Wars and Genealogy: Find Your Military Ancestors with Our Guide

A military ancestor? Follow our practical guide to trace their journey in specialized records and databases.

Wars and Genealogy: Find Your Military Ancestors with Our Guide

©️Wikimedia Commons


Table of Contents:


• Military records at Departmental Archives
- How to find a military ancestor's service record?

- Where to find a military ancestor's service record in overseas territories? 

- I can't find a military ancestor's service record. Why? What to do?


• Mémoire des Hommes database from the Ministry of the Armed Forces


• Grand Mémorial database from the Ministry of Culture


• The Historical Service of Defense


• Other useful databases for researching a soldier




Have you heard about an ancestor who might have served in the war, but you don't know how to trace their records? Thanks to military archives and online tools, you can reconstruct their journey and discover surprising details about their past. Here's how to do it: 



Military Records at Departmental Archives


Many military archives are kept at Departmental Archives (series R). While the matriculation registers are usually digitized and accessible online, you can also consult the cantonal recruitment rolls, the list of drafts by canton, the list of conscripts, the list of the contingent, and the cantonal recruitment registers on site. 

Want to read more ?

Register for free or log in to read the rest of our article!

These items you might like