I recently got hold of my grandads service records after a lengthy wait. He served with the Royal Signals in the Middle East from ‘40-‘45 (4th Ind Div) and then in Germany ‘45-‘46 (43rd The Wessex Div). When we applied, we were advised that some parts would be redacted under FOI exemption 41. I was surprised when they came through that 15 pages have been redacted until 2035. Apart from this, his records seem complete. He was a Signalman, never promoted and apart from a few days CB for drunkenness, seems to have been a model soldier. So, I’m confused by the redaction, especially 15 pages. Is this normal, or has anyone seen something like this before? Would love to know what the 15 pages contained!
Welcome to the forum. If you contact the provider of the MoD records with proof of death of your grandfather it is possible they will reconsider their decision on redaction, but I have no personal experience. See other threads on obtaining service records, for example, see post 261 on this thread: Service Records application - MOD response timescale Or this thread ( you can see which member here is an expert on dealing with the MoD ) 744492 Corporal Bernard Maurice BERRY, RAFVR Otherwise, given the scale and timing of transfer of MoD records to the National Archives, it becomes a little complicated. The National Archives' pronouncement on the 115 year business can be found here: MOD Records Project - The National Archives The National Archives is usually referred to as just "Kew" on the forum. Kew's "User Advisory Group" discussed the 115 year business in September 2021 at Item 6: https://cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/uag-2021-09-14-minutes.pdf There are two threads here which have discussed the MoD records transfer to Kew which contain references to the 115 year business: MOD ALREADY TRANSFERRING WW2 SERVICE FILES TO UK NATIONAL ARCHIVES 2021 National Archives - Kew Tips? If you use the Search Box above right and type in "Service Records" you get links to over 100 threads discussing aspects of the general topic and personal cases. There are lots of experts here who could probably help you interpret and expand the records you already have. Good Hunting.
Paul. 4 Ind Div Sigs would put him at the Second and Third Battles of Cassino - Feb-Mar 44. He would also have been at the Gothic Line in Sep 44 when 4 Ind Div occupied San Marino. Regards Frank
My father was able to apply for his some years back and as a living ex-serviceman, this was under the Freedom of Information rules so should have included everything that they held on him. A lot of it was pretty boring to be honest. Once he went to France, there were no entries until he became BAOR and there is no mention of a wound and spell in hospital which was mentioned on the discharge papers so presumably not everything recorded by Units was successfully included in central records. There was a lot of early medical stuff...Some dental charts and medical examination reports, including an earlier attempt at RAF aircrew enlistment. Fifteen pages is quite a lot, but if Middle East service had involved perhaps Malaria and hospitalisation, it soon adds up. My old dad was clean as a whistle, but there is always the risk of learning that Great Grandfather caught a dose in the backstreets of Cairo !
Thanks Frank, Looks like he stayed in the Middle East - Cyprus and then Beirut and Haifa before returning to England and then BAOR until ‘46. So need to digest the records a bit more to see what happened. Appears to have had a hospital admission and then transfer to 25 Corps Signals.
Thanks Rich, Definitely a hospital stay, though only a short one. No worries if I found out that the was the reason for treatment - well done that man I’d say!
Paul. In that case, it is unlikely that he was in 4 Ind Div when they moved to Italy in 1943. Regards Frank
HI, perhaps you are aware of this already. - extract from the Freedom of Information Act · Section 41 sets out an exemption from the right to know where the information was provided to the public authority in confidence. · information-provided-in-confidence-section-41.pdf (ico.org.uk) Diane
