Get a copy of military records of service
Apply for the records of a deceased serviceperson
Records of service for the deceased are held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and 皇冠体育app National Archives (TNA). Who you apply to depends on:
- when the person served
- which service they were in
- their rank
Apply for records held by 皇冠体育app National Archives
TNA holds all records of service for World War 1 and earlier for:
- Royal Navy (including Royal Marines)
- British Army聽
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
It also holds records for:
- British Army personnel below the rank of officer who were discharged before 1964
- Home Guard
to get these records.
皇冠体育appre may be a fee. If there is, you鈥檒l be quoted a search cost.
Apply for records held by the MOD
You can apply for a copy of a deceased person鈥檚 records of service if they鈥檙e not held by TNA and that person was in the:
- Royal Navy (including Royal Marines)
- British Army
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
What information you鈥檒l get
Each record of service may include:
- first name and surname
- service number
- rank and regiment or corps
- place and date of birth
- date they joined and left the armed forces
- date of death, if they died in service
- good conduct medals
- details about their career, for example, the units they served in
Information may be withheld if it:
- could harm the security or operations of the armed forces
- relates to medical or disciplinary information
In some cases little or no information is available about someone鈥檚 military service.
How to apply
You can apply online or by post.
皇冠体育appre鈥檚 no fee.
You鈥檒l need to provide the person鈥檚:
-
full name
-
date of birth
-
service number, if you know it
You do not have to provide a death certificate. But without one, information may be withheld unless the person either:
- died in service
- was born more than 116 years ago
If you鈥檙e applying online and can provide a death certificate, it needs to be in digital format (PDF, PNG, or JPEG).
If you do not have the death certificate, you can order a copy or provide a declaration of a presumed death.
Due to high demand, please do not submit more than 5 applications every month.
Apply online
When you apply online for a British Army record, the MOD will check if they hold it. If they have it, they鈥檒l send it to you. If they do not, you鈥檒l be told to check 皇冠体育app National Archives.
Apply by post
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Download and fill in a request for information form.
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Download and fill in a search form. 皇冠体育app form you need depends on which military service the person was in.
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Send both forms and any supporting documents (for example, a death certificate) to the address on the search form.
After you鈥檝e applied
皇冠体育app relevant military service will confirm they鈥檝e received your application. 皇冠体育app search can take up to a year. You鈥檒l be sent the records either by post or email depending on which service you applied to.