Forces War Records
Forces War Records is a subscription website for tracing relatives who served in the armed forces. Its archive holds more than 657 million military records drawn from UK and US national collections. Founded in 2010, it is now part of Ancestry. It suits newcomers to military family history as well as experienced researchers filling gaps.
About Forces War Records
What the records cover
Records span both world wars, the Boer War and earlier campaigns. Beyond service details, the archive includes personal papers, photographs and stories that put a name in context. You can save, download, share and annotate records, then add them to a memorial page for an ancestor.
Help with tricky documents
Military paperwork is full of abbreviations, unfamiliar uniforms and period detail. The document expert tool lets you upload an image and get help decoding acronyms, identifying uniform types or understanding the context. On Facebook, the in-house military genealogy team also answers questions in live sessions.
Subscribing
Free searches come first, so you can see whether relevant records exist before paying. A subscription activates immediately, and a 14-day cooling-off period applies. Memberships give full access to the archives and the expert tools. Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Direct Debit are accepted. Everything happens online, so there is nothing to post or send back, and a support team handles account questions.
Forces War Records quick facts
| Free delivery | On all orders |
|---|---|
| Delivery | <p>Instant digital access to records. Subscription activates immediately.</p> |
| Returns | <p>14-day cooling off on subscriptions. Check terms.</p> |
| International shipping | Yes |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Direct Debit |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Parent company | Ancestry |
| Stores | Online only |
Forces War Records contact
- Website
- uk.forceswarrecords.com
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Forces War Records FAQs
Is there a free search?
Yes. Free searches let you check whether records for your relative exist before you take out a paid subscription.
Which wars are covered?
Records cover the First and Second World Wars and the Boer War, along with other British military records from earlier conflicts.
Can I cancel a new subscription?
Subscriptions come with a 14-day cooling-off period. Check the full terms on the website before you sign up.
Who owns Forces War Records?
Forces War Records was established in 2010 and is now part of the Ancestry family.
