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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: longtallsally on Sunday 18 December 05 06:42 GMT (UK)
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Hoping you can tell me if I can request a copy of my mothers service records if you were a member of the WAAF during WW2 ? (or if she can) -
Are you counted as a member of the RAF ?
Thank you.
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Hi Sally!
I came across this - don't know if you have it already!! ::)
RAF and WAAF
As for the Army and Navy, you can only access records about yourself or your next of kin, and a search fee may be charged.
PMA IM1b(RAF)
Room 5
Building 248A
RAF Personnel Management Agency
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester GL3 1EZ
Annie
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My mum still has her WAAF ID booklet. Are there more records than what is in there?
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Hi
If the RAF is the same as the Army, a person can apply for their own records free of charge. My mum still has her WAAF ID booklet. Are there more records than what is in there?
I take it by this that your mother is still with us and could apply for her own records. A phone call to RAF Innsworth should confirm this.
Cheers Dave
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Yes, she's still, happily, very much with us.
For free, no less!!
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Hi. Everything you have been given so far is correct - I am going through the same process concerning my Mums service in the WAAF during and after WW2. I presume it is WW2 service you are talking about? If this is the case, then, if they were not claimed at the time (or have been lost, in which case there is a fee) your Mum is entitled to her medals. A long shot, but as your Mum is still with us (mine sadly died in 1971) I wonder if she remembers serving alongside Patricia Branch Doughty Richardson, involved in wireless and Radar and eventually posted to Palestine from 1945 to 48 when the Govt. gave up the Mandate. I attach a photo of Mum and some service chums taken, I think in the Isle of Man in 1941 or 42, perhaps this might jog a memory. Good Hunting Adam
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It's a lovely photo, so lively, but, no, my mum wouldn't have been in any of the places you have named. But don't give up; I once found a colleague of another Air Force friend of my mum's through the internet, who was able to give her the information she so desperately wanted about their mutual friend.
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I remember my mother telling me that she was in the WAAFs during WWII.
Her name was Kathleen Mary LODGE or JEFFERY (I dont know if she was already married or still single when she was in the services, I think she married during the war)
Does anyone remember her?
She passed away about 20 years ago, and I would love to obtain her records.
Chrissy
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If you go to The National Archives Web site you can download for free the RAF Other Ranks personnel index cards covering 1918 to mid 1970s.
The are split into large pdfs covering a number of names
AIR 78/98 has numerous parts but in it you will find the card for your mother.
Lodge, Kathleen Mary - 2035621 it is annotated by had as (nee Lodge) now Jeffrey
so now you have her service/personal number to add to your application for service record and an indication from the card adjustment that she was married while serving.
Regards
Ross
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Yes for free from here https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
Dee :)
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Hello
I am not immediate next of kin but sister. I have a form which states you must get Next of Kin Declaration the first being husband/partner, children, grandparents, then sister/brother.
I also have a notice that after 25 years of death anyone can apply for records as in my case my sister died in 1979. I cannot find a form that does not have the immediate Next of Kin rule. Does anyone have experience in applying for record after 25 years and how I can get it. I know I have to pay about 30/35 pounds for search as I do not have any info. on her enlistment. Thanks, Lookin2
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Hi,
Forms on this page
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records
scroll down to this part:
"For those who are not the immediate next of kin, and who are applying without the consent of the immediate next of kin, download and complete the ‘Application part 1: general enquirer’s form’ and the ‘Application part 2 form’ for the appropriate Service (Royal Navy, British Army or RAF)."
Regards
Ross
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rafCommands
Thank you for info. My fingers are crossed as all I know is that she did serve. Lookin2
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rafcommands
I have tried going to National Archives RAF Other Ranks Personnel - Index Cards AIR 78/79 and I get not found. I am hoping to find a bit more info. before submitting my request for record. Would you be kind enough to guide me to the site quoted. Thank you, Lookin2
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http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r/?_q=air+78
Then select the correct piece for the surname.
What surname are you looking for and I'll give the link to the actual file
Regards
Ross
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rafCommands
I am looking for Doris Gladys Mills.
Thank you, Lookin2
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Doris Gladys Eileen Mills ? Service Number 457724
Mills can be found in AIR 78/111
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4005850
Regards
Ross
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From my notes
450001 to 460000 Jun-41 to Jan-43 WAAF: (Gloucester)
So she enrolled at Gloucester Summer/Autumn 1942
Regards
Ross
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rafCommands
My goodness that response exceeded my expectations. Thank you so much. Lookin2
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Pleased I read this thread and thanks to Ross for posting about the Air 78 series on the TNA website.
