Who Do You Think You Are?

Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine not only explores the stories behind the popular BBC genealogy TV series, but also helps you uncover your own roots. Each issue is packed with practical advice to help you track down family history archives and get the most out of online resources, alongside features on what life was like in the past and the historic events that affected our ancestors.

Welcome

SARAH'S TOP TIP • Even if you don't have Welsh ancestors it's worth checking their newspapers

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CONTRIBUTORS

Letters

Who Do You Think You Are?

What's On • Email wdytyaeditorial@ourmedia.co.uk to feature your event here for free

News • Rosemary Collins reports on the latest data releases and genealogy news

REMEMBERING AUNTIE BETTY • Alan Crosby reflects on the rich life of a well-travelled and much-missed relation

50 WEBSITES TO WATCH 2025 • Jonathan Scott looks ahead and reveals the unmissable online resources for 2025

Regional Round-Up • The latest news from 13 websites run by archive services, museums and family history societies

‘MY FAMILY TREE IS PACKED WITH SPORTING HEROES’ • Kim Thompson has uncovered several champions among her relations including amazing women who blazed trails in tennis and Alaskan dog sledding, she told Claire Vaughan

RESOURCES • These websites helped Kim research her sporting kin

REME Service Records • Phil Tomaselli shares his expert advice for researching a forebear who served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

SERGEANT EMRYS WILLIAMS • This Second World War hero served in the REME with great distinction

Expert Picks • Phil recommends three key websites to research your REME ancestor's experiences

SERVICE AND CASUALTY FORM • This record for REME soldier Robert Graham is held by The National Archives at Kew, and on Ancestry (ancestry.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Take your research further

WALES • Jonathan Scott shares the most useful digital resources for researching Welsh roots

EXPERT'S CHOICE • Gill Thomas is a Welsh genealogist and tutor (whowhatwhereresearch.com)

GO FURTHER • These 10 websites are also recommended

COASTGUARD • Dr Simon Wills explains the long history of the Coastguard, and how to make the most of a collection recently added to Findmypast

INDEX, 1822 • This page from the nominal index to the registers of nominations for appointments for 1822 is available on Findmypast (findmypast.co.uk)

RESOURCES • Don't miss these websites

Q&A • Our team of experts offers tips and inspiration

Where was Robert Akester born?

Where in Wales was my grandfather from?

Does this photograph show William Sinclair and family?

Can court records help me find William Stafford's parents?

Who were Arthur Jones’ parents?

Devon when she was born in Dorset?

Is this James Sainsbury Mould?

A Valley Built On Mining • Rosemary Collins finds out about a project exploring the history of the Rhondda Valley

THE BIG PICTURE • Celebrating our ancestors caught on camera

Organise your research with Ancestry's MyTreeTags • Nick Peers reveals how to tag the relations in your Ancestry tree to get more relevant hints

LONDON UNDER SIEGE • Evelyn Lord takes us inside the horrors of the Great Plague of London

GEORGE MONCK, 1ST DUKE OF ALBERMARLE • 1608–1670 How a “blockhead” helped to save many lives in London

Resources • Take your research further

‘I SOLVED A VICTORIAN ILLEGITIMACY CASE’ • Using lateral thinking and DNA colour-coding, Jenny May Forsyth was able to discover the truth behind her great great...