Genealogy Chat

Hi
I am hoping someone may be able to offer me some advice. I am quite new to this but have hit a brick wall. My father was in the Coldstream guards during the 50/60s and I was looking forward to finding out more about his army service. However as I cannot supply his regitmental number I have little hope of finding out anything about it.
So the long and short of it is Does anyone have any idea how I may find it or have any other suggestions on how I may apply for his details without it? Cheers :-(

http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/army.html

Army service records are held by Service Number, Rank, Full Name and Date of Birth. It is important that as much of this information as possible is provided, together with the Regiment or Corps if known, to assist in locating the correct record.

Does not actually say you can not apply without the service number but obviously useful if you had it

Be aware the Guards Regiments have there own archived service records, so you can apply direct to them,
Im sure if you have all his details without his service number they will help you

Here is the link to The Coldstream Guards.

http://www.rhqcoldmgds.co.uk/shop/page/3?shop_param=

You can download the appropriate forms direct from the site.


George

Edit

Unless you have already tried The Guards Archivist, and that is what they are telling you need his service number

Just a note:
Did your father get married or have children whilst being a serving soldier?
some birth cert's and marriage cert's may have the regimental number on them,

But George and GlitterBaby are correct you can still apply for his army service record without his regimental number

Roy

If your father is deceased, you may be asked to supply proof of his death.....and your kinship.

Is your mother alive?

If so, she would have to be the one to apply

Hi
and thank you all for all your interest and advice. My parents were not then married.
As George stated the Guards have their own records, I have contacted the Barracks and have learnt the cost is £35 for a search and the regitmental number is paramount in the search and the fee is still payable even if the search is unsuccessful.
Apart from his name I have no other details to submit, seems such a long shot as I cannnot even be certain of his dates of service.
However I am going to consider what to do next and will keep you up-to-date
Cheers

It makes no difference whether your parents were married when he was serving............if your mother was married to him, was still married to him when he died, and is alive, the application will have to come from her.

Don't you know his date of birth?

As he is your father i presume you would no his dob and his parents names or his wife (next of kin at the time he joined) these should help with their search for him as these details will be in his records

and also as i posted above, did he get married or have any children whilst in the army as certs sometimes have the regimental number under fathers/groomes occupation

Roy

Hi
thanks Flick
sadly both my parents are deceased.I am next of kin and can apply submitting a death cert.
I have a copy of his birth/death certs too but the archivist at Wellington Barracks London assures me that because of limitied time and resources my search would prove almost impossible without the addition of his regitmental number.
It was suggested by another source that I may find out his date of service through his National Insurance contributions, I contacted their office but like most govermental departments am still waiting for a reply,
Cheers

Hi
porkie pie
dad lost his parents when he was a child.
Looking into his history it was unlikely that
he submitted a next of kin, in fact from what
I have discovered it seems sadly he was in
a hurry to get away.
I have copies of my siblings birth certs and
some of them do not include our father's
name.

Hi
cont
My mother told me years ago that as they were unmarried and my father was not around at the birth she was not permitted to add his name as the father without him being there,
True or not it makes little difference to us now but it certainly has had an impact on my research!

I applied to the Grenadier Guards some years ago for WW2 service records. I didn't have the Regimental number but they still supplied me with the records - hope this will be the same for you!

Patricia, what your mother said about father not present to register the birth's is correct, if your parents were not married he would have to be present at the registry office to sign the register,

good luck

Roy

Hi Roy
as I included in a previous post several of my siblings do not have our father's name on their birth certificates. My mother's explaination was that they were unmarried and my father was away on service.
I still need/would like to discover my father's coldstream guard's regitmental number. Any ideas :-)

Cheers

Could he have been awarded any medals or awards? Might be worth searching the London Gazette, just in case

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/

Is your father's name on YOUR birth cert?

If it isn't, I rather fear that you will not be considered eligible to apply for his records, as you would have no proof of your relationship to him.

When joining the service your father would have HAD to give details of a next of kin.......if only for notification in the event of his death.

Hi Flick
thanks for that. however I shall not have a problem applying for my father's service record.
I have only learnt recently of his family history and have no idea who could possibly have been his next of kin, still that does not matter now either.
However all suggestions are really appreicated and already I have been led to web sites which may certainly be useful in my research.
I am curious too as I have noticed your cap/lapel pin, eyes not as good as they used to be, which corp/regitment.

Hi was plain jane now ...........
thanks for advice. If I am unsuccessful in discovering his regitmental numer I will have to submit all other relevant information as requested and then wait and see what if anything comes of it.
I have not used the London Gazette before a new resource for me!
I think it's unlikely he received any medals as he did talk occasionally about
his time in the army and I am sure he would have mentioned that.

Hi to you all
Just wanted to send an update. Finally discovered regimental number, as suggested it was on an older sibling's birth certificate. However though we have no contact I did feel odd requesting a copy. All details have now been sent and I am eagerly awaiting news! Thank again for the support
Best wishes patj :-)