SERVICE RECORDS

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 15/03/2020 22:54:06

For those looking to obtain copies of service records, I'll pass on the following information. Any next of kin is entilted to obtain copies.

The following information on the search we found at http://www.combinedops.com/Veterans.htm and may be of some assistance to you.

SERVICES FOR VETERANS

This page has been set up in response to an increasing number of enquiries about the service records of family members and lost forces friends. There are three options available to you;

official WW2 military service records at the Ministry of Defence (Army, RAF & RN),

links to specialised web sites designed to put you in touch with lost forces friends and comrades,

place an appeal on the Combined Operations notice board via the contact button at the bottom of this page.

Visit the MOD's Veteran's Agency

Official service records are held in various places in the UK. The procedures for accessing them vary amongst the three services. This page provides useful information on who to contact if you'd like to find a record and the procedures to follow. If, in the course of your enquiry, you find this information in need of updating please let us know for the benefit of others who follow in your footsteps (use "Contact Us" at the bottom of this page). Many thanks and good luck with your search. Scroll down the page or click on the section of your choice.
Army Service Records RAF Service Records RN Service Records Find a Forces Friend Main Index

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WW2 Military Service Records in Great Britain

~ The Army Records Office ~

Army Service Records covering World War II and up to present date are closed for 75 years except to the service personnel themselves and their official next-of-kin (in the event of the death of the service personnel concerned). Where death occurred within service proof of death is not needed otherwise documentary evidence such as a death certificate must be attached to your request for information

Requests should be sent in writing, by post only, to;
Army Personnel Centre, Historic Disclosures, Mail Point 400, Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G28 EX.

When enquiring about an individual as much information as possible should be provided viz; full name, service number, date of birth, most recent unit or unit from which the individual was discharged and rank at discharge. The Records Office will then send the enquirer a 'Declaration of Kinship' form which must be completed and returned before the search continues

With the exception of personal requests the MOD may levy a charge of £25 for recovering the service record. A turnaround time of about 2 months should be expected.

~ Royal Navy Service Records ~

The Navy Records Centre, the Department of the Naval Secretary, and Naval Pay & Pensions (Accounts) are not open to the members of the public. The Ministry of Defence will normally only release the information given in service records to the subjects of those records, or to their next of kin; and it may charge a search fee, which cannot be refunded.

1. Commissioned Officers

a. Commissioned officers who entered the service during, or before, 1916:

The Public Record Office,
Ruskin Avenue,
Kew,
Richmond,
Surrey TW9 4DU.
Telephone: 0208-876 3444.
Fax: 0208-878 8905.
Website: http://www.pro.gov.uk/

b. Commissioned officers who entered the service between 1916 and 1950, inclusive, who are either deceased or aged 61, or over:

The Navy Records Centre,*
Ministry of Defence,
CS(RM)2 Navy Search,
Bourne Avenue,
Hayes,
Middlesex, UB3 1RF.
Telephone: 0208-573 3831
FAX: 0208-569 2751.

c. Commissioned officers who are currently serving, or who are retired and aged 60. or under:

The Naval Secretary,*
Ministry of Defence,
Victory Building,
HM Naval Base,
Portsmouth,
Hampshire PO1 3LS.

2. Non-commissioned ranks

a. Non-commissioned ranks who enlisted into the service during, or before, 1891:

The Public Record Office (for address, see 1a, above).

b. Non-commissioned ranks who enlisted as Regular Service entrants between 1892 and the outbreak of the Second World War, inclusive; and National Servicemen who enlisted between 1945 and 1950, inclusive:

The Navy Records Centre (for address, see 1b, above).

c. Non-commissioned ranks who enlisted as Regular Service entrants from the outbreak of the Second World War, up to the present:

Naval Pay & Pensions (Accounts),*
Ministry of Defence,
Centurion Building,
Grange Road,
Gosport,
Hampshire PO13 9XA.

~ RAF - Personnel Management Agency ~
The Personnel Management Agency at HQ RAF Personnel and Training Command, RAF Innsworth, holds the personal files of officers and airmen dating from the inter-war years. Personal files from the First World War are now located at the Public Record Office. PMA is not a public record repository, and can only release records of service to the RAF officer or airman concerned, or to next-of-kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring before approaching PMA. A fee of £25 is levied for each record researched.

Enquiries about officers' records of service:

PMA (CS)2a (2)a (RAF), Building 248, HQ RAF Personnel & Training Command, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ

Enquiries about airmen's records of service:

PMA (CS) 2a (2)b (RAF), Building 248, HQ RAF Personnel & Training Command, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ

For records of decorations and citations:

AMP Sec 1c, Room F93, Building 255, HQ RAF Personnel & Training Command, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EZ

http://www.veteransagency.mod.uk/

NB.
Update from Admin 14 March 2020 - see our Research Guide for latest details http://www.commandoveterans.org/ResearchAdvice