Searching for records of military service?

[margaritasbythesea]

Do any of you know how to do this? I have been looking for my Grandfather's grave, which none of us knew he had until April. We had looked before but been told he didn't have one. I have now found it on the commonwealth war graves site, or at least a picture of the cemetery.

I am trying to find out a little more about him as we know very little. He ran away from home when 14 to join the army and was killed in Hong Kong in 1941. I have his rank, service number, recorded date of death (although this is wrong and I believe I know the story attached to why) and regiment and have access to ancestry.com . I thought it would be really easy to find his military record with all that but I haven't had any luck.

I particularly want to know details of his enlistment and how he died, as we have been told a half dozen completely different stories by members of his regiment who were serving with him.

Any direction would be gratefully received!

[coolaschmoola]

If you get a copy of his death certificate and are his next of kin (or get them to write a letter giving permission) and it is 25 years since he died (which it is) you can apply to the Ministry of Defence for a copy of his service record.

Info Here

[margaritasbythesea]

Brilliant. Thanks!

I presume even though he was killed overseas his death certificate would be available in the UK.

[coolaschmoola]

If he died in service, yes.

[margaritasbythesea]

Thank you.

[ParsingFlatly]

IIRC, I've managed to get military records as next of kin without showing a death certificate: the person was born around 1900, so they just took our word he was dead. And he died a civvy, whereas your grandfather's death will actually be in the MoD's records.

So don't let a lack of d cert hold you up.

[margaritasbythesea]

Interesting. Thanks. Do you remember if you went through the regiment or MoD?

[ParsingFlatly]

It was the MoD central service: www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

The info you need is under Historical Disclosures.

[margaritasbythesea]

Brilliant. Thanks very much.