Many families have a story about a relative who served in the armed forces. Military records can confirm that story and add remarkable detail, from physical descriptions to the places they served.
Start with what the family knows
Collect every clue before searching: names, approximate dates, which branch of service, any unit or regiment mentioned, and where the person lived when they joined. Look for photographs in uniform, medals, letters and discharge papers, which often contain service numbers.
Records you may find
- Enlistment or attestation papers recording age, birthplace, occupation, next of kin and physical description.
- Service records listing postings, promotions, transfers and conduct.
- Pension records for those who were wounded, discharged or who left widows and children.
- Medal and award records.
- Casualty lists and memorials for those who died in service.
- Unit histories and diaries describing where a unit was and what it did day by day.
Where to look
National archives and defence record offices typically hold service and pension files. Regimental or service museums often keep unit histories, photographs and specialist knowledge. War memorials and remembrance registers, both national and local, can confirm details of those who died.
Tip: Some service records were lost or damaged over time. If a personal file cannot be found, pension papers, medal records and unit diaries can often fill much of the gap.
Understanding the uniform
Badges, insignia and stripes in an old photograph can reveal a person's unit and rank. Military museums and history societies are often happy to help identify them.
Telling their story
Once you know a unit and its dates, read about where it served and what conditions were like. Combining personal records with the wider history turns a list of dates into a story your family can understand, and a fitting tribute to someone who served. Our guide to writing an ancestor biography can help you put it together.