Research Dad's WW2 Military service/Where do I start?

[rosie99]

I was lucky as even though Mum had dementia I was able to get both of my parents records for nothing while she was still with us

[Skoyen89]

Finding him in the London Gazette is much easier if you know his Army Number.  If he was commissioned from the ranks he would have had a number as an 'Other Rank' and a new one as an officer.  Sometimes just putting 'London Gazette - his surname - his army number' into Google brings the documents up. 

The other source are the Army Lists.  Again google them.

Once you know who he served with and when you can get the relevant War Diaries from Kew.  It is unlikely to mention him when he was an 'other rank' but very likely to mention his arrival, departure on leave, hospitalisation etc from his time as an officer. 

[geraldine96]

Thankyoy skoyen89, I have managed to get MOD to send me my late father's military records. Your post about using the London Gazette is helpful and I'll follow your advice to find articles in the Gazette. They might be more interesting than the military info that was sent. There were a lot of abbreviations and routine notes scribbled on military forms, generally dull administrative stuff.
Thanks, Geraldine96

[Skoyen89]

Hi Geraldine

It sounds like he had an interesting military career according to your original post.  The records only give a bare outline to his units, when he went overseas etc but they are the bedrock to further research.  If one is experienced at looking at the records one can see all sorts of info that the 'novice' will not.  Think of it as a code to crack! So if you haven't done so share them with an experienced military researcher to get the most out of them. 

Good luck!

[MaxD]

Pleased to hear you have his records Geraldine. As I intimated earlier and Skoyen89 reinforces, the record is the key to when he served in each of the units and should have his promotion record also.  With those, other sources can be searched for.  If you would like them "translated" then try posting parts of them here,

MaxD

[Skoyen89]

Agree with MaxD and willing to help if you post them here.  It is easier to build the picture if you post them all rather than snippets.  If you are uncomfortable with posting them publicly message the pair of us and we could do it through email, Messenger, WhatsApp etc.

[geraldine96]

The records are numerous, at the moment I have a lot of other things I am working on which need to be completed.
I will have to get back to you at a later date, in the meantime I'll make a note of your Roots Chat ID. My father was a second lieutenant, is that an officer's rank? I have always thought it wasn't.
thankyou for all the info. Geraldine96 

[MaxD]

Second Lieutenant is the first step in the officer ranks.

MaxD