Find My Past Adds More Than 200,000 New Military Records Covering the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and More

The following announcement was written by Find My Past:

With two brand new record sets and substantial additions to two other military collections, there’s so much to uncover this Findmypast Friday.

British Army, Recommendations For Military Honours and Awards 1935-1990

This fascinating collection from The National Archives includes nearly 80,000 records. The transcripts include British Army personnel and some dominions armies’ personnel. They also contain some recommendations for members of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. Reasons for recommendations vary, including gallantry in the face of the enemy, ‘meritorious service’ (not in the face of the enemy), or distinguished service. Covering the years in the lead up to World War 2 and beyond, the records reveal soldiers’ names, units, ranks, home addresses, and often poignant descriptions of the actions that warrant an award.

South Africa, Local Armed Forces Nominal Rolls, 1899-1902

Another entirely new collection from The National Archives, this series comprises over 53,000 records detailing some of the British Army units raised locally in South Africa during the Second Boer War. These local units mainly consisted of British men who had emigrated to South Africa before the war. The record transcripts feature names, ranks, army units and in many cases, enrolment and discharge dates.

Britain, Campaign, Gallantry & Long Service Medals & Awards

Findmypast has added over 51,000 new records to this collection, which details those that showed strength and courage in the face of war.

Specifically, these latest additions cover recipients of:

Long Service Good Conduct Medal

India General Service Medal Pegu (Army) 1852-53

India General Service Medal Pegu (Navy) 1852-53

These records have been collated from multiple sources, including The National Archives and the British Library, but also from musters, pay lists, and other service records. As a result, each record varies in its information but usually includes a combination of regiment and rank, reason for award, any other known medals, discharge date and more.

British Royal Navy & Royal Marines Service and Pension Records, 1704-1919

Findmypast has added over 19,000 more records to this collection, including a shore list of men who joined the Royal Marines in 1810. The records reveal the rank and division of the seafaring servicemen, as well as the date they joined and any remarks made by their superior. 

Newspapers 

In case you missed our announcement, Findmypast has made their entire newspaper archive free until 6 June to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Their latest releases are included in the free access promotion, including:

New titles: 

Eastleigh Weekly News and Hants Gazette, 1895-1900

St Neots Town Crier, 1994

Stockport Times, 1989

Updated titles: 

Abergele & Pensarn Visitor, 1990

Accrington Observer and Times, 1912, 1990

Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser, 1946

Aldershot News, 1978-1979

Anfield & Walton Star, 1992

Ashby Mail, 1992

Bebington News, 1991

Billingham & Norton Advertiser, 1992

Birkenhead News, 1991

Birmingham Journal, 1839

Burton Daily Mail, 1997

Cambridge Town Crier, 1992

Cheltenham Chronicle, 1860

Crewe Chronicle, 1980, 1994-1995

Daily Record, 1988, 1994

Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser, 1986

East Grinstead Observer, 1991

East Kilbride News, 1995

East Kilbride World, 1991, 1993

Galloway News and Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser, 1991

Gateshead Post, 1994

Glamorgan Gazette, 1984

Heartland Evening News, 1998

Herald Cymraeg, 1952

Herald of Wales, 1950

Hertford Mercury and Reformer, 1981

Herts and Essex Observer, 1980

Hinckley Times, 1993, 1998

Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury, 1993-1994, 1998

Horley & Gatwick Mirror, 1992

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 1993, 1995

Huntingdon Town Crier, 1987, 1989, 1996

Ilfracombe Chronicle, 1891-1892

Ilkeston Express, 1989, 1992

Kensington News and West London Times, 1937, 1951, 1964, 1968,

Long Eaton Advertiser, 1988, 1994

Loughborough Echo, 1912

Loughborough Mail, 1990, 1994

Macclesfield Express, 1989, 1998

Maghull & Aintree Star, 1991

Merthyr Express, 1990

Middlesex County Times, 1995, 1998

Midweek Visiter (Southport), 1995

Nantwich Chronicle, 1993-1994

Northampton Herald & Post, 1991

Nottingham Evening Post, 1994

Nottingham Guardian, 1872

Nottingham Recorder, 1996

Oldham Advertiser, 1992

Ormskirk Advertiser, 1876, 1894

Perthshire Advertiser, 1919

Peterborough Standard, 1986

Port Talbot Guardian, 1981-1982, 1984-1985, 1995

Rhondda Leader, 1987

Ripley Express, 1992

Rossendale Free Press, 1987

Rugeley Mercury, 1988, 1990, 1992

Runcorn & Widnes Herald & Post, 1989-1990, 1993

Sevenoaks Focus, 1992

Solihull News, 1994-1997

Solihull Times, 1994-1996, 1998

Somerset Standard, 1980

Southall Gazette, 1979, 1995, 1998

Southport Visiter, 1989

Stafford Post, 1989, 1991

Staines Informer, 1988, 1990

Stanmore Observer, 1987-1988, 1990

Stirling Observer, 1989

Stockport Advertiser and Guardian, 1877

Stockport Express Advertiser, 1992

Stockton & Billingham Herald & Post, 1989

Tamworth Herald, 1989, 1997

Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 1884

The People, 1998

Uttoxeter New Era, 1887

Wellingborough & Rushden Herald & Post, 1989, 1992

West Surrey Times, 1873, 1912

Western Evening Herald, 1993

Westminster & Pimlico News, 1998

Winsford Chronicle, 1996-1997