Researching naval ancestors

Discover the Navy Lists

Official naval registers can reveal an officer’s rank, seniority, appointments, and service history. Use this site to understand the records and find the right place to begin.

Examples of historical Navy List pages

Explore the collection

Choose a starting point

Follow the route that matches your research: learn how the records work, see the original pages, or continue to a searchable collection.

1

Understand the source

Learn what a Navy List records and how it can help identify a naval ancestor.

Read the guide
2

See original pages

Browse selected pages from the 1905 Navy List, including its contents and regulations.

Browse examples
3

Follow a case study

See how the 1905 list connects with the early naval career of King George V.

Read the case study
4

Find more records

Continue your search with Navy Lists available online, on CD, and through useful links.

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