Genealogy Chat

Go to Yahoo Groups and join the Britregiments group. You can post the pictures in their file or photo area there then ask for help. I did this some years ago with some very poor quality pictures of my Great Grandfather and got some good suggestions which turned out to be very accurate as I got more information. There are some very knowledgeable people there. As I am sure has been explained, most army records are at Kew but Regimental Museums often have some good records and can be very helpful. Very early in my searches I spent several hours going through the the 72nd regimental records for the 1850s and 1860s, finding lots on my Great Grandfather. MB PS If you have photographs then the Regimental Museum might appreciate copies

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question (on page 1). As my great-grandfather was in WW1 it looks like a trip to Kew is on the cards (and a lot of finger crossing that his records weren't burnt). Incidentally if anyone is interested, I found out that it is possible to get the search done for you (to save a trip to Kew), at a cost of £60. They need the following information: The full name of the serviceman The unit(s) he served with His service number(s) Whether he died in service They can also do a search if you don't have all this information, but it will cost more. Full details of what is available, and how much the searches cost, is at www*nationalarchives*gov*uk/foi/pdf/ifa_m3_first_world_war_army_service_otherranks*pdf (replace * with .) PS. An interesting website for information about army regiments is www*regiments*org It'll probably not help track down an ancestor, but does have some interesting facts about loads of different army regiments. Although, there are pictures of the regiments insignia on a lot of the entries - so it'd be tedious work but if you trawled through all the regiments you may eventually be able to match up the cap badge you have with a regiment.

Just a thought was he married during Army Service - then there's a good chance his Army Number would be on his marriage certificate.

Ian, Just remembered, when I sent for my Dad`s records, my Mum sent a letter (as next of kin) and we didn`t have to pay. There is a long wait though. Frances

Ian, Have you checked out The London Gazette Archives? I found my Dad on there mentioned when he received promotion. Also there lists of those who received medals. If you put in the name and the approx. years it should give you details including the regiment and Amy no. Frances

So, is there a remote chance that you could get records without an Army No.? Michelle

For general info: pre and upto ww1 - army service records are held at Kew, but some two thirds of the ww1 records were destroyed in the Blitz. post ww1 and ww2 - army servicve records are still held by the MOD and cost Pnds 25 to obtain (see previous posting for info). Only released to the serviceman involved, or if deceased, to his surviving next of kin. Medals - ww1 service medals have name/rank/number/regiment stamped on the rim. Similar ww2 medals do not have this info. Ian

This is all very interesting! Thanks for your interest!

Unfortunately army records especially during WW2 are in number order on paper so someone has to go and physically search for the records. As you can imagine with so many people in the services there are millions of records and finding someone is a monumental task. If you do apply for the records you have to give them as much information as possible. Army Numbers would be a godsend. Regiment (S) - some served with more than one. Rank - Private - Bombadier etc can give a clue to Regiment Also date and place of enlistment or as near as possible ie month and year. Date and place of discharge Places they served and when? I had to try many years ago to find someone pre WW1 with some sort of papers but just couldn't read it to work out which Regiment he served with.

Many thanks for the tip about looking on the edge of the medals. I am going to email my brother-in-law and see if he can find anything on his grandads medals so we can order the army record. I have my husbands father's medal's so I will look and see what it says on them. Fingers crossed I might get two birds with one magnifying glass!!! Veronica in Canada

The round 2nd world war medals, The Defence Madal and The 1939-45 War medal, do not have names on, my fathers General Service Medal, clasp Palastine 1945-48 has his name, rank, no and regiment, but the stars and the other 2 do not have official naming on them

Just to confirm what you have already been told we got my father in laws and it cost £25 and we had to wait quite sometime for them to arrive. We did have his army number already from his paybook so no problems. Irene

write to Ministry of Defence Defence Records 2b Bourne Avenue Hayes Middlesex UB3 1RF tel 020 8573 3831 ext 328 and request a form. I got my grandads this way. I had to get my Dad to sign the form because he was surviving next of kin. And when my mum wanted her dad's she had to get her widowed step mum to sign it. it cost me £25 3 years ago netti x don't know how far back their records go - I think older ones may be at Kew.

Could someone advise me how to get hold of a copy of army records (I notice that Kathleen says they cost about £25). Do I have to go to the National Archives at Kew and search there, or can I write to them instead of making the visit in person (I have my great grandfathers Regiment number, corps etc)? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Just had my father in law's medals out to check this. We have three medals of his and the only one that has anything round the edge is his 'long service and good conduct' medal. However Ferenc is absolutely right. There is his number, name and regiment on it, although we've never seen it before. Not surprising really - I had to use a very large magnifying glass and even then I only made the name out because I knew what name I was looking for. I would never have been able to make the number out, so I hope you've got VERY good eyesight Ian. Kath. x thanks to Ferenc for the tip.

In relation to inscription of medals, if I remember rightly yesterday reading a website, the medals were only inscribed if requested to be so - hope they are for you though, will solve a mystery very quickly.

I didn't know that the name etc: was on the medals.THo I've seen my late dad's medals loads of time. Thanks for the tip. regards Sunny.

Many thanks for all your advice. I have to admit I never looked at the edges of the medals!!! Ian

Hello mate, I was a soldier for too long and my medals have my name, rank and number on them. On round medals, the engravining will be around the edge. Good luck

I nudged a military research tips thread for you. Joy