Ww2 royal navy records download

The online records are for ratings that enlisted during or before 1928. As some rn ships also served with other dominion and allied navies, the last figure is a minimum. Nmrn records held at fleet air arm museum, yeovilton. British royal navy seamen 18991924 records provide you with your ancestors service record, which details their career with the navy.

Click on any of the links below to take you to each collection. Along with these official records, they are a resource for oral histories and a collection of. Rn and rnvr ratings engagement and enrolment papers 1888 to 1923. Predominantly these cover the first world war 19141918. If you wish to apply for a search you should download, complete and. British military records genealogy familysearch wiki. Jan 12, 2016 footage from the british pacific fleet off sakishima gunto, including a kamikaze run on hms indomitable on april 1, 1945. See the national archives guides to commissioned officers, warrant officers and. The careers of naval officers can be traced through their commissions and promotions listed in the regular official navy list. This information about personnel records is based on data provided by mod, november 1998. About uk, navy lists, 18881970 this database includes multiple volumes of the navy list, the royal navys official published list of officers. How to make freedom of information requests including rnrm related requests how to make requests for personal data and service records. The records include mercantile reservists, shetland royal naval reservists. Knowing when to engage the help of an experienced military research specialist is important for folks who are wanting to learn more about a family members military service and battle participation during wwi, wwii, the korean war.

Along with these official records, they are a resource for oral histories and a collection of personal papers of prominent naval personalities. In 1707, englands naval force merged with the smaller royal scots navy after. Laid down in 1937 and still the measure of naval power at the start of world war 2. The records for royal marine artillery officers for the years 1793 to 1855 and in some cases to 1870 are kept separate and there is an index list of rm warrant officers appointed between 1904 and 1912 and serving up to 1923. Information held by mod on royal navy rn, royal marines rm. Civil war and later navy personnel records at the national archives, 18611924, an article in prologue. Us navy 1200 navy pentagon washington dc 203501200. Collections with fewer than 10,000 records in them were not listed. You can search and download the records of seamen born over 100 years. Personnel who served in the second world war and subsequent conflicts may still. In 1939, the british navy was still the most powerful in the world, with the largest worldwide network of fortified bases and arsenals. The fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between the united kingdom and the majority of the british empire in the eastern hemisphere. Finding service records national museum of the royal navy.

Royal navy officers service records 17561931 the national. Some records are held by agencies other than defence such as the national archives of australia naa and the department of veterans affairs dva. Entries in them continue for many years according to. The two primary record groups are the records of the bureau of naval personnel record group 24, which includes world war iiera deck logs and muster rolls and the records of the. Archives the archives of the naval history and heritage command is the primary repository of the us navy s official postworld war ii operational and administrative history records. Amicus 25345 amicus 25345 the crucible of war, 19391945, volume iii of the official history of the royal canadian air force, by brereton greenhous, stephen j. World war ii cadet nursing corps card files, 19421948. It is the oldest of her majestys armed forces and is the senior of the three services. Royal naval division service records, 1914 1919 adm 339 rnvr royal naval volunteer reserve service records from ww1 adm 337 campaign medals issued to merchant seamen, first world war bt 351. These registers of royal marines service contain, as well as information similar to that contained in attestation papers, a description of physical characteristics at the time of reengagement and discharge together with full details of service. The creation of a national air force, volume ii of the official history of the royal canadian air force, by w. Records holdings relating to world war ii at the national archives at riverside, originals and microfilm. Search and download the royal navy registers of seamens services for ratings, by name or official number, on our catalogue.

The national museum of the royal navy only holds a very limited number of service related documents as most uk service records are held by the ministry of defence or the national archives. Jul 30, 2018 in the final months of and in the years after world war two, many resources, documents and records relating to royal navy camouflage were purposely destroyed. Archives the archives of the naval history and heritage command is the primary repository of the us navys official postworld war ii operational and administrative history records. Boys as young as 15 could join the navy, meaning they could serve their country several years before the army would allow them to. Royal navy, royal naval reserve and royal naval air service. A absence where not covered by something more specifica air branch a or act. Download form sf 180 pdf write a letter to the nprc. Navy records at the national archives include the following databases.

