Military Service Across Generations

Military Service Across Generations

Honoring Those Who Wore the Uniform

When we explore the roots of our freedom, we often look to battlefields, treaties, and speeches. But true freedom is just as often safeguarded by the quiet courage of ordinary people who served in extraordinary ways. Their contributions—sometimes recorded in medals and service records, sometimes in memories passed down—form a living history of sacrifice and commitment.

As genealogists and family historians, tracing military service within our family trees allows us to connect to that broader legacy. Whether our ancestors were soldiers, sailors, medics, engineers, or home-front volunteers, their stories reflect the cost and value of liberty.

Why Military Service Matters in Family History

Military service is more than a uniform and a rank. It often signals a turning point in a person’s life—and in their family’s journey. It’s where youth met duty, where training met challenge, and where many formed lifelong bonds or endured deep losses.

For those of us in Canada and the United States, military service has long been part of national identity. From Indigenous warriors and Black Loyalists to World War veterans and peacekeepers, service members shaped the fabric of both countries.

Types of Military Records You Can Research

Military records offer rich insight into an ancestor’s life, often including physical descriptions, next of kin, places served, and even personal letters. Key record types include:

• Attestation Papers (Enlistment Forms)
  — Contain birth date, next of kin, occupation, and medical assessments

• Service Files
  — Details on where they served, promotions, injuries, and discharge status

• War Diaries & Unit Logs
  — Daily accounts from units or battalions

• Pension & Veteran Records
  — May reveal post-war struggles and benefits received

• Medal Rolls & Citations
  — Especially helpful for WWI and WWII veterans

• Grave Registries & Memorials
  — Especially for those who didn’t return home

For Canadian ancestors, start with the Library and Archives Canada’s military database, and for U.S. ancestors, explore Fold3.com and National Archives (NARA).

Case Study: Winston’s Navy – A Craftsman at Sea

In our family’s naval history, one story shines brightly: that of George Elliot, a Scottish shipwright turned sailor whose service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) spanned the interwar years and beyond.

Known affectionately as the "Wavy Navy" due to their distinct insignia, the RNVR drew on skilled tradesmen who trained part-time and served full-time when duty called. For George, this dual identity—craftsman and sailor—defined his life.

He trained aboard HMS Carrick, served on legendary ships like HMS Hood, HMS Rodney, and HMS Furious, and later worked aboard tankers during the tense lead-up to WWII. He rarely spoke of combat or fear, but his hands told the story—hands that helped shape ships, tie knots, and steady lives.

His story, uncovered through a mix of official records, family lore, and memory, reveals more than dates or duties. It reminds us that military service can be quiet, steadfast, and deeply rooted in pride.

"He wasn’t just trained to serve on ships; he understood their bones. Ships were brought to life with his own hands."

George Elliot’s legacy now lives not just in medals or ships—but in the generations he inspired, including many in our family who followed his path into naval and military service.

How to Document Service in Your Family Tree

Here are five ways to preserve your family’s military legacy:

1. Create a Military Timeline

   • Map enlistment, battles, promotions, and post-war life

2. Digitize Medals & Documents

   • Scan enlistment forms, photos, ID tags, and letters

3. Interview Veterans or Their Families

   • Capture oral histories while stories can still be told

4. Research Ships, Units, or Regiments

   • Contextualize individual service within larger movements

5. Add Service Notes to Your Tree

   • In Ancestry or FamilySearch, mark veterans with tags or flags

Legacy: From Call-Up to Commemoration

Not every service member fired a weapon or wore medals. Some coded messages. Some patched wounds. Some stood watch on freezing decks. Some never came home. But all of them answered a call.

Their stories—especially those that ripple through generations—are the foundation of remembrance and gratitude. As you trace your own family’s military past, remember: every name, rank, and ship number tells a deeper story of resilience.

Let this month be a time to honor them.

What You Can Do This Month

• Share a photo of a family member in uniform, with a short caption

• Map the global journey of your ancestor’s military service

• Visit a war memorial or virtual registry and look up your ancestor’s name

• Use the hashtag #RootsofOurFreedom to connect with others doing the same