Major release of WW2 Royal Navy Records by FindmyPast

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk)

Discover seafaring ancestors in exclusive new Royal Navy records on Findmypast

• Exclusive new records released in the New Year to help researchers uncover and understand their Naval ancestors’ lives 
• Records include Casualty Logs, WRNS enlistments, and the first comprehensive collection of British Naval submarine records anywhere online
• Researchers have uncovered fascinating stories of vessels and crew, such as that of the forgotten submarine HMS Torbay, which led an audacious commando raid during WWII to assassinate German General Erwin Rommel
• Release part of major new digitisation partnership between Findmypast and Museum of the Royal Navy, forming a growing new online hub for naval research

Family historians can now uncover the stories of their naval ancestors like never before, thanks to the latest major release of exclusive Royal Navy records – part of the landmark digitisation project by Findmypast in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy. 

In the first release of the year, over 121,000 exclusive new Royal Navy records are available online for the first time, opening up an extraordinary resource for genealogists worldwide. This release includes five major record sets, offering unparalleled detail about life and service at sea, with further releases planned throughout the year*. 

These exclusive new collections provide unprecedented access to personal details that were previously only accessible to visitors to the Royal Navy archives in Portsmouth. Whether your ancestor served on a famous submarine, in the WRNS, or aboard a warship during WWII, these records offer a chance to uncover their story in vivid detail.

Researchers at Findmypast have already uncovered some extraordinary stories within the new records, including that of HMS Torbay, once dubbed the “most famous submarine in the world” and now all but lost in public memory. The 60-strong crew took part in some remarkable action during the Second World War, including the covert commando raid, ‘Operation Flipper’, which unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate German General Erwin Rommel. In one of the most audacious submarine actions, the Torbay also penetrated the heavily defended Axis-held harbour on the Greek island of Cephalonia, surfacing among enemy ships and firing torpedoes at point-blank range to sink and damage many of them, before enduring 17 hours of relentless pursuit and finally slipping away into the Mediterranean. The operation earned the submarine a Mention in Despatches, and her crew went on to receive one of the most remarkable clusters of awards in Royal Navy history.

The new records include:

• British Royal Navy Casualty Logs, 1939-1945: Trace your family members through the fierce sea battles of the Second World War, including major moments like the loss of HMS Hood and other significant casualties. This exclusive new collection of 5,400 ships and 100,000 names. Search by name, official number, age, ship name, injury and death dates. 
• British Royal Navy Submarine Movement Cards: Forming the first cohesive collection of Royal Navy submarine records online, you’ll be able to search over 40,000 service cards to discover details like name, rating, official numbers, birth dates, awards, and every ship served on with dates. Uncover action below the waves from the early years of this covert service during WWI, through the major engagements of the Second World War, and into the tension of Cold War patrols.
• British Women’s Royal Naval Service Enrolment Forms, 1917–1919: Delve into the experiences of the women of the Royal Navy during the First World War in over 6,000 detailed enrolment forms of the WRNS. Records include key details like name, age, address, marital status, next of kin, and personal questionnaires. They offer rich insight into women’s lives before joining the WRNS, with signatures and service contracts.
• Royal Naval Division Records, 1916–1919: This unique collection contains unique cards digitised for the first time, providing details of the officers and ratings who joined or trained at the major Navy centre at Crystal Palace – officially known as HMS Victory VI – during the First World War. It contains around 4,500 names, covering birth date, address, occupation, next of kin, and service number, offering never-before seen information on those who undertook specialist technical and medical training during the war. The collection builds on Royal Naval Division Cards already available on the site thanks to the ongoing partnership with the National Archives.
• British and Allied Warships Lost in WWII, 1939–1945: Discover the details of all major British and Allied warships lost under British operational control, helping to provide context and understanding of your ancestor’s Second World War experiences.

The new records form part of an ever-expanding new British Naval hub on Findmypast, providing the go-to resource for researchers wishing to understand their Naval roots. Here, researchers can discover and search all Royal Navy collections, as well as tips and resources for naval research. 

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast, said: ‘This release is a game-changer for anyone with seafaring ancestors. For the first time, you can trace the men and women who served beneath the waves or on the high seas, discover the ships they sailed on, and understand their lives in wartime. These records don’t just list names – they tell stories of courage, sacrifice, and service. We’re so excited to bring thousands more of these exclusive records to the site throughout 2026, making Findmypast the home of British Navy records.’

*Please note: data protection safeguards are in place, which means that some records that include personal information for those still living are not included in the initial release. Additional records will be made available over time, with new material released each year.

(With thanks to Madeleine Gilbert)

Picture below, a submarine movement card for a family friend many years ago, Sir Arthur Hezlet from Aghadowey in Co. Londonderry, who was a submarine ace in the Second World War. 

Chris 

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