Lest we forget those who came before us, and if you have relatives that were in the wars, an opened archive could see you learning that little bit more.
We’re always told we shouldn’t live in the past, but learning from the past is important, particularly when we have the ability to grow from what has happened.
Whether through books or other resources, learning about history can embolden and empower us, much like hearing stories from family members. Unfortunately, not everyone has the ability to hear from family members, particularly if they’ve been lost to the scourge of war.
On Anzac Day, we remember and pay respect those fighting for and with Australia and New Zealand, whether they’re still with us or have passed. Lest we forget.
However, if they’ve become part of history, finding information about them can prove difficult.
That’s where genealogy and family history sites may be able to fill in the gaps, and this week for Anzac Day, one website is stepping in to at least try to provide answers, albeit slightly.
MyHeritage has opened up its Australian and New Zealand records for the Anzac Day long weekend, essentially making its historical record archives available for the Anzac weekend to anyone interested.
The service, which normally costs between $169 and $469 per year, will see military and newspaper records opened up to give people a look at family members, as well as provide a dose of AI to bring those images back to life so to speak by animating the faces in MyHeritage’s “LiveMemory”.
The records include the Australian World War II Nominal Roll (from 1939 to 1945) as well as newspapers from the time of both world wars, as well as from well before. According to MyHeritage, over 24 million pages from 1705 titles across Australia have been switched on as part of the opened archive, something that normally requires access to one of three plans MyHeritage offers.
This opened archive will provide the listing of records for free and the accompanied search, but viewing some of the files may need an account, which after the free period will also cost money.
“This Anzac Day, MyHeritage is offering free access to its extensive collection of historical records from Australia and New Zealand, helping families connect with their past and honour those who served,” said a spokesperson for MyHeritage.
While the access may provide insight into family members, depending on where they served could pose a bit of a concern.
For instance, if your family members served with the English army, but later arrived in Australia, you might not find military records under what MyHeritage has opened for the week. They’d technically be under an English record, as opposed to one from Australia and New Zealand.
However, the service does provide a taste of how it can match up members of your family while creating a family tree, essentially offering a little more insight into family lineage on a day (and weekend) where recollecting family is ever so important.
For those interested in trying it, MyHeritage’s Oceania records have been switched on for Australian and New Zealand, running in a freely accessible way from April 24 to April 29.
