Gov.uk vs Forces War Records

[steadyrollingman]

Someone has recommended I use Gov.uk to apply for military service records for a mysterious great uncle of mine. That would work out at near enough £50 inc the required death certificate, with no guarantee of results, so I was wondering if taking out a one-month sub to Forces War Records would give me exactly the same results, or whether privacy concerns would limit what they have access to?

One of the few bits of info I have about him is his regimental number, so i know he was with the KOSB approx 1935, then with the RA by 1939. We're unsure when he was discharged, but might've been early 50s. He was born 1911, died in 1965.

[MaxD]

Force War Records do not have WW2 service records because of the privacy rules not concerns. They are only available through the Ministry of Defence. 

MaxD

[CarolA3]

FWR couldn't possibly be claiming to have WWII service records - that would be deceitful

[steadyrollingman]

OK, thanks, I suspected as much, but when I searched for his regimental number on FWR, there was a hit, which I obv couldn't check out not being a subscriber. So presume FWR records only cover up to 1939 then?
Sounds like I'd better start saving up for gov.uk then...

[MaxD]

Here, for the avoidance of doubt and from their web site, is the list of military records that FWR do have.

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/collections/

You'll note that they do have some items relating to WW2 but not the detailed service records held by MOD (and indeed they don't have the detailed Great War records either).

MaxD

[steadyrollingman]

Thanks, yeah, I see... They do have a few records after 1939 but nowt that would be relevant to me...