FindmyPast adds records to 1881 UK worldwide army index

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added records to a census substitute for 1881 for those serving in the army overseas. 

British Army, Worldwide Index
There are over 235,000 new additions for the year 1881 to explore.

In total, there are similar indexes for the decennial years from 1841-1881, corresponding woth the decennial censuses, and all drawn from muster rolls of regiments as held at the National Archives in Kew, England. 

For a link, and details of other records released this week for England and Australia, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/historical-records. 

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

FindmyPast releases additional Royal Navy databases

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added some furttehr Royal navy collections, as follows:

• British Royal Navy, Submarine Movement Cards
• British and Allied Warships Lost in the Second World War
• British Royal Navy Casualty Logs 1939-1945
• British Women's Royal Naval Service Enrolment, 1917-1919
• Royal Naval Division Service Records, 1914-1920
• Navy Lists (10,469,334 Navy list records, with name, rank, occupation, and promotion dates for those who served from 1921-1937).

For further details, and links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/wrens-enrollments-navy-lists

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

UK National Archives to raise fees and introduce new Request A Military Service Record service

The National Archives based at Kew, England, which has charge of records common to the four nations of the UK, is to raise its fees in February 2026 for the first time since 2019, and to introduce a new Request A Military Service Record service. The following is the announcement:

From 2 February 2026, The National Archives will increase fees for some services as we bring charges in line with current delivery costs. This is the first increase since 2019.

The changes affect fees for document copies, research and search services, and authentication, and also introduce a new fee for accessing recently transferred historic Ministry of Defence service personnel records.

Saul Nassé, Chief Executive of The National Archives said:

‘We are introducing updated fees that reflect the costs of providing services to meet the high standards our users rightly expect. We have worked hard to keep the costs as low as possible, while introducing new offerings that we believe the public will value. A visit to view records at our reading rooms in Kew remains free, while these charges allow us to invest in the additional services we know people want.’

Since the last review in 2018, the operational costs involved to deliver our services have increased significantly. Improvements in our processes have enabled us to keep the majority of increases below inflation over the six-year period.

The one charge which has increased more than inflation is for naturalisation certificate copies. The certification process for naturalisation certificates is more complex than the general record copying service. This multi-stage process ensures the integrity and authenticity of certified naturalisation certificates, which are often required for legal and official purposes, and the new charge reflects the full costs involved.

The fee structure now also includes two new routes for access to historic Ministry of Defence service personnel records via a bespoke digital service, Request A Military Service Record. This new offer, starting on 2 February 2026, will provide a speedier and better-quality service and will allow us to address the high demand for access since the service personnel records began arriving at The National Archives in 2021. To date we have received 8.2 million personnel records with approximately 2.6 million already available to search on our catalogue.

The National Archives does not make a profit from charging, as the fees reflect how much it actually costs to deliver our services today.

The vast majority of the records in our collection which are open and searchable on our catalogue can still be viewed for free in our reading rooms at Kew.

The new Fees Regulations can be viewed at legislation.gov.uk

Read more information on the new Fees Regulations

Read more information on the new Request a Military Service Record service 

The Request a Service Record service will cost a whopping £42.25 for digital copies and £47.16 for print copies, standard service, plus postage and packing. The rate includes a search fee and copying fee. 

Note the following:

The implementation date is Monday 2 February 2026. Any requests received prior to this date will go into the current system and will not be charged. Requests received on or after 2 February 2026 will go into the new service and if requesting the standard service, users will receive their information within 30 working days. 

(With thanks to TNA via email)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. To purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Two new military collections from FindmyPast

Two new collections from FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) this week:

Faces of the Fallen 1914-1918

Explore this unique collection of photographs from our extensive newspaper archive. During the First World War, newspapers across Britain published photos of those who fought, died, went missing, or were wounded in action, providing a deeply personal record of the human cost of the conflict. These photos offer a moving and powerful glimpse of how the war affected communities across the British Isles, with a remarkable story behind each one waiting to be uncovered. We will update this collection regularly as we find more pages, ensuring that we continue to illuminate and remember more names and stories.

Anglo-Boer War Records 1899-1902

We've added 22,752 more records to this important military collection. It holds hundreds of thousands of names drawn from more than five hundred sources, revealing the unit your ancestor served with, as well as details of medals, honours, or awards they received. Additionally, it features a thoroughly revised list of men who were killed in action, died of wounds, or succumbed to disease.

