Find Wills of British Soldiers Who Died on Active Duty

The Probate Service for England and Wales have launched a new index to wills of soldiers who died while serving in the British armed forces between 1850 and 1986.

You need to enter at least a surname and year of death but you can add additional data in the advanced search. It's a pity that it doesn't allow a range of years to be entered but you can page backwards or forwards to see other years.

Note however that if the soldier for whom you're searching didn't leave a will or wasn't serving at the time, you won't find them.

However, I think I've found  a problem either with the search mechanism or in the index of soldiers in their database.

A search for Munro 1944 yields

Surname     First name     Regimental number     Date of death
MUNRO     LEONARD CYRIL     14241771     10 June 1944

A search for Munns 1944 yields

No results with the surname MUNNS and the year of death 1944

I think this is a mistake.

My info is that Leonard Cyril Munns died 10 June 1944 in France.

The details for Leonard Cyril Munns are on the Royal Leicestershire Regiment Online Archive but I also checked on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.

I've queried this anomaly with the Probate Service for England and Wales.

Search the wills of British soldiers index.
There seems to be a problem with this link and for the moment you'll need to click on the Soldier's Wills tab.

Once you've found the person you want you can download the grant and or will for £10 per person.