How Can I Find The Service Number Of Harry Frederick Harris Mason?

[cj1992]

Harry Frederick Harris Mason was born in Ketley, Shropshire on 2nd October 1917. He died in hospital in Bromsgrove on 18 September 1963 and is buried in Wombridge, Shropshire.

I'm hoping to apply to the MOD for his service record but before I can do that I need his service number. That's the problem.

He served in the Royal Marines and apparently reached the rank of Corporal. He landed with the British forces on the Normandy coast on D-Day, 1944.

Family conversations talk about him being awarded the Africa Star in addition to others. He was also in Sicily and in South Africa (the latter presumably on R&R).

But I just don't know how to find his service number so that I can apply to the MOD.

Could anyone give me any pointers please.

Many thanks.

[CaroleW]

As long as you have his full birthdate you do not need his service number. 

See reply 5 on this post

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=799781.msg6572832#msg6572832

[cj1992]

Thank you Carole.

I'd always been led to believe that I needed his service number, but if that's not the case I can go ahead with things.

[Kiltaglassan]

I'd always been led to believe that I needed his service number, but if that's not the case I can go ahead with things.

On the form it states '* Service Number And/Or Date Of Birth Must Be Included'

See below

[rafcommands]

Best check on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel for the most upto date gen rather than use the information posted here.

For assistance to all who may advise others:

The forms and information requirements changed on March 2020 for all services. - the pdf versions removed

For Royal Navy/Royal Marines you are asked to complete as fully as possible - (so service number can be omitted - Ross)
Details of Deceased Service Person

Surname:
Full Forenames:
Official Service Number:
National Insurance Number:
Service Career (for example; dates of joining or leaving):
Date and Place of Birth:

For Army
Details of Deceased Service Person
Some of the fields in this section are MANDATORY. You must complete all of the mandatory fields. If you are unable to complete all of the mandatory fields, your application cannot proceed.

Surname (Mandatory):

Forenames (in full):

Rank held in discharge:

Service number*:

Regiment/Corps on Discharge/Death:

Date of Birth*:

Year of Discharge:

Please note: Service number and date of birth must be included.

For Royal Air Force you are asked to complete as fully as possible - (so service number can be omitted - Ross)
Details of Deceased Service Person

Surname:
Full Forenames:
Official Service Number:
National Insurance Number:
Service Career (for example; dates of joining or leaving):
Date and Place of Birth:

Ross

[Kiltaglassan]

Thanks Ross for the updated information 

The change for the Army - Service number and date of birth - noted

KG

[Ruskie]

Ross, do you know why they have changed this?

My guess is that if both birth date and service number are included for WW2 army service records, it must be a lot quicker and easier to locate the correct record for the correct person, saving time and money? I think that Rank might be something that people are even less likely to know.

It seems as though they may be trying to reduce the numbers of those applying for WW2 service records? 

[rafcommands]

Do not know the reason but suspect as you say for Army a case of ease of record finding but cannot readily understand method as Army post 1920s is the one arm where an OR service number changed during service.

Might possibly be due to quantity of records in Army compared to RAF but as RN senior service even this a doubt.

Ross

 

[Sandblown]

Was He a Member of His Local British Legion ? If so,  It might be worth contacting Them, to enquire if They held any Service information on Him.