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Author Topic: WW2 Service Records  (Read 7778 times)

Offline suttontrust

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WW2 Service Records
« on: Monday 27 September 04 22:18 BST (UK) »
I'm wondering if it's worthwhile sending for my father's World War II army record.  I know it costs a lot and there's a very long wait, and I don't know how much detail it will contain.  I have his World War I navy record, plus the army records of 2 other ancestors from earlier, and they were very informative.  Can anyone who has sent for 1939-45 records tell me what sort of information they contain before I splash out?
Godden in East Sussex, mainly Hastings area.
Richards in Lea, Gloucestershire, then London.
Williamson in Leith, Vickers in Nottingham.
Webb in Bildeston and Colchester.
Wesbroom in Kirby le Soken.
Ellington in Harwich.
Park, Palmer, Segar and Peartree in Kersey.

Offline suey

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Re: Army records
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 28 September 04 11:59 BST (UK) »

Have just got the forms to fill in from Historic Disclosures for one of mine..

Looking at it you MUST have the following info for your man..
Surname - forenames in full - Regt/Corps on Discharge or Death.

You also have to fill in a Certificate of Kinship - you tick the box that applies ie  Widow/Widower - Son/Daughter etc.

You also have to provide a photocopy of the persons Death Cert.  Seems likely that if you don't have this info they won't look for the records.

Just seen this in the notes - 'You must have Regt or Corps on discharge , a search is impossible to do without this information'  :'(

Also says 'There is not as much detail held on Army personal files as people think. Files are paper based records that follow the career of an individual and in most cases make little mention of operation or action seen.  Medals and awards are recorded.  Some files hold more information than others.  :-\

Apparently there re 30 miles of records - work has begun on indexing some 15.5 million files. They are hoping to complete this project by the end of 2005.

So it looks like we pays our money and takes a chance ! :)

Hope this helps..
Suey
All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
Greenwich/Woolwich. - Clowting. Davis. Kitts. Ferguson. Lowther. Carvalho. Pressman. Redknap. Argent.
Hertfordshire - Sturgeon. Bird. Rule. Claxton. Taylor. Braggins

Offline suttontrust

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Re: Army records
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 28 September 04 13:49 BST (UK) »
Thanks - I know his regiment but no more than that, and I don't have his death certificate.  So I think I'll save my money.
Godden in East Sussex, mainly Hastings area.
Richards in Lea, Gloucestershire, then London.
Williamson in Leith, Vickers in Nottingham.
Webb in Bildeston and Colchester.
Wesbroom in Kirby le Soken.
Ellington in Harwich.
Park, Palmer, Segar and Peartree in Kersey.

Offline clickaway

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Re: Army records
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 29 September 04 18:22 BST (UK) »
I need to sort out a discrepancy regarding my Great Uncle. I have his regiment and number, but if I go up to Kew and research the films do I still have to fill in the same kind of paperwork?

 I want to get info on my Grandad's service too.

Ray
Wiseman (Norfolk, London, Canada), Henderson (Manitoba, Canada) Crook (S. Devon, London, Ireland), Laskey (S. Devon and London), Richardson (Saffron Walden and London), Hall (Plymouth and Norfolk), Curd (Herts., London), Pettit, Pettitt, (all areas), Splatt (Devon, London, Surrey), East (Hertfordshire), Andrew (Herts.), Cluff (London), Nash (London), Plymley (Herts.), Packer (London), Leak (Norfolk), Allen (Norfolk)

Offline suey

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Re: Army records
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 29 September 04 18:49 BST (UK) »

Ray - No you don't have to fill in any forms at Kew !  However the NA don't have any service records after 1914/18.  Also many of these records were destroyed by a fire so it's a bit hit and miss what you will find.

Go to the library and see if they have this book Tracing your Ancestors in The PRO by Amanda Bevan or the PRO Guide Army Records for Family Historians by Simon Fowler and William Spencer.
Suey

All census lookups are Crown Copyright from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Sussex - Knapp. Nailard. Potten. Coleman. Pomfrey. Carter. Picknell
Greenwich/Woolwich. - Clowting. Davis. Kitts. Ferguson. Lowther. Carvalho. Pressman. Redknap. Argent.
Hertfordshire - Sturgeon. Bird. Rule. Claxton. Taylor. Braggins

Offline Darcy2016

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WW2 Service Records
« Reply #5 on: Friday 15 October 04 14:51 BST (UK) »
Hello!

I had a great uncle who died in WWII in Italy and we don't really know when or where exactly, only that he died in Italy.  I was wondering if anyone knew of how I could find any records regarding him.  He was British.  Is there a database somewhere or do they keep those records somewhere specific? Thanks!

Kathy

Offline peterbennett

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Re: WWII records
« Reply #6 on: Friday 15 October 04 14:54 BST (UK) »
Hi
    You should be able to find him on the Commonwealth war graves site

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx

peterbennett
All census look up transcriptions are Crown Copyright<br />www.NationalArchives.gov.uk <br />Cheshire BMD  www.cheshirebmd.org.uk/ <br />Cheshire Wills database http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/recordoffice/wills/Search.htm<br />Cheshire family history society  www.fhsc.org.uk/<br />Cheshire Records Office http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Recordoffice/aboutus/recoffcontact.tm<br /><br />--------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Bennett/,Whaley,Chesh/Lancs, Brindley Staffs

Offline clr1979

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WW2 Service Records
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 20 October 04 11:57 BST (UK) »
Hi all,

My Grandfather served in WW2, but he died in 1989 way before I got into family history.

I was just wondering if it is possible to obtain service records for soldiers who served in WW2?

If it is, what info do I need to know and where do I get the records from?

Thanks
Bradford / Leeds :- Rowntree, Gillings, Clayton, Wood, Hopkinson.
Wolverhampton :- Littleton, Pearson, Evans, Leighton.

Offline Welsh Jen

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Re: WW2 Service Records
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 20 October 04 12:09 BST (UK) »
This other thread mentions some links to use regarding WW2:

http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=11201.0

These sites will also be of use to you:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory/

http://www.ww2talk.com/

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