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Original poster

War records

7 replies

NotMyCat · 03/08/2021 23:44

So I'm doing my family tree on ancestry, pretty productive and up to about 900 people and still ploughing through! Have found a living second cousin I didn't know I had Smile
I really want to find a relatives war records but it's proving elusive. I have his full DOB, name, parents etc and I know he was a POW and I have his Burma star medal. Any tips? It's a pretty common name. Am happy to share my tree by PM if it helps!

OP posts:
VienneseWhirligig · 03/08/2021 23:51

You could sign up to Forces War Records - I think there's a fee but it's a monthly one so you could pay for one month, get all the info you wanted in that month and then unsubscribe?

TheGenealogist · 04/08/2021 08:26

I have a forces war records membership, happy to do a look up for you. However I haven't found much for my own searches which wasn't available on Ancestry.

Send me a wee message with what you have and I'm happy to have a look.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 04/08/2021 08:55

Dropped you a PM, thank you Smile

OP posts:
HilaryBriss · 05/08/2021 16:21

The Burma Star was issued in WWII and service records from WWII are not available online.

I had to apply to the MOD to get my granddad's records. I had to pay c£25 and I needed the permission of my mum, as his next of kin.

Original poster
NotMyCat · 09/08/2021 20:01

Thank you all! I'm still ploughing through
The most frustrating thing in my tree is names! Why do so many name their children after themselves?! Then you've got
(This is one I found today)
John pickup, son of John pickup, dad of John pickup
Spellings jon/John/Johnny/jonas, pickup/piccup/picup/pick.... ConfusedGrin

OP posts:
Sitdowncupoftea · 15/08/2021 22:24

There is not a lot online. I obtained war records from Kew. It took months but I got a wealth of information my research was WW1 though.

Trimphone · 17/08/2021 22:26

As a pp upthread said, you need a copy of his Military Service Record.
Link here:

www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records

I got my grandfather's record. It details the regiment's he served with, where he was stationed, training courses etc - even his visits to the dentist.
Once I knew the regiment's he served with I was able to obtain their War Diaries - a daily summary of the regiment's activities.

I also went on the forum WW2Talk.com where I received a lot of help.

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