Why can't they put ww2 records online?

Having read many posts about ww2 records. Why can't the MOD put them on line with a charge like the NA does with ww1. Surely that would provide some money for the government and cut down the waiting time. I know that some veterans are still with us today, but surely the ones that have passed away could be the first tranch, then as they pass on their records could be added. E.g. if the person you are looking for has died their death certificate serial number could be used to prove that they have died and tied into various GRO offices in Edinburgh, Belfast and London.

 

I would agree, but it took an awful lot of effort to get MOD to release WW1 records after 75 years (they wanted to keep them for 100). Given that the end of WW2 is less than 65 years ago, it would take a change in the law to make these records available, sadly.

 

I would agree, but it took an awful lot of effort to get MOD to release WW1 records after 75 years (they wanted to keep them for 100). Given that the end of WW2 is less than 65 years ago, it would take a change in the law to make these records available, sadly.

The Liberation Reports of Commonwealth P.O.W. Korea are not due to be opened until 2029.They are exempt from the Freedon of Information Act 2,000 .There are two sections of Reports of Escapers WW2 that are closed. When I asked for them to be opened. T.N.A. Refused on the grounds that unsubstantiated allegations had been made against a third party. I pointed out that the information was already in the Public Domain as I had found it in "For Distinguished Service".The book was originally published in Canada where apparently copies of the records are open. The"jobsworth" still refused.

 

Has any body tried the Freedom of Information on the ww2 armed forces records.

 

Has any body tried the Freedom of Information on the ww2 armed forces records.

I used the F.O.I. Act to release a list of men who had died at sea as P.O.W. that the M.O.D. were given by the Italians in 1944.
The List had been refered to on several ocassions from as far as I know the 1980s. When I asked the M.O.D. for its release it couldn't be found. After a year of waiting I mentioned contacting the Commissioner for the F.O.I. Act and the list was"found". I was sent a copy that although it was a copy from a year later,it met my needs.

 

It appears to me to be all about data Protection.
In this day and age we live constantly with Data protection Laws, which at times infuriates people.
This present government (and others before) are always pleading for openness and transparentness from their ministries, but what do we get, 'Its more than my jobs worth' mentalities.
All very frustrating!!

Tom

 

I agree this info should be made available.

I do Family History research and the Census is kept secret for 100 years

Why ?.

There are many ways to trace people nowadays, surely the census could remain secret for 50 years and still allow people the same degree of confidentiality that they already have.


Peter

 

Do Not give your service number to anyone. Nor print it where it can be read.
Sapper

 

Something to do with identity fraud, I was warned by the war pensions never to divulge my number,That is as much as I can tell you,
Sapper

 

That's slightly alarming - I used to use part of my number as a password in various contexts as it was a number I was never, ever going to forget. Ho hum..back to the random naming of apple varieties or somesuch I guess. A far as I know, once allocated your number would never go to anyone else and remained unique even post-mortum. Makes sense from a records perspective.

CS

 

Having read many posts about ww2 records. Why can't the MOD put them on line with a charge like the NA does with ww1. Surely that would provide some money for the government and cut down the waiting time. I know that some veterans are still with us today, but surely the ones that have passed away could be the first tranch, then as they pass on their records could be added. E.g. if the person you are looking for has died their death certificate serial number could be used to prove that they have died and tied into various GRO offices in Edinburgh, Belfast and London.


This is what TNA did with the SOE personal files. The names and DOB of SOE personnel were listed in the catalogue but were closed to the public. They could be opened by proving the person was deceased by supplying a copy of their death certificate or a copy of an obituary. Alternatively, if the person was still with us, they could request their own file to be made public if they so desired.

I don't see why a similar approach cannot be taken with WWII service records and I suggested this via the MOD consultation. Due to the volume of records they would probably have to make this a paying service but still it would be better than the current system where NOK pay to receive details from their relative's service record.

Lee

 

Knowing the various governments - at a tremendous cost which would probably equal the payouts to failed banks - the records could be placed on line by a reputable American company - no problem - but they would probably store them on some laptop with a deputy under secretary's assistant who will throw it in the back of his car with the window open and thus be stolen by some drug addict and sold for say - five bucks ?
Cheers

 

Yes TTC there does appear to be a problem with Government departments losing confidential data these days.

Regards

TCS

 

Amazing that this long series of the theft of laptops, discs and memory sticks is a coincidence is living in cloud cuckoo land.
Sapper