About us
Searching the Records
Searching our records is straight forward. Enter a surname which will bring up all entries with that name or you can enter part of a name so as to pick up any miss-spelt entries.
Enter a service number or again part of the number. You can also enter Army, Marines, Navy, Naval or Air to narrow down the search and pick up a certain branch of the armed forces.
Each person is only listed once*. When further information is found on someone already listed on the site the new information is added to that entry. Any change in rank from the first entry is noted is noted against the new information.
*The only reason an individual will have two entries is if a service number on one entry is correct.
Other Ranks Number
Numbers are usually displayed without “slash” or full stop within a number. For example, a Royal Navy ratings number in official records is D/JX.706700. However here it will be indexed here, for ease as DJX706700. The easiest way to trace anything for a person with this number would be to simply enter the search term “706700”. Some individuals have numbers and information listed as a ranker and a commissioned officer.
Officers Number
For those who held a rank as a commissioned officer in the Army and RAF. Royal Naval and Royal Marines commissioned officers did not have service numbers. In many cases commissioned officers in the Army do not have their number listed in records. However these are trace for inclusion on our database in most cases. This information is traced from research in the London Gazette and other sources.
Rank
The rank listed is that held at the time of the first entry on our database. When more than one entry is found and the rank has differs, this is noted in the details. The rank listed will not show whether it is temporary, acting or a War Substantive.
Surname
Occasionally names are changed through Deed Pole. This is noted and an entry included in both names to cross reference.
Initials
Most other ranks only have intitials or one initial listed in documents. So do not ignore those with one initial as possible matches for your search.
Forenames
Where traced forenames are listed for commissioned officers so can be searched if your sure they were a commissioned rank. These officers details in most cases have been extracted from the London Gazette.
Trade or Position
This may show for example if in the –
Army – Batman, Tank Driver, Tank Gunner, PIAT crew, Dispatch Rider, signal officer, adjutant, intelligence.
Navy – Torpedo Crew, Gun Crew, Radar operator etc.
RAF – Aircraft Airframe Fitter, Aero Engine Fitter, Observer, Bomb Aimer, Radio Operator, Navigator, Cook, Armourer etc.
Sub Unit
May reveal the company within an Infantry battalion or battery in an artillery regiment. Raf may reveal the Flight within an RAF Squadron.
Unit
For example infantry battalion, Royal Artillery Regiment, Royal Engineers Squadron or Company. Royal Navy will list the vessel serving or base. For the records of the RAF the Squadron or support unit. Maybe RAF regiment or Station.
Regiment or Corps
A Regiment will differ from the one in which a person is service on occasions. For example Royal Signals, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers & Royal Army Ordnance Corps personnel were serving in most units of the British Army. Also members of the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Army Service Corps were attached to other units.
Force
This will show British Army, Indian Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Volunteer Volunteer Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Air Force, Women’s Royal Air Force, Auxiliary Air Force etc.
Theatre
This is the theatre of war or operations. The place a person is serving when mentioned or the incident occurs. It may be a wider theatre of war such as BEF (British Expeditionary Force) or North Africa but can be more precise such as Arnhem or Normandy.
Details
Obviously this can include a great variety of information. From details of how and where they were wounded or avaided capture or recommended for an award which was never granted.
Promotions etc
Promotions are shown here is noted in War Diaries. In the case of many Commissioned Officers details of their first commission has been taken from the London Gazette.
Personal Details
This is usually a home address of an individual or their Next of Kin. In the case of Royal Navy casualties full address is often listed wheras this is not available from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
References
Unless stated otherwise All references listed are those of The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
