WW2 Service Number

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 11:39 am

Hello all,

My very private, quiet, gentle granda died last year with hardly a word about his WW2 army service. He kept it to himself as so many of his generation did. We know that he was definitely in service in 1941 as he went to Ireland with the army for some reason that year (he was of Irish descent but Glasgow born). I have his photo but the badge cap is too blurry to identify. We know he was a third gunner and as a result became deaf in one ear from the noise so he ended up getting a pension. And I know he was in Egypt. But that's it.

I obtained his death registration (thanks to Nelmit!!!) so that we could apply for his service record. I have just spent some time at the site:

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

trying to see how to apply. Because I have lived nearly all my life in Australia, and Granda was in Glasgow, all I know is his date of birth. I do not have other details they require to even DO a search, such as his service number, rank, and so on.

I was stunned to see that whether they find anything or not it will cost thirty pounds and as they state specifically that there is little hope of finding a record without a service number what can I do? I am not able to forfeit that amount of money on a chance (it is a lot for me, anyway).

I do recall that when my mother was in Scotland about ten years ago, she made applications on his behalf for the War Pension, which he had never applied for. They needed his service number for that, and Granda apparently rattled it off. So I know that the Pension Offices had a record of it and I was wondering....do they hold archives and if so would they tell us Granda's Service Number? It was only March last year that he passed away.

I am at a loss here...I was so looking forward to obtaining this army record especially for my mother (and the rest of Granda's family), but right now I hold little hope.

Is there anything I can do?

Nina

Post by **Anne H** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:52 pm

Hi Nina,

That's sad and a lot of money and I'm afraid I don't know anything about army matters that would be of help, but if your grandfather did finally receive a pension up until he died last year, I would think the Pension Offices would most likely have his serial number. If your Mum is his next of kin maybe they would give her his number.

Hopefully someone with some knowledge on these matters will come along soon to help.

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **Merlot** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:00 pm

Hi Nina,

I'm not sure either but it may be worth contacting the following to find out if you can obtain his service no etc.

Pension Enquiries
Enquiries on entitlement to pensions should be made to:

Ministry of Defence
Army Pensions Office
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow G2 8EX
United Kingdom
Email apc-pens-enquiryATdial.pipex.com

Regards,
Merlot

trish58 · Post by **trish58** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:26 am

Hi Nina

Not sure if this will help.

2 years ago we (the family) realised that my Dad hadn't claimed his WW2 medals, like many other he didn't talk about the war, soI wrote to the Ministry of Defence England with details and that we had no service number either.

We claimed them on my Mothers behalf as she is still with us, and they were more than helpful.
It took me a year in total and we did receive Dad's 4 medals, a very proud moment.
I also asked if it was possible to get his service record, which I had to apply to the address below, as they were held in Scotland and yes they did send it at no cost.

Maybe this was because of the medals search-not sure, in fact the medals didn't cost us anything either.

ARMY PERSONNEL CENTRE
CIVIL SECRETARIAT
HISTORICAL DISCLOSURES
MAIL POINT 400, KENTIGEM HOUSE
65 BROWN STREET
GLASGOW G2 8EX

Hope this is of some help, good luck.

Tricia

trish58 · Post by **trish58** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:30 am

Sorry Merlot

Hadn't read your post

Tricia

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:02 am

Hi Tirsh,

To widows/widowers there is no cost, but for ALL other family they charge. I actually think that it is unfair that a child of the soldier (ie my mother) can't receive them at no charge, but there you go.

I don't know if my granda got his medals either...it will be worth checking.

Thanks for your comments Anne, and the address Merlot...I will hopefully be able to find out more through them.

TalkingScot.com