Family history doesn’t just have to be about our own relatives. Many of us research for friends, colleagues or people in our local communities, helping to bring forgotten stories back to life.Four members of the Findmypast Community made some incredible discoveries about their local war memorials. Here’s what they uncovered about these lives marked by conflict. A hidden Second World War story: Community member Patricia used to be in the Women’s Royal Air Force. She decided to research a…
The First World War upended thousands of families. For one Surrey family, a soldier's disappearance on the battlefield slowly unravelled an entire household, scattering its children across institutions, counties and, eventually, an ocean. Nearly a century later, family history records helped stitch those pieces back together. An ordinary family: In 1911, carpenter Albert Edward Bance married Caroline Ratcliff in Surrey. Within a few years they had three children: Frances Elizabeth, Daisy Maud, and Albert Edward. The family of five never appeared…
When we explore the history books of the First and Second World Wars, we read about the great battles, the brave soldiers, and the pivotal moments. It's the same at school. But behind the scenes, keeping the home fires burning, were skilled, dedicated women who stepped up to fill men's traditional shoes.Here, we delve into the work – both paid and voluntary – undertaken by the British women of the Second World War. Joining the war effort on the home front:…
Imagine yourself living inside a large steel cylinder, lit by electricity, with an endless network of pipes and cables decorating the walls. All around the cylinder is water, exerting such pressure that it threatens to crush the manmade hull. It's a maze of complicated machinery, home to anywhere from 30 to 60 men with nerves of steel. It’s a stark image, 250 ft below the surface - one that was a reality for the submariners of the Royal Navy. History’s first Royal Navy submarines:…
When the First World War was declared in August 1914, Liverpool answered the call like few other cities in Britain. Crowds filled the square outside St George’s Hall, banners flapped in the late-summer wind, and Lord Derby’s voice carried across the steps: “Come along, boys — enlist together, train together, fight together.” Within days, the idea of the Liverpool Pals had caught fire. By the end of the month, so many men had come forward that even the newspapers struggled to keep…
Thousands of British men volunteered or were conscripted into the British Army during the First World War, with regiments raised across the country. But some regiments were different. Pals battalions offered men the chance to enlist alongside their friends, neighbours and colleagues - an extra incentive to go to war that proved popular in local communities.Men fought shoulder-to-shoulder with their loved ones, but when Pals battalions suffered heavy losses, it had devastating consequences for the towns and cities left behind.
In 1914, Britain was the only European power without a conscripted army. Manpower could sway the outcome of the war, so there was no issue more pressing than that of military recruitment. This is where Pals battalions came into play, changing the course of the war and the communities they left behind. What were Pals battalions?: The idea came from General Sir Henry Rawlinson, who believed that men would be more likely to enlist if they could serve alongside their friends.…
In August 1940, Britain's cities were under constant threat of enemy attack. Amidst the darkness of blackouts, Luftwaffe bombs lit up the sky.As homes, factories and schools were destroyed, volunteers like air-raid-precaution (ARP) wardens and auxiliary firemen offered up their spare time to protect the public.Anderson and Morrison shelters were as much a part of everyday life as rationing, and it was up to ARP wardens to ensure people reached them safely.It’s estimated that over 60,000 civilians were killed…
Imagine the thundering beat of an excited heart as your great-grandfather signed his enlistment papers, after waiting in line for hours with his friends. That thunder would soon become gunfire in the trenches.By examining his experiences, we can paint a richer picture of what life was like for the average First World War soldier, affectionately known as 'Tommy'.Many of us have a First World War ancestor in our family tree. Stories may have been passed down in your…
John Cruickshank’s story is one of bravery, determination and sacrifice. A Second World War pilot, he helped to defend British vessels in the Norwegian Sea at significant cost to himself. Then, he flew while seriously injured to help his remaining crew make it safely home.With his passing, a living link to one of history’s most defining chapters is gone. But we can still keep his story alive. What is the Victoria Cross?: The Victoria Cross is no ordinary medal.…