Anybody with access to army service records?
Discussion
Either your father (if still alive) or you, as his son, can ask MOD for them.
IIRC, you will need his Army number and, if you are applying, his death certificate if he didn’t die in service. But it’s pretty straightforward if sometimes a bit of a lengthy process.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-dec...
EDIT Sorry, I was going to start by saying that it is highly unlikely that someone in Army Personnel Records or elsewhere will see their way to slipping you a copy unofficially- it would not only be a firing offence but also a crime. The proper process is in the link.
IIRC, you will need his Army number and, if you are applying, his death certificate if he didn’t die in service. But it’s pretty straightforward if sometimes a bit of a lengthy process.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-dec...
EDIT Sorry, I was going to start by saying that it is highly unlikely that someone in Army Personnel Records or elsewhere will see their way to slipping you a copy unofficially- it would not only be a firing offence but also a crime. The proper process is in the link.
Edited by psi310398 on Wednesday 4th December 22:44
Follow psi’s advice , I’ve just done it for my great grandfather and some of the stuff I got was amazing including his hand written application form from 1939.
It unfortunately is a slow process, I was about 6 months from initial request to getting info.
If you have his army number you can check his some of his records on the national archives.
It unfortunately is a slow process, I was about 6 months from initial request to getting info.
If you have his army number you can check his some of his records on the national archives.
psi310398 said:
Either your father (if still alive) or you, as his son, can ask MOD for them.
IIRC, you will need his Army number and, if you are applying, his death certificate if he didn’t die in service. But it’s pretty straightforward if sometimes a bit of a lengthy process.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-dec...
EDIT Sorry, I was going to start by saying that it is highly unlikely that someone in Army Personnel Records or elsewhere will see their way to slipping you a copy unofficially- it would not only be a firing offence but also a crime. The proper process is in the link.
Agree with all this; I got my great uncle's army record a few years ago, it was slooow(18 months, it coincided with the plague but I'm sure it's faster now) but worth it. No one in the records section will entertain a homer for obvious reasons.IIRC, you will need his Army number and, if you are applying, his death certificate if he didn’t die in service. But it’s pretty straightforward if sometimes a bit of a lengthy process.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-dec...
EDIT Sorry, I was going to start by saying that it is highly unlikely that someone in Army Personnel Records or elsewhere will see their way to slipping you a copy unofficially- it would not only be a firing offence but also a crime. The proper process is in the link.
Interesting thread. I've often thought about looking up my grandfather's (WWII Pioneer Corps), his father's (Grenadier Guards, died in service 1912), and his father's (Scots Guards late 19th century), but I have no idea how to get their "Army Number". How does one go about finding that? There isn't a family left apart from me sadly, and no family archive or records.
Skodillac said:
Interesting thread. I've often thought about looking up my grandfather's (WWII Pioneer Corps), his father's (Grenadier Guards, died in service 1912), and his father's (Scots Guards late 19th century), but I have no idea how to get their "Army Number". How does one go about finding that? There isn't a family left apart from me sadly, and no family archive or records.
Guidance here:https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-se...
Skodillac said:
Interesting thread. I've often thought about looking up my grandfather's (WWII Pioneer Corps), his father's (Grenadier Guards, died in service 1912), and his father's (Scots Guards late 19th century), but I have no idea how to get their "Army Number". How does one go about finding that? There isn't a family left apart from me sadly, and no family archive or records.
The thought only came into my head following a recent discussion with my brother - He seemed to think that our father saw action abroad, I cannot imagine our father getting any further than the barracks in Windsor [He would have been in the Welsh Guards anytime from about 1952 to 1957].Rayny said:
Skodillac said:
Interesting thread. I've often thought about looking up my grandfather's (WWII Pioneer Corps), his father's (Grenadier Guards, died in service 1912), and his father's (Scots Guards late 19th century), but I have no idea how to get their "Army Number". How does one go about finding that? There isn't a family left apart from me sadly, and no family archive or records.
