Millitary Searces

[DeborahM]

Hi To all, and a very Happy New Year.
I am asking for any assistance with my search for any sites that may help me with information regarding my fathers army personnel information.
I had previously written to Army Personnel Centre at Historical Disclosures with my 30 Pounds Sterling cheque and the information I Had at hand.
I have since had a return letter with news that it will take them anywhere between 6---12 months to search for any information.
Defence Business Service has since contacted me regarding the return of my cheque , as I requested , and I have left it at that. I know they are very swamped with these requests , so was I wondering if there is another avenue that I can try without waiting many months for any information regarding my fathers army information.
The Limited Information I have is;
Duncan MacNiven
DOB...2/2/1913
Died...7/1986
Born at Clydebank Dunbartonshire
Immigrated to Australia in 1955 landing at Melbourne
Had a tattoo of a canon on his forearm...If that has any significance at all
Dad always mentioned The Middle East in the war
I always assumed he must have driven the trucks over there .

Well I hope someone may have some other line of search avenues I may follow for information regarding Army Documentation.
Kind Regards
DeborahM

[LesleyB]

Hi Deborah

As far as I know, applying to see the documents is the only way to do it. As these are more recent records, and many of the people they refer to are either recently deceased or still living, as far as I am aware these records are not open to public view in any archive or other depository.

Also see:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/reco ... er1913.htm

Service records (1920-present)Visit the Veterans UK website for information about how to request a summary of a service recorda document recording the career of an individual in the armed forces from the Ministry of Defence. These are not available to members of the general public, but next of kin may request access to them

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_rec ... cords.html

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the custodian of the Records of Service of Service personnel until they are opened to general public access at The National Archives.

The London Gazette goes up to 1945, so you may find a snippet there (officer’s appointments, promotions and similar within the Services) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search but that will not give you very much information.

Best wishes
Lesley

[DeborahM]

Many Thanks Lesley for your help.
I might have to take the option then of the 12 month wait and resending the money.
I guess I have been so lucky with information up to now with my family searching and help from everyone that I have now become impatient and did not think such a long time would be necessary with Army information.
Thanks again for your information, you're a star !
Regards Deborah

[Currie]

It appears that MOD is required to hold the Army service records for 75 years before they can offload them to National Archives. It’s then that public access and digitisation etc can start. My guess is that would be 75 years after 1946 or whenever most of the great mass of soldiery had been demobbed. I suppose that’s at least another 10 years wait before we’ll be able to look them up online.

A number of ex WW2 reservists were called up for the Korean War etc and maybe that will complicate things for some people and they’ll have a longer wait.

I believe they are looking at the possibility of earlier releases of some post WW1 pre WW2 Army, and WW2 Home Guard records but I don’t know what the timetable is for that.

Alan

[trish58]

Hi Deborah

I had to wait wait 12 months to get my dad's records and also his medals which he had never claimed, but it was well worth the wait. Go for it.

Good luck
Trish

[bleckie]

Hi Deborah

If your father was taken prisoner durring ww2 the red cross will have details of the camps ect he was in

Yours Aye
BruceL

[Montrose Budie]

Hi Deborah

If your father was taken prisoner durring ww2 the red cross will have details of the camps ect he was in

Yours Aye
BruceL

The Red Cross make charges as well.

mb

[carlineric]

Red Cross are not accepting enquiries meantime due to the digitising of the records.

Eric