Findmypast

14/09/2026

A postcard lost in the trenches of WW1 finally made it home... 110 years later.

In October 1914, Private Percy Walsh carried a treasured postcard from his family in Blackburn while serving on the front line in France. The photograph showed Percy alongside some of his fellow soldiers, a precious reminder of home amid the horrors of war.

Just two months later, on 22nd December, Percy's trench was overrun during a German attack. He was reported missing, but had in fact been killed that day.

After the fighting ended, a German officer, Lieutenant Alexander Pfiefer, discovered the postcard among Percy's belongings. Rather than discard it, he carefully placed it inside his wartime diary.

The war left its mark on Alexander to. In his diary, he wrote:

"We are physically and mentally completely broken down. And I am not ashamed to say that we sometimes cried in despair."

For more than a century, the postcard remained hidden between those diary pages.

Then, 110 years later, Alexander's great-great-grandson, Philipp opened that old diary and found the postcard.

Determined to find out who Percy was, Philipp began investigating the faded postcard. His search eventually led him to Percy's surviving relatives, who had never known exactly what had happened to him, or even what he looked like.

Thanks to one family's act of kindness, a lost soldier was reunited with his story, his photograph, and his family.

We thank Philipp for ensuring this remarkable piece of history found its way home, and we remember Private Percy Walsh ❤️

Have you ever uncovered a family story or photograph that changed what you knew about your past?

📷: BBC News / Philipp Cross

13/09/2026

Remembering Noor Inayat Khan, Yolande Beekman, Madeleine Damerment, and Eliane Plewman: four brave SOE agents who served in France during WW2. They were executed on this day at Dachau concentration camp 💔

10/09/2026

Who were the women behind Britain's industrial success stories?

When we think about the Industrial Revolution, we often hear about inventors, factories and engineering breakthroughs. But what about the women whose skilled work helped make it all possible?

Meet the forgotten women of Ironbridge in our latest blog.

They painted china that travelled around the world. They spent decades mastering their craft. So why have you never heard of them?

07/09/2026

What are your favourite shows from the 60s? 📺

06/09/2026

Ever wondered what your ancestor's school day looked like? 🍎

How different do you think it was from yours? 🤔

Delve into our collection of school records to find out ⬇️
https://bit.ly/4gLyz9I

03/09/2026

On this day in 1939, Britain declared war on Germany following its invasion of Poland. What followed was six long years of war that would engulf the globe.

How did the Second World War affect your family?

📷 Bristol Evening Post, Sunday, 3 September 1939. Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. https://bit.ly/4gzSwS0

31/08/2026

Remembering Diana, Princess of Wales, on the anniversary of her death ❤️

30/08/2026

The brave WAAF officer you've probably never heard of 🎖️

Daphne Pearson wasn't a soldier on the front line. She was a medical orderly in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, serving at RAF Detling in Kent ⬇️

In the early months of the Second World War, her job was to care for injured airmen. Then one night, that duty would demand extraordinary courage...

In the early hours of 31 May 1940, Daphne ran towards a burning RAF aircraft as others ran from it. It had undershot its landing and crashed into a field.

Daphne pulled the injured pilot from the wreckage, dragged him to safety, then shielded him with her own body as the aircraft's bombs exploded behind them.

Afterwards, she returned to the blazing aircraft to search for the remaining crew.

For her extraordinary bravery, Daphne became the first woman to receive the George Cross. Shortly afterwards, she was commissioned as an officer and worked in Bomber Command until the end of the war.

Such incredible bravery ❤️

📷 Daily Record, Friday, 19 July 1940, Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. https://bit.ly/4xYvIAZ

28/08/2026

On 16 August 1819, tens of thousands gathered at St Peter's Field in Manchester to demand political reform. What began as a peaceful protest ended in tragedy.

If your ancestors lived in Manchester or the surrounding counties, they may have witnessed Peterloo, marched to the meeting, or felt its impact in the years that followed.

Here's how to discover their connection through family history records and historical newspapers.

27/08/2026

"My ancestor loaded money to the Patriots during the American Revolution" 😮

Ellen was astounded to learn she had a direct connection to the American Revolutionary War ⬇️

"Joseph Witter, my 8x great-grandfather, loaned money to the cause during the Revolutionary War.

He was in his 70's during the war and too old to fight. After the win, he wrote a nasty letter to the state of Connecticut demanding his money back. Unfortunately, Connecticut did not honor his request.

I came across the loan and the grumpy letter in the Daughters of the American Revolution database. I'm hoping to be able to add this elder to their list of recognized Patriots.

I was amazed at what I discovered! I didn't know that any of my direct ancestors on Mom's paternal side did anything during the war - now I know otherwise..."

Thank you, Ellen, for submitting your story ❤️

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