{"id":12166,"date":"2023-07-05T08:47:38","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T08:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/?page_id=12166"},"modified":"2023-09-05T06:40:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T06:40:57","slug":"military-service-records","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.theukrules.co.uk\/rules\/employment\/working\/armed-forces\/military-service-records\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Copy of Military Service Records (Request Forms)"},"content":{"rendered":"
You should be able to get copies of military service records for time served in the army, the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and the RAF (from 1920).<\/p>\n
There are several different reasons for applying, such as:<\/p>\n
You should be aware that it often takes several months to process this kind of application. Even so, they do have ways of prioritising the most urgent applications.<\/p>\n
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You can also try to find someone or somewhere through several research websites that commemorate the fallen. Examples include a search through:<\/p>\n
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If you are a member of the armed forces, or have been before, you can apply to get your own service records. It would apply to members of the British Army, the Royal Navy (or Marines), and the Royal Air Force.<\/p>\n
There is no fee to get a copy of your own military service records. You would need to download a request for your own records<\/a> from the Ministry of Defence. Fill it in and then send it with any supporting documents to the address written on the form.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: You can use the same form even if you are acting on behalf of the person (e.g. you have lasting power of attorney<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There may be cases where you would like to get a copy of someone else’s service records. You can apply for the service records of a deceased person if any of these apply:<\/p>\n You must know certain information about the person before you can apply. You will need to know their full name, their date of birth, and their service number.<\/p>\n The next step of the process is to fill in two separate forms. You will need to fill in the request form and a search form.<\/p>\n You should download the most appropriate request form for your particular situation:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You will also need to download the most relevant search form. Choose the one based on where the person was serving, such as:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You must send a request form and a search form for every separate application. Use the return address written on the form. Remember to add any supporting documentation (e.g. a death certificate) and the fee of \u00a330.<\/p>\n There are several ways to make the payment, including a cheque or a postal order. If you are requesting a copy of military service records from overseas you can pay by banker’s draft or by international money order.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: In some cases, there would be no fee to pay. The subject’s spouse, civil partner, or parent if there was no spouse, at the time of the death would not need to pay.<\/p>\n The records that you can get access to date from 1920. Thus, the information held on the prsonnel records of deceased service personnel may include their:<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Limited information, or none at all, is available in certain cases. They may refuse a request if it could harm the security or the operations of the armed forces.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are you unhappy about the way an organisation handled your request? If so, you can complain in writing to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Information Rights team.<\/p>\n MOD Information Rights Team<\/strong> \tMOD Information Rights Team What if you still feel unsatisfied about the way that the MOD responded to your complaint? In this case, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office<\/a> (ICO).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nApplying for Military Records of a Deceased Person<\/h2>\n
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Filling in the Request Form<\/h4>\n
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Filling in the Search Form<\/h4>\n
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Posting the Forms<\/h4>\n
The Kind of Information You Can Get<\/h4>\n
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\nMaking a Complaint to the Ministry of Defence<\/h2>\n
\n Email: cio-foi@mod.uk<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\tGround floor, zone D
\n\tMain Building
\n\tLondon
\n\tSW1A 2HB<\/p>\n
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\n How to Get a Copy of Military Service Records in United Kingdom<\/strong>
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