Genealogy Chat

Heather you were asking what you get. Remember, my dad was in the RAF for over 30 years, but this is what I got for him: Record of service: gives dates, jobs done, promotions, places served in - three A3 sheets. Personal details sheet: next of kin, education, other employment before joining up - one A3 sheet. Application to join: gives all personal details, length of time signed up for etc - one A3 sheet Discharge sheet - stamped ''Deceased'' in dad's case (one sheet). This really got to me..........Had always harboured an idea he might be still alive, despite having his death cert. This ''new'' rubber stamp reminded me I am suffering from delusions!! Three other pages covering bits of the info on all the other sheets. Medical Record - Also rubber stamped ''Deceased''.......Sniff....... Nothinh about him being a naughty boy, but he was probably no good at sweet-talking railway staff!! Merry

Audrey, Copied from RAF website: 2. Royal Air Force Service Records Personnel Records Royal Air Force personnel records are held at RAF Innsworth. If service number and details are known, please quote it in correspondence. Innsworth will only divulge information to the person to whom it refers or, if he or she has died, to his or her immediate next of kin. Anyone else must obtain written permission from the person about whom they are enquiring, or from his or her next of kin, before any information will be given to them. Innsworth make a charge of £25.00 for any information they provide. The only people exempt from charge are the person to whom the records refer or their widow or widower. The address is: PMA IM1b (RAF) Room 5 Building 248A Personnel Management Agency Innsworth Gloucester GL3 1EZ For the bit about being next of kin, just send copies of the relevent certificates if you can. For my dad we send his death cert and his and mum's marriage cert, as she was doing the application. She didn't seem to have to PROVE that Mrs X who signed the letter was the same person as the bride on the marriage cert.....they just accepted that bit, so she could have been anyone!! Ah well....... Merry

Can someone please post the address of where to send for these records? I am my Dad's next of kin so should be abl to get them except that I'm in Canada, so does anyone know what type of identification is needed? thanks Audrey

Its I wondered if it would have the things he told me about - like when victory was declared, hed just come back from India and was in Cornwall. They were all told the war was over, but no one could have leave. That night he walked about 10 miles to a rail station, chatted up the ticket bloke (you were supposed to have a pass and he didnt) and got home to Rotherhithe to mum the next day. He said 6 hours later and 2 armed military police were knocking on the door!! And he was escorted back to Cornwall. Id just like to see if things like that are recorded

This is rather embarrrassing, but.......................... I have my dad's RAF service record....he was in from 1938-1971. 1) I can't remember what is in it....and 2) I can't think where it is!! LOL So....later on I'll have a look for you and post on here tonight. I know I sent off for it and it was VERY quick indeed, not like the army ones. Back later. Merry

No, I lost my mum 17 years ago - only 65 - terrible waste. Its just when we were small, to get us to sleep, dad used to sit on our bed and tell us stories about India and Bengal and so on - he had such a lovely tone of voice - right up to the end. I just wondered if all these places he told us about would be in his service record. So I guess yes, my sis and I are the next of kin. Ill have a google then and see what I can find.

Heather, So far I have only sent for WW1 Service Records and they told me a LOT about my relative that I didn't know. As it is such a close relative, it would be worth sending for these records because you will never know exactly what is in them until you see them. They would make a further family memento for you and would be nice to pass down to the family. Is your Mum still alive? If so you will need your Mum's permission to get the records because she is his next of kin. Best wishes, Horatia

I have my dear dads little service book given to him when he left the RAF in 1947. Would his actual service records show a lot more - with all his postings and stuff or be much the same does anyone know please?