Forces War Records - very dissapointed with their service

[MaxD]

Carm

Nice words - thank you.  Put all that behind you and try us for size with specific requests (usually best in an individual thread for each name, giving as much back ground as you have).

Here's the route for WW2 records https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records.

You will find when you go to the National Archives site, that some records are only available through subscription sites, which they name.  Example guide http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/first-world-war-soldiers-pension-records/ .  These are trustworthy web sites with many Great War and earlier records (the "wrong" RN records came up on one of them).  You could consider a subscription.

Good luck and ask away!

maxD

[Birkbeck]

CG

Do post an enquiry naming the people in whom you are interested. I think you will have your answers in minutes.

[Carmelo Galea]

Thank you MaxD and Birkbeck, and I will see what I can find from the sources of information given to me through this posting, and then I will ask, on this site, if I am unsuccessful.  Working on some old family photos at the moment, which I need to finalise, before getting back on my paternal and maternal grandfather's service information during WW1.
In the meantime, my sincere thanks to you both, and the rest who took time to respond to my original posting.
Kindest regards from Victoria, Australia.
Carm.

[Birkbeck]

Don't rush away without telling us whose service records you are ultimately hoping to find, Carmelo!

[Carmelo Galea]

Hi Birkbeck,

It will eventually be my paternal grandfather Carmelo [also could show as Carmel] Galea (1893-1977) Royal Navy service during WW1 - he was released from his civil service job (in Malta) to serve, then return back to his job without loss of service.  He only served for a few years, but eventually I would like to know what medals he got (his children [only one survives now] repeatedly confirmed that they saw his medals, but somehow the same medals eventually disappeared). I do not know which years he served, and what was his service number.  This is the same ancestor that I had an issue about with Forces War Records (refer my first original posting) here.

Then there will be my maternal grandfather Vincenzo [also could show as Vincent] Brincat (1889-1930) Army service during WW1 - he served with the King's Own Malta Regiment of Militia.  I have got a copy of his army records (not sure whether complete) that I got from Malta, and they show 'Campaigns Expeditionary Force Malta'.  A historian friend of mine in Malta told me that this was a term for all Maltese who volunteered for overseas service, and that he must have been sent overseas.  My mum (long since passed away) had told me that he was in France (but I am not sure whether during his army service or just on business [he was a carpenter by trade], perhaps ?).  The copy of his service that I have does not show anything about overseas service, so I am thinking that perhaps, if he did serve overseas, he might have been assigned to a British Regiment. He enlisted in Malta on 17 March 1915 and his Army No was 10523, and discharged by purchase on 11 October 1919.

I will eventually come back with more details, but these are my two ancestors that I am very interested to find out about their service during WW1.

Thank you for now.
Carm.

[Birkbeck]

I can see Carmelo listed as being awarded the Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal when having a quick look.

[Birkbeck]

I think that's this trio.

[Birkbeck]

Having said that, there is also a listing for a gentleman of that name showing him being awarded the Royal Navy's Long Service and Good Conduct Medal at a later date too.

[Birkbeck]

I can see a V Brincat serving at Salonika.