UK, World War II War Diaries, 1939-1946

Please Note: To date, we have published diaries for the period covering The Second Battle of El Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942) as well as diaries covering D Day (6th June 1944).

General collection information

This collection includes military diaries kept during the Second World War. The diaries were produced for units of the British Army, the Indian Army, dominion forces under British command from Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and India, and allied and colonial troops under British command.

Diaries were kept by units at all levels, from battalions to entire military branches. The format of the diaries vary, but generally include regular entries that provide information about the activities of a unit. Some diaries offer more narrative detail than others. Notes about new instructions and troop movements, assessments of troop strength, and requests for reinforcements are common diary entry topics.

Using this collection

Records in this collection may include the following information:

This collection can be used to learn about the activities of the military unit your ancestor served in during the Second World War.

Collection in context

The diaries were created by unit commanders and military staff. The original diaries are housed at the National Archives.

Millions of men and women from across the British Empire served in the armed forces during World War II. Almost 384,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom were killed in battle, while combat deaths for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa totaled 196,000.

Bibliography

The National Archives. "British Army operations in the Second World War." Accessed 22 August, 2022. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-operations-second-world-war/.

---. "Unit War Diaries." Accessed 22 August, 2022. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-operations-second-world-war/#3-unit-war-diaries.

The National World War II Museum. "Research Starters: Worldwide Deaths in World War II." Accessed 22 August, 2022. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-resources/research-starters/research-starters-worldwide-deaths-world-war.

UK Parliament. "The Fallen." Accessed 22 August, 2022. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/olympic-britain/crime-and-defence/the-fallen/.