Many of our families and ancestors have been affected by wars, especially World War I and World War II. Building a family tree often involves searching for those who fought or died in the war.
Discover the war records available to family historians, along with information about the First and Second World War. Visit the Links page for other related websites.
A British Tank Covering an Infantry Advance with a Smoke Screen
Genealogy is one of the fastest developing hobbies in the UK. Millions of people are now researching their family history using tools like CD-ROMs and online databases to build their family trees.
Many people will have ancestors that died in the war. There are many war records available; the widest range of records can be found on online websites like TheGenealogist.co.uk and in CD format from online stores like Genealogy Supplies.
Key events, context and records
The First World War started in 1914, after Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. The war on the Western Front ended in 1918, when an Armistice was signed.
At least 750,000 British soldiers were killed in World War I, and more than 9 million soldiers were killed worldwide.
Explore the World War I timeline
In 1939 Germany invaded Poland, which sparked the Second World War. Germany surrendered in May 1945, which brought about the end of the war in Europe.
In World War II, as many as 25 million soldiers worldwide were killed. Almost 350,000 British soldiers were killed.
Explore the World War II timeline