searching for relatives military history

[footycard steve]

i know my granda was in the army and he served in burma or india i think in ww2 so i did a search of his name today on a couple of sites i found but both ended up wanting a fee/subscription and i couldn't be sure it was him so i didnt go any further, so are there any free sites where i could check up his service history,we dont seem to have had any medals for him and my mothers memory is very poor so i cant be sure it was during the war and not just after and my mother said he never talked about it.

[tshirtman]

if you're anywhere near London or Manchester, the Imperial War Museums have info on all service personnel from both WW 1 & 2

[Snowy79]

In Scotland you can contact Kentigern House in Glasgow who hold Army records. service records army

[footycard steve]

i'm in the north east.

[tshirtman]

The national Archive charge ?30 admin fee for info:

Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

But before you decide to spend any money, you might want to read this on the Army MOD website, read the paragraph entitled "Family Interest Enquiries And 3rd Party Enquiries"

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

[footycard steve]

The national Archive charge ?30 admin fee for info:

Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

But before you decide to spend any money, you might want to read this on the Army MOD website, read the paragraph entitled "Family Interest Enquiries And 3rd Party Enquiries"

Army Personnel Centre - British Army Website

i've sent an enquiry via the contact us link,i dont think family should have to pay ?30.

[Canker_Canison]

Have a look at the Wartime Memories Project site. I can't guarentee the info you're looking for will be there as the data is sent from the public.

But it's free. If you need any help with the site PM me with your details & what you know & I'll pass them to Angela.

[rds60h]

Try this address :: Army Medal Office
Government Buildings
Worcester Road
Droitwich Spa
Worcestershire WR9 8AU
You will need to supply your Grandfathers details and also your details and state where you believe he served.
You could also try this e-mail address again supplying all the details you have available :: [email protected]

The reason I have given you these addresses which are to claim medals is that a minimum of a Service Medal should be issued and they should also be able to search for any other details available in regard to his Military Service.

[footycard steve]

Have a look at the Wartime Memories Project site. I can't guarentee the info you're looking for will be there as the data is sent from the public.

But it's free. If you need any help with the site PM me with your details & what you know & I'll pass them to Angela.

site link went to ancestry.co.uk and i could see link to marriage and death certificates but not military records.

[footycard steve]

Try this address :: Army Medal Office
Government Buildings
Worcester Road
Droitwich Spa
Worcestershire WR9 8AU
You will need to supply your Grandfathers details and also your details and state where you believe he served.
You could also try this e-mail address again supplying all the details you have available :: [email protected]

The reason I have given you these addresses which are to claim medals is that a minimum of a Service Medal should be issued and they should also be able to search for any other details available in regard to his Military Service.

yes i thought all servicemen got a war medal and i'd have thought there might be something like a burma star again my mother cant ever remember him having medals.

[Canker_Canison]

site link went to ancestry.co.uk and i could see link to marriage and death certificates but not military records.

That is an advert running on the site, ignore it.

If you know which unit he fought with it will make it easier. I've just had a quick look online, it's not easy finding out who did what.
I'll dig out one of my books & see if I can norrow it down.

[footycard steve]

had a reply from the british army website seems they're more interested in the ?30 than helping.

[Canker_Canison]

Sadly that might be your only hope. Had a word with Angela, the MOD site is the only source for detailed info...but there's also an 8 month back log on requests.

If you had a service number or regiment details it might take less time.