Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Use online newspaper archives to search for your living relations

Letters

FAMILY RECORDS OF VE DAY

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

Ancestry adds 10.9 million West Dunbartonshire records

NEWS IN BRIEF

Back issues of the British Army's magazine go online

23andMe files for bankruptcy

Records of American Civil War POWs released on Fold3

Displays of human remains criticised

Plans announced for museum of the Irish in the British Army

The Sound And The Fury • Alan Crosby reveals the enduring impact of the Second World War on his parents’ lives

VE DAY ON THE FRONTLINE • Eighty years on, Phil Tomaselli reveals how the Second World War ended in Europe on 8 May 1945

WAR DIARIES • You should be able to uncover detailed information about the battles that your ancestor fought in

AIR CHIEF MARSHAL WILLIAM SHOLTO DOUGLAS 1893-1969 • Sholto played a crucial role in the Allies’ victory – but paid a heavy price

VE TIMELINE • Phil explains key dates in the run-up to the end of the war – and beyond

SERVICE RECORDS • Phil explains how you can research your forebears’ wartime experiences in Britain's armed forces

RESOURCES • Take your research further

8 REASONS WHY YOU WOULDN'T SURVIVE THE 17TH CENTURY • It's a miracle that any of our forebears in the 1600s lived to see the 18th century considering the multitude of threats that they had to overcome, says historian and author Janet Few

URBAN LIVING • Janet explains the particular risks associated with life in a town or city during the 17th century

RESOURCES • Take your research further

MEET THE CELEBRITIES • Rosemary Collins celebrates the imminent return of Who Do You Think You Are? to BBC One and iPlayer as eight celebrities uncover their roots

‘MY TREE INCLUDES A JOURNALIST, A BIGAMIST AND A BANDMASTER’ • When Jeff Guyett decided to look into the origins of his unusual surname, he uncovered several relations who had fascinating lives, says Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These resources helped Jeff reveal his relations’ lives

THE BRITISH IN INDIA • Genealogist Mike Trenchard shares his expert advice for researching your European relations in India

SIR JOHN JARDINE 1844 – 1919 • This civil servant spent over 30 years in India

EXPERT PICKS • Mike recommends the rich online resources available on these three websites

CADET'S PAPERS, 1846 • The officer cadet certificates for Patrick Alexander Agnew are at the British Library and on Findmypast (findmypast.co.uk)

RESOURCE • Take your research further

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR • Jonathan Scott introduces a wealth of online resources to help you research the conflict

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Dr Angela Smith is the co-author of Tracing Your Ancestors Using the UK Historical Timeline (Pen & Sword, 2021)

GO FURTHER • More websites you can't afford to miss

MASTERS’ AND MATES’ CERTIFICATES • Phil Brown explains how to use these essential records to research a Merchant Navy ancestor

APPLICATION TO BE EXAMINED, 1883 • This page of an application to be examined for a certificate of competency as master or mate is held by the National Maritime Museum...