Service Records destroyed by Veterans Agency?

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by Verrieres, Sep 17, 2011.

  1. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    I wonder if somone who has previously received Army Service Records can tell me if it is normal to get a covering letter explaining basically that the majority of these (persons) records had been requested by the Veterans Agency a long time ago and this Agency had not returned them to the MOD Archive the letter goes on to say that as a matter of urgency these records have now been requested to be returned...however the Veterans Agency have destroyed a lot of them and these records may have been amongst them?

    I am aware that it is a bit hit and miss with what you actually receive but the records that arrived today are disappointing to say the least with five Photocopy pages (some with TNT Barcode stickers plastered across signatures) and this for a man who served from 1933-44.Eleven years five photocopieso_O

    Standard letter anyone? Why would the Veterans Agency require the records anyway????

    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  2. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Presumably requested to assess pensions entitlement and therefore more likely with a pre-war regular than a 'duration of emergency' serviceman with no pension.
     
  3. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Presumably requested to assess pensions entitlement and therefore more likely with a pre-war regular than a 'duration of emergency' serviceman with no pension.




    Hi Rich,Sorry forgot to mention he was killed in action his ex-wife got nothing . His mother was next of Kin ..no pensiono_O


    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  4. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Perhaps the ex-wife tried and that's why the papers were sent out ? Let's hope that they find them, anyway !
     
  5. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Perhaps the ex-wife tried and that's why the papers were sent out ? Let's hope that they find them, anyway !


    Hi Rich,
    Possible, probably never know but like you said I Hope they find them missing records;) Thanks.


    Best Wishes
    Jim
     
  6. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Hi,
    Just to bump this up again.Please can anyone who has ever received service records tell me if they have ever received a covering letter stating the Veterans Agency had requested them and not returned them ...or have I just been unlucky??:mellow:

    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  7. Rosey

    Rosey Member

    Hi Jim
    Can only quote from my own experience but when I received my father in law's service records there was no covering letter about the Veterans Agency. Rich's theory about a pension query might be correct. My father in Law was a regular pre-war soldier (joined in 1928) and was killed in action in 1942, so there was never a question as to his pension entitlement, so his records had never been moved from the Army Records Office. Sorry this is not much help to you, but it is a comparison of sorts.
    Rosey.
     
    Verrieres likes this.
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    To date I've applied for three lots of service records and the only letter I got in relation to all three applications was warning how long it would take.

    A
     
    Verrieres likes this.
  9. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    To date I've applied for three lots of service records and the only letter I got in relation to all three applications was warning how long it would take.

    A

    Hi Jim
    Can only quote from my own experience but when I received my father in law's service records there was no covering letter about the Veterans Agency. Rich's theory about a pension query might be correct. My father in Law was a regular pre-war soldier (joined in 1928) and was killed in action in 1942, so there was never a question as to his pension entitlement, so his records had never been moved from the Army Records Office. Sorry this is not much help to you, but it is a comparison of sorts.
    Rosey.

    Rosey,Andy,
    Thank you very much for those replies I appreciate them very much.It looks like I`ve been unlucky with this one.Still cannot understand why the Veterans Agency would destroy records that were`nt their property.Thanks again
    Best wishes
    Jim
     
  10. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I find it hard to believe that the MoD would send the original copies. After all they don't send original files to applicants, even if they are the persons applying and as far as I'm aware if they are refering to Veterans UK they aren't a government department-They don't have a government web address.

    I'd give them a call and tell them manning and records are blaming them :D

    About Us
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    I've been scratching my head about this. I have a vague recollection of reading something similar before. Can't find anything to verify this notion though: sorry Jim, on both counts. Must be very disappointing to say the least.
     
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  12. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Andy,Diane,

    Thanks for the replies appreciate the help.Andy those records have definately been somewhere mate those photocopied pages have TNT barcodes on and these must be stuck to the originals...they`ve certainly travelled somewhere..why I don`t know.The MoD have said they have written to the Veterans Agency requesting there immediate return .....if any have survived.
    Diane ,it is extremely disappointing I had been putting off sending for these for years they are my uncle Bills records and after a twelve month wait ...dissappointing.Still to be honest there has always been a little doubt niggling away in my mind but that may go back to when my late Father applied for his service records and got a single sheet! His face was a picture ! :D

    Thanks Again
    Best Wishes


    Jim
     
  13. leccy

    leccy Senior Member

    We received my Grandfathers records and only got 5 sheets of card also bearing barcode stickers. I assumed they were just tracking codes like we had fitted to all our vehicles etc in the 80's.
    We were a little surprised that that was all there was as he had been in the Army TA for 3 years, left and joined the RAF a year later in 1940, demobbed in 1946, rejoined the RAF in 1950 and died in the service in 1960.

