How To Order A Service Record

Find out more about your relation’s service during the Second World War

The service records of more than 80,000 members of the Durham Home Guard have been transferred to The National Archives in Kew and can be downloaded via nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-yourresearch/research-guides/durham-homeguard-records-1939-1945.

The records of everyone else who served in the armed forces during the Second World War are still held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) at its Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow. Veterans can order a copy of their service record at gov.uk/get-copy-militaryservice-records/apply-for-your-own-records.

Anyone can order the service record of a soldier who died over 25 years ago, but for those who died more recently, the full record

will only be released to the immediate next of kin, or someone who has consent from the immediate next of kin. Researchers without consent can order an abridged version if 25 years haven’t passed since the death. At the moment, you need to complete and submit two forms that can be downloaded from gov. uk/get-copy-military-service-records/applyfor-someone-elses-records.

You need to supply the person’s full name, date of birth and service number. The fee is £30 (there’s no charge if a spouse or civil partner is applying), and you may also need to include a copy of a death certificate. Note that requests can take months to fulfil, although the MOD is hoping to launch a quicker and simpler online ordering system later this year.