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ANCESTRY PROUDLY WORKS WITH UK GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE NATION COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY
- VE Day 75 takes place on Friday 8th May, commemorating 75 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe
- Ancestry is working alongside the UK Government as part of their official programme of events to help people commemorate the anniversary from their homes
- All UK historical records on Ancestry.co.uk will be made free from 4th-10th May, giving people the chance to discover personal stories of their family during the Second World War
29th April 2020, London UK – Ancestry – the global leader in family history, is proud to announce it is working alongside the UK government to help the nation commemorate VE Day from their homes. The 75th anniversary of VE Day will take place on Friday 8th May, marking 75 years since Winston Churchill declared a national holiday to celebrate the news that the Second World War – and nearly six years of fighting in Europe – had come to an end.
To help mark the significance of VE Day, at a time when feeling connected to our families and to the wider nation is more important than ever, Ancestry is offering all UK historical records on Ancestry.co.uk for free from 4th-10th May. This free access gives people the chance to discover more about their family’s involvement in the Second World War, the roles they played in a time of need and the personal stories that lie behind that period of history.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said: “I am looking forward to finding out more about what my relatives did during the Second World War with the help of Ancestry and I hope that, as we mark 75 years since VE Day, everyone will join in with our national commemorations. It is important that we remember and give thanks to the greatest generation and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring peace.”
Ancestry.co.uk hosts the UK’s largest online collection of family history documents with more than two billion searchable records. Millions of these records are specifically from the Second World War, which can help people discover the everyday experiences of soldiers on the frontline as well as all the people back home who lived through rationing, evacuation, and led the vital efforts on the home front.
Russell James, Family History expert at Ancestry, said: “VE Day is one of the most significant moments in British history, so we’re proud to be working with the UK government to help the nation commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day from their homes. The stories of what it was like to live through the Second World War are something we share not only within our families, but as a nation. Using this time to learn about those experiences, whether they were on the front line or helping keep the country going back home, gives us all an opportunity to feel connected – to our relatives and to people all over the country.”
To access Ancestry’s records for free and discover your family story from the Second World War, visit www.ancestry.co.uk. For more information about the 75th anniversary of VE Day visit https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/. On social media follow #VEDay75