Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I submit a correction?

  Use the Suggest a Correction page. Pick the type of correction (missing medal, wrong ribbon order, missing photo, citation source, etc.), drop a note describing what should change, and include a source if you have one. Every submission is reviewed before anything in the archive is altered.

• How do I request research on a relative?

  Use the Request Research page. Provide as much as you know — name, country served, service branch or regiment, approximate war or period, and any service number — and we'll quote you based on the depth of the work required. Service numbers and known unit names dramatically speed things up.

• Can I add my relative to the archive?

  Yes. Submit a research request with the person's details and any source material you have. We'll build a draft profile and confirm it with you before it goes live.

• How are medals verified?

  Each medal claim is checked against primary sources where possible — the London Gazette, official medal rolls, regimental histories, US military citation indexes, and reputable secondary works. When a claim cannot be independently verified, the profile flags it as unverified rather than presenting it as fact. See How the Archive Works for the full pipeline.

• What sources do you use?

  Government gazettes (London Gazette, Canada Gazette, etc.), official medal rolls, US Medal of Honor and other citation indexes, regimental histories, ship and unit war diaries, reputable secondary works, and primary documents supplied by families. Each profile cites its sources.

• What is USM-25?

  USM-25 is the Unified Scoring Matrix 25 — a transparent ranking framework that lets decorated heroes from different services and eras be compared on common ground. It weights gallantry awards by tier, rarity, and career variety; campaign medals and long-service awards do not count. It is a navigation tool, not a measure of personal worth. Full methodology at /scoring.

• Why is my relative not listed?

  The archive grows hero-by-hero, so it's likely we simply haven't reached them yet. Submit a research request and we'll prioritise their profile.

• Can I sponsor a hero page?

  Yes — see the Adopt a Hero page. Sponsorship funds research, helps keep the page maintained, and lets you add family documents and photographs (with our review).

• Can I use images from the site?

  Most ribbon, medal, and rank-insignia artwork in the archive is sourced from Wikimedia Commons or government publications and is in the public domain or under permissive licences; check the individual asset. Hero portraits are generally Wikimedia / public domain unless otherwise marked. Family-submitted photographs remain the property of the contributing family — please contact us before re-publishing.

• How long does research take?

  Typical turnaround is 2–6 weeks depending on the depth of the request and the difficulty of the sources. If a service number is known and the records are in well-indexed archives, it can be faster. Complex multi-archive cases (e.g. Commonwealth recipient with US-issued medals) take longer. You'll get an estimate when we issue the quote.

Drop us a line via the contact page — pick the category that fits and we'll route it to the right person.