Being new to WW2Talk, I'm not sure if this is how to ask a question, but here goes. Can anyone with knowledge of service numbers tell me what a Z prefix means. I know that a person called Harper (surname) had service number Z374. Does that imply he was in a particular section of the armed services. I'm not even sure if he was from the U.K. Thanks, gjacks. Can anyone please advise how to trace a current or past service person, knowing their service number, given name initials, and surname. Mod edit: merged post & threads.
As has been said many, many times on the site, the best way to start is by obtaining the relevant service record. Note that you will not be able to trace any currently serving persons by that method. I don't have the link handy, but I'm sure that some kind soul passing will have it. EDIT: Here is the how to apply: Get a copy of military service records
Hi read this about RFC research - Royal Flying Corps airmen - The National Archives and - People index (airhistory.org.uk) Cant find anything on the Z prefix regards Robert
gjacks Might be useful to tell us who you are looking for and where you have looked and what you have got. When you say "I know that a person called Harper (surname) had service number Z374" it sounds like you started with a service number and found a name - generally people do it the other way round. Z374 had service in 1918.
Hello Tony, I've been looking for information relating to Hans Martin Beresford Harper who became a member of the RAF in 1923 when aged 15. He was a distant relative. His service number was either 36375 or 363751. Not wishing to pay MOD $60 Austalian to find out more details, I was attempting to look up two people who had checked on H M B Harper, and they were H F Harper Z374 and A H Harper, 57678. It was an attempt to get further information, while not overly flush with funds. Going through the MOD might be the only way though.
UK, Royal Air Force Airmen Records, 1918-1940 Name: Hans Martin Beresford Harper Gender: Male Age: 15 Birth Date: 24 Nov 1907 Birth Place: Dinmore, Portadown, Armagh, Ireland Service Date: 6 Feb 1923 Service Number: 363751 Father: J Harper Next of Kin: J Harper Relation to Airman: Father
Now we now a name, there are service details on FMP. First name(s) Hans Martin Beresford Attestation age 15 Last name Harper Service number 363751 Birth year 1907 Archive reference AIR 79/2949 Birth date 24 Nov 1907 Next of kin first name(s) - Birth parish Drumond Next of kin last name Harper Birth town Portadown Record set British Royal Air Force, Airmen's Service Records 1912-1939 Birth county Armagh Category Military, armed forces & conflict Occupation Scholar Subcategory Regimental & Service Records Attestation year 1923 Collections from Great Britain, UK Other Attestation date 06 Feb 1923
For future reference: The OP has made an erroneous assumption. Whilst Z can indicate transfer to the Reserves it does not mean this when part of the Service No. See AIR 79/2806 South African Aviation Corps Z2 - Z592. SOUTH AFRICAN AVIATION CORPS. Z2 - Z592 (Described at item level). | The National Archives Tim
I'm sorry to be a nuisance but the thread to do with an unfamiliar service number was deleted, with the reason "quoted post without replying to it." Could you explain briefly please.