MOD consults over historic military service records

[Chris Paton]

The National Archives in Kew wishes to acquire all military service records up to 1963 from the Ministry of Defence, and to make them available for genealogical research. As this involves potential problems regarding both data protection and human rights legislation (i.e. the right to privacy), the MOD has initiated a public consultation over the issue.

In the first instance, TNA wishes to acquire the following:

a. Approximately 170,000 records for soldiers with dates of birth of 1895 or earlier who served beyond the end of the First World War.

b. Approximately 45,000 records of airmen who enlisted in the Royal Air Force up to 1928.

c. Approximately 4.5 million records of those that enlisted in the Home Guard during the Second World War.

d. Approximately 60,000 cards detailing ratings who enlisted in the Royal Navy from 1924 up to the outbreak of the Second World War.

If successful, the transfer of these records will probably affect most people doing family history research, and so is well worth a look. The consultation is available online at
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... ecords.htm

Chris

[Liz Turner]

Chris

I'm replying to this post just to bring it back to the front again. Transferring of the recrods seems a very interesting idea and I'm off now to have look at the consultation document (sad way to spend a Saturday night!).

I think if it is managed correctly that this could be very helpful to many folk researching family members who served.

The consultation period closes on 30th September and it's worth encouraging people to give their views. I'll try to keep an eye on this post and remind people again at the beginning of September.

Liz