Genealogy Chat

I would like to trace my grandfather's army records. However, none of my family seem to know the regiment he was in. Does anyone know of any methods I could use to find this out. I have photos of his medals and a cap badge - that's about it. Thanks!

What years are we talking about, and can you describe the badge ? regards Sunny.

If you put something like 'army cap badges' or 'army regiments' into Google you should be able to find a site that will give you photo's of cap badges so you can compare your photo with them. However to get your grandfathers army records you need his regiment AND his army number. Has anyone in the family got any old paybooks etc. It's worth asking about in the family. p.s. If you go to this site:- http://www.geocities(.)com/regimentalbadge/ remove brackets before and after com and then click on 'photo gallery' it gives photos of cap badges (but mainly ww1). Click on photos to make them bigger. Kath. x

I have the photos at home. There years would be around the Second World War. If I need an army number I am stuck. The only evidence we have of him in the army is his medals and a couple of photos.

If you can identify the regiment you may be able to get in touch with the regimental museum for that regiment with his name and a rough date of when he was in service and they may be able to find the number for you (although I am not certain of this). It is well worth getting the army records if you can. It costs £25, and you get photocopies of any doccuments they have on your relative. We got my father's and my father-in-law's and they have been very interesting to read and also gave us addresses that we didn't have before. Kath. x

I nudged a military research tips thread for you. Joy

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

This is all very interesting! Thanks for your interest!

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

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