Ancestry to provide free access to all historical records next week to mark VE Day

People can discover more about their family’s involvement in World War Two

To help the nation commemorate VE Day on Friday (8 May), all historical records on family history website Ancestry will be free from Monday 4 May to Sunday 10 May.

The 75th anniversary of VE Day will take place on Friday 8 May, marking 75 years since Winston Churchill declared a national holiday to celebrate the news that the World War Two – and nearly six years of fighting in Europe – had come to an end.

This free access gives people the chance to discover more about their family’s involvement in the World War Two, the roles they played in a time of need and the personal stories that lie behind that period of history.

Russell James, family history expert at Ancestry, said: “VE Day is one of the most significant moments in British history, so we’re proud to be working with the UK government to help the nation commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day from their homes.

“The stories of what it was like to live through the Second World War are something we share not only within our families, but as a nation. Using this time to learn about those experiences, whether they were on the front line or helping keep the country going back home, gives us all an opportunity to feel connected – to our relatives and to people all over the country.”

Ancestry hosts the UK’s largest online collection of family history documents with more than two billion searchable records. Millions of these records are specifically from World War Two, which can help people discover the everyday experiences of soldiers on the frontline as well as all the people back home who lived through rationing, evacuation, and led the vital efforts on the home front.

To access Ancestry’s records for free and discover your family story from the Second World War, visit:

• www.ancestry.co.uk.