The thought only came into my head following a recent discussion with my brother - He seemed to think that our father saw action abroad, I cannot imagine our father getting any further than the barracks in Windsor [He would have been in the Welsh Guards anytime from about 1952 to 1957].Coincidentally, I grew up in a road just opposite one of the barracks in Windsor. The Welsh Guards occupy that barracks currently, having replaced the Scots Guards some years ago IIRC.
I would highly recommend you all give it a try as you never know where it may take you.
A few years ago I researched both my great grandfathers WW1 records. Many of the WW1 records were destroyed in the blitz but I was lucky enough to find this casualty form.
This gave me all the info I needed and I was able to download his Regiments war diary. He suffered a gunshot wound to his head and leg (survived) on 4th October 1917 and according to the diary this is when they attacked the German lines. The diary also contained a map of the front line just east of Ypres. So two years ago I went there and stood right where he would have been over 100 years before. Incredible!
A few years ago I researched both my great grandfathers WW1 records. Many of the WW1 records were destroyed in the blitz but I was lucky enough to find this casualty form.
This gave me all the info I needed and I was able to download his Regiments war diary. He suffered a gunshot wound to his head and leg (survived) on 4th October 1917 and according to the diary this is when they attacked the German lines. The diary also contained a map of the front line just east of Ypres. So two years ago I went there and stood right where he would have been over 100 years before. Incredible!
Edited by Kernow76 on Thursday 5th December 20:31
I tried to do this for my grandfather, as he joined the Army in 1915 aged 16, went to France and was captured and put in a POW camp somewhere. Interestingly, when the war ended he wasn't dismissed from the army and had to go on patrol in Ireland for a year or more.
Unfortunately, around 3 million records were destroyed in a fire in 1940, and his was one of them, so we will never know where he was and what he went through.
Unfortunately, around 3 million records were destroyed in a fire in 1940, and his was one of them, so we will never know where he was and what he went through.
OP did you try searching the national archives for his name?
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Although most info is sealed a lot of the ww2 for example soldiers are listed with their name and military number visible.
We have a similar-ish issue with my great grandfather where the family has none of his documents except his medals... his details are visible but sealed for another few years because your records are sealed for something like 115 years after your birth... So presumably within the next decade or so almost all ww2 soldier data will be freely searchable without needing death certificates
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Although most info is sealed a lot of the ww2 for example soldiers are listed with their name and military number visible.
We have a similar-ish issue with my great grandfather where the family has none of his documents except his medals... his details are visible but sealed for another few years because your records are sealed for something like 115 years after your birth... So presumably within the next decade or so almost all ww2 soldier data will be freely searchable without needing death certificates
Jaska said:
OP did you try searching the national archives for his name?
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Although most info is sealed a lot of the ww2 for example soldiers are listed with their name and military number visible.
We have a similar-ish issue with my great grandfather where the family has none of his documents except his medals... his details are visible but sealed for another few years because your records are sealed for something like 115 years after your birth... So presumably within the next decade or so almost all ww2 soldier data will be freely searchable without needing death certificates
Thanks for that - Yes I did look there, but nothing relevant came up.https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Although most info is sealed a lot of the ww2 for example soldiers are listed with their name and military number visible.
We have a similar-ish issue with my great grandfather where the family has none of his documents except his medals... his details are visible but sealed for another few years because your records are sealed for something like 115 years after your birth... So presumably within the next decade or so almost all ww2 soldier data will be freely searchable without needing death certificates
While we’re at it, any suggestions regarding information on Indian Army WW2 volunteer units? Specifically, the Bihar Light Horse and Chota Nagpur Regiment. I assume these are an Indian government responsibility?
I had a relation who was Indian Civil Service and thus in a reserved occupation and was thus prohibited from joining up (he tried), but who trained with these mounted units in case the Japanese broke through and it was all hands to the pumps.
