Ancestry.co.uk, the genealogy website has released a Remembrance app on its Facebook page while planning to open up its military records for free over the weekend of Remembrance Sunday.
The company has posted the app to allow users to donate £1 for each tribute that they leave, and £3 for each heroic story posted to the Hall of Heroes section, with the funds going to the Royal British Legion.
Kelly Godfrey, senior digital marketing manager for Ancestry.co.uk explained to The Drum that the company was hoping to further engage with its dedicated Facebook community over Remembrance Weekend, while reaching a new audience to exceed the 10,200 tributes to WW1 heroes that were posted last year.
Godfrey added: “In addition to achieving these goals, it’s also important to ensure that the app has longevity and provides the opportunity for people to remember the heroes – military and otherwise - in their family tree at all times of the year. With this in mind, whilst we have launched the 2012 Hall of Heroes in the run up to Remembrance weekend, after the 12 November it will be a permanent fixture on the Ancestry Facebook page, allowing people to share pictures, stories and tributes about their courageous ancestors all year round.”
Ancestry.co.uk will open up its site to allow free access to many of its military records during 9-12 November, and has also produced a video which follows the journey of three case studies as they uncover information about the war heroes within their families.
The company has set a target of raising £10,000, and at the time of writing had amassed £1,857.