Following a brief exchange on here in January on the subject of family history that peaked my curiosity, I finally got my arse in gear and requested a copy of my late father’s service records from the MoD. Not difficult, if you have a copy of the death certificate and it’s free. I had what I thought was my father’s service number and a regiment but I think you only need a date and place of birth and an idea of when they enlisted. Two or three weeks ago, I received a reply with an Adobe Acrobat attachment containing a number of scanned, hand written documents, redacted in places. Not easy to read and not a great deal of information for a period covering 7 years of a man’s military career but enough jigsaw pieces to start building a picture and enough for me to start asking informed questions of the various keepers of the records like the National Archive, the IWM and several other independent organisations who maintain historical records I didn’t know existed. This is going to take time but I think it’s going to be time well spent and it might just help me understand the man who tried to make me the man I am today, a little better. Andy
If you know what Regiment or Corps he was in you could also reach out to the Regimental museum, most units should have one
Many regiments maintain an online database into which you can input a surname and/or service number and it will return details such as date and place of enlistment and date of discharge or death. I have one of my great grandfather’s WW1 service medals (1914-15 “Mons” Star) which is stamped with his name, service number and regiment (“RIR”, ie: Royal Irish Rifles, which, IIRC, were folded into the Royal Irish Regiment in the 1990s), so I already had some info to work with. FWIW, he survived the Great War on account of having his leg blown off by a shell.
I was driving home from Europe last week and since I’d made great progress I had a slack day and a half in northern France, so I booked into Albert for two nights. I had my bicycle in the van so visited the Memorial de Thiepval and several (of the far too many) cemeteries dotted around the area. What a moving experience. If anyone gets chance to go, they really should. I’m planning a return trip with a some guidance. I’ve read quite a lot on WW1. I’ve always found it fascinating and tragic in equal measure.
Tragic waste of life. I’d likely be moved to tears. Nice Boardman by the way - you can't beat em for value for money.
Ha, yeah that bike’s had some hammer lately. Notice the sneaky iPhone dock. Very handy for navigation when you haven’t a clue where you are
Hi Andy, My late Grandfather passed in 1955 before I was born. He died suddenly from a short illness when my Dad was 15. My grandmother was so grief stricken at being widowed at 32 years old, she burnt everything to do with him. I had nothing to go on, except his WWII service record and a letter from the King where he was "Mentioned in Despatches". My Dad and Uncle knew that he served in Special Forces (SBS) in raids on Radar stations in northern France 1943-44 and Burma in 1944-45 but not much else, as like most service personnel, he didn't talk about it. When they disbanded his regiment in the 1970's my Dad was invited to attend the ceremony to wear his medals in London in a 'march past' and was drawn aside by various members of the French Resistance who told him that they remembered his Dad (nicknamed "Timber") and were very proud to have fought alongside him. My Dad was astounded and regretted not making note of their names to keep in contact with them. Make time to go to the National Archives at Kew, research what you need before you go, you need to take ID with you and they'll give you a pass valid for several months at least. The researchers based there will help you look up everything to do with your Dad. In one day I was able to find the whole file/photos/objectives write up of the operation that my Grandfather was involved in which lead to him to be 'Mentioned in Despatches' after he and another engaged the enemy Motor Launch with just a Bren Gun mounted on a fabric canoe on the Irrawaddy at the dead of night whilst making a recce of an oil pumping station in enemy hands. I read the full write up of the commendation written up by his CO (I took some time and researched his CO who was previously the recipient of an MC and Bar - he was awarded the MC twice for bravery!). I got to read everything to do with his Scots Guards/Commandos/SBS regiment, activities, training etc. I wish I had known my Grandfather, he was a brave, strong, hard-working man who was selected, like all his colleagues in the SBS, because he 'just got-on with the task in hand' who wrote to his two sons every week and sent them drawings of elephants and coconut trees he'd seen in Ceylon and Burma. My Dad and Uncle were delighted as they feared that everything he was engaged in was to remain secret for 70 years (luckily it turned out to be secret for 30 years). I really enjoyed the experience at Kew and found the experience fulfilling and very informative.
