THE leading family history website Ancestry has acquired the UK military records website Forces War Records based at Melksham.

Clever Digit Media, which operates Forces War Records, says Ancestry.com UK Ltd has bought its business and websites http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk and http://www.british-genealogy.com.

Ancestry already holds over 27 billion family history records from 80 countries.

Clever Digit Media spokesman Neil White said: "From regimental databases to medal rolls and from prisoner of war records to casualty lists, military records hold rich and important information about our ancestors."

Since 2010, Forces War Records has transcribed over 26 million Commonwealth military service records and has been connecting its users with these wartime stories.

Ancestry.com UK plans to expand the product and bring these collections to new customers worldwide, Mr White said.

He added: "We are looking forward to the future with great excitement and enthusiasm as our business has much to benefit from the involvement of Ancestry.

"We believe that Forces War Records in return adds an authoritative and specialist brand to the Ancestry family, offering even more resources, tools and records to empower customers on their journeys of personal discovery."