Can anyone please help me find my information on a soldier who fought in the Second World War please?

[TheHillIsMine]

My friend is 89 and last week she nearly died. She is going to be okay by some miracle and when I saw her today she said she wishes she could find out what happened to her dad. It broke my heart that 84 years after he died, she still sounded so sad about not knowing very much.

I have tried google several times but haven't got very far. There isn't the money for spending on different sites but if there was definitive proof about him, it would be a possibility.

Can anyone advise me please?

Op I can send you details of a man who might be able to help...

Here's how you can ask for details of a deceased person's military service: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/request-records-of-deceased-service-personnel

What info do you have?

You can send off to the National Archives for service records, but the waiting list is years rather than weeks. Shorter if you'll accept a summary record.

This is the National Archives' own guide to researching a family member in WW2
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/second-world-war/

And a page listing all their relevant research guides:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/?research-category=second-world-war-research

It may take you a while to fish through to work out what might be available on your friend's father other than via requesting the person's military service record per @Arlanymor's link.

I currently have a British Newspapers Archive subscription, so – with your friend's permission – if you'd like to PM me her father's details I'm happy to have a quick squint in case there was anything reported about him in the papers at the time.

It's extremely common for local papers to have printed obituaries, death notices and notices about people posted missing or POW.

In decreasing order of helpfulness, the info might be:

• his name
• his date of death or capture
• what area he was from originally or where his family were living at the time of his enlistment, capture or death
• his regiment and rank

(I've been on MN forever and have had some success helping people track military relatives, although WW1 is much easier because more is currently online. I was part of this very productive thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/history_club/2159273-Found-my-grandads-medal-from-world-war-1?page=1 )

Which service was he in?

I have an Ancestry account and a few hours free. I'd be happy to search for information if you would like to private message me his details.

I've just received my dad's war records from WW2 from the National Archives. It took about 4 weeks.

Thank you everyone. I was off feeding the animals. I'll read through all your suggestions now. Thanks again.

"...84 years after he died"

So he died in 1942?

There are more and more records from the Second World War becoming available all the time.

As @SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman mentioned, there are various sources such as newspapers. There are also Ancestry and FindMyPast who have a lot more records now from the Second World War than they used to.

There are many of us here who have accounts with various sites who would be happy to help.

New records are steadily being added to these sites. For example, I had always been told by my mum (who is currently 85) that her father was never in the army as he was "too old".

But then, just last year, some new records were added to Ancestry "Selected Smaller Units Service Records, 1921-1959" that showed that her father (my grandfather) enlisted in the 10th Bn Glosters on 26 July 1940 and then transferred to the Pioneer Corps. He never served overseas.

Interestingly, he was granted "agricultural leave" each autumn for a few weeks to help with the harvest on the farm.

My mum was never aware of this and it came as a complete shock to her when I told her about this.

There is more and more information becoming available from this time period so I'm sure that there are people here who would be willing to help.

His name. His regiment. His parents names and who he married.

Any competent person with access to Ancestry and FindMyPast will be able to help you in that case.

As well as Ancestry and Find My Past, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site is free to search for war dead:
Find war dead | War graves search | CWGC
(It also includes civilian casualties of war - I found someone who was killed in a V-bombing raid.)

And not relevant to OP, but in case it's of interest to anyone else, for First World War Commonwealth servicemen, Lives of the First World War is also free and useful. It includes those who survived as well as those who died. Lives of the First World War | Lives of the First World War

Yes @Another2Cats only just dawned on me! Must have been 1941 or 1942

How interesting about your grandad.

I have sent PM to two who offered. Thank you. I'm not good online so just felt overwhelmed when I have no real idea where to start.

where I used to live there is a huge memorial and my late Nans brother is remembered on it. Nothing else is known by me though.

I've found family on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website

https://www.cwgc.org/

That's wonderful, two separate colleagues have been waiting for 18 months-two years!

Huge thank you to @SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman who has already found a photo and a mention in the local newspaper. I don't know if my friend has a photo so this is going to mean such a lot. Thank you.

How lovely. Mumsnet at its best!

Agreed!

I found a little bit on my Nana's brother who drowned when his ship was bombed and I expect there might be more information around.

Thank you to @SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman and @Sherunswithwolves . Thanks to them being kind and selfless I now have a bundle of documents to take into hospital tomorrow to show my friend. Her dad might have died nearly 84 years ago but he is still remembered and he still matters. Thank you.

Just wanted to say what a lovely thread. I hope it brings your friend some happiness/comfort. not sure of the right word

You are very welcome. I hope your friend makes a good recovery and the information brings her some peace if that is possible.

I'm happy to search for your uncle too if you would like to send me his details. My own uncle was lost at sea on board HMS Fidelity and is named on the national memorial at Portsmouth.

My friend is making a rather miraculous recovery thank you. She is just lacking in confidence with walking so I'm hoping that will come soon as then she can go home.

The information I am so lucky and grateful to be able to take it her is going to mean such a lot and she will appreciate it so much. I'm hoping that some of it is new to her and that would be amazing. Knowing where he was buried, if I've read correctly we now have that, will be new and a comfort.

Thank you, @Sherunswithwolves , I know very little so will send across to you.

Unfortunately from the information given he is commemorated on the memorial rather than buried.

I think https://burmastarmemorial.org/history and perhaps https://burmastarmemorial.org/ may be of use / interest.

I will look out for your own information.

How lovely 🥰