More than half of Brits have only discovered an interesting fact or story about a relative after they have passed away – and a quarter regret not asking sooner, a study has found. The top discoveries people have made about a late relative include tales of their wartime experiences (29 per cent), their childhood (28 per cent), and where they travelled (23 per cent).
And such revelations have left them feeling intrigued (32 per cent), shocked (26 per cent), and proud (25 per cent) – with almost half (45 per cent) saying they felt closer to their family member, according to the poll of 2,000 adults. But 51 per cent say they have been left with more unanswered questions – and a quarter of those polled regret not speaking to their relatives sooner, about their wartime stories, in particular.
These tales have been uncovered through speaking to others who knew relatives when they were younger (49 per cent), and discussions with the wider family (45 per cent). The research, commissioned by Ancestry.co.uk, found 43 per cent discovered a revelation when clearing out their relative’s home.
The family history brand has teamed up with poet Nikita Gill this Remembrance Day to create an emotive new poem, “ Who You Are ” – recounting some of the untold personal experiences from the First and Second World Wars, found in records on Ancestry.
Nikita Gill said: “Both my grandfathers were in the Indian Army during the Second World War, so I felt like I had a real connection to the subject matter. I wanted to do justice to the stories of ordinary people who lived during a time of great change and uncertainty.
“My experience of using the wealth of UK and Ireland wartime records available on Ancestry as inspiration, demonstrated how even the simplest of records can tell such interesting and poignant stories.”
Simon Pearce, military history expert at Ancestry, said: “Britain’s wartime history is full of fascinating accounts that shed light on how our ancestors once lived – and yet there are still so many stories to be discovered. In fact, our research highlights how many people have unearthed a story about their own family’s history after a relative has passed, showcasing the importance of having those discussions now to ensure these stories live on.”
Among the top things respondents found from relatives after they passed were photos (28 per cent), physical heirlooms (19 per cent), and letters (19 per cent). Of those polled, two in five (39 per cent) also admitted they are not familiar with trench poetry – poems written by soldiers during the First World War to express their experiences.
But 31 per cent feel finding their ancestors’ creative writing would help them feel closer to them. More than a fifth (22 per cent) would love to discover an unknown war-related tale within their family history.
And one in five (21 per cent) admitted that, although they know their family member was alive during the war and served, they don’t know what role they played. Other topics Brits wish they’d discussed more with loved ones included the hobbies they had growing up (20 per cent), what jobs they had (19 per cent), and where they met their partner (19 per cent).
And when it comes to their ancestors’ experiences of wartime, people would be interested to know how their family members found rationing (18 per cent), the role they played (22 per cent), and who else they met during that time (17 per cent). Three in ten (29 per cent) would like to discover a family story related to life on the front line, while a further quarter (25 per cent) would enjoy hearing about a wartime love story.
And more than 40 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, admitted they don’t really know their family’s history. Ancestry.co.uk is offering free access to billions of UK and Ireland wartime records from November 4th-8th, to help people discover their own family wartime stories.
