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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: pandora on Monday 10 January 11 23:57 GMT (UK)

Title: Where do I start to search?
Post by: pandora on Monday 10 January 11 23:57 GMT (UK)

My Dad was in the paratroups during WW2 (6th air borne) where would I star to search for records.

                Thanks in anticipation
                 Pandora

Title: Re: Where do I start to search?
Post by: km1971 on Tuesday 11 January 11 07:16 GMT (UK)

The records of soldiers serving after 1920 are still classed as private. You have to apply to the MOD. It costs £30 - but free to his widow - and takes 6+ months. You will have to supply a copy of his death certificate if he did not die while serving. You also really need his army number, but they can sometimes do something with just his date of birth. You should also contact their museum in case they can help.

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

Ken

Title: Re: Where do I start to search?
Post by: pandora on Wednesday 12 January 11 22:03 GMT (UK)

Many thanks for the information. My dad died 20yrs age, so I am not likely to be able to find out about his time in the second WW. All I know is that he was in Belguim Germany and Holland, and that he helped to recover soldiers from behind enemy lines. He never spoke very much about his time in the forces, it seemed that he wanted to shut out all memories of it.

                          Pandora

Title: Re: Where do I start to search?
Post by: bernard_lewis on Thursday 13 January 11 00:16 GMT (UK)

If you get his service record as suggested it should give you a bit more detail on units he served with etc. From that you could look at the unit war histories - lots of units had these published after the war. Might include your dads unit; might mention him (though a long shot).

The National Archives at Kew will have the unit war diary - a day by day account 
of the units activities. Not sure if these are available as a download or you might be able to order copies.

Bernard