Genealogy Chat

Hi all, Would anyone know if and where I could get hold of military records for someone based at Woolwich in 1955. thankyou Jane

Yes you can. You need their service number, a copy of their death certificate (if deceased) and permission from the next of kin and it will cost £30. If they are still alive, the person needs to apply themselves (or at least sign the form!) and it's free. See here: http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/service_records/service_records.html Sam x

Thankyou Sam, although this is a different situation where nothing else is known apart from the persons name at least I have somewhere to write and ask for more information. Jane

I doubt they will reveal anything. I recently wanted the army records for someone i knew to be deceased,i didn't have a dob or dod,and couldn't order his death cert as a result. Without supplying a copy of the death cert and permission from next of kin i couldn't get any details at all. Glen

www.army.mod.uk/contacts/divisions/records.htm

So would I be right in saying you can get nothing if you have no proof of being related to a person. Is there anywhere else you can get details??

Sorry just got back onto the pc. I will try the other link as well and see if I have any joy. We have a name but need a place of birth/date to carry on with the search. Thankyou, Jane

Jane, You wouldn,t happen to know where his pay book or army reference is, perhaps one of the direct family have it, that way you could find his army number. Rod

I couldn't remember my father's Royal Air Force number but I was just looking at my birth cetificate the other day and my father's rank and number are on the father's occupation. So maybe if people can obtain a birth certificate of a child born while the father is in the forces......it will maybe have the number on the certificate. Jean

My problem was that my father (birth family,and the only details about him where in my adoption file) was a complete unknown. I knew within a year or two his year of birth,but couldn't be sure,couldn't pin down a death due to lack of birth info,and didn't have a service number. Quote from my application pack 'FINDING THE FILE We will not accept an enquiry unless there is a reasonable chance of locating the file in our archive.Ideally we need the full name,date of birth,Army Number,regiment and year of discharge of the individual However the size and age of the archive is such that in a small number of cases it will be impossible for us to find a file,even if we have been supplied with all the relevant information.If a search is unsuccessful we are unable to refund payment. ****Please note,if you do not know either the date of birth or the service number of the subject of your enquiry a successful search for the file is unlikely,no matter how much other information you are able to provide*** ------------------- Taken from a pack issued just 4 weeks ago Glen

Do you know if it's worth sending for, Glen? In my case, I knew my father...I suppose I should have asked him questions before he died. I notice on the website..they ask what information you want. Well I don't really know what to say..I know he worked on Spitfires..I know he was posted to Saskatoon, in Canada..I don't need a photograph. I'm really trying to think of something...so it seems a little silly don't you think? What information do they have from WW2.? Jean

Sorry for the delay, I am not around alot. The person who I am helping with is adopted with contact with his birth mother who has just been given his fathers name, plus year which he was in the army. he isnt able to get any more information about him. Jane

nudge

Just read thread...would I be able to get my fathers records.I have his birth and dealth cert, but my mother would not of been his next of kin then..? Hayley

Hayley, When you get the information pack, it includes a list of people who could be next of kin. It goes something like this: Wife Child Grandchild etc You have to tick the first person in the list that is still living and that person has to sign the forms. Sam x

Thankyou Sam....would I have to write to Glasgow for them... Hayley

Yes, Hayley. They do not ask you for proof that you are next of kin. Joy

Ta Joy..what you doing over here ?lol