The following was written by Findmypast:
Findmypast is free this Veteran’s Day weekend, enabling anyone to trace the wartime experiences of their ancestors
Unearth your ancestors’ remarkable stories in the newspaper archives
Honour and share their legacies on a Findmypast family tree and discover the details of their lives in Census, military records and more
Share your discoveries on social media with the hashtag #RememberThemAll
To mark Veteran’s Day, Findmypast is making its website and collections completely free to the public*. From Thursday 9 November to Monday 13 November, anyone will be able to uncover the wartime experiences of their ancestors, from nurses to soldiers to home front civilians.
With free access to over 14 billion records and an interconnected tree network, it’s easier than ever to uncover your ancestors’ wartime stories.
Explore the rich stories of bravery, community and tragedy in over 70 million searchable historical newspaper pages, digitised in partnership with the British Library. You’ll find details about your ancestors that you won’t get in other records, helping you to make connections and gain a deeper understanding of their wartime experiences.
Research by Findmypast into the newspaper collection has already uncovered some remarkable stories – like that of Jessie Eskdale Walker and Captain Albert Angel White:
Jessie Eskdale Walker was part of a first aid party assisting air raid victims, when another bomb fell nearby, killing or injuring most of the party. Eskdale Walker, despite suffering from shock, remained at her post and began rescue work. Assisted by two local Constables, she attended to the injured despite a gas meter nearby having caught fire, creating dangerous conditions. Eskdale Walker was awarded the British Empire Medal for her brave actions despite the present risk to her safety and went on to become an ambulance driver.
Captain Albert Angel White: Captain White was master of the West Hartlepool steamer Stonepool. In 1939 at the beginning of World War II, Capt. White was engaged in the first straight fight of the war between a defensively armed merchant-man and a U-Boat. The merchant vessel exchanged ‘shot for shot’ with the submarine, fighting it off but receiving damage. Accounts from the era suggest that “by his resolute and skilful action the Master saved his ship.” For his bravery, White was awarded the O.B.E. in December 1939.
You can also delve into the exclusive 1939 Register, military records, hospital and migration records, and many more, to build a detailed picture of your ancestors’ lives.
Preserve your findings with Findmypast’s simple online family tree builder. Allow the clever hints to get your family history going further, faster and with more accuracy, and share your wartime ancestors’ legacy with friends and family.
Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast, said: “We’re making our entire site free this Veteran’s Day weekend to help everyone to discover their ancestors’ experiences and stories from this tragic and momentous period in recent history. We hope that people will feel more connected to the people in the past who gave so much for our present. From soldiers and nurses to civilians and volunteers, we will remember them all this Veteran’s Day weekend.”
Search for free at https://www.findmypast.com/ 9-13 November.
*Records on Findmypast will be free to access for all signed-in users from 10am GMT Thursday 9 November, until 10am GMT Monday 13 November.