Tributes spark curiosity for personal histories
People wish they had asked relatives more about their life when they were alive after discovering an interesting story once they had passed, a new survey has found.
In the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday, a study of 2,000 people found 53 per cent have learned something they hadn’t previously known about a family member after they had died, making them regret not taking time to speak with their lost relative in-depth beforehand.
Discoveries they wished they had known more of included tales of their wartime experiences (29%) and their childhood (28%).
Stories were uncovered through speaking to others who knew relatives when they were younger (49%) and discussions with the wider family (45%).
Of those who have discovered something about their relatives’ lives, 51% admitted it left them with more unanswered questions, while a further 45% felt closer to their family.
The research, commissioned by Ancestry.co.uk, found a further 43% discovered a revelation when clearing out their relative’s home.
One-quarter of those polled regret not speaking to their relatives more about their wartime stories in particular and 22% would love to discover an unknown war related tale within their family history.
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.”
More than 40% 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 until November 8 to help people discover their family wartime stories.