For further details, and links, visit https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/wartime-records-maps

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist releases 1 million First World War casualty records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk): 

TheGenealogist marks Remembrance Sunday with the release of over 1 million WWI Casualty Records

To commemorate Remembrance Sunday, TheGenealogist has released 1,090,293 new Casualty List Records from The First World War, covering the period 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919, completing their coverage of the War Office Casualty Lists. This significant addition helps researchers and families trace those who were killed, wounded, reported missing, or taken prisoner in the later part of the First World War.

TheGenealogist's Head of Content, Mark Bayley, commented: “On Remembrance Sunday, as we honour the fallen, it’s also a time to think of those who returned with wounds both seen and unseen. This release enables researchers to follow relatives throughout the conflict, right up to its end and trace the impact it had on them and their families.”

This release includes:

●    Comprehensive coverage: 1,090,293 records spanning 8th April 1918 to 4th March 1919.
●    Searchable detail: Name, rank, regiment/unit, and (where recorded) service number, place, and nature of casualty, such as killed, wounded, missing, prisoner of war, and died of wounds.
●    Derived from the official War Office Weekly Casualty Lists published at the time, with later corrections where available.
●    This completes the collection of War Office Weekly Casualty lists and brings the total Casualty List records on TheGenealogist to over 4.5 million

The new records are available now to Diamond subscribers at TheGenealogist.co.uk.

These newly added records include a number of notable names, among them the author C. S. Lewis. Read more about his wartime experience here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/cs-lewis-8787/

(With thanks to Paul Bayley from TheGenealogist)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Ancestry releases first batch of Second World War army service records

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has released the first batch of infantry records from the Second World War (and beyond):

UK, Military Service Records, 1939-1959
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62685/
Source: WO 422: War Office: Infantry Over Age Other Ranks: Service Records, Second World War. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, London, England. 

General collection information

This collection contains more than 2 million service records for British infantry service members discharged as over age between 1939 and 1959. The records for personnel from the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Cavalry, and Guards Regiments are not included in this collection.

Many of the records are military attestation forms that contain personal information for each soldier. The collection also includes records of those who had joined the British Army Reserves prior to the Second World War and then saw service in the conflict.

Digitization of this collection is ongoing, and additional records will be added as they are digitized.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Occupation
• Height
• Weight
• Distinguishing marks
• Next of kin
• Regiment

The information in these records may help you learn about your ancestor’s military service during and after the Second World War. Learning what regiment your ancestor served in may allow you to find historical accounts of the activities of that regiment during the war. The records also may give you a basic understanding of your ancestor’s physical attributes.

An exploration of the record image may also tell you the parish, town, and county where your ancestor was born and their address at the time of enlistment. The records list military service rendered and whether a soldier was wounded or received medals or decorations.

* NB: This collection is only partially complete - digitisation is ongoing and future updates are planned. A recent article from Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine suggests that 106,000 records from the first batch.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Free access to FindmyPast military records from 7-13 November

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

To mark Remembrance and honour those who served, Findmypast is offering free access to millions of military records from 7–13 November.

This special access gives family historians and researchers the opportunity to explore detail-rich records, uncover personal stories, and truly understand their ancestors’ lives. Whether they joined up as a Pal, served on the front lines, became a prisoner of war, helped on the home front, or worked as a Red Cross volunteer, Findmypast’s military records can paint a vivid picture of your family's wartime experiences and offer a powerful way to remember those who served.  

Those with British & Irish roots can explore the largest collection of British Army records anywhere online, including regimental records, army lists, roll calls and the details of those who served with particular regiments, military nurses, volunteer soldiers and army deserters, as well as the British in India collection, covering nearly 350 years from 1656 right up to 1993.

Then delve deeper to understand what life was really like for those who experienced war within Findmypast’s unrivalled collection of historical newspapers. You might find an image of your fallen ancestor within Findmypast’s brand new ‘Faces of the Fallen’ collection, extracted from the pages of British & Irish newspapers, or a story of heroism in your local community. Trace major milestones of the war as they happened – and spot those that were left out by the wartime press.

Plus, Findmypast has created a helpful set of resources and features to help you get further with your military research, faster. Use powerful research tools like Collections to clip and file your favourite newspaper articles, and Workspaces to collate your research on individual ancestors in one place and preserve the stories that matter most. Within the family tree builder, you’ll discover helpful information giving you the context around your ancestor’s military service, including details of regiments and battles. You can also uncover our expert tips, guides and even a video tutorial on our Remembrance hub. 

