WW2 no service record?

[ValJJJ]

I am looking for a relative (born 1897) who served in WW1 (have that information) and WW2, and according to family anecdotes his role was top secret.  But this just seems based on the fact that he couldn't tell his wife where he was or what he was doing.  Which was the case for all service personnel wasn't it?  Perhaps he did have mysterious role - if so, might his service record be suppressed?

Currently I can't find a record, and the MoD has been very slow to respond.  I might start again with them. I don't know if the absence of any record is due to the transfer of army records from the MoD to the national archive, and it might appear in a few years. Or was he really part of a secret service?

[ALAMO2008]

What do you mean you can't find his Records Where?
When did you apply to the MOD for his Records?
What information do you have already about WW1?
And from where?

[ValJJJ]

The WW1 info is just from the medal cards (found on Ancestry) giving his regiments (two) and service numbers for each.

I asked MoD several years ago, but never received anything.  I think I'll start again.  The National Archives search doesn't reveal the name.

[ALAMO2008]

If he was Demobbed in Spring 1919 like so many
His WW1 Army Records would have been sent by them as an Ex Soldier to their Repository Storeroom at Arnside Street in 1920 where they were All kept securely until September 1940  when the Repository was Blitzed and approximately 60 Percent were Destroyed Burnt - the 40 Percent that Partly Survived partly Burnt has been Scanned by Ancestry and held by them under Military-  Service Records
If you have looked under them and had success then there are no Records anywhere else then.
Applications for WW2 Records from the MOD are currently attempting to reduce their Two Year Backlog but at the same time the Transfer to the National Archives is also taking place over the next Few Years.

[ValJJJ]

It was the WW2 records that I was interested in.  Lost in a black hole between the MoD and TNA I suspect.

[ALAMO2008]

It was the WW2 records that I was interested in.  Lost in a black hole between the MoD and TNA I suspect.

If you see many of the Posts on here and other Forums from those who have Received their Relatives WW2 Records are Complaining
 that they can't understand them
because they are written in Abbreviations and with Codes - so you'll need the 373 pages of Abbreviations and Codes to help you - after you have paid for the Pages that they Copy of the Records for you that they found.

[ValJJJ]

Before the system changed, I obtained totally unredacted service records courtesy of being a family member.  There are lots of codes but the MoD supplied a list of abbreviations and there are lots of other websites that help too.

I'll worry about codes once I manage to track down this particular service record, if ever.

What is annoying is that now it's FoI and available to all, the redactions are the things of most interest - personal things like employment at the time of enlisting; name and address of next of kin. 

[Romilly]

We applied for and received my late Father in law’s WW2 Army Service Record from the MOD. There was no charge.

I noticed on Ancestry today that there is a Medal Card entry for him dated 1956, but I’m unable to view it, because a Fold 3 subscription is required!

I’m very annoyed about this, and will not take out a further subscription.

Romilly.

[Rena]

Everything in war time is secret.  In civilian life my father was an engineer in the manufacture of cranes and dredgers.  Hr was in the Homeguard during WWII and wasn't allowed to say anything about his training or operations, although after the war he told us that if the Germans landed he had to blow up the street where we lived.   This was to keep the enemy occupied looking after civilians.

In those days every cross road had a finger signpost pointing the way to towns and villages.  During the war all the pointers were removed in case Gerry landed he would not be helped by following sign post directions.