Best method for finding war time records

[Strontium_99]

Hi all,

I'm very new to all this. My farther recently died, and whilst clearing out his house stumbled some war medals from both the first and second world wars.
They are all pretty bog standard medals, but I'm trying to research the wartime activity of my uncles, on my Mother's side, who were in the Army, Navy and Air Force in WW2, and my Great Uncle who was in the Army in WW1.

I joined Forces War Records which turned up a bit. And all the other avenues of research require shelling out money for results they can't guarantee.

Just wondered if any of you had some pointers as to the best route to take.

Big thanks in advance.

 

[DaveHam9]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

WWI a but easier than WWII but I'll leave this to members who have gone through the process of obtaining such records.

Dave

 

[p.risboy]

Shelling out money is your only choice in reality. About 60%+ of WW1 records were destroyed during WW2.

You can apply for WW2 records from here, and it will cost money, I'm afraid...https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records

If you know what Regiment they were in, it maybe possible to contact the relevant Regiment Museum.

Steve.

 

[Strontium_99]

Nice one. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ellie7]

All war Deaths were given a Death Cert ,if they died in the War.

 

[juliejtp]

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a great site for looking up the war dead in WW1/WW2. See Here

 

[Strontium_99]

Unfortunately, or fortunate for them, they weren't killed in action.

 

[gibbo]

A lot of military promotions and other military things were often printed in the London Gazette for WW1 and WW2.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
.
WW1 medal cards are free to download at the moment from the National Archives UK

https://nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/results/?_q=medal+cards
.

 

[gibbo]

Oh i didn't check which country are you referring to with the military records? I was assuming the UK without checking if that was right.

 

[Strontium_99]

Thanks for the info, and yeah, it is the UK.