Tracing your World War Two Royal Navy Ancestors

When: Wednesday 28 October 2026, 19:00 - 21:00
Where: Webinar

AI generated image. Two people examine historical documents and photos on a desk and computer screen in a library.

The Royal Navy of the Second World War was a vast, complex, and extraordinarily diverse  organisation. It ranged from mighty battleships and fast destroyers to minesweepers, shore establishments, the submarine force and the Fleet Air Arm as well as the Royal Marines. For family historians, uncovering a sailor’s wartime story can be deeply rewarding, but the surviving records are scattered across multiple archives and often wrapped in naval terminology that can be daunting and impenetrable.
 

This workshop guides you through the key sources for researching Royal Navy personnel during WW2, explaining what records exist, where they are held, and how to interpret them. We’ll explore service records, muster rolls, ship’s logs, medal documentation, and the rich material preserved in Admiralty files. You’ll learn how to follow an ancestor through their training, postings, and operations, how to decode naval ranks and branches, and how to place an individual’s experience within the wider context of the war at sea.

Whether you’re starting with a single photograph, a rumour of “he served on a destroyer”, or a bundle of documents you’re unsure how to read, this session offers clear pathways, practical research strategies, and the confidence to bring a Royal Navy story to life.

Pre-booking is required so that the meeting link can be emailed to you. Bookings close 24 hours before the event. 

To enjoy this workshop you will need a computer device which has speakers and a microphone. Ideally, also a web-cam. You also need to be able to access your emails from it. First-time users of Zoom will be asked to download a small piece of software. For technical help email: booking@berksfhs.org.uk 

Image: AI generated

To book, scroll down.

Full event details and booking

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