One of the most common enquiries we receive begins with a simple question:
"My grandad served during the Second World War. Why can't I find his records online?"
Often, the family knows he served. There may be photographs showing him in uniform, medals tucked away in a drawer, or stories passed down through the generations. Yet after searching websites such as Ancestry, Findmypast and The National Archives, they find little or nothing about his military service.
If this sounds familiar, don't worry. You have not necessarily hit a dead end. In fact, this situation is far more common than many people realise.
Unlike many First World War records, most Royal Signals and other British Army Second World War service records are not available online and must be obtained through official channels.
The Biggest Misconception About WWII Research
Many people begin military family history research with First World War records.
Over the years, millions of First World War documents have been digitised and made available online. Service records, medal index cards, pension records and casualty lists can often be searched from home with a few clicks.
Naturally, many researchers assume the same is true for the Second World War.
Unfortunately, it isn't.
The vast majority of British Army service records from the Second World War are not available on genealogy websites. This means that even if your grandfather served throughout the war, you are unlikely to find a detailed service record on Ancestry or Findmypast.
This often comes as a surprise to families who have spent hours searching online databases expecting a quick answer.
If you’re beginning your own journey into a family member’s military past, our "Start Tracing" guide explains the key records, medals, and documents that can help uncover a soldier’s wartime story.
So Where Are The Records?
Most British Army service records from the Second World War remain held by the government rather than being publicly available online.
While access to these records has become easier in recent years, they have never been digitised on the same scale as many First World War collections.
As a result, the absence of an online service record does not mean the record has been lost. More often than not, it simply means it has never been uploaded to the websites researchers typically use.
This is one of the biggest differences between researching a First World War soldier and researching someone who served during the Second World War.
But I Know He Served
Many families reach a point where they begin questioning their own evidence.
They know their grandfather served. They have seen photographs of him in uniform. They remember stories about training camps, military service or wartime deployments. Some even have medals bearing his name.
Yet the internet appears to suggest he never existed.
The reality is that online records only represent a small part of the surviving evidence.
A missing service record does not mean a soldier's history has disappeared. It simply means the information is stored elsewhere or must be approached from a different angle.
What Can You Find Online?
Even when a service record is unavailable, there are often other sources that can help build a picture of a soldier's wartime experience.
Local newspapers frequently reported enlistments, promotions, awards and homecomings. Casualty reports may survive if a soldier was wounded, captured or killed. Medal information can provide clues about theatres of war and wartime service.
Photographs can also reveal surprising details. Cap badges, shoulder titles, rank insignia and specialist qualification badges can all help narrow down a soldier's unit or role.
In many cases, researchers are able to uncover far more information than they initially expected without ever seeing the official service record.
The Family Story Isn't Always Wrong - Just Incomplete
Another common problem is relying entirely on family stories.
Family memories are incredibly valuable and often provide the starting point for successful research. However, stories passed down through several generations can become simplified over time.
A soldier remembered as serving in one regiment may have transferred to another. Someone believed to have spent the entire war in Italy may actually have served in North Africa beforehand. A relative described as a commando may have completed specialist training without formally serving in a Commando unit.
These aren't examples of families getting things wrong. They are examples of military careers being more complicated than the short versions passed down over the dinner table.
Research often involves filling in the missing pieces rather than disproving the family story.
What If I Don't Know His Service Number?
This is another situation that worries many researchers.
Unlike dedicated military historians, most families do not begin with a service number.
Instead, they often have a name, a photograph, a rough date of birth and perhaps a few stories.
While a service number is undoubtedly useful, it is not always essential when beginning research. Experienced researchers can often use a combination of family information, military records, local sources and surviving documents to narrow down the possibilities.
The important thing is not to assume that the absence of a service number means the search is over.
Don't Assume You've Reached A Dead End
One of the biggest mistakes people make is giving up too early.
They search a genealogy website, fail to find a service record and conclude that no records survive.
In reality, Second World War research often requires a different approach. The records exist, but they are not always sitting neatly online waiting to be discovered.
Sometimes the key evidence is found in a newspaper archive. Sometimes it appears in a medal entitlement. Sometimes a photograph provides the breakthrough. Occasionally, the answer comes from a source the family had completely overlooked.
The challenge is knowing where to look next.
Need Help Researching A WWII Soldier?
At History Recon, many of the enquiries we receive begin with exactly this problem. A family knows a relative served during the Second World War but cannot find a service record online.
By combining military records, newspapers, photographs, medal information and other surviving sources, it is often possible to uncover far more than people expect.
If your research has reached a dead end, don't assume the story ends there. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh set of eyes and a different approach to bring a soldier's wartime service back into focus.
Author: Matthew Holden