Genealogy Chat

Hi

I am trying to find military records fro my Granddad who was in the Royal Sussex regiment in 1940 and also my Great grandfather who was in the 6th Battalion Kings royal rifles.

I've never had to research military records and can;t find them on the ones available on the Genes Reunited page. Neither were killed during service.

I don't have their service numbers unfortunately. Any tips on how to search for their military records would be good.

Thanks
Tracy

For WW!!, you have to apply here:

Army Personnel Centre
HQ Secretariat
Historical Disclosures
Mail Point 400
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX
Tel: 0845 600 9663

I believe records are free to the spouse. If she is alive they can only be released to your grandmother. If she is is deceased you have to send evidence of this, and pay a fee of $30 (I think!).

For WW1, bear in mind only 30-40% of records have survived. These are on Ancestry. If you put your great-grandfather's details we can have a look.

Jan

Application form for WW2 records can be downloaded from..........

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

The fee is £30.00 unless the widow is applying....and they take several months to arrive

Thank you Reggie and Jan for your responses great help as it's a bit mind blowing where to start.

My Great Granddad's details are -

Cecil Cooper. He was a Lance Corporal in the 6th Battalion Kings Royal Rifles. Born in 1886. I'm not sure what dates he actually served though.

I'm also looking for my Grandfather (Cecil's son's details) are that he served in the Royal Sussex Regiment from 27th June 1940 until 19?? on 15th June 1952 he was based at Combe Valley near Bude Cornwall.

My other Granddad James Kent (DOB 1914 - Died 1982) was a dessert rat (8th Army) Sergeant in Gunners during WW2, he actually married his wife whilst in Egypt in 1944. Family believe he was awarded a military medal for bravery which would be great to confirm.

I'd be happy to make the applications but not sure I have the correct details for them and would love to confirm this before making any application for service records.

Thanks agian for your help.

Tracy

Found this on FMP:

British Army Service Records 1760-1915 Transcription

First name(s): Cecil
Last name: COOPER
Calculated year of birth: 1885
Parish of birth: Ashford
Town of birth: Staines
County of birth: Middlesex
Age at attestation: 18 years
Attestation date: 2 February 1903
Attestation corps: 7TH BN KING'S ROYAL RIFLES
Attestation soldier number: 7515
Discharge rank:
Discharge corps: King's Royal Rifle Corps - 60th Rifles
Discharge soldier number:

The National Archives reference: WO96 / 955 / 8

There's not much on the actual record but I'll send it to you by GR's message system.

His army pension records are on ancestry but there are 27 pages so too big to copy and send. You could do a free trial on ancestry to download them yourself.

You cannot confirm anything for WW2........the records are NOT available except by purchasing.

You have plenty of info for the application forms......but bear in mind that the next of kin must be the one who applies. If that isn't you.........you will have to find out who is.

And it will cost £30.00 for EACH record

Have you tried googling to ascertain whether Kent was award the MM?