Genealogy Chat

Hi

Can anyone please advise me on how to go about tracing a service number and regiment for my grandad he was in the army pre and post ww2, his name is James Matthews B 20/10/1907 Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

Any advice greatly received thank you.

Do you know if he was in the army at the time of his marriage or when any of his children were born? If so you might find his service number on one of the certificates.

Kath. x

You could send for his service records, if you are NOK that is.

However there is a charge of £30-00 and can take months to get them.

Here is the link to the veterans Agency to whom application has to be made, and explains all.

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

Note these records are not online they are still held by the MOD

George

As George has said the only way is to apply for his service record.

If either you grandfather or grandmother is still alive then they will have to apply or give you permission to apply on their behalf . In these circumstances there is no charge.

If your grandfather and grandmother have passed away then you will need to provide evidence of your relationship i.e. copy death certs, birth certs, marriage certs, as appropriate, to prove your relationship to your grandfather. The fee of £30 will also be payable in this case.

I applied for my dad's information and it took about 4 months from start to finish. I also was able to receive his war medal, which he refused to accept at the time as he felt he was unworthy.....!

Records are not held in one central palace but in various archives, depending on service and regiment. Thus the time it takes to receive information varies and it is difficult to estimate how long it will take.

On a general mote on Service records - I have two "Servive Records " from FMP - pension entitlement records in reality - I assume - but they both have National Archive references on them

Would the record held at NA show more information than I have from FMP
As one a Sgt - was imprisoned - and I would like to know what for


Many thanks

Irene in Spain

Thank you for taking the time to reply, my mum was born in 1940 and she just knew that he was in the army prior and after she was born and we have photos of him when he was posted in India, on his marriage certificate he is a barman in London with my nana working in service. Will get my mum to sign documents and try to obtain records for him.

Regards Angela

Things may be different now but when I ordered my father's and father-in-law's army records about 6 years ago you had to have the service number and regiment before you could order the records. I waited about 9 months for them to arrive.

Kath. x

Nudging up in hope some one answers my question posted yesterday


Thanks

Irene

Quite possible that there will be more records at Kew on his imprisonment.

Its worth bearing in mind that many Army Records were damaged by bombing in 1940. Was dispirited to find my grandad's records were quote water-damaged and partially unreadable unquote. MOD rather dismissive and refused to let me look at originals (I had in mind getting professional help to use special viewers, lightbox, etc). This was despite the fact my uncle was actually head of that office at one time !!

Thanks for reply Annie Laurie


Irene

Hi Irene

I only had my fathers date of birth and place of birth. They managed to find him ok.