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: “We believe that uncovering and understanding the stories of all those who served is a powerful act of Remembrance. This year, we’re encouraging our genealogy community to help shed light on one of the darkest wartime chapters: the Pals regiments of the First World War. Research military ancestors for free this weekend and help to ensure that no story is left behind.”
 

Join Findmypast’s Pals Campaign

Findmypast has launched an ongoing campaign to build the first and only definitive record collection dedicated to the Pals—groups of brothers, friends, and workmates who enlisted, fought, and often fell together in the First World War. From Caernarfon to Cambridge, Glasgow to Grimsby, these comrades answered Kitchener’s call and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in trenches thick with mud.

Yet, despite their sacrifice, there is no single roll that holds every name of the Pals. Too many stories remain scattered or forgotten. Findmypast is calling on the genealogy community to help change that.
Find a Pal, delve deeper, and share your findings at www.findmypast.co.uk/pals Together, we’ll remember, record, and reunite the Pals.

*Exclusions apply. Free access to selected military records runs from 10:00 GMT on Friday 7 November (November 7 for US) to 23:59 GMT on Thursday 13 November (November 13 for US). After the free access ends, you can only view most records and features with a valid subscription. For more information, including our fair usage policy, read our free access terms and conditions. 

(With thanks to Madeleine Gilbert via email)

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in the USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

FindmyPast adds Battle of Trafalgar Royal Naval records

The drought on new Scottish records continues with FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk), but they have released a new collection which may contain some Scots and Irish names:

British Royal Navy, Battle of Trafalgar Prize Book
In partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy, we've digitised one of only two surviving copies of the 1805 Trafalgar Prize Book, which contains the names of sailors who received payments after the battle. If your ancestor was involved in the Battle of Trafalgar, their name may appear within these 17,050 extraordinary new records.

British Royal Navy, Battle of Trafalgar 1805
The Prize Book isn't the only way to trace your family's ties to the Battle of Trafalgar - you can also explore 18,115 naval records within this new collection. 

Further details at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new/battle-of-trafalgar-photo-collection

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available -Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

FindmyPast updates British Armed Forces and Overseas BMD records

FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk) has added about 100,000 new birth, marriage and death records last week to two overseas British collections from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials
5,827 searchable records are from a non-Catholic cemetery in Rome.

British Armed Forces and Overseas Browse
95,472 images added to this browse-only set of birth, marriage and death records. 

I assume the "non-Catholic cemetery" is Testaccio Cemetery, Rome, Italy, also known as the "Protestant Cemetery". The source list on FMP's page at https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-deaths-and-burials notes two Rome collections as sources from TNA (England), which I assume are for the same facility: FO 170/1222 - Testaccio Cemetery, Rome, Italy, and FO 45/731 - Protestant Cemetery at Rome, Italy. 

Further recent releases are noted at https://www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/new, although there is very little for Scotland and Ireland released recently, beyond newspaper additions carried over from the British Newspaper Archive.

Chris 

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

TheGenealogist Releases International Bomber Command Centre death records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

TheGenealogist Releases 67,000 Death Records from the International Bomber Command Centre

TheGenealogist is proud to announce the release of the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC): Losses Database on its website. This significant collection honours the men and women who served and died while supporting Bomber Command operations.

The IBCC Losses Database includes detailed records of over 67,000 Bomber Command casualties, capturing personal details, aircraft information, missions, and circumstances of death. This fully searchable resource allows family historians, researchers, and aviation enthusiasts to access an unparalleled level of detail about those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom.

The records link on to the IBCC database, compiled from over 6.2 Million pieces of data, giving an incredible amount of information for each individual, often including a photo.

● 67,140 Records

● Covers 1936 to 1968

● Gives over 100,000 names of Parents, Spouses, Siblings and Children

● SmartSearch links to our AIR 27 Operations Record Books (ORBs), which can provide details of the fateful mission where the crew member lost their life

Among the notable entries in the database is Percy Charles Pickard, the legendary RAF officer known for leading the daring Amiens prison raid in 1944. His inclusion in the records offers a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice that marked the RAF’s wartime efforts. You can read his remarkable story here: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/target-for-tonight-8696/

Mark Bayley, Head of Online Content at TheGenealogist, said:

"This is a moving record collection that sheds light on those who served in one of the most dangerous roles of the Second World War. We’re making this release free to everyone as a tribute to the Bomber Command staff and crew who paid the ultimate price."

