This message comes courtesy of Alex Cox at FindMyPast:
Introducing ‘The War Illustrated 1939-1947’, a magazine first issued in 1939 that accompanied the unfolding of the Second World War. Sir John Hammerton served as the editor for this series that had 255 editions running from 16th September 1938 to 11th April 1947. It offers a vivid depiction of World War II, featuring grayscale photographs and narratives from contributors experiencing the war firsthand. It truly deserved its label as a perpetual pictorial record of the Second World War.
Additionally, we’ve enriched our collection with over 1.1 million records from the United States National Veterans Cemetery Index. This touching compilation tells the tales of fallen U.S. military personnel, potentially tracing back the final resting place of your ancestors. Details like date of birth, service tenure along with rank, date of death, and burial site are all accessible. This set includes records of veterans buried in a variety of cemeteries – VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, as well as private cemeteries marked with a government gravestone. These heroic veterans fought in multiple conflicts spanning over a century – from the American Civil War and the two World Wars to the Afghanistan War.
We also have new additions from the Georgia World War II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1942, with over 839,000 entries. These cards can provide pivotal information about your World War II ancestors, such as their age, birth date, and previous residence before they enlisted. Although military conscription was a national duty, the selection process was local, conducted by draft boards. These records detail the compulsory military service that commenced in 1940, extending beyond 1942 when the U.S. had officially allied themselves in the conflict.
Lastly, this week’s update concludes with an added 39,000 records from the Louisiana Draft Cards. The U.S. Congress, foreseeing possible involvement in World War II, enacted the Selective Service Act of 1940, instituting the first peacetime draft in the nation’s history. Even post World War II, compulsory military service was sustained by the Selective Service Act of 1948, though fewer individuals were enlisted.
Further records from Kansas, Arkansas, and Maine complement those from Georgia and Louisiana in our World War II registration and recruitment archives on Findmypast.