This might start you off on the right track , I cannot tell you how to finish as I do not know. So until someone in the know comes along...........
Go to
http://catalogue.pro.gov.ukClick on "Use a Guided Search".
Type 'service records' in the Guided Search box and click on go.
Now the tricky bit , from the items listed select a possible for your line of enquiry. This will give you lots more reference possibilities prefixed WO.
Having noted a possibility click on Home from the catalogue toolbar now.
Click on Search the catalogue and type the surname you are looking for
in search box no. 1
The WO reference in search box no. 3
Click on search.
Having got you this far good look. I really do not know much more.
If you get stuck email the helpline at the PRO. I did and received a reply in 30 minutes. I asked about WW1 and will paste the reply below but it does refer to WW1 and not what you are looking for.
I understand that you can order the documents on line.
I will also cross reference the above with two other recent posts on the same subject.
Good luck
Stuart
The following is courtesy of the PRO..........
It would be useful to have as much information as possible beforehand (e.g
whether you are searching for an officer, soldier and any names).
Most of the soldiers records (known as the 'Burnt papers') have already
been
microfilmed and are being made available but some (for example those
starting with letter H are not yet available). (Ignore this)
General Steps to search for soldiers/officers service records:
1. Please, access PROCAT, the PRO online catalogue at
http://catalogue.pro.gov.uk 2. Click on USE A GUIDED SEARCH (second button, left menu) in order to
search our information leaflets and obtain some research advice.
3. Type 'service records' in the Guided Search box and click on GO. From
the list of relevant leaflets, you possibly need:
First World War, 1914-1918: Soldiers' Papers, 1914-1920
Follow the guidance in the separate leaflet for officers if your relative
was an officer .
4. Click over the underlined title of the leaflet to read it. If your
relative survived the war you may also wish to follow the pension thread.
Note down WO 363 for the soldiers' service records. Please, be aware that
most of these records were destroyed by enemy bombing in 1940.
5. Click on HOME from the catalogue toolbar now.
6. Click on SEARCH the catalogue and type, for example:
Searchname in search box no. 1
WO 363 in search box no. 3
Click on search.
7. There are 195 catalogue references for this surname, listed by ranges
of first names in this case.
You could scroll down and click on the next page of results until you
reach
the relevant one or click on REFINE and search for 'Searchname AND Peter', WO
363
(in order to get a shorter list of results).
If you are searching for an uncommon surname (e.g. 'Huitson') and the
surname is in the middle of a range you may get 0 hits.
8. If this happens to you (no hits for your surname), try a different
search.
9. Click on REFINE and replace a less common surname like 'Huitson' with
the
following text:
Hui*
make sure that WO 363 remains in search box no. 3
(the asterisk or star will retrieve anything that starts with 'Hui' in WO
363)
Make sure that WO 363 is still in search box no. 3 and click on SEARCH.
Then
you should be able to find the relevant range of surnames (e.g. Hammer -
Humble).
If the surname of this person had survived, it would be find within the
above reference
10. You could run similar searches restricted to WO 364 (pension records -
if he had one).
Information on document copying is available at:
http://www.pro.gov.uk/recordcopying/default.htm