WW2 casualty records: killed, wounded or missing

WW2 casualty records tell you when a man was killed, wounded, went missing or was captured. For the British Army, start with the daily casualty lists (WO 417) on Findmypast. For a death in any service, start with the free CWGC database. Then use the service-specific records below.

Each service kept its own. So first, know which he was in.

What counts as a casualty?

More than you might think. The National Archives says that in the British Army casualty lists, “casualty” covers anyone killed, wounded, missing, or a prisoner of war.

So a man who came home can still appear. A shrapnel wound in Normandy, a spell in hospital, a few weeks posted missing before he turned up: all of it may be there.

Where are British Army casualty records?

Daily casualty lists (WO 417)

The War Office’s daily British Army casualty lists, 1939–1945, are in TNA series WO 417. They are digitised on Findmypast (£). They cover officers, other ranks and nurses.

Each entry gives:

• rank
• service number
• date of becoming a casualty
• type of casualty
• sometimes the unit or battalion

That last item matters. With a battalion and a date, you can open the unit’s war diary and read what happened that day. See our WW2 war diaries guide.

Army Roll of Honour (WO 304)

For soldiers who died, the Army Roll of Honour, 1939–1945 (WO 304) is on Findmypast (£). Use it alongside the CWGC record.

Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers casualty cards

TNA’s guide notes Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers other ranks casualty cards on Findmypast. They record the casualty, rank and army number. The Royal Engineers cards sometimes include next of kin. They mostly cover the Second World War.

His service record

The service record is the other half. Wounds, hospital admissions and being posted missing were noted on it. Order it through our WW2 Army service records guide, and use the abbreviations guide to read the entries.

WW2 casualty records for the RAF

Missing aircrew (AIR 81)

TNA’s AIR 81 series holds Air Ministry enquiries into casualties during air operations and aircraft accidents, 1939–1945. Search Discovery by:

• surname of the missing airman
• place of the incident
• aircraft type, for example Blenheim

TNA says the files may contain casualty action sheets, death certificates, letters, exhumation and investigation reports, questionnaires from repatriated personnel, and personal effects of prisoners of war.

Squadron records

The squadron’s Operations Record Book records each sortie and loss. See our RAF WW2 service records guide.

TNA’s RAF operations guide also points to the International Bomber Command Centre losses database, which it says records 67,500 RAF Bomber Command deaths.

WW2 casualty records for the Royal Navy

Two TNA sources stand out:

• ADM 358: the Admiralty Casualty Branch’s enquiries into missing personnel, 1939–1945. Search by name or ship.
• ADM 104: registers of reports of deaths on Royal Navy ships, 1893–1950, free to download as digital microfilm. They give name, age, rank, ship, and the date, place and cause of death.

See also our Royal Navy WW2 service records guide.

Merchant Navy casualties

The Shipping and Seamen Rolls of Honour (BT 339) list those who died or were declared missing presumed dead in the merchant fleets, 1939–1945. They are on Ancestry (£). TNA also lists maritime war deaths (BT 334) on Findmypast (£).

More in our Merchant Navy WW2 records guide.

Prisoners of war

Captured men were casualties too. TNA lists registers and other records of POW deaths in WO 361, from the War Office Casualties (L) Branch. German record cards in WO 416 mainly cover prisoners, but also include some allied airmen who died on German or German-occupied soil without ever being prisoners.

For the full picture, see how to trace a WW2 prisoner of war.

Death certificates and wills

TNA does not hold death certificates. Indexes to deaths in the armed forces, 1796–2005, are on Findmypast (£). The certificates themselves come from the General Register Office.

For a will, search probatesearch.service.gov.uk. TNA notes it covers soldiers who died in service between 1850 and 1986.

Civilian casualties

TNA’s guide lists 66,375 civilians killed in the Second World War, from the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour. Search them free on the CWGC database. See how to find a WW2 grave.

Searching tips

• Search by number as well as name. WO 417 entries carry the service number. A number cuts through common names. See how to find a WW2 service number.
• Try spellings. Clerks misheard and mistyped. Try every spelling the family uses.
• Note the type of casualty. Wounded, missing, killed or prisoner: each points to a different next record.
• Write down the date. It is the key to the war diary.

Quick reference

A suggested order

1. Search the CWGC database if he died.
2. Search the casualty lists or rolls for his service.
3. Note the date and unit.
4. Read the war diary or record book for that date.
5. Order his service record to fill the gaps.

Have letters from the time? A sudden silence often matches a casualty date. Our guide to reading WW2 letters shows how to cross-check them.

FAQ: WW2 casualty records

How do I find out if my grandad was wounded in WW2?

For the Army, search the daily British Army casualty lists (WO 417) on Findmypast. They cover the wounded as well as the killed, missing and captured. His service record should also note hospital stays and wounds.

What is WO 417?

The War Office's daily British Army casualty lists, 1939–1945. They give rank, service number, date of becoming a casualty and type of casualty, and sometimes the unit.

Where are records of missing RAF aircrew?

In AIR 81 at The National Archives: Air Ministry enquiries into casualties during air operations and accidents, 1939–1945. Search Discovery by surname, place or aircraft type.

Does The National Archives hold WW2 death certificates?

No. Indexes to deaths in the armed forces are on Findmypast, and certificates come from the General Register Office.

Is the Army Roll of Honour free?

TNA points to the Army Roll of Honour (WO 304) on Findmypast, a paid site. The CWGC's Find War Dead search is free and covers all services.

Where do I find a WW2 sailor's death?

Start with the free CWGC database. Then try the Royal Navy registers of reports of deaths on ships (ADM 104), free to download from The National Archives, and ADM 358 for enquiries into missing men.

Sources

Checked 31 October 2026.

1. The National Archives: Deaths in the First and Second World Wars
2. The National Archives: British Army casualty lists 1939–1945
3. The National Archives: British Army soldiers in service after 1918
4. The National Archives: Royal Air Force personnel
5. The National Archives: Royal Air Force operations
6. The National Archives: British prisoners of the Second World War
7. CWGC: Find war dead