The IBCC Losses Database is now available for free for all registered users. Sign up for your free account at https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/account/signup/

(With thanks to TheGenealogist)

Chris  

Order Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland in the UK at https://bit.ly/4jJWSEh. Also available - Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page.

Recent notable additions to Ancestry

The following are some of the more noticeable collections aded to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) over the last couple of months that may be of interest:

UK, Recommendations for Honours and Awards, 1935-1943
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63097/ (full collection on Fold3.com)

UK, Postal Establishment Books, 1691-1979
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62454/

UK, Navy Board and Predecessors Prisoner of War Registers, 1755-1831
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63094/ (full collection on Fold3.com)

Web: Caribbean, Aircrew in the RAF during World War II, 1939-1945
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63333/

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

TheGenealogist releases new military records

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk): 

New Release of Military Records Celebrating Our Armed Forces
Search over half a million names

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, TheGenealogist is proud to announce the release of a collection of military records spanning over half a million names. This collection provides invaluable insights into the service and sacrifices of members of the British Armed Forces and colonial forces throughout history.

"This collection offers a glimpse into the service and sacrifices of our military and naval personnel throughout history," said Mark Bayley of TheGenealogist. "As we approach Remembrance Sunday, we are honoured to provide researchers and historians access to these invaluable resources, which contain the names of over half a million individuals who served their countries with courage and distinction."

The newly released records include:

●    Naval and Military Despatches Vol. IV-VI (1915 - 1916)
●    The British Roll of Honour 1837-1887
●    Return of The Names of The Officers in The Army 1811-1816
●    Surrey Musters, Part I-III 1544-1684
●    The Army List for 1881
●    The Army List for September 1933
●    The East-India Register and Directory, 1811
●    The East-India Register and Army List, 1842
●    The Last Post, Roll of Officers (Naval, Military or Colonial) who fell in South Africa 1899-1902 (also includes War Correspondents and Nurses who lost their lives)
●    The Muster-Roll of Angus, South African War, 1899-1902 (with 700 portraits)
●    A List of the Flag Officers and Other Commissioned Officers of His Majesty's Fleet, 1826
●    List of Officers of the Navy of the United States and of the Marine Corps, 1775-1900
●    Naval Worthies of Queen Elizabeth's Reign 1562-1643
●    Navy - Pensions, Compensations, and Allowances
●    The Royal Navy List for 1901
●    The Navy List for 1902
●    The Navy List for April 1915
●    The Navy List for April 1932
●    The Navy List for July 1915
●    The Navy List for January 1929
●    Arbroath & District Roll of Honour 1939-1945

The release of these records coincides with Remembrance Sunday, a solemn occasion when we pay tribute to the members of the armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

TheGenealogist's comprehensive military records collection allows individuals to delve into their family histories and honour the legacy of their ancestors who served.

One of the many interesting characters in these new records is Norman Douglas Holbrook, a remarkable submariner with extraordinary courage, skill, and determination - read his story here: https://thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/how-a-wwi-submarine-raid-birthed-a-hero-and-a-town-half-a-world-away-7864/

Explore the parish records and start your genealogical journey today with TheGenealogist. To celebrate this release, for a limited time you can claim a Diamond Subscription for the price of a Gold subscription at just £98.95 along with a FREE online magazine - a saving of over £64. You can claim this offer here: https://thegenealogist.co.uk/MGBMIL1124

This offer expires 14th February 2025.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Free access to FindmyPast for Remembrance Day commemorations

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Uncover forgotten wartime stories with free access to Findmypast this Remembrance Day

•    Research from Findmypast has revealed that 1.18 million wartime stories could be lost to history forever, as two thirds (64%) of Brits admit they haven't researched an ancestor who served
•    To combat this, all records on Findmypast will be free to the public over the Remembrance weekend (7-11 November 2024)
•    Delve into ancestors’ wartime experiences – from WRENS to frontline troops – in millions of military records
•    The 1921 Census will be free to view for the first time, offering a snapshot of interwar life
•    Uncover the details of family heroics and tragedy within the pages of Findmypast’s treasure trove of historical newspapers
•    Preserve stories and memories in a family tree and take advantages of helpful free tools and features

This Remembrance weekend, Findmypast is offering free access to all records to enable more people to discover their family’s wartime experiences.

This comes after new research conducted by Findmypast revealed that 1.18 million wartime stories are at risk of being forgotten, with a staggering two thirds (64%) of Brits admit they haven't researched an ancestor who served. 

From 7 November – 11 November, anyone can delve into the billions of records and historical newspapers on Findmypast, including the exclusive 1921 Census for the first time.

