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Messages - rafcommands

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World War Two / Re: help with service number record

« on: Yesterday at 21:45 »

You do not need a service number to apply for his service record only month and year of birth and electronic eg jpeg proof of death.

In fact I usually advise against using a number found on the internet - let disclosures at Cranwell do their job without adding possible confusion.

At the moment RAF disclosures is running at between 2 to 6 months for returns.

The less they need to tease out incorrect info in the application - the quicker the return.

Ross

World War Two / Re: British Army Medical Records - WW2

« on: Saturday 11 May 24 20:19 BST (UK) »

I periodically look at GOV.UK to check that the advice I give on obtaining service records is current.

Looks like a policy change on 22nd April 2024 now considers releasing medical records on request.

Medical records for deceased service personnel

"How to apply
To request medical records for a deceased service person, please email CIO-FOI@mod.gov.uk.

What to include in your request
Please ensure you include the following details (if known):

full name of the service person
service number
date of birth
date of death
service they served for, e.g. Army, Navy or Royal Air Force (RAF)
copy of death certificate or other legal declaration of death
any other information you think would be relevant to your request
In the absence of a death certificate or other legal declaration of death, the MOD adopts a policy of assuming that a person is alive until the age of 116. You do not need a copy of the death certificate if the person died in service or was born more than 116 years ago.

The MOD will not disclose any information where release could prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of its forces. In the very rare case that release of information from a service record might be prejudicial or cannot be released for other reasons, the applicant will be advised of the relevant FOIA statutory exemption that applies to its non-disclosure.

Published 22 April 2024"

This is a very new service and seems to need a direct application.

Ross

Armed Forces / Re: Gunner RAF

« on: Friday 03 May 24 07:47 BST (UK) »

Gunner was not an RAF rank.

Air Gunner AG was a trade associated with rank of Sgt or above.

Ground Gunner GG was also a trade and usually associated with rank/classification ACH/AC2/AC1/LAC/Cpl/Sgt

Ross

World War Two / Re: RAF - David Herbert Smith

« on: Saturday 27 April 24 19:00 BST (UK) »

The only information that you need to see if he served in the RAF (and he did by the picture) and to receive his service record

is
1. Month and Year of Birth
2. Full name
3. Proof by means of a digital copy of death certificate (jpg photo acceptable) of his death at least 25 years ago.

Follow the online application procedure for RAF Records of Deceased Service persons in the links you have been given at GOV.UK.

If a record is found matching the information you gave in 1, 2 and 3 then they will request a payment and after a defined time subject to demand it will be emailed to you.

Ross

World War Two / Re: Looking for military records

« on: Friday 12 April 24 20:55 BST (UK) »

Different requirements for each service.

For RAF disclosures all that is required is knowledge of Month and Year of Birth and proof of death/presumption of death certificate in jpeg/pdf form.

No requirement for service number.

RN Disclosures different again to Army and RAF.

Ross

Armed Forces / Re: Information received from MOD

« on: Thursday 11 April 24 14:01 BST (UK) »

In my experience the MoD disclosures are diligent with redactions - TNA not so much as they are going through the pain of a new system and larger public application than they planned for.

However there are other sources that can be used to compliment or fill the gaps in service records eg for Far East PoWs

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14549

Ross

Armed Forces / Re: Information received from MOD

« on: Thursday 11 April 24 13:11 BST (UK) »

First there are three important dates that change the level of information released to someone who is not a close NoK (defined by MoD as subject or their spouse.

1. Up to 25 years after death Only really acknowledgement of service and overall time from enlistment to Non-effective status. - usually more redactions than remaining print

2. More than 25 years after death, open to everyone on request - this is proven by inclusion of either a copy of a death certificate/presumption of death or CWGC link if they died in service. If proof of death not included with application redaction inline with 1 above applied. If valid application then service record with redactions to identifiable personal data, military penalties and medical events.

3. 115 years after birth, open to everyone on request - no need to provide proof of death. Full record mostly available but in some cases still redaction to living persons, medical and military penalty.

So what you received depended on information provided - but at only 20 years since death you should have only got bare details of service.

Service records rarely have details of PoW as the person was still classed as posted to the original unit but is listed as Non Effective to allow the unit to replace them.

Ross