    No record of medals awarded and lots of blank spaces on the records. Not getting very far with finding out about his units either as in 3 months have not had a single reply to letters or e-mail to various organisations and agency's.
     
  14. Rosey

    Rosey Member

    Jim
    It might be worth you having a look at the Veterans U.K agency web site, if you haven't already done so. Their site explains their connection with service pensions etc., and they might be able to at least add, or point you in the right direction as to where the missing service records might be located.
    Cheers
    Rosey
     
  15. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    We received my Grandfathers records and only got 5 sheets of card also bearing barcode stickers. I assumed they were just tracking codes like we had fitted to all our vehicles etc in the 80's.
    We were a little surprised that that was all there was as he had been in the Army TA for 3 years, left and joined the RAF a year later in 1940, demobbed in 1946, rejoined the RAF in 1950 and died in the service in 1960.

    No record of medals awarded and lots of blank spaces on the records. Not getting very far with finding out about his units either as in 3 months have not had a single reply to letters or e-mail to various organisations and agency's

    Jim
    It might be worth you having a look at the Veterans U.K agency web site, if you haven't already done so. Their site explains their connection with service pensions etc., and they might be able to at least add, or point you in the right direction as to where the missing service records might be located.
    Cheers
    Rosey

    My thanks to you both for the input it looks as if I`m not the only one with half a story leccy.
    Rosey I think I will be taking more than a look once the final MoD letter arrives;)

    Cheers to you both
    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  16. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    I've been scratching my head about this. I have a vague recollection of reading something similar before. Can't find anything to verify this notion though: sorry Jim, on both counts. Must be very disappointing to say the least.


    Hello Diane,
    I have been going through some old threads I believe this may be the thread you recall?

    10 Durham Light Infantry, NWE, query

    10 Durham Light Infantry, NWE, query
    Hi I`m new to this site because I have just received my fathers records from the MOD
    but unfortunately half are missing because they were sent to the veterans agency who
    have destroyed some of them. My father was posted to the 10th Btn Durham Light
    marywestley


    Looks like I`m not the only one that was unlucky...and both DLI:rolleyes:


    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  17. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    I really don't understand how they could have received so many awards if they throw so much away !

    Awards and Accreditations - The Agency's Commitment to Quality:

    To support and add focus to the drive for excellence in the delivery of public service and continuous improvement, the Agency has sought and gained a number of quality awards and accreditation's including:

    The North West Business Excellence Award 2005

    CIPFA/PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Reporting and Accountability Awards 2005

    CIPFA/PricewaterhouseCoopers Public Reporting and Accountibility Awards 2003

    UNISYS/Management Today Service Excellence Awards 2002 Finalist

    UNISYS/Management Today Service Excellence Award 2001

    Charter Mark for Excellence in Public Services

    Investors in People - Leadership & Management Model

    Investors in People Re- accreditation

    Public Servant of the Year Award 2004

    Public Servant of the Year Award 2002


    The term 'agency' has such a modern, teflon-coated unaccountable ring to it but in all fairness, the documents were probably disposed of by the organisation under another name. :rolleyes:
     
  18. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Excellent News!

    Receieved from the M.O.D this Morning

    Dear
    Further to my letter of 15th September 2011.I am pleased to enclose further copies of documents that were held at the Veterans Agency.(Previously assumed destroyed)
    Yours Sincerely


    :D:D:D


    Best Wishes

    Jim
     
  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Jim,

    Absolutely great news.

    It also begs the question as to why the original records were forwarded in the first place instead of certified copies.

    Probably a case of an organisation whose left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. Lindsay Aspin

    Lindsay Aspin Senior Member

    What great news for you :) ......... bureaucracy :mad: !!!

    All the best with future research.
    Lindsay
     

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