Researching your military ancestors
The National Army Museum provides a place where families can seek out and research information about New Zealand veterans and family members who served in the armed forces. We offer a great starting point to begin your journey of discovery.
If necessary, our staff can help you locate the following information: regimental number, rank, unit, place of enlistment, occupation, last NZ address, and the name and address of next-of-kin. Please note there is a research charge of $5.00 for this service. You will need this information when requesting a copy of a service personnel record.
Guide to researching New Zealand Service Personnel
For service personnel records prior to 1920 contact Archives NZ and for all records from 1920 onwards contact NZDF Personnel Archives.
Once you have a copy of the soldier’s service record, we can provide recommended reading and assist you with any further research on military operations, movements, campaigns, dates, maps and so on, relating to the unit your soldier fought with.
We also have available Nominal Rolls that list all the soldiers who embarked for Active Service overseas; Rolls of Honour and Medal Rolls.
Nominal Rolls
- Imperial
- Boer War
- WWI
- WWII
- Post WWII (Korea, Vietnam, East Timor)
Rolls of Honour
- WWI
- WWII
- Korea
- Malaya
- Vietnam
- Note the Official Regimental Histories include Rolls of Honour
The National Army Museum has its own roll of honour for all forces (Army, Navy, Air Force & Merchant Navy) called Tears on Greenstone and is located within the Museum. The Tears on Greenstone Memorial Certificate is available for purchase.
Medal Rolls
- Imperial
- New Zealand Wars – Colonials
- WWI
- WWII
Websites
WWI & WWII Roll of Honour
WWII Regimental & Campaign Histories
- Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939 – 45
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Other Useful Sites
- Alexander Turnbull Library
- New Zealand’s History Online
- The London Gazette
- Regimental & Corps Museums of the British Army
- 28th Maori Battalion
“We will remember them, your journey starts here.”