With millions of military records available – from WWI service records to medical records, enrolment forms, and rolls of honour – you can trace every detail of your ancestors’ wartime service across the globe.

With millions of women serving in in uniform and undertaking civilian wartime roles, make sure to uncover their stories in record sets including the WRENs files, Red Cross volunteer lists, rolls of honour, and service records. 

Newspapers on Findmypast offer a treasure trove of information and stories. You might find details of your ancestors’ wartime heroics, images of your community during the blitz, or fascinating insights into the reporting of major milestones in the war. Follow history as it happened with free access to millions of newspaper pages, digitised in partnership with the British Library.

With the 1921 Census offered free for the first time, you can also discover the impacts of the First World War on your family’s lives. Uncover their changing occupations and reflect on tragic losses, all documented in the largest and most comprehensive census in British history. Trace their lives further into the 20th century with the 1939 Register, taken on the advent of the Second World War.

Plus, you’ll get free use of all Findmypast’s tools and features to aid your research and grow your tree. Preserve your findings with Findmypast’s online family tree builder, and allow the clever hints to get your family history further, faster and with more accuracy. Search for ancestors within the branches of other members’ tree and uncover new connections. Discover milestone moments with Family Notices, and map these onto their profile.

Sarah Bush, Managing Director at Findmypast said: "Remembrance Day provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on our ancestors’ sacrifices, but research shows many stories remain untold. We’re encouraging people to honour their ancestors by uncovering their wartime stories. Every family’s wartime experience is unique, so we’re making our vast and varied collection of records, newspapers and tools on Findmypast free to ensure that no story is left behind.”

Free access on Findmypast will run from 10am GMT on 7 November to 11.59pm FMP on Monday 11 November. Ts&Cs Apply.  

(With thanks to Maddy Gilbert)

 

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Ancestry releases five UK themed Second World War databases

Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) has released five new UK themed World War 2 databases:

UK, World War II Photographs, 1939-1945
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62210/
Source: WWII Images. London, England: Mirrorpix.

About UK, World War II Photographs, 1939-1945

The World War II collection includes photos of the Second Great Fire of London and the destruction following the Blitz air raid bombings.

The images in this collection come from Mirrorpix, a division of Reach PLC, a publishing company.

Mirrorpix is a comprehensive archive of photographic press images. The collection includes works from the Daily Mirror newspaper, the Daily Express, and hundreds more leading regional newspapers.

 

UK, British Army World War II Medal Cards, 1939-1945
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62862/
Source: WW2 C.S.20 Army Medal Cards (WO 460). Kew, Surrey, England.

About UK, British Army World War II Medal Cards, 1939-1945

This collection contains an index of cards with information about medals awarded by the British Army for service during the Second World War. Records include a link to the image available on Forces War Records and Fold3.

The cards served as applications for war service medals, including the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939-45, and campaign stars that were awarded for service in specific theatres of the war. Veterans or their family members were required to submit an application to claim the appropriate medals, and many veterans didn’t file applications to receive their military honours.

It is believed that the medal index cards do not survive for members of the following regiments:

• Royal Engineers
• Royal Army Veterinary Corps
• Royal Army Medical Corps
• Royal Army Ordnance Corps
• Auxiliary Territorial Service
• Scots Guards
• Leicestershire Regiment
• Royal Warwickshire Regiment
• Lincolnshire Regiment
• West Yorkshire Regiment
• East Yorkshire Regiment
• Green Howards
• Duke of Wellington's Regiment
• Sherwood Foresters
• York and Lancashire Regiment
• Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
• Royal Ulster Rifles
• Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
• Royal Irish Fusiliers
• King's Own Regiment
• Lancashire Fusiliers
• East Lancashire Regiment
• Border Regiment
• South Lancashire Regiment
• Loyal Regiment
• Manchester Regiment
• Welch Regiment
• Cheshire Regiment
• Worcester Regiment
• South Staffordshire Regiment
• North Staffordshire Regiment
• South Wales Borderers
• Royal Welch Fusiliers
• Liverpool Regiment

The Second World War medals for civilian personnel in the Political Warfare Directorate are not included in this series.


UK, Selected Smaller Units Service Records, 1921-1959
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62683/
Source: WO 421: War Office: Selected Smaller Corps Other Ranks: Service Records. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives.

About UK, Selected Smaller Units Service Records, 1921-1959

This collection contains military service records for members of the British armed forces created between 1921 and 1959. A majority of the records are related to the discharge of over-age personnel who served during the Second World War between 1939 and 1945.