This unique resource also marks and commemorates the royal navys contribution to the first world war effort through the lives of those officers and ratings who served. World war ii or the second world war was a global conflict from 1939 to 1945 involving most of the worlds nations. The official history of the royal navy began with the formal establishment of the royal navy as. Records of the bureau of naval personnel, record group number 24. This page provides information on how to find an individuals service records. The original records are in four series at the national archives. Navy until a separate department of the navy was established by act of april 30, 1798 1 stat.

Some of these ratings went on to serve into the 1950s and the online service records reflect this. I have applied for his service record and it arrived today. An index of 30,000 records containing the names of prisoners of war, plus their ranks, service numbers, units and prison camp information. How you access your service records will depend on the type and age of the records. Service record abbreviations national museum of the. Information and forms for requesting records of deceased service personnel.

Research a veteran the national wwii museum new orleans. Service files of the royal canadian navy, 19101941. Uk, royal navy registers of seamens services, 18481939. They include translations of key japanese documents prepared by several different agencies, a small amount of original japanese material.

Get military service records for the army, royal navy, royal marines or raf from 1920. By 1945, the battleship and its large gun had been superseded by the aircraft carrier and its aircraft. Entries in them continue for many years according to the length of service of each seaman. Navy ships, stations, and other naval activities, 0101193901011949. Search this is a link for searching the records via the access to archival databases aad resource.

The history of the british royal navy goes back more than a thousand years to king alfreds first sea battle in 882. Navy muster rolls and associated reports of changes for u. Our hope is that it will allow and promote a wide and diverse variety of research into the composition and operations of the royal navy during the war. Search and download the royal navy registers of seamens services for. Records include birthdate, birthplace, vessels served on, and dates of service. Records relating to personal participation in world war ii. The royal naval reserve has seen action in world war i, world war ii, the iraq war and afghanistan.

The national archives tna guide to royal navy ratings service records, 18531928. Royal navy colours of world war two the patterns 507, g10. War department, established by act of august 7, 1789 1 stat. Reading the content of the above this thread has cleared up quite a few questions of mine regarding my fathers royal navy service which i just received a copy of this afternoon from my brother in australia. Available here are over 700,000 royal navy service records for ratings who entered the service between 1853 and 1928.

Rn and rnvr ratings who served 1888 to 1923 engagement and enrolment papers at national museum of the royal navy. After reading this post you should have a better idea of the more common types of records you can expect to find within wwii era navy military service records. Download and fill in the relevant search form, depending on whether the person was in the. First world war records at pro, ww2 records at mod, later records at hms centurion. You may find more than one record for an individual is their. Imperial japanese navy and order of the golden kite a note. The national archives guide to royal marines service records. The record began when a man signed up and would be annotated throughout his naval career. Search over 2 million navy records available with a subscription only. It is advised that you look there first before contacting the nmrn. Royal naval reserve rnr professional seafarers who served with the merchant. Disciplinary and court martial records are incredibly useful for genealogical research and are some of the most intriguing records that are preserved within wwii navy service records.

Search over 10 million military records for world war ii 1939. Mail or fax a request pertaining to military records standard form sf 180 to the national personnel records center nprc. These men and women are our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings. Over 33 million records are contained in this database. Captured german records, description of records on microform. American jewish historical society wwii jewish servicemen cards, 19421947. Royal naval division casualties of the great war, 19141924. About uk, royal navy registers of seamens services, 18481939 these registers record the service of seamen in the royal navy. National archives at college park, college park, md. World war ii electronic records reference report national. For more information from the uk national archive on searching for the military records of members of the royal navy visit their page some important information which contains a wide range of advice and directions on where to look. Where to find royal navy service records imperial war museums.

Royal naval officers campaign medal rolls 19141920. Second world war, royal australian navy 385kb pdf file pdf file explore the collection our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in australias military forces. This is a short guide to records of royal navy s that enlisted and served after the. You can search and download the records in discovery charges apply by filling in the form below. King george v battleship hms anson cyberheritage, click to enlarge in 1945. Many of the records of ratings who served in the second world war and all of the. Board of corrections for naval records bcnr shift colorsnavy retiree newsletter. Vessel and station log books at the national archives navy deck logs available online through the national archives catalog u. Earliest material relates to 1808 1814, latest material relates to the1970s. Where to find royal navy service records imperial war. Rnr homepage search and download the ww1 service records of those who served in the royal naval volunteer.