I knew my great aunt was in the WAAF and now have her service number. I have also found two of her brothers a few pages later who I didn't expect to be there! Need to ask questions of some older relatives and look at applying for three service records.
Cheers
Jay
PS is there anywhere I can find what some of the info on the cards means? I.e. capital F in a circle, N.S.A, militia, stamped dates?
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F in a circle means Class F Reserve (usually pre Sept 1939 service)
NSA is National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 and denotes a person registered under that act.
Militia is a Militiaman and denotes a person registered under the Military Training Act 1939.
The stamped dates are usually post war. As yet I have no conclusive link to a service event.
Please remember that the cards in AIR 78 are the index cards for service records and should not be taken as a standalone or complete record.
We will need to wait until the date stamped service records are released to determine if the dates are audits or other events.
You could apply to Mod for the records of your relative and report back the significance of the dates.
Regards
Ross
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Thanks Ross, that's really helpful.
Cheers
Jay
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Can someone find my mother's service number in the WAAF please.
She was June Cynthia Frances Chalcraft. She worked in London during WW2.
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two questions
Have you tried AIR78 as described in this thread?
Why do you need the service number?
Ross
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Ross
Her membership of the WAAF is family legend, I have no evidence that she was in the service other than a photo of her at the time which appears to show her in a telephone exchange somewhere in London.
I was hoping that if it was true that she was in the service a service number might open up new avenues of research for me.
David
The record appears to be in 78/30 but I am unable see anything except a black screen. Help!
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No card in AIR 78/30 so unlikely to have been a WAAF.
No matter what service ATS/WREN/WAAF you do not need a service number for an record application. It's nice to have if you are sure but it can lead to getting the wrong record if given without certainty.
A full name and dob etc is the only thing needed for a service record but more is better.
Ross
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Thanks Ross
She was born 13.11.1924
If she's not there I'll try and different tack, thanks for your help.
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I wondered if you would look for an Olive May Young please for WW2 years.
Thank you very much in advance
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as there are only two olive mary young (no may) listed in air78 and both are shown as nee young with their new married names it should be easier for you to decide which one or none are relevant than have us second guess.
Ross
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Sorry yes her married name was White she married in 1943.
Sarah
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Sorry it was also May not Mary. Thanks, Sarah
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Yes she is listed in Air78
stamped F class reserve so looks like pre 1939 service or occupation - despite a service number issue of mid 1941
Ross
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Really excited to find these pages, as a result of which I've discovered my Mother's service number, and am about to order a copy of her records. Her name was Aldyth Elizabeth Maunder. This morning on tv I saw Nicky Campbell talking about his Mother's wartime experiences on the radar in the WAAF, which is also what my Mother did. His Father was in the Indian Army, as was mine!
I do wish I'd asked my parents about their wartime roles. Dad died in 1966 and Mum in 2003. I do know that Mum travelled around to many parts of Britain working at different places, and she always took her dog-feeding her on scraps from the NAAFI!
Thanks to all who provided links and advice in this thread.
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I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction. I am trying to find out about my Grandmother who served in the WAAF her name was Mary Mitcheson and she was attached to Barage Ballon section. I can not find anything on her Thank you in advance.
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Apologies for bumping an old thread. I am just wondering what some of the initials on the service cards mean.
My grandmothers card from the WAAF has MILITIA listed at the top, followed below by her name and service number and then below that it says EJ.
I'm just wondering what the EJ stands for? I also noticed on other records that there are different initials such as CM, GS, etc.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
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Militia denotes a person that was enrolled under the requirements of the Militia Act.
Typically "called up" rater than volunteered.
The two letter combinations are just a post war method of ensuring the details on the card for service number are correctly recorded (like the modern computer checksum to ensure that an internet packet has not been corrupted by signal noise)
Ross
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Ah ok, I thought it may have been related to a particular operation or something along those lines. Thanks for your help.
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Hello,
I am looking for any records of my mum. Monica Josephine Keeney born 1922
She came over to England from Ireland in the 1940s, I think she joined the WAAF in or around 1942..
I only know her service number 2145410
Any info would be very much appreciated.. Many thanks