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A researcher advised that Army service record images on findmypast are usually much better quality and Ancestry's service records may be poorly indexed, however Ancestry has the advantage that you can scroll to the records immediately before and after, which could be relevant.<ref>Wade, Andy. [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/254435-best-research-website/?do=findComment&comment=2573961 Best Research Website] ''Great War Forum'' 17 October 2017. Scroll down for comparative images. Retrieved 23 November 2018.</ref>Another advised that findmypast has a far better search facility.<ref>ss002d6252 [Craig] [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/262616-9th-lancers/?do=findComment&comment=2663213 9th Lancers] ''Great War Forum'' 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.</ref> (Comparison of online providers for WW1 records.<ref>[https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/online-information-service-providers-which-is-best/ "Online information service providers for researching British soldiers – which is best?]" by Chris Baker 6th December 2019 longlongtrail.co.uk.</ref>)
Ancestry now owns the pay military websites Fold3 and Forces War Records, which are included with the highest Ancestry subscription.
For both findmypast and Ancestry, it is possible to undertake a broad Search by selecting the Military category from the Search tab at the top of the webpages. This will search in all Military databases. However, should you wish to perform a more targeted Search, various databases are described below.
===== Online books=====
*[https://archive.org/details/tracingyourfamil0000unse/mode/2up ''Tracing your family history: Army''] published by Imperial War Museum London, catalogued 2006. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. Keep in mind that developments in online records will not be covered.
*[https://archive.org/details/myancestorwasinb0000watt/mode/2up ''My ancestor was in the British Army : how can I find out more about him?''] by Michael J Watts and Christopher T Watts, 2014 reprint of 2009 edition, first published 1992. ([https://archive.org/details/myancestorwasinb0000watt_v6k3/mode/2up 1995 edition]). Published by Society of Genealogists London. Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library. Keep in mind that developments in online records since the last date of publication 2014 will not be covered.
======World War I======
*[https://archive.org/details/locationofbritis0000hold/mode/2up ''The location of British Army records, 1914-1918 4th edition 1999''] by Norman Holding, revised and updated by Ian Swinnerton. Published by Federation of Family History Societies, UK. ([https://archive.org/details/locationofbritis0002hold/mode/2up 2nd edition 1987]) Both Archive.org Books to Borrow. Keep in mind that developments in online records will not be covered.
:'''Update''': 2018, May. Foot Guards Regiments service records are a separate category and all, (including pre 1921 records), were moved from regimental archives to the Ministry of Defence, August 2017-May 2018, except for Scots Guards service records, which remain in the regimental archives. (Pre 1921 Scots Guards service records are thought to eventually be going to National Records of Scotland, in Edinburgh).
: '''Update''': In February 2021, the MOD began transferring 9.7 million military records for individuals with a discharge date before 31 December 1963 to The National Archives, so the records may be accessible there in the future.<ref>[https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tutorials/military/second-world-war-army-records/ "Second World War Army records: Where to find them"] by Phil Tomaselli
May 6, 2021 ''Who Do You Think You Are?'' Magazine /Discover your past/ Military whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com .</ref> However currently (2021/07/25) there is no mention of this on the gov.uk website mentioned a few paragraphs below.: '''Update''' 17 August 2021, . The National Archives News release. The records included in this collection cover personnel in all three services, Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, where the individual has '''a date of birth prior to or up to 1939''', and closure will apply until 115 years past the date of birth of the individual. The records will be transferred to Kew in batches over the next 6 years.<ref>[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/mod-records-project/ MOD Records Project] nationalarchives.gov.uk .<br>Norfolk Nan et al. [https://www.whowhenwheregenealogy.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=498 Military Service Records - Any Progress?] ''Who When Where Board'' from 8 October 2021."RAF records will be sent in first".</ref>
:'''Update''' 5 April 2022. The first MOD Service Records are now available, which are Second World War records in the National Archives series WO 420<ref>
[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/news/first-mod-service-personnel-records-now-available/ First MOD Service Personnel Records Now Available] 5 April 2022. nationalarchives.gov.uk<br> [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C17508500 WO 420 The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Other Ranks: Service Records 1942-1963]</ref>, aspects are set out in [https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/mod-service-records-collection-faqs.pdf The MOD Service Records Collection] (TNA). Also available WO 421<ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/r/C17682287 WO 421 Selected Smaller Corps Other Ranks: Service Records 1939-1963]</ref> from 22 June 2022, and WO 422 <ref>[https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C17866205 WO 422 War Office: Infantry Over Age Other Ranks: Service Records, Second World War] Possibly from MOD account code 11010.</ref> from October 2022.
:'''Update''' 2 March 2023. The National Archives announced on Twitter that the contract to digitise the first tranche of (MOD) service personnel records had been awarded to Ancestry UK. [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/about/our-role/plans-policies-performance-and-projects/our-plans/ministry-of-defence-service-records/ "Ministry of Defence service records project"] TNA, undated, accessed 24 March 2023. The first record series to be digitised are WO 419-422.
Note however that some records may not have survived, such as some records for those who were awarded a disability pension,<ref>