I had a relation who was Indian Civil Service and thus in a reserved occupation and was thus prohibited from joining up (he tried), but who trained with these mounted units in case the Japanese broke through and it was all hands to the pumps.
Slow.Patrol said:
I need to do this for my grandfather
He was in the Royal Flying Corps during WW1. He was in India and a mechanic.
He died when I was seven year old. I bet he had some stories.
I think your task is much easier, given the experience with my great uncle who started in RNAS, was moved into the RFC and retired from the RAF. He had a stint in India which was in his UK service record. He was in the Royal Flying Corps during WW1. He was in India and a mechanic.
He died when I was seven year old. I bet he had some stories.
RFC was a British Army unit and the records will be with Kew or MoD. The Indian Military (which grew out of the East India Company forces) was parallel but distinct. I suspect those records are in India.
OldPal said:
Follow psi’s advice , I’ve just done it for my great grandfather and some of the stuff I got was amazing including his hand written application form from 1939.
It unfortunately is a slow process, I was about 6 months from initial request to getting info.
If you have his army number you can check his some of his records on the national archives.
Slow? I've waited over a year for my dads records and still have nothing!It unfortunately is a slow process, I was about 6 months from initial request to getting info.
If you have his army number you can check his some of his records on the national archives.
We found a great uncle ‘s records through ancestry. They sometimes run free trials.
He was a regular enlisting in 1902. He serves in the Royal Field Artillery, deserted once and was recaptured at Okehampton, he was in Lucknow in 1911 and served two tours in France and one in Italy before being invalided out with syphilis and died in a sanitarium in Durham in 1919.
Wife’s grandfathers record was also found, called up 1916 and trained on Cannock Chase about two miles from where we were living when I did the research. Took her brother over to see the restored hut they have at the visitor centre. The record conflicts with grandad’s tales of shrapnel as he never completed training and was invalided out with a foot problem - he died around 1972.
Go for it
He was a regular enlisting in 1902. He serves in the Royal Field Artillery, deserted once and was recaptured at Okehampton, he was in Lucknow in 1911 and served two tours in France and one in Italy before being invalided out with syphilis and died in a sanitarium in Durham in 1919.
Wife’s grandfathers record was also found, called up 1916 and trained on Cannock Chase about two miles from where we were living when I did the research. Took her brother over to see the restored hut they have at the visitor centre. The record conflicts with grandad’s tales of shrapnel as he never completed training and was invalided out with a foot problem - he died around 1972.
Go for it
IJWS15 said:
We found a great uncle ‘s records through ancestry. They sometimes run free trials.
He was a regular enlisting in 1902. He serves in the Royal Field Artillery, deserted once and was recaptured at Okehampton, he was in Lucknow in 1911 and served two tours in France and one in Italy before being invalided out with syphilis and died in a sanitarium in Durham in 1919.
Wife’s grandfathers record was also found, called up 1916 and trained on Cannock Chase about two miles from where we were living when I did the research. Took her brother over to see the restored hut they have at the visitor centre. The record conflicts with grandad’s tales of shrapnel as he never completed training and was invalided out with a foot problem - he died around 1972.
Go for it
I've used the free trial of Ancestry - Nothing much about my father is in there, certainly nothing about his service record. Though I did find that an uncle had been charged with murder...He was a regular enlisting in 1902. He serves in the Royal Field Artillery, deserted once and was recaptured at Okehampton, he was in Lucknow in 1911 and served two tours in France and one in Italy before being invalided out with syphilis and died in a sanitarium in Durham in 1919.
Wife’s grandfathers record was also found, called up 1916 and trained on Cannock Chase about two miles from where we were living when I did the research. Took her brother over to see the restored hut they have at the visitor centre. The record conflicts with grandad’s tales of shrapnel as he never completed training and was invalided out with a foot problem - he died around 1972.
Go for it
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