Family History
The National Army Museum provides a place where families can seek out and research information about those who have served in the armed forces.
The Library is the ideal place for visitors to begin tracing their ancestors’ service. Staff will be on hand to highlight available resources and show how to access and interpret them.
- The Online Cenotaph collects information for almost every New Zealander who served overseas in a major conflict.
- Archives New Zealand holds online copies of soldiers’ service records prior to 1921, and documents relating to the issue of the New Zealand Medal. Staff have experience in reading these records and translating military terms.
- Service records for World War II and after are not yet digitised. Requesting copies from the NZDF is free, and staff will provide resources and advice to make the process easy.
- Official unit histories for both World Wars – also available online – can be accessed to help build up a picture of a relative’s service.
The Library also has volumes containing biographical information for personnel in the New Zealand Wars, the South African War and the Korean War, along with medal citations for every New Zealander who won a gallantry award.
Special certificates are available to recognise a family member’s service. They commemorate fallen personnel, and recognise acts of gallantry by reproducing medal citations. Furthermore, the image of a fallen relative can be placed on the Wall of Remembrance in the Museum’s Roimata Pounamu Tears on Greenstone area. The application form for these (along with prices) can be downloaded here.
We’d Love to Hear From You
From museum visits to research support, our team is ready to assist you on your journey through New Zealand’s military history.