Service Records application - MOD response timescale

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by DanMorris1989, May 25, 2015.

  1. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    I’m going to take the plunge I think, and apply for my uncle’s and one of my cousin’s records. Leave the cheques undated, which will hopefully negate their being returned.

    I was going to apply for my other cousin’s RN records but, having read Gary’s thread from 2010, I’m not sure I want to part with £30 and potentially receive back one A4 sheet of paper, unless things have improved on that front in the last 10+ years.

    Navy Service Records

    I am going to apply to the Medal Office for his entitlement, should I decide to have a framed tribute to him at some time (although as I have that planned for my great grandad, grandad and uncle, I may already be stretching my wife’s patience very thinly...)
     
    CL1 likes this.
  2. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    The problem with RN Records is that the Service Record was not retained by the RN but was handed to the Rating on discharge with no copy being kept. The best the RN can do now is to try and compile a record from the Pay and Victualling Ledgers.

    Tim
     
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  3. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Thanks for this Tim, one for me to mull over.
     
  4. Reid

    Reid Historian & Architectural Photographer

    Oh, we're very much the same here in Australia - this was one of the very few banks that offer international cheques, I was the first customer this year who requested one at this particular branch.

    While I get that it's "work" for banks, my argument is: not all places can accept Western Union or Direct Deposit - government departments around the world being a perfect example. Additionally, what the heck do I pay my bank fees for??
     
  5. Essie

    Essie New Member

    You're right about that. We also pay so much for a bank account and what you get back for service etc. is less and less.
    Although these days I think it's a bit strange somewhere not able to pay with something like credit card or paypal.
     
  6. Reid

    Reid Historian & Architectural Photographer

    Some good news in my mailbox today - my RN application has been received and the cheque is supposedly going to be cashed "shortly"

    The usual ". . . wait of up to 6 months" spiel was included in the letter, but I'm happy that they have received and will be cashing that international bank cheque ASAP; my grandfather's service record was also supposed to be a 6-month wait, so waiting for my great-uncle's is no different.

    If this application goes in a similar vein as the previous one, it might be even less time, but I'm not concerned - as long as I get some info (no matter how small) I'll be happy. :)
     
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  7. jimcwestie

    jimcwestie Member

    Hello all,
    I got my fathers Naval Records from WW2 today in the post and applied in December, which I am pleased to now have.
    Jim
     
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  8. dazza_bo

    dazza_bo Member

    My dad and I applied for my grandfather's service records in early May last year and finally received them yesterday!
     
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  9. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    I'm assuming it was Army records. How did you pay? A dated cheque? When was it taken from your account?
    I'm asking because I sent off for an Army service record in June 2020 and have heard nothing, neither has the cheque (dated June 2020) been cashed.
    Richard
     
  10. dazza_bo

    dazza_bo Member

    Hi Richard. Yes it was army records. It was a dated cheque but I'm unsure of when exactly it was cashed as it was from my father's account. I'll give him a call tomorrow and ask if he noticed when it was cashed. As you can imagine it being such a long time since we posted it we hadn't been giving it much thought lately. Hopefully our records arriving means they're slowly but surely getting through the backlog and yours will arrive soon.
    Dan.
     
    Richard Lewis likes this.
  11. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    Just received Army service records today that I applied for in October 2020. It appears that my cheque was never presented as they have included an addressed envelope asking me to submit a fresh cheque. They did indicate that the old cheque was attached to the letter but you can’t have everything. I am certainly not going to abuse their trust.
     
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  12. BrianHall1963

    BrianHall1963 Well-Known Member

    I sent for my Grandfather’s in February 2020 ,received a notice to say it was in the queue and still waiting.Luck of the draw I suppose
     
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  13. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Thanks for all the recent updates. I know that many families I have sent the way of Glasgow are still patiently awaiting their records, so it is good to know that some are finally coming through the log-jam.
     
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  14. dazza_bo

    dazza_bo Member

    Hi Richard, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Apparently my memory was wrong as my dad had sent an international money order, not a dated cheque like I thought. As it was paid over the counter in cash at the bank there's no way for us to know when they cashed it on their end. Sorry mate.
     
    Richard Lewis likes this.
  15. AJBonny

    AJBonny Member

    Hi all, I sent for my father in law’s army records on 23 August 2020. Just received all the documents and a returned uncashed out of date cheque. I am to send a replacement cheque in a reply envelope back to them. Hope this gives encouragement to many of you waiting for your records to arrive. So don’t worry about the payment.
     
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  16. SDP

    SDP Incurable Cometoholic

    Very encouraging re the payment situation. Thanks for this very helpful feedback.
     
  17. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    I applied for a new driving license 4 days ago and said yes to DVLA using my passport photo. I was changed £16 for the new one.

    My new license came through in the post today.

    Just goes to show what can be done if there is a will.

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2021
  18. Wobbler

    Wobbler Well-Known Member

    Now there’s an image - Bet Lynch being shoved through your letterbox :D
     
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  19. Staffsyeoman

    Staffsyeoman Member

    It's not a case of "will" - it's a case of capabilities and priorities.

    My former corner of the MOD - operationally significant - has been running at 65% manning during the pandemic, and that is because it had been given dispensation to run at higher manning levels due to those operational requirements. Branches not in direct support to operations have been running at levels as low as 40%. Like it or not, Glasgow's primary mission is not/not to support historical enquiries and other duties and MOD requirements take priority when manning is depleted. And to state again, for anyone who may complain that "I've sent a cheque" or "But I'm a taxpayer" - the documents are stored off-site by a contractor who charge the MOD more to retrieve them than the MOD charges you.

    When I was working on an in-house MOD project which would have required recall of other documents stored by this contractor, I was told I would have to make a budget allowance and case to recall them as it was not immediately "operational"; so don't blame Glasgow or the civil servants as prone to the pandemic as anyone else - blame the politicians who thought it a wizard wheeze to contract things to Private Finance Initiatives to make the books look better.
     
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  20. Mary Cole

    Mary Cole Member

    I am moderator for the WW2 Burma Research group. Our members are gradually receiving service records but, it’s taking about 9 months for army but, a little quicker for RAF records.
    The records office advise to send an undated cheque as it will be out of date by the time they process the application and they will return the cheque. Postal Orders and Bankers draft ( usually for overseas applications) are also accepted
     
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