Hello all, Sorry if this has been asked before but has anyone created a guide on what to do once you receive a service record? I have just received my grandfathers service record and there is quite a lot of information. Whilst I’m tempted to pass it over to a professional I want to have a crack at doing my own research first. i was thinking of just using a word document and trying to catalogue all of his information and movement in chronological order. Any tips how I should tackle this?
Hi! Receiving service records is always very exciting, but also frustrating because of all the abbreviations used. I work on the Canadian side of things (which is pretty similar to the UK). I create an Excel (or Google Sheet) file and store the info in chronological using columns like Date - Info - Source - Personal note. I wrote a few books using this method (and I'm currently working on a new one about the Battle of Normandy from a French Canadian perspective). In order to decipher the military records, you must first get familiar with the abbreviations. For Canadian service records I use this ressource : Abbreviations Used in Military Documents and for Medal Inscriptions Since Canada is part of the Commonwealth, many abbreviations are probably the same if you are reading UK service files. It gives you an idea, at least. In doubt, you can post here and a lot of people will be able to help. Enjoy!
There is also this thread on here http://ww2talk.com/index.php?resources/abbreviations-acronyms.44/&update=93
Great question, which I don't think I've ever seen specifically asked. First thing my old man did with Grandad's records was transcribe absolutely everything into Word. Proved immensely useful over constantly referring back to scans of documents. Meant the squinting & swearing was only really done once.
Some of these queries come up quite often when trying to apply for & interpret records: service records info threads | WW2Talk
Good advice given, definitely transcribe into a word processing or spreadsheet so that you can sort chronologically and move things about as necessary. The 'Service and Casualty Form', B103 has perhaps the main information but don't get too hooked up with column A, which contains a lot of draft codes and are, in the main, meaningless. You will find lots of abbreviations, these may help:- Abbreviations in Service Records (UK/ Army/ WWII) : For ref. Second World War Abbreviations and Acronyms - Researching WW2 X lists (Service Records)
Hi, I have a number of original documents of my father's active combat experience in WW2. How did you go about obtaining an actual "service record"?
Hi, Canadian Forum member Dave - alieneyes - recently posted a helpful link to the ATIP system for use by Canadian citizens searching for service records at LAC Ottawa - Make an ATIP request Good Luck Steve
