Our genealogical journey to the battlefield

Welcome

Welcome to the Christmas issue! We’ve lots of festive family history treats in store for you to enjoy. Let’s raise our glasses and toast those ever-intriguing ancestors …

How travel broadens the mind…

As family historians we seek enlightenment about the past from all sorts of avenues. Here family historian Chris Paton shares some of the lessons he has learned while overseas this year

Clerical errors

Explore the serious, sublime and the ridiculous facets of family history in this genealogical miscellany. This issue, Tom Wood discovers some dodgy baptismal records, a Regency scandal and a rogue godmother…

Christmas through the ages

Christmas is loved for its familiar traditions and the fact that the songs, food and festive rituals which we enjoy nowadays have been experienced for generations, albeit sometimes in a different guise. Rachel Bellerby takes a look at how our forebears would have experienced this special season

Was your ancestor in the Army during World War II?

The WW2 service records for all three armed services have survived in their entirety, but have not yet been publicly released. Keen military researcher Graham Caldwell offers some solutions and advice on ordering the documents

Free document-rich websites

Emma Jolly explores the net for free websites offering wonderfully rich collections of original family history documents and photographs. Could you find your ancestors among them?

Welcome to the Family Tree Academy

It’s easy to get started with doing your family history – but we know you want to get beyond the dabbling stage and really sink your teeth into your research. So we’re delighted to announce the launch of the Family Tree Academy. Read on to discover the rewards of learning more about your family history, with David Annal – and turn the page to discover how you can join in with the Family Tree Academy learning experience

Join the Family Tree Academy & become a skilled family historian

Starting with this issue, and running all through 2018, the Academy learning experience will help you learn more about the records, resources and research skills you need to become the best genealogist you can be. We have case studies for you to pit your wits against, documents for you to decipher, old handwriting for you to tackle, and more…

Research thinking skills

Your first case study challenge

Your ancestors & the Little Ice Age

Overall the harsh conditions of the Little Ice Age altered lives and livelihoods, disrupted normal activities and, in many instances, forced people to change their way of life or move. Some of the most important records we find were created during the time of the Little Ice Age – but what is this, when did it occur, and what were the specific consequences on our ancestors’ lives? Geologist Wayne Shepheard explains

Why do we do it?

Dr Penny Walters explores the appeal of researching our family history, looking back to the past, and finding out more about who we each are… Just why do people search for ancestors?

Festive fun!

Treat yourself to some light entertainment, family-history style, with our quiz, crossword and family recipes from Caroline Makein

Family Tree Subscriber Club

Welcome to the Family Tree Subscriber Club page, where subscribers to the magazine can benefit from a range of different offers and competitions every issue! To be sure not to miss out, take out a subscription today – see page 50 for our latest fabulous offer

From farm boy to hero

Sarah Reay recounts the story of a relative who left the safety of his rural home life during the First World War to fight for his country in the skies

Fashion behind the shop counter

As we head to the shops this Christmas, whether to the local butcher for our turkey or a high street department store for gifts, Jayne Shrimpton looks back at the work dress of our ancestors who were employed in retail

Twiglets

Diarist Gill Shaw charts the rollercoaster ride of researching her family history

Unlocking the Bankes Archive

Simon Wills explores a project to digitise an important archive that could be a goldmine for family historians, with ancestors’ names recorded in everything from title deeds to beach hut licences

Investigating furriers

Did your ancestor work in the fur industry in times past? Melody Amsel-Arieli reveals what life was like for them

Spotlight on… the North of Ireland Family History Society

The North of Ireland Family History Society offers a wealth of resources for anyone searching for Irish ancestors in the six counties of Northern Ireland, and three Irish border counties, as Maeve Rogan explains

The Chocolate Cream Killer

Nick Thorne looks at the respectable lawyer and his murderous niece, who laced sweets with strychnine, and investigates the record collections on TheGenealogist that help to shed light on many aspects of their lives

Festive family history!

If you’re looking for great genealogy-inspired gifts this Christmas, take a look at our wish-list compiled by Karen Clare to suit all budgets

A miniature history of knitted smalls

Underwear is a necessary item of clothing in this day and age – but this was not always the case, and traditionally people made their own underpinnings, by sewing or knitting. Joyce Meader takes a peek at the knitted underwear our ancestors once wore

ADVICE…

With our experts Jayne Shrimpton, Tim Lovering, David Annal, Mary Evans, Adèle Emm and Christine Wibberley

Getting started with palaeography

Palaeography sounds daunting, but it’s not really, as June Terrington explains

Tragic timing

Adèle Emm’s grandfather, William Edgar Emms (Bill), was categorically against her researching the family history in case she found something nasty in the woodshed. He was right. After 30-odd years, she did…

MAILBOX

Family memories of service in Russia, long-lost villages, Aussie military records, crafty family history projects, and even a family history poem

‘If you know a better hole’

Keith Gregson looks at the wartime role of ‘Old Bill’

It’s the way we tell ‘em

Flex those neurons to regale others with some of the wonderful tales from your own history, says Diane Lindsay

IN BRIEF

Mary Evans Picture Library is hosting the Royal College

DNA project to build a worldwide family tree

Karen Clare reports on the latest genealogy news. Send

History probed of Native Americans in Britain

A major project launched to reassess the history of

UK lights up for Mayflower 400

The official countdown to the 400th anniversary of

New heritage centre for the north to teach horrors of the Holocaust

New heritage centre for the north to teach horrors

WW1 memorials project placed online

Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Family History Society’s

Bid to find battle hero’s flag

The home town of a young hero has launched a search

YOUR FREE RECORDS

At Family Tree we’ve teamed up with UK family history