The National Archives announced yesterday it is making digital records available on its website free of charge for as long as the Kew site is closed to visitors.
Registered users will be able to order and download up to 10 items at no cost, to a maximum of 50 items over 30 days. The limits are there to try and help manage the demand for content and ensure the availability of the digital services for everyone.
You will be able to download records digitized by The National Archives and published through Discovery, the online catalogue. These include:
- First and Second World War records, including medal index cards
- Military records, including unit war diaries
- Royal and Merchant Navy records, including Royal Marine service records
- Wills from the jurisdiction of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
- Migration records, including aliens’ registration cards and naturalisation case papers
- 20th century Cabinet Papers and Security Service files
- Domesday Book
A full list of digitized collections can be seen here, although note that it includes collections available on other sites, such as Ancestry, Findmypast and The Genealogist, that may charge for access, and are not included in this offer.
To access the service and download for free, you will be required to:
- Register/sign in to your Discovery account before adding items to your basket (maximum ten items per basket)
- Abide by the terms of the fair use policy
- Complete the order process to receive a download link, which will remain active for 30 days. (The link will also be saved in ‘Your orders’ in your account for 30 days.)
Learn more about how to access the digital records in The National Archives’ news release.
I would like to access WW11 files in particular my relatives including my Dad. Also index cards for medals of relatives. My uncle died in WW1 and I don’t know whether his mom, my grandmother, ever received the silver cross medal.