Regimental War Diaries

In this guide, we’ll explain:

  • What war diaries are

  • How to access them

  • What they can tell you about your WWI or WWII ancestor

  • Where to find expert help when you're stuck

If you're asking, "How do I find out what my British ancestor did in the war?" — war diaries could be the missing link in your family history research.

What are Regimental War Diaries?

Regimental war diaries are daily records kept by British Army units during active service. These diaries were maintained by officers and clerks, providing official accounts of:

  • Day-to-day activities

  • Battle movements and engagements

  • Casualties and reinforcements

  • Weather conditions

  • Operational orders and maps

While they rarely mention individual soldiers by name (unless they were officers or killed), war diaries can help place your ancestor in a specific location at a specific time, offering crucial historical context for their service.

Why War Diaries Matter in Family History Research

Most WWI and WWII British military service records were incomplete, lost, or limited in detail—especially those destroyed during the Blitz. But war diaries survive and are preserved by the UK National Archives. They help fill in the gaps by giving insight into:

  • What your ancestor’s unit was doing

  • Key battles or campaigns they were involved in

  • Locations and daily hardships faced

  • Significant events during their time in service

Understanding these diaries helps bring your ancestor’s story to life in a way few other documents can.

How to Find British Regimental War Diaries

Step 1: Identify the Regiment or Unit

Before you can access a war diary, you need to know your ancestor’s regiment or unit. This information can be found in:

  • Service records (via the MOD or genealogy sites)

  • Medal index cards

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission records

  • Family documents or photographs

Once you know the regiment, you’re ready to search.

Step 2: Search the UK National Archives

The UK National Archives in Kew holds most British war diaries from World War I and many from World War II. You can search their online catalogue:

➡️ https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Use keywords like:

  • Regiment name (e.g., "Royal Artillery")

  • Battalion number (e.g., "1st Battalion")

  • Conflict (e.g., “WWI” or “WWII”)

Most war diaries fall under series WO 95 (WWI) and WO 166 / WO 171 (WWII).

Step 3: Accessing the Diaries

Many WWI diaries are digitised and available for download directly from the National Archives website (typically for a small fee). WWII diaries are more restricted but can be viewed in person or ordered as copies.

What to Expect in a War Diary

A typical war diary includes:

  • Daily entries (some typed, some handwritten)

  • Names of commanding officers

  • Details of movements, skirmishes, or battles

  • Reports on supplies, morale, and conditions

  • Attachments like maps, orders, and operational summaries

While individual soldiers aren’t usually mentioned, combining this with service records can reveal where your ancestor was and what they experienced.

Expert Tip: Cross-Reference With Medal Records & Casualty Lists

Once you’ve found the relevant dates and locations in a war diary, you can cross-reference:

  • Medal award dates

  • Wounds or injuries

  • Mentions in despatches

  • Regimental histories and battlefield maps

This method helps you reconstruct your ancestor’s wartime experience, even without a detailed personal record.

War diaries can be dense and full of military jargon, abbreviations, and coded language. Decoding them can be time-consuming — especially if you're unfamiliar with British Army structure or historical geography.

That's where we come in.

👉 Our team specializes in interpreting British military records and war diaries to help trace your British ancestor’s military history. Let us do the hard work for you.

Engage us to get expert help today and take the next step in discovering your British family’s war story.

Need assistance in unlocking the secrets of Regimental War Diaries?

Contact us today for assistance with decoding, identifying, and researching your family history.