Royal navy edit edit source the first permanent naval fleet was formed during the reign of king henry viii 15091547. These searches cover the period from the late 18th century, however earlier records can be available. Or search our entire database using the search box above. Royal marines service records military archive research. Royal navy registers of seamens services description. Registers, arranged numerically giving date of birth, ship or shore establishment and an account of service. The covering dates relate to the dates of opening the registers. Trace the activities of specific ships using the index in the five volumes covering naval operations in the official history of the great war and in the war at sea sections of the official. Depending on the time period, service records for the royal navy and other british naval services are held in england at the national archives or the ministry of defence. The allies led by britain and its commonwealth and the united states fought in the most widespread war in history, with.

British and commonwealth navies at the beginning and end of world war 2. These are a selection of service records of ratings who served in the royal naval reserve rnr between 1860 and 1955. Request your military service records veterans affairs. Service histories of 1,000 royal navy warships in world war 2, including class information, by lieutenant commander geoffrey mason, rn rtd. Royal navy ratings enlisted after 1918 the national archives.

The royal navy research archive aims to provide virtual museum, giving access to a range of web materials related to rn ships, establishments, units, and personnel, primarily from the start of world war one through into the 21st century. Queen alexandras royal naval nursing service qarnns. In 1660, the kingdom of england created a national naval force after king charles ii was restored to the throne. A guide to hiring an expert researcher for military service records o. Registers of service 1842 to 1936 adm 159 on tna, findmypast 18991919 and an index with links to tna records on ancestry. That there might have been future value in these resources was either not recognized or deemed unimportant. The earliest surviving navy records are from 1617, but the majority of the extensive collection date from the mid1600s. Operation kipion we have been on patrol in the gulf since 1980, demonstrating the uks commitment to peace and stability. The military budget allocated to aviation, and especially to the army, was tiny in comparison. By 1945, the battleship and its large gun had been superseded. Royal naval reserve service records 18601955 the national. Jun 28, 2016 just a polite headsup findmypast is giving free access to over 65 million military records to mark the centenary of the battle of the somme. Some records are free to view but others are available on either a subscription or pay per view basis.

The british mediterranean fleet also known as the mediterranean station was a formation of the royal navy. Hello hopefully i am posting this in the right place my father was in the royal navy during world war two. Records of the bureau of naval personnel national archives. Wwii royal navy records navy net royal navy community. World war 2 service histories by name and by type and class right the total of some 1060 ship names includes 22 ran, 41 rcn, 5 rin, 9 rnzn, 3 sanf, 2 dutch, 1 french, 7 greek, 10 norwegian, 6 polish and 14 russian, leaving 940 royal navy. Congressional research service report for congress julissa gomezgranger information research specialist anne leland information research specialist 15 june 2010 congressional research service 75700. Just a polite headsup findmypast is giving free access to over 65 million military records to mark the centenary of the battle of the somme. Get military service records for the army, royal navy, royal marines or raf from 1920 who can apply, how long it takes, cost, how to apply get a copy of military service records gov. Royal navy ratings service records 18531928 the national. The royal navy has played a central role in britain s history for centuries. Exercise joint warrior is the largest military exercise in europe, bringing together the royal navy, the royal air force and the british army, as well as forces from other nations. The records will show when your ancestor served and on what ship, which will help you to determine what engagements or naval battles they took part in.

We have listed the main sources but there may be others. Search over 10 million military records for world war ii 19391945 has one of the largest online collections for the second world war. Because some records are to be transferred from mod to pro, the detailed situation is subject to change. Go to findmypasts az of record sets page for links to these additional collections. Service histories of 1,000 royal navy warships in world war 2, including class information, by lieutenant commander geoffrey mason, rn rtd note. For many years britain had the strongest navy in the world. Many records are available online, sometimes on more than one site. If you are interested in an earlier period please give us details of the individual or information you are seeking on the enquiry form. View download this is a link for viewing andor downloading the files and documentation from the catalog. Some of the records cover periods of service up to at least 1950. Royal navy colours of world war two standard camouflage.

Download a copy of our guide to tracing your royal navy ancestry. Ship and operational histