Need Help with Service Record Search

Discussion in 'Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy' started by Osco, Oct 19, 2016.

  1. Osco

    Osco Member

    Apologies if this is in the wrong place...

    Looking some help with researching my Great Uncles service. I've trawled through probably thousands of pages online but can't find any information that has helped me yet so if someone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated.

    The information I do have is very limited:

    Name
    Date of Birth
    Place of Birth - county Down, N.I.
    Years of Service - 1940 - 1945
    Army file no - consists of two letters 6 numbers e.g. XX123456

    I also have some family rumours and small facts including that he possibly signed up in Liverpool, definitely landed on D-Day just not sure what beach, fought alongside Canadians and then moved to Canada after the war (hence lack of detail within our family) and he had the regiments insignia tattoo'd on his arm which was some form of harp.

    I never met my Great Uncle as he died with his family in Canada when I was 9. The harp makes me think it was some form of Irish regiment but I never actually saw the tattoo and sadly have no photos.

    I think my biggest lead is the army file number but I have no idea what to do with it.

    Any help is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks
     
  2. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Hi. Osco welcome to ww2talk.
    You already have the details to apply for his army records.
    Get a copy of military service records - GOV.UK
    Cost you £30 and a few weeks waiting, but well worth the money.
    In the meantime give us his name and DOB and DOD if you have it and you will be surprised what we can find out.
     
  3. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I don't currently have an account, but if you are very nice to somebody who has signed up to www.findmypast.com - or indeed, you register for a free trial - you might well be able to track down his Date/(exact)Place of birth and make the success of the M.O.D. search (as RCG details) more likely. You can always cancel the trial at no cost as soon as you've got your results.
     
  4. Osco

    Osco Member

    Cheers for the replies guys, I'll make an application for his army records straight away and check out the websites.

    His details are as follows:

    Robert Scott
    DOB - 2nd Aug 1921
    DOD - 29th June 2002

    Thanks again.
     
  5. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

    Mention of a Harp, possibly Royal Ulster Rifles?
     
  6. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    There is this one, date of death is sopt on but date of birth is slightly different - do you have any more info on him - did he die in Canada for example?

    Robert (Bobby) Scott
    1921–2002
    BIRTH 8 FEB 1921 • Belfast, Antrim, Ireland
    DEATH 29 JUN 2002 • Canada

    TD

    edited to add:
    his photo??
    [​IMG]

    One family tree states:

    Military
    1944
    Fought in Normandy and Europe in World War

    But there is nothing to confirm this unfortunately
     
  7. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Do some army records have two letters and six numbers?
     
  8. Richard Lewis

    Richard Lewis Member

    With letters as a prefix wouldn't this be a Royal Navy service number?

    Richard
     
  9. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I would suggest that the first 2 numbers of his service number are at present unknown

    TD
     
  10. Osco

    Osco Member

    Humbled by all the replies!

    The army file number I have is AY690216 if thats any use.

    Looks like the above could be him, he was my Dads uncle and my Dad always referred to him as Bobby Scott.

    And yes he died in Canada.
     
  11. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    What do you mean by the 'army file' number? Can you put a photo up of it if it is not too, personal please?
    It's not his service number then?

    Lesley
     
  12. Osco

    Osco Member

    Unfortunately I dont have a photo and I've no idea what an Army file number is, I got that from his closest living relative in Canada. I'll send her another email and see if there is anything else at all.
     
  13. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I am putting these details here for now as they are the only Robert Scotts born in Antrim in the first quarter of 1921, it may be wrong, so lets wait and see what Osco comes back with to confirm or otherwise.

    Robert Scott in the Ireland, Civil Registration Births Index, 1864-1958
    Name: Robert Scott
    Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1921
    Registration district: Ballymena
    Birth Country: Ireland
    Volume: 1
    Page: 72
    FHL Film Number: 101079

    Name: Robert James Scott
    Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1921
    Registration district: Ballymena
    Birth Country: Ireland
    Volume: 1
    Page: 81
    FHL Film Number: 101079

    These are for future possible reference
    TD
     
    Charley Fortnum likes this.
  14. Osco

    Osco Member

    Thanks for all your help TD.

    Currently waiting for my Canadian relative to get back to me.

    It is possible that his date of birth is the 8th february and the confusion has been with how Canada/America write their dates. As in 08/02/1921.

    I know that his brother, my Granda, was born a year later in 1922. I think in Lisburn. My dad says the family at that time lived in Edenderry, co. Down.

    Also Robert had no middle names.

    I've asked for clarification on the 'army file no' and where exactly that came from. I'll post any response I get here.
     
  15. Osco

    Osco Member

    Quick update.

    Robert's DOB is definitely 2nd August 1921. Someone in the family along the way must have posted the above thinking it was 8th Feb.

    The army file no was written down by Robert's wife at some point and passed on to family, assumed to be his i.d. number but is possibly something different, maybe pension or similar. Bit more research required here.

    My Canadian relative is going to look through the boxes she has in the basement to try find anything of help.

    Any updates I'll stick them up here.
     
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    mmmmmmm few clues , Liverpool - Canadians - harp tattoo


    Might have been in 8th Bn Kings Regt as they were part of No 7 Beach Group on JUNO.
    Beach groups - Wikipedia

    Liverpool Irish - Wikipedia


    We Will Remember
    [​IMG]
     
  17. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

    Might be an idea to let us know which part of Canada he emigrated to or was living in.

    Harp Tattoo perhaps he loved Guinness :D.
     
  18. Osco

    Osco Member

    Anywhere I can buy that Fitzsimons book?

    I believe he moved to Scarborough, Ontario although the remaining family now live a good bit away in Newfoundland.
     
  19. Osco

    Osco Member

    Anyone know is the death certificate necessary when requesting service records? Could cause some issues.
     
  20. Tullybrone

    Tullybrone Senior Member

    IIRC Death Cert is always required in support of an application. I've had to obtain one for all 3 applications I've made

    Good Luck

    Steve Y
     

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