Message 1 - Obtaining Service Records
Posted on: 19 February 2004 by Gill Lindsay
Next of kin can obtain Navy service records from
Ministry of Defence
Defence Records 2A
Bourne Avenue
Hayes
Middlesex
UB2 1RF
phone: 020 8573 3831 ext 341/342 or fax: 020 8573 9074
It costs, if I remember correctly, 拢25 but do get in touch and ask them to send you the necessary forms. It takes a little while as I believe the department only has a few staff but they were very helpful when I requested my father's records.
There is a similar department for RAF WW2 records.
WW1 records are kept at the Public Records Office, Kew but are incomplete as many were lost during the London Blitz.
Message 2 - Obtaining Service Records
Posted on: 30 March 2004 by deepseamcgee
Merchant Navy records from WWII are not held by the MOD. They were transferred from the Registry of Shipping & Seamen in Cardiff to the Public Records Office in Kew and are held in the following files.
1913 to 1940 Fourth Register of Merchant Seaman's Service. Classifications BT 364. Register of Seaman, Combined Numerical Index (CR1, CR2, & CR10). Microfiche of these three index series are held in the following classes BT 348: Register of Seaman, Central Index, Numerical Series (CR2), BT 349: Register of Seaman, Central Index, Alphabetical Series (CR1) and BT 350: Register of Seaman,Special Index, Alphabetical Series (CR10). (Source of ref. Records of Merchant Shipping & Seamen, PRO Readers Guide No. 20).
1941-1972 Fifth Register of Merchant Seaman's Service. These records are held at the PRO in classification BT 382. These records are held in alphabetical surname order. (Source of ref. MCA Information Leaflet and Historical Records).
Please note, the PRO will not search their files for you, if you are unable to attend in person, they will give the names of independent researchers who will do it for an hourly fee.
Public Records Office,
Kew,
Richmond,
Surrey,
TW9 4DU,
Tel. 020 8876 3444.
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