Applying for Family Service Records
We often get asked the question of "How do I find my relatives service records?"
This is not always the same answer so we have decided to create a simple help guide here with links to the relevant pages - please click on the links.
You can apply for a copy of your own service records or for a deceased person if you’re eligible, for example you’re their immediate next of kin or you’re researching them - You will require an authorisation signature from the immediate next of kin.
The MOD is the custodian of the records of service personnel and Home Guard records until they are opened to general public access at the National Archives
Subject to the payment of an administration fee of £30 per record and provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service), certain information can be provided from the records of service of service personnel on request under the publication scheme.
The administration fee of £30 will be waived for requests from those who were the spouse or civil partner of the subject at the time of death (or parent if there was no spouse or civil partner).
The information that is held on individuals varies depending on which service they served with, when they served and the length of their service. In a small number of cases little or no information may be held. Applicants should be aware that the £30 administration fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome of the search.
This is not always the same answer so we have decided to create a simple help guide here with links to the relevant pages - please click on the links.
You can apply for a copy of your own service records or for a deceased person if you’re eligible, for example you’re their immediate next of kin or you’re researching them - You will require an authorisation signature from the immediate next of kin.
The MOD is the custodian of the records of service personnel and Home Guard records until they are opened to general public access at the National Archives
Subject to the payment of an administration fee of £30 per record and provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service), certain information can be provided from the records of service of service personnel on request under the publication scheme.
The administration fee of £30 will be waived for requests from those who were the spouse or civil partner of the subject at the time of death (or parent if there was no spouse or civil partner).
The information that is held on individuals varies depending on which service they served with, when they served and the length of their service. In a small number of cases little or no information may be held. Applicants should be aware that the £30 administration fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome of the search.
How to Apply - If you wish to apply for a search you should download, complete and send to MOD the relevant forms:
The following link will take you direct to the Gov.Uk page which has all of the required forms you will need to fill out.
Pre 1920 records-
WW1 and Pre 1920 records are held at the National Archives
Unfortunately the records office was hit during an air raid in WW2 and many of the records have been burnt or destroyed so we are afraid this could be a case of pot luck whether you will find the record you are searching for or not.
Click the picture below to visit the National Archives.
Once you have your service records why not visit the National Archives yourself where you will be able to find copies of unit and battalion war diaries. Apply for a readers licence and you will be able to view these and all documents held at the archives, you are also able to photograph the diary pages for your own personal research purposes.
The National Archives
Kew, Richmond, Surrey,
TW9 4DU
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444
The National Archives
Kew, Richmond, Surrey,
TW9 4DU
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8876 3444