Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Are you searching for the military records of someone in your family? Here's one place to go to - Ancestry.com.au.  The collections, which include the ANZAC Memorial, 1914 – 1918, the UK Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls and New Zealand Army WWI and WWII Nominal Rolls, are be free to search from 25 to 29 April, 2012.

Ancestry.com.au’s extensive online collection includes military databases from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Canada and the US and include records of enlistment dates, battles fought, performance on the field, medals awarded and for the many who never returned, locations of final resting places.

To start searching, all you need to do is enter the name of an ancestor and register for free. You can then view original military records dating back to 1793.

The military collections that are free to explore in Ancestry.com.au’s ANZAC Day weekend promotion include:

• ANZAC Memorial 1914-1918

• NZEF Nominal Rolls 1939-48
• NZEF WWI Nominal Rolls
• NZEF WWI Reserve Rolls
• NZEF Casualty Lists WWI
• NZEF WWI Roll of Honour
• New Zealand Army Medal Rolls
• NZEF WWI Military Defaulters
• Defenders of New Zealand
• Chronicles of the NZEF 1916-19
• UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920
• UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972
• UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949
• UK, Citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1920
• British WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards 1914-1920
• British WWI Service records 1914-1920
• British WWI Pension records 1914-1920
• British Commonwealth War Graves Register 1914-1918
• The National Roll of the Great War 1914-1920
• Canadian Soldiers of World War I 1914-1918
• US WWI Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918
• US WWII Army Enlistment Records 1938-1946

Ancestry.com.au Content Director, Brad Argent, comments: “ANZAC day is about remembering the sacrifices that our countrymen and women made so that we could be safe and enjoy our liberty. While many soldiers passed away on the battlefield, many others returned home and have passed on their legacy to future generations.

The free databases provide New Zealanders with the opportunity to learn about their family history and discover their military past.”

To access the free collections, please visit www.ancestry.com.au/anzac2012