MOD ALREADY TRANSFERRING WW2 SERVICE FILES TO UK NATIONAL ARCHIVES 2021

That's awful Steve bamboo43. I hope they get their records.

When TNA say no, I always complain to the ICO. Haven't lost a complaint yet....just submitted my fourth complaint to them.

 

Thanks for the tip John. It's shameful I believe, especially for the NOK to be batted away like this. I'm interested to see how they get on with their appeals.

 

A reply already!

Unfortunately, the chimps can't read.

As part of these improvements, we are offering some requesters the opportunity to refine their FOI request to a subset of documents in the record, which can be delivered to you in a shorter timeframe of 25 working days.

 

It seems to me lately, that it does not matter which part of the public sector you might need to brush up against, that their response is often unsatisfactory or even incompetent. I have found this recently with the DVLA (tax reminder), Local Authority (bin collection), Department of Work & Pensions (pension forecast), Office of the Public Guardian (power of attorney registration) and NHS (duplication of appointments at different hospitals and general administration chaos). Apologies if I've upset anyone by announcing the above, but it is no wonder that the country is sinking fast!

 

I have seen a few posts where the NA have been unable to locate service records and assumed with them not listed on Discovery that these were records still with the MoD awaiting transfer ? During a conversation last night I was told of three records to DLI PoWs that did not feature in the catalogue and the NA had sent an email stating they were unable to locate them under the numbers supplied ? (The numbers were verified through PoW cards and casualty lists ) The next move planned was an enquiry to the MoD but just out of curiosity he entered the numbers on the Ancestry site (Service Records recently updated ) and up popped ALL THREE !
They have since downloaded several more PoWs records which do not fit into the current description of those records Ancestry have released ? May be an option to input a number on the off chance the records are there before forking out the fee?

Info only

Kyle

 

Got my father's a couple of days ago, all 28 pages it was actually october 2024 when i applied. Nothing redacted.

 

I’ve just had the standard E Mail from National Archives - mentioned by others previously - “inviting” me to take a “short file” which I have declined.

I noticed NA mentioned the full file (almost totally unredacted?) would be available 116 years after the subjects birth OR 25 years after death. It’s the first time I’ve picked up on the “25 year” rule as an alternative to the “116 year” rule.

My father passed away in 2002 so it may be that at their current snails pace (18+ months and waiting) that I may qualify for the full unredacted release of his papers next year.

Steve

 

Very interesting.

I'd been assuming my grandfather's birth (1919) + 116 meant redaction until 2034=5, but if they do his year of death (1991) + 25, then his file will be released in full.

Edit: having re-read the offer, mine has that same line.

 

I'm finding the problem with the smaller set of records is that, the service and casualty page/form is missing, which can contain interesting, whilst not always medical, information.

If someone knows the official form number for the Service/casualty page, please let me know.

Many thanks in advance.
John.

Edit.

Found it, it's B103-2.

 

Exciting!

I received an apology and my complaint has been sent to a manager, apparently.

 

Had email this morning Feb 27 requesting £6.24 for my request for service record Feb 2 on new system

A few £ less than I was expecting eg 6 pages not 8 pages.

Email says
"Once payment has been received, we will send you a link to download." so will return here when this has been done.

So looks like currently 1 month or less for what was a fairly complex RAF service record covering prewar/wartime and into early 1960s. Will see how they handled redactions for living persons in this.

Ross

 

Cheers Ross

 

I've just received notification from the NA confirming their transcription error with my fathers dob and they have now corrected their catalogue information. A positive piece of news coming from the NA for once! Well done!
Lionboxer

 

Next stage in process - imaging dept took about 1 week to carry out record copy from full and final payment.

"Thank you for using Request a military service record.

Your requested copies relating to XXXXXX reference removed - Ross will soon be available to download at:

Direct Link given - Ross

Please allow up to 2 hours after you receive this email for your download to be ready.

Your images will be available until 05 Jun 2026 when the link will expire.

Please note, we are unable to issue a refund if you fail to download your images before the link expires."

Note warning on the time limit on download - not overly short but defined.

As with all TNA records copy downloads if you look immediately it returns 0 records for download but usually will appear within the next few hours.

So just over 1 calendar month 2nd Feb to 5th March for process for this one under 115 years from birth, no proof of death required.

When the download appears I'll start a new thread and do a side by side from RAF Disclosures Release to TNA Release so you can see if the Full record procedure suits you needs for an RAF F543a

Ross

 

Just applied for my first "paid for" record of service.

It's a post WW2 record, service with the ACC in Malaya, then service in the Paras. I did provide the transfer index number, obtained from the MoD.

Why am I expecting this to turn into a complete cluster?

Cheers.
John.

 

Just so I can get a handle on timescales and options John.

Standard or Full requested?

Only bit that "could do better" for me was that after an excellent string of confirmation and stage emails - when the doc went to reprographics for copy they went silent with no indication of progress or estimated time to complete and to email me the download link (eventually about 7 working days).

Ross

 

Standard service Ross. If I've done my earlier research correctly, he only served for a few years, so not expecting lots of pages.

Cheers.
John.

 

Email received this morning, confirming TNA have found the record and it's the correct service number.

Contradicting waffle included:

This record is currently closed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and will need to be sensitivity reviewed before we can determine whether it is possible to open it to the public.

As you have selected the Standard service, no further payment is required, and you should receive your record within 30 working days.

Best.
John.

 

Well I'll be......

Ross, FYI RAFCommands

17 pages of service record received by 12 noon. All service included, from 1952 - 1965 (ACC and Para Regt).

He was certainly a naughty fellow....no medical docs included.

Cheers.
John.

 

When they are good they are very good!

When they are bad they are very bad!

Seems to one extreme or the other at TNA on the MoD Records. Enjoy your fast tracked records.

Ross