British Army WW2 Records
Every unit of the British Army maintained detailed records. An officer in each was responsible for compiling daily diary. From the larger formations, such as Army, Corps and Division down to infantry battalion and Engineering company. These journals can provide a window into individual wartime experiences. In a diary members of the unit are often mentioned along with information. Commissioned officers are typically easier to follow because they are often mentioned in the text and are listed in a monthly return within most war diaries. In addition, a full nominal roll of all ranks may be included, for example when a unit deploys overseas.
Names and details also appears in operational reports as well as various subjects and activities.
Files relating to casualties are available. Organised by unit or regiment and theatre of war. Also, Casualties at sea. Most of these files include reports relating to the circumstances of how a casualty occurred. These are often in the form of reports from their comrades.
A lot of these documents contain information that is frequently absent from their official service record.
The database in compiled from records held at the National Archives in Kewunless stated otherwise.
What can be found in our British Army WW2 Records
All records will include the unit in which serving. Only when an individual is traveling abroad as a reinforcement a unit does not appear on the database.
Embarkation & Disembarkation details
Shows date and port of embarkation along with vessel on which embarked. Also details of arrival at destination.
Battle casualties from WW2 records
Members of a unit where casualties were sustained were asked to supply information regarding their missing comrades by the casualty branch. They often include the circumstances, place and date their comrades were last seen. Or where and when killed, wounded or captured.
Casualties at sea in British Army WW2 records
Thousands of members of the British Army became casualties at sea and many more survived sinkings. These were Troopships, Merchant vessels, Royal Navy vessels and Landing Craft. Unless they were on the ship’s crew, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission does not have information on which ship an army casualty occurred on. We can supply these details, whether lost at sea as well as many who survived sinkings.
Recommendations for Awards
Many were recommended for an award that was not approved by higher echelons. Sometimes recommendations can be found in full, with details of the action along with the date and place. More frequently a place and dates are found for which an award was recommended. These details are recorded in full on the database.
Mention in Despatches
Many of these are listed, some with recommendations. Those granted were announced in the London Gazette. If a Mention was announced in the London Gazette a theatre of war with a wide-ranging date is given. Our details, when found can pin down the battle or action along with date.
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Examples of British Army WW2 Records from our database.
The British Army in the Second World War
On the outbreak of war the British Army in could muster some 897,000 personnel. This peaked in June 1945. At this time this had risen to 2,920,000. Finally some 3,800,000 served in total.
Official British Army WW2 records show that a total of 569,501 casualties were suffered during the war. 144,079 Killed and 33,771 Missing. Additionally 239,575 were wounded and 152,076 were taken Prisoner of War.Â
The Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) was formed in 1938. This women’s service stood at the strength of around 3,000 in September. At its peak in June 1943 210,300 were serving. Over 250,000 served in the ATS during war.
The Regular Army Nursing service was Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS). Territorial Nurses served in the Territorial Army Nursing Service (TANS). At the outbreak of war there were 2,400 nursing staff. This grew to a maximum of 21,500 in March 1945.
The British Army Women’s services suffered 751 casualties in total. 335 Killed. 94 Missing. 302 Wounded and 20 taken Prisoner of War.  Â
Both men and women are represented in our British Army WW2 records.