This collection includes service records from the following Corps:
Army Air Corps Royal
Army Veterinary Corps
Royal Military Police (or Corps of Military Police)
Royal Army Pay Corps
Royal Army Physical Training Corps
Military Provost Staff Corps
Royal Corps of Army Music
Royal Army Education Corps
Royal Pioneer Corps
Intelligence Corps
Officer Training Corps
Non-Combatant Corps


UK, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Service Records, 1942-1959
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/62682/
Source: WO 420: War Office: The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Other Ranks: Service Records (WO 420). Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives.

About the UK, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Service Records, 1942-1959

This collection contains records of service members who served in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (officers excluded) between the years 1942 and 1959. In this collection you’ll find service members who served during and after the Second World War, as well as those who were discharged for “aging out” of service (over 45). Only records of service members born over 100 years ago have been published, with more released annually as they exceed 100 years since birth.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:
Name
Birth date and place
Age
Service number
Rank
Regiment
Residence place
Parents’ names
Parents’ birth dates and places
Spouse’s name
Spouse's birth date and place
Marriage date and place
Religion
Physical attributes
Enlistment date and place
Discharge date and place
Occupation
Death date and place

Each service member has a packet containing multiple records. When viewing this collection be sure to use the image viewer to view all the records available in the packet. Service record packets may include the following:

• Attestation forms: documents created upon initial recruitment or transfer between units
• Statement of service: a list of the soldier’s postings whilst in service
• B102 Tracer cards: used to trace the soldier’s movements and promotions in the military
• B103 Service and casualty forms: an expanded version of the military service providing more in-depth details

The first page of each packet will include the piece number, which is used for cataloguing the records and will prove useful when creating source citations.

 

Poland and Great Britain, Polish Air Force in Great Britain, 1940-1947
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/63126/
Source: personelu Polskich Sił Powietrznych w Wielkiej Brytanii, 1940-1947. Polska: Krzystek’s List. https://listakrzystka.pl/en/ Accessed: July 2024.

About Poland and Great Britain, Polish Air Force in Great Britain, 1940-1947

This index-only collection captures over 16,000 Polish aviators who served in Great Britain during the Second World War. The index also includes service members who worked in other divisions of the Polish Air Force (PAF) in Britain—such as the Aviation Inspectorate—as well as Polish volunteers for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).

The index may include the following information:

• Name
• Service number
• Rank and specialty
• Date and place of birth
• Date of death
• Place of burial
• Last known assignment/post
• Military decorations
• Last known residence

The names of Polish personnel were processed by British officers, so misspellings may have occurred. Consider different first name/surname variations during your search. If you locate a service number, you can use it to order service records from the Ministry of Defence. Such records can offer more details about a service member’s military career. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/royal-air-force-personnel/ and https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records offer guidance on how to order and procure RAF service records.

* Further details for al the collections via the links given.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Pre-order my new book Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland

I'm delighted to say that my new book is now available for pre-order from Pen and Sword at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Researching-Ancestral-Crisis-in-Ireland-Paperback/p/51770, at an introductory price of £12.79 (RRP £15.99) plus postage. The book will be published on February 28th 2025. 

Entitled Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland: A Guide for Family Historians, the book looks at the moments in our Irish ancestors' lives where things went wrong, and how they were documented. Here's the back cover blurb:

Ireland is an extraordinarily beautiful island from which millions can claim their direct ancestry. But Ireland is also an island which has experienced some truly extraordinary moments of crisis which will have directly impacted our forebears, helping to shape us into the individuals that we are today. Whenever such crises happened, whether on a national scale or within the home, there was invariably somebody standing close to hand with a quill and parchment to document the misfortunes that befell so many.

In this latest book, family historian Chris Paton takes a look at some of the darkest episodes of Irish history over the last four hundred years, as well as the everyday crises that affected everyone throughout their lives. He will discuss the impact of many major events on our ancestors, including colonisation, conquest and rebellion, as well as the various pressures endured from within the family, the church, and the state.

Along the way Chris highlights the records that can help us to show the various trials and tribulations faced by our ancestors, which can help to vividly bring our family histories to life, including those available both online and within Ireland's many local and national archives.

