How to Research your Second World War Ancestors
It has never been easier to research what your parents and grandparents and family members did in the Second World War – whether they were in the armed forces, the Home Guard or worked in factories on the home front. For anyone looking to learn more about their family’s past, this book provides all the tools and information to get started, explains what is available online (as well as what is not) and outlines the pitfalls to avoid. A wide range of background information on the war itself will also help place your ancestors’ experiences within the wider context of the Second World War.
This book provides a comprehensive review of all the available resources, where they are to be found and how to make the best use of them; not just for the United Kingdom, but also for the Commonwealth, Europe and the United States.
An essential guide, it makes an increasingly important aspect of family history both interesting and accessible to anyone looking to learn more about their past.
Since taking early retirement from The National Archives, Simon Fowler has been a professional researcher specialising in military history of the two world wars and the records of central government since 1800. He has written two dozen books, mainly for Pen & Sword. Simon teaches a course on military archives at Dundee University, and teaches family history courses, including several on military genealogy, for Pharos. He is a very experienced lecturer and has done many radio interviews.