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 • Be flexible with dates when looking for deaths — some people lived a long time

Letters

EXTRAORDINARY CENTENARIAN

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On

£5 million lottery funding for archives announced

NEWS IN BRIEF

All About That Place speakers announced • The popular free family history event All About That Place is returning in September.

CAN YOU HELP?

Historic England marks RNLI's 200th anniversary

Findmypast expands its collection of British Home Children records

ScotlandsPeople releases church court records

MARTHA'S STORY • Alan Crosby reveals the authorities’ harsh treatment of a young orphan in 18th-century Lancashire

BRINGING FAMILY HISTORY TO LIFE • The new series producer for Who Do You Think You Are? tells Sarah Williams what we can expect from the programme's eagerly awaited 21st series

20 FAVOURITE MOMENTS • Sarah Williams reveals the family history community's best moments from 20 years of WDYTYA?

THEY WENT THROUGH HELL • Having provided the research for actor Vicky McClure's episode, Michael Hurst of the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society tells the full story of the Allied prisoners’ experiences

REMEMBERING THE FEPOWS • Michael explains the mission of the Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society, and its achievements around the world

RESOURCES • Take your research further

‘I'VE FOUND A NAVAL HERO, POISONED BROTHERS AND A LINK TO THE ROCKET’ • Paul Fitton has spent four decades researching his tree and uncovered amazing stories that bring his relations back to life, says Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These resources helped Paul explore his relations’ lives

THE IRISH FAMINE • WDYTYA? genealogist Nicola Morris explains the causes and effects of the Famine, and how to research ancestors who were affected like Mel C's relation

TENURE Book, 1848 • This Valuation Office Tenure Book documents Mel C's ancestor Patrick Flaherty at Carrow during the Great Famine. It is available at the National Archives of Ireland's website (tinyurl.com/nai-cens-vob) and Findmypast (tinyurl.com/fmp-irish-vob)

TRACING IRISH RELATIONS IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY • Nicola explains how you can track down evidence of your Irish family before, during and after the Great Famine

PATRICK FLAHERTY • Nicola explains how she researched Mel C's Irish forebear for the new series of WDYTYA?

RESOURCES

ROYAL NAVY • Millions of records from the Senior Service are available online, writes Jonathan Scott

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Dr Simon Wills is the author of Tracing Your Seafaring Ancestors (2016)

GO FURTHER • More online gems you can't afford to miss

RAF WW2 COMBAT REPORTS • Simon Fowler explains how you can read digitised official accounts of RAF pilots’ deadly dogfights during the Second World War

COMBAT REPORT, 1940 • This combat report was submitted by Sergeant Frank Walker-Smith, No. 85 Squadron. It is held by The National Archives (AIR 50/36/82) and available digitally via Discovery (discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk)

RESOURCES • Don't miss these websites

What unit was my grandfather recruited into during WW1? • Our team of experts offers tips and inspiration

Why are there two Kathleen Marshalls...