And the following is the chapter breakdown:

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Timeline

1. Irish Family History Research Basics
    Births, marriages and deaths
    Church records
        Roman Catholic records
        Protestant church records
    Census records
    Wills
    DNA
    Gateway sites
    Irish archives
    British archives
    Libraries
    Commercial vendors    
    Newspapers
    Societies
    Commercial research services

2. Family events and relationships
    Births and illegitimacy
    'Fallen women'
    Mother and baby homes
    Foundlings
    Orphans
    Adoption
    Home children
    Marital issues
    Separation and divorce
    Bigamy
    Homosexuality
    Death
    Suicide
    
3. Law and Order
    Brehon laws        
    English law
    The Crown courts
    Local courts
    Grand juries
    Manor records
    Church courts
    Police and prison records
    Transportation
    Execution

4. Poverty and health
    Poor law
    Deportation of Irish paupers from Britain
    Public health concerns
    Hospitals and public health
    Asylums

5. Them and Us
    The Plantations of Ulster
    The 1641 Rebellion
    The Cromwellian Conquest
    The Penal Laws
    The Great Famine
    The Land War
    The Home Rule Crisis
    The Suffragettes
    The Dublin Lockout
    The First World War
    The Easter Rising
    The War of Independence
    The Treaty and the Civil War
    The Legacy of Conflict

I hope you enjoy the book, I've put a lot into it!

** Please note that the book will be available in the United States from April 2025, retailing at US $28.95 - see https://www.penandswordbooks.com/9781036110376/researching-ancestral-crisis-in-ireland/ for details.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

TheGenealogist adds United States WWII Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk), a release that may be of interest if members of your family emigrated to the United States to form part of the Irish and Scottish diasporas:

Free Military Records Released to Commemorate D-Day

To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, The Genealogist adds Enlistment Records to their Free Record Collections

In time to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on 6th June, TheGenealogist has added United States WWII Army Enlistment Records (1938-1946) to its ever-growing Free Records Collection. In these records, we can find the names and particulars of American soldiers who joined up to serve their country and fight for freedom.

These records provide detailed information about enlistment dates, service branches, ranks, and more about US soldiers from this time.

While Operation Overlord, the code name for the Battle of Normandy, was an Allied operation consisting of British, Canadian and other Allied nations' troops, the Americans provided the bulk of the soldiers for the Liberation of Europe on 6 June 1945, and so this new record set will have many of the young men who fought in D-Day listed.

This new addition brings the total number of Free Records you can access on The Genealogist to over 10.9 Million. There’s a rich collection for researchers to sink their teeth into, with records dating back to 1086!

Simply register for free at The Genealogist to access:

●    The 1086 Domesday Records
●    The Image Archive - Thousands of historic photos and illustrations
●    US WW2 Enlistment Records
●    UK Rolls of Honour
●    Dam Busters Records
●    War Memorials
●    Tree View - A free family tree builder

You can research even further by registering for a free First Steps Subscription, giving you 3 months’ access to Births, Marriages, Deaths and the 1891 to 1911 census for England and Wales. Find out more at https://thegenealogist.co.uk/firststeps

Read TheGenealogist’s feature article where we explore the fate of four brothers whose enlistments can be found in these newly released records: D-Day – Operation Neptune 6 June 1944 and the real Private Ryan https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/d-day--operation-neptune-6-june-1944-7495/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Free access to FindmyPast from June 6-10

From FindmyPast (www.findmypast.co.uk):

Find your family heroes with free access to millions of records and newspapers on Findmypast for D-Day

•    Delve into your family’s stories with free access to records and newspapers on Findmypast between 6-10 June*
•    Discover the remarkable actions of men and women at home and overseas in the largest collection of historical newspapers online
•    Explore your ancestors’ military service and the lives they lived with records you won’t find anywhere else
•    Preserve your family’s wartime stories for the next generation in a family tree on Findmypast

*Excludes 1921 Census and Tree Search

Between 6-10 June, Family history website, Findmypast, is making millions of its family history records free to access* to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, so you can uncover and honour their stories and sacrifices.

Explore your wartime ancestor’s story with the largest collection of British and Irish newspapers online, digitised in partnership with the British Library. 

Among the pages, you might find details of bravery or moving tributes to the fallen – rich details that can help you feel closer to your ancestors. You can also uncover the wider story of D-Day as it happened in the newspaper reports or look more closely at the impact of the war on your own community. Make sure to clip, save, and share articles of interest using the new Collections feature on Findmypast.

Findmypast’s family history records can paint a vivid picture of what your ancestor was doing during wartime. They may have been a prisoner of war, helped on the home front, or worked as a Red Cross volunteer. Discover their whereabouts on the eve of war in the 1939 Register and delve into the largest collection of British Army records anywhere online, including regimental records and the British in India collection, which runs right up to 1947.

