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!

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

Brilliant. Thanks!

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

If he died in service, yes.

Thank you.

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.

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

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

The info you need is under Historical Disclosures.

Brilliant. Thanks very much.