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Kit
11-04-20, 07:31
Dad has found his father listed on the following site:

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/

and was asking me if he should pay the fee to get his army record.

I thought we had to apply to the MOD or something to get the full record. Does anyone have any idea what this website is as I don't want him wasting money to not get the full record.
Merry
11-04-20, 07:43
He can apply to the MoD for hs record and it will be free:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Also free for the spouses of dec'd personnel.
Kit
11-04-20, 07:53
Dad wants to apply for his father's record, my grandfather. Is it still free? I think my post wasn't clear.
Merry
11-04-20, 08:08
Sorry, I just mis-read! No, it won't be. I've forgotten the cost now, perhaps £30-£40? It will say somewhere in that link.
Merry
11-04-20, 08:09
You have to send proof of death of the individual.
Merry
11-04-20, 08:10
Administration fee
A £30 administration fee is applied for each service record requested. The fee is non-refundable.

That fee hasn't gone up in years!
kiterunner
11-04-20, 08:47
Forces War Records will not have the actual service record.
JBee
11-04-20, 08:56
Go straight to Army records - you can download the form and send it off with copy of grandfather's death certificate.

It isn't very quick though - but not as long as 18 months which was the case years ago I believe. Think up to 12 weeks now.
kiterunner
11-04-20, 09:14
Note that it says the following on the government site:

Due to the measures implemented to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, it is likely to significantly impact on the department’s ability to respond to requests within the legislative timeframe.

We will continue to process requests as quickly as possible, where priorities and resources allow.

Thank you for your patience during this time.
Kit
11-04-20, 09:32
Thanks everyone. I knew about the MOD but didn't know this new (to me) website.
kiterunner
11-04-20, 11:20
Forces War Records isn't new, Toni - they are so old that the Advertising Standards Authority ruling against them has dropped off the ASA website after 5 years.
annswabey
11-04-20, 22:53
As others have said, apply to the MOD - it costs £30. The time it takes to receive the records had improved some time ago, but in the last year or so, the time has extended. I'm still waiting for 2 sets of records I applied for at the beginning of Aug 2019, and, in view of the current situation, there'll be a much longer delay
Kit
12-04-20, 07:10
Forces War Records isn't new, Toni - they are so old that the Advertising Standards Authority ruling against them has dropped off the ASA website after 5 years.

They are new to me Kate.

Thanks Ann. I'll tell Dad to buy it for me for Christmas, he might feel better about the expense that way and with some luck it might even arrive by Christmas 2021. :d
JBee
15-04-20, 13:24
I applied in August last year and got them before Christmas - did they confirm receipt of your application?
Kit
19-04-20, 08:44
we haven't done it yet, if you were asking me Julie.