Uncover those all-important life events in the most comprehensive collection of British parish records online, and check Findmypast’s vibrant Photo Collection for a glimpse into life during wartime.

Preserve your findings with Findmypast’s online family tree builder and share their legacy with family and friends.

It’s also a perfect time to explore your own family archive for letters, diaries or photographs. Keep your ancestors’ memories alive by sharing their stories with your loved ones, and share your findings online using the hashtag #FindMyFamilyHero.

Jen Baldwin, Research Specialist at Findmypast said: "80 years on from D-Day and the stories of service and sacrifice remain extremely poignant and relevant to us today. We invite everyone to discover their own family’s wartime stories with free access to Findmypast’s records this weekend and preserve them for future generations.”

*Records on Findmypast (apart from the 1921 Census of England and Wales and Tree Search) will be free to access for all signed-in users from 10am GMT Thursday 6 June, until 10am GMT Monday 10 June 2024. 

(With thanks to Madeleine Gilbert)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

Free UK access to Ancestry military records from June 5-11

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) is offeing free access to its military records collections from June 5th to 11th, including war diaries and its Forces War Records collections.  

To access the collections visit https://www.ancestry.co.uk/c/d-day 

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

TheGenealogist adds Army Lists from 1837 to 1959

From TheGenealogist (www.thegenealogist.co.uk):

1.8 Million New Military Records Go Online
Unlock the Military Histories of Your Ancestors with TheGenealogist’s Latest Release of Army Lists

The Genealogist has added 1.8 million individuals to its Military Collection with its latest release of Army Lists from 1837 to 1959.

Family history research often requires scouring military records to uncover the career details of ancestors who had served in the British Army. A key resource for such research are the officially published Army Lists that provide comprehensive details about officers and warrant officers, including their ranks, regiments, and service appointments.

Subscribers to TheGenealogist can now access an extensive collection of digitised Army Lists, which can significantly enhance their understanding of an ancestor's military career. These records detail officers by regiment, rank and seniority, offering a detailed snapshot of the officer corps at any given time.

This resource is excellent for tracking the careers of officers, offering a chronological record of promotions, transfers, and retirements. It provides a wealth of information crucial for family historians, including dates of promotions, brevet ranks, and the duration of an officer's service. Additionally, these records include information about officers who retired or resigned, often with specific dates of departure from active service.

The Army Lists can provide insights into where officers served in staff positions or held special appointments, for example as instructors or aides-de-camp. This additional context can be invaluable in understanding an officer’s career and their contributions to the military beyond their regimental duties.

Moreover, the lists encompass officers serving in colonial forces and the Indian Army, reflecting the global reach of the British Empire. Some officers may have transferred between these forces, further enriching the historical context for researchers.

TheGenealogist’s digitised Army Lists are an indispensable tool for anyone looking to explore their family's military history. With this resource, family historians can uncover the detailed dates of their ancestors’ service and gain a deeper understanding of their military careers and contributions.

Read TheGenealogist’s feature article, The Stiff Upper Lip: https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2024/the-stiff-upper-lip-7471/

(With thanks to Nick Thorne)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.

PRONI's Armagh and Londonderry, Ireland, Absent Voters Lists, 1918 added to Ancestry

There's another PRONI colelction now on Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk) as a third partry index: 

Armagh and Londonderry, Ireland, Absent Voters Lists, 1918
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/70915/
Source: Absent Voter Lists 1918. Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/absent-voters-lists-1918 Accessed 2022.

About Armagh and Londonderry, Ireland, Absent Voters Lists, 1918

This collection contains an index of information derived from absent voters lists from counties Armagh and Londonderry, Ireland, for elections in 1918. This was the final year of the First World War, and many of the absent voters were in the military, the Merchant Marine, or the Red Cross. The index is arranged alphabetically by the absent voter's surname. The Londonderry list includes about 4,500 names, and the Armagh list contains about 3,500 names. The collection doesn't include images of the original documents, but they may be found on the website for the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:

• Name of absent voter
• Polling district
• Registration unit
• Address
• Military service number, rank, and unit

For further details visit the collection link, above.

Chris

Order Tracing Your Belfast Ancestors in the UK at https://bit.ly/BelfastAncestors. Also available - Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records, Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. For purchase in tthe USA visit https://www.penandswordbooks.com. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, on Threads at @scottishgenesblog and via Mastodon at https://mastodon.scot/@ScottishGENES.