Hi all I am very new to all of this and i think i am a little over my head. I have started searching for my Granddad's service records as a surprise for my mum. We found he's old service suitcase in the loft with he's name (Charles William James Woods) service number 1805464 and "Seaforth Highlanders" printed on it. My mum remembers him telling her he was in INDIA at some point on a peace keeping mission, and she was later told that he was in Borneo at some point (all of this however is unconfirmed). Unfortunately my grandad passed away when my mum was only 12 and she has very fond memories of him so if i can find any information at all about he's time in the war i would like to surprise her with it as maybe a gift for her to keep. If ANYONE would be willing to help me at all or point me in the right direction i would be extremely grateful.
Hi Tina, you can apply for your Granddad's Service records via the Army Personnel centre in Glasgow Army Personnel Centre Costs about £30 and, in present Covid conditions, can take 6 - 8 months to get them. After that you can chart which units he served with and then track down War Diaries in TNA. We can help with that too when the time comes. Pete
Tina, Welcome aboard this fascinating and invariably helpful website. Now you have appeared and explained your quest it is best to move it to the right place: Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy The sub-title says: It helps to display ALL you know now, e.g. place of birth and date / place of death. Ancestry (not a website I use) shows three options: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=James+Charles+William_Wood Note name order is different. PM en route too.
He was born in Hillingdon / Yiewsley Middlesex in 1921 (i believe he fibbed about hes age when he inlisted). He died in Hillingdon in 1962.
Hello Tina, Your grandfather's service number shows that he enlisted with the Royal Artillery, a copy of his attestation below. He spent time in the Heavy Anti Aircraft branch and it also shows that he went to the Highland Light Infantry. Service Records, as advised above, are essential in order to find out when he was with particular units and take your research further, Good luck, you will find it fascinating.
That link takes you to someone born in Australia in 1891 - best to ignore. Tina, you will need a death certificate for his records, have you got one? I am having difficulty in tracing a record, have you an exact date?
WOODS, CHARLES WILLIAM JAMES Mother Maiden Name ROLFE GRO Reference: 1921 D Quarter in UXBRIDGE Volume 03A Page 63 Deaths Mar 1968 WOODS CHARLES W J 46 HILLINGDON 5C 407
Oh Wow thats amazing, now i know for sure that is hes service number i am much happier to pay out the money and apply for hes records. Thank you so much for looking x
The post below is the correct information for my grandads death, i dont have an actual copy of hes certificate however i know that this is not too hard for me to get as i still live in the same area and can apply at the local records office.
YES this is the correct information for my grandad, I have traced the tree quite a good way back and the family were really interesting, finding these records will be very emotional for my mum i'm sure. once i have these maybe i can look for service records for other family members lol.
Charles William James Woods Birth 3 Oct 1921 Uxbridge, Middlesex, England Marriage Dec 1951 Uxbridge, Middlesex, England Residence 1965 Yiewsley, Middlesex, England Death 3 Feb 1968 Hillingdon, Middlesex, England Father Charles Sidney Woods (1896-1953) Mother Ann Sarah Rolfe (1898-1973) Spouse Grace Margaret Wallace (1925-2006) From a tree (1 of 5) for him - the creator being tjcook As CL1 has given - and so does the tree England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Charles W J Woods Death Age: 46 Birth Date: abt 1922 Registration Date: Jan 1968 [Feb 1968] [Mar 1968] Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration District: Hillingdon Inferred County: Greater London Volume: 5c Page: 407 So as suggested you need a copy of his death certificate, and use the MOD forms to send off for his service records Good luck TD
