Getting confused

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

If you have to prove you are next of kin to obtain WW2 records are they the same records that are kept at the National Archives and do you have to prove next of kin if you go to view them?


Linda

[annswabey]

WW2 service records (apart from Merchant Navy) are not kept at the National Archives. You have to apply to the MOD to obtain them

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

Thank you. I think you had told me that already but it was confusing when I went onto the NA site and typed in his name and it came up with a WO number. I thought that meant that you could see them there

Thanks

Linda

[Felix]

You can get a more limited service record if you're not next of kin but can provide proof of death. And a fuller version if the death was 25 or more years ago. Still not the whole service record of course, but we found it was worth paying for.

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

Thanks Felix, He was a POW in Italy and escaped. He only died a few years ago and it's his son, my friend who want to obtain his records

Linda

[annswabey]

The ref you found might be his POW record, perhaps. What was the WO reference? Was it WO208?

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

Yes it was.

Linda

[annswabey]

So that's his "Escapers and Evaders" POW record that I mentioned before

[Loopy Linda in La La Land]

Thank you so much Annswabey. Got myself completely confused . My fault for starting two threads.

Thank once again

Linda