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Get a copy of military records of service

Printable version

1. Overview

You can apply for either:

How long it takes

It can take up to a year for your application to be processed.

Other ways to find records of service

You can also search the:

2. Apply for your own records

You can apply for your records if you are, or have been, a member of the armed forces. For example, the:

  • Royal Navy (including Royal Marines)
  • British Army
  • Royal Air Force

You’ll need proof of your identity, such as a passport or driving licence - and proof of address.

If your application is urgent, explain why in your form or a letter, so it can be prioritised. For example, you need the records for legal or medical reasons.

You can only use this service to request someone else’s records if you have permission to act on their behalf. You’ll need proof, for example, a lasting power of attorney or a letter from the person giving you permission.

There’s no fee.

If you’ve left the armed forces

Use the online service to request your personal information from the Ministry of Defence.

If you’re still in the armed forces or cannot apply online

Fill in a subject access request form and send it to the address on the form, along with any supporting documents.

3. Apply for the records of a deceased serviceperson

Records of service for the deceased are held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the National Archives.

Where to apply

Royal Navy and Royal Marines

Apply to the MOD for records of personnel who served after World War 1.

British Army

Apply to the MOD for records of:

  • officers whose service ended after April 1922

  • soldiers born after 31 December 1939

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Apply to the MOD for records of:

  • officers who served from 1920 onwards
  • personnel, except officers, born after 31 December 1939

Polish forces under British command

Apply to the MOD for records of Polish service personnel who served under British command in World War 2.

Ranks and periods served that are not listed

If the role or period of time is not on this list, request a Freedom of Information (FOI) search from the National Archives.

Fees

There’s no fee to request records from the MOD. But there is a fee for requesting records from the National Archives.

Apply for records held by the MOD

You can apply online or by post.

Due to high demand, do not submit more than 5 applications every month.

What you’ll need

You’ll need to provide the person’s:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • service number, if you know it

You do not have to provide a death certificate. But without one, information may be withheld unless the person either:

  • died in service
  • was born more than 116 years ago

If you’re applying online and can provide a death certificate, it needs to be in digital format (PDF, PNG, or JPEG).

If you do not have the death certificate, you can order a copy or provide a declaration of a presumed death.

What information you’ll get

In some cases little or no information is available about someone’s military service.

Each record of service may include:

  • first name and surname
  • service number
  • rank and regiment or corps
  • place and date of birth
  • date they joined and left the armed forces
  • date of death, if they died in service
  • details of good conduct medals
  • details about their career, for example, the units they served in

Information may be withheld if it:

  • could harm the security or operations of the armed forces
  • relates to medical or disciplinary information

Apply online

Start now

Apply by post

  1. Download and fill in a request for information form.

  2. Download and fill in a search form. The form you need depends on which military service the person was in.

  3. Send both forms and any supporting documents (for example, a death certificate) to the address on the search form.

After you’ve applied

The relevant military service will confirm they’ve received your application. The search can take up to a year. You’ll be sent the records either by post or email depending on which service you applied to.

4. If you want to complain

Write to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Information Rights team if you want to complain about how your request was handled.

MOD Information Rights Compliance team
cio-foi@mod.gov.uk

MOD Information Rights team
Ground floor, zone D
Main Building
London
SW1A 2HB

You can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you’re not happy with how the MOD handled your complaint.