Good evening all I am looking into my Great Grandad (step). I have very little information about him in general, let alone his service experience. I have searched for him on the usual paid sites and come out with a possible service number of 5384164. He was born in Northern Ireland but married and lived in Buckinghamshire, England. This service number is linked to a soldier in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and is coming up a POW in Europe. I know that just because he lived in Bucks doesn't mean he would automatically be enlisted into this regiment but it does make sense right? No one in the family has ever mentioned him being a POW which does make me think maybe this is not my man... Is my best bet the National Archives? Many thanks Chris Bailey
Chris I am sure other forum members will be along shortly you need to apply for his service records It is not worth guessing or assuming you could be lead up the dead end paid for sites will not have the info you are looking for date of birth and death cert plus £30 A long wait but worth it Get a copy of military service records regards Clive
UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: M J Reavey Rank: Private Army Number: 5384164 Regiment: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry POW Number: 11560 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: VIII-B Camp Location: Cieszyn, Poland Record Office: Infantry Record Office, Warwick Record Office Number: 21 There are only 2 x Reavey POW's in Germany and only 1 has the initials MJ Theres really only one way to answer your question and that is to obtain his service record from the MOD - forma are here Request records of deceased service personnel TD Just because you can type faster than me
Hi, No WW2 army service records are held at U.K. National Archives. All you have got through the paid for sites is a “theory” which may or not be correct. As Clive says you need to obtain his service records. That is the only definitive way forward. Steve
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Matthew James Reavey Death Age: 70 Birth Date: 19 Jun 1911 Registration Date: Jan 1982 [Feb 1982] [Mar 1982] Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration District: Chiltern and Beaconsfield Inferred County: Buckinghamshire Volume: 19 Page: 1281 Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958 Name: Matthew James Reavey Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1911 Registration District: Newry Birth Country: Ireland Volume: 1 Page: 750 FHL Film Number: 101074 TD
Thank you Clive I thought so.... I will send off for them then. I am not 100% sure that the service number above is him, do people get some results back even if service number is not known? Many thanks.
What information would be on the liberation questionnaire? If I requested these would these detail a spouse or home address? Thinking I could request these as well.
Chris do not put the service number unless you are sure you dont need it , just date of birth and death cert plus £30 regards Clive
Liberation questionnaire usually contains a home address but no NOK. Not every man completed one. They are available at U.K. National Archives but are not online so it requires a personal visit by you or someone (researcher) acting on your behalf. U.K. National Archives are currently closed. Steve
Chris, the regiment is the same as that of some officers I am about to write a book. From the capture to the POW camp in my home town and their spectacular escape in 1941 Stefan.
These newspaper cuttings should enable a positive id: Bucks Examiner 6 Sept 1940 Bucks Examiner 2 Apr 1982 Until you get his official service records I will leave it up to you to decide if this is the same man: 1st Bn Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 5384164 REAVEY Pte MJ Casualty List No. 236 Dated 20 June 1940 France / missing / Date not reported Casualty List No. 314 Dated 21 Sept 1940 POW previously reported missing Casualty List No. 1803 Dated 9 July 1945 Previously reported POW in German hands (Germany) now not POW WO 392/11 POW Camp 8B POW No 11560
I can now confirm that is 100% him! Thank you. His wife was Dorothy and that is his home referenced in the newspaper. You guys really are amazing at what you do!