, these 4,730 records can help you to chart your naval ancestors' experiences, from enlistment to retirement.

Navy Lists

We've also added 10,469,334 Navy list records, which provide the name, rank, occupation, and promotion dates of those who served between 1921 and 1937.

New pages from Marlborough to Maidstone

Seven new titles are available to explore within our newspaper archive - amidst 605,607 new pages, there are a wealth of fascinating stories to discover.

New titles:

• Darwen News, 1877–1880, 1888–1889, 1905
• Greenwich and Deptford Chronicle, 1869–1870, 1872–1873, 1875–1876, 1878, 1880–1885
• Helensburgh and Gareloch Times, 1882–1892
• Herne Bay Gazette, 1986–1999
• Irish Temperance League Journal, 1863–1870, 1874–1896
• Larne Weekly Recorder and Northern Express, 1883
• Silent Messenger, 1895–1896

Updated titles:

• Aberdeen Press and Journal, 2005
• Ayrshire Post, 1987, 1995–1999
• Belfast Telegraph, 2000–2008, 2009–2014
• Blackpool Gazette, 1888–1889
• Connaught Telegraph, 1919
• Dorset County Chronicle, 1883
• Dromore Leader, 1921–1950
• Fur and Feather, 1919
• Hampshire Chronicle, 1919
• Horsham Advertiser, 2005
• Hull Daily Mail, 1897–1899, 1902–1906
• Irish Independent, 1921, 1926, 1960
• Islington Gazette, 1919
• Kirriemuir Herald, 1957–1966, 1968–1970, 1986, 1994–2004
• Leyland Guardian, 2005
• Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, 1918–1919
• Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, 1786–1799, 1801–1816, 1818–1829
• Marlborough Times, 1915–1919
• Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 1986–2004
• Morley Observer, 2005
• Morning Post, 1919
• Norwood Press and Dulwich Advertiser, 1930–1952
• Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald, 1863–1876, 1905–1910, 1912–1929, 1938, 1940–1950
• Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 1980–1985
• Surrey Comet, 1919
• Tyrone Courier, 1919

About the author

Daisy Goddard