The latest update from Alex Cox at FindMyPast reveals a continuation of their World War II themed releases, with newly acquired pictures of soldiers who lost their lives and records detailing service in the Home Front.
The Durham Home Guard 1939-1945 collection features more than 80,000 records. If your forebearer was a part of the Durham Home Guard between 1939 and 1945, these documents may reveal their date and location of birth, the battalion they served, and details of their death and burial.
Established in May 1940, the Home Guard represented Britain’s ultimate defense against a potential German invasion. Primarily composed of men who were too young, too old, or physically unfit for traditional military service, the Home Guard was first introduced as the Local Defence Volunteers. This term was coined by Anthony Eden, the Secretary of State for War, in a speech on 14 May 1940, in which he called for men between 17 and 65 to join. By summer 1940, almost 1.5 million men had signed up and the force’s name was changed to the Home Guard.
Initially, the Home Guard was a patchwork militia operating with limited, improvised weaponry. However, with time it matured into a well-furnished, well-versed army, swelling to 1.7 million men. Not just a line of defense, they also tackled bomb disposal and manned anti-aircraft and coastal artillery.
Peruse the “Faces of the Fallen 1939-1945”. A unique assemblage of over 1,000 photographs of military personnel who were killed in the Second World War. In addition to the heart-tugging images, the records can provide details like places of residence, soldier IDs and ranks, regiments, and dates and locations of death. Originally published in The War Illustrated magazine, the photos span from 1939 to 1945 and cover all sectors of Britain’s military forces.
The update also adds an extra 1.5 million records to the “UK Electoral Registers & Companies House Directors 2002-2020”. These entries, which are open to the public, can aid in tracing names and addresses, coming especially handy when you are tracing living relatives.
UK law mandates all limited companies to register at the Companies House, a branch of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Electoral registers, which have been a legal requisite since 1832, document every citizen who is legally able to vote. The right to vote was bestowed on all men and women aged 21 and older in 1928, before the legal voting age was further lowered to 18 in 1971.