Derry~Londonderry War Memorial Records

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The Londonderry Corporation was the historical municipal governing body for the city of Derry~Londonderry and surrounding area. It functioned as the local authority responsible for civic administration, public services, and local governance from as early as 1673. In the early 20th Century, the authority became known as the Londonderry County Borough Council which operated until 1969.

Many of the corporation’s minute books and other records are held in PRONI’s LA/79 archive. Derry City and Strabane District Council hold records relating to the ‘Freemen’, the city’s war memorial registers and many other records. For information about accessing these records, you can contact the Archive and Genealogical Service.

The council and PRONI have worked together to digitise the minute books and ‘Freemen’ records dating from 1673 to 1901, as well as the war memorial registers from 1926; all of which are available to view online.

About the War Memorial Records

In 1919 the Mayor of the Derry~Londonderry, Sir Robert Anderson, JP, set up the War Memorial Fund, with the aim of creating a memorial to honour of local soldiers who fought and died during the First World War. The memorial was designed by Vernon March of Kent, England and erected in the Diamond in 1927. It has four panels displaying the names of those who died.

You can find out more about the named soldiers in register books containing the names of the fallen, created by the city’s War Memorial Committee who sent out forms to the next of kin. The families confirmed and/or amended the forms and signed off on them before returning to the Committee.

The registers form four volumes which have been digitised and can now be viewed online via the attachments below. Most of the volumes are split into multiple parts. The original volumes are held by Derry City and Strabane District Council Archive and Genealogy Service.

The volumes are ordered alphabetically by surname of the soldier, and you will find the following information for each entry:

  • Surname
  • Rank
  • Christian or Forenames (in full)
  • Regimental Number
  • Military Honours
  • Company, Battery and, in case of Naval Units, the name of the Ship
  • Regiment
  • Nature of death (if desired and available)
  • Date of death
  • Native place of deceased
  • Any other details in reference to Soldier (if desired)
  • Signature, relationship and address of the next of kin