Officers Service Papers

[wilkokcl]

Is someone able to confirm for me the location of WWI officers service papers: I am aware that those who continued to serve after 1922 still have their records held at the Ministry of Defence and it is not possible to access them.

What if soldiers resigned their commission in 1919 but re-enlisted for WWII in 1939? Will their papers be at Kew? In particular I am researching relatives who served in the Royal Field Artillery and 2nd Dragoon Guards.

Want to check before I go to Kew,

Mark.

[Sue Light]

Mark

The files of men who had left the Army and were recalled, or re-joined later [including WW2] are still with MOD. I would think that there is the odd one that skipped the net, but I don't look at enough of them to say definitely.

Sue

[Terry_Reeves]

Mark

Sue is quite correct. However you may wish to to contact the following:

Army Personell Centre

Historical Disclosures

Mail Point 400

65 Brown St

Glasgow

G2 8EX

Tel: 0141 224 5315 or 0845 600 9663

MOD do not normally release these records unless it is to the next of kin, and even then proof will be needed. Give it a try though, there are ways around everything.

Terry Reeves

[wilkokcl]

Thanks for the information - I feared that would be the case!

I assume they are still being held under the 75 years rule, meaning WWII records won't be released to the PRO until 2020. Frustrating as the soldier I am researching first served in 1914 and died in 1945. I wonder what the chances are of them being released early as there is so much interest in family/military history......?

Will give it a try though and report back if I get anywhere.

Mark.