Service Records

[annswabey]

Found this message I sent to you, OC in 2009!

I've recently received some RAF WW2 records. The man's widow (2nd or 3rd wife) is still alive, so she gave her permission. Received the records within a couple of months but they had removed details of his next of kin and sent a letter explaining the legal reasons whey they had removed it, although of course, not explaining exactly what the info was. I assume that as he was married to someone else when he joined up, they had removed wife's details in case his widow didn't know about any previous marriage.

Hope this doesn't happen for you, but it might!

I suppose the real reason infomation was removed in this case was that the previous wife might still have been alive as the man was born in 1917.

Found the letter I got back from the RAF which states

"the provision of information relating to (name removed) details of his next of kin would breach section 40 and 41 of the Act (Data Protection Act 1998) and be an invasion of privacy of any remaining immediate family members (section 44)

[Kit]

OC you have the name and a year. Start looking in newspapers for details.

Is there any way to search gaol records?

[Olde Crone]

Merry

Yup, you got it!

Ann

Thankyou, that's very interesting. I remember receiving this message now! I now need to prise the letter out of her to see exactly what they said - she is vague about details she doesn't think are important.

Kit

The surname is so common, a newspaper search would be impossible, especially as I don't know where he was when he went to prison (and I suppose it could have been military prison?)

I just don't know how to further this sesrch but if I don't do SOMETHING, she has decided she will use a "professional researcher". I've tried to explain that a PR won't have access to any records that are data-protected, but she won't listen to that.

OC

[annswabey]

I wonder whether his children are named in the documents? That might be the problem, as well as the wife.

I think they should still provide the basic info as described on the Veterans Agency site. This should include the Units he served with and dates. A TINY possibility is that there might be records for his squadron for the appropriate time which might mention his imprisonment

As you say, a professional researcher wouldn't help gaining access to his service record.

[Olde Crone]

Ann

Yes, I suspect that his first batch of children may be mentioned.

I'll tell her about her right to have basic information about his movements - as you say, that will at least be a help in pinning down possible places.

OC

[annswabey]

Have a read here about what information she should be able to obtain

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Ab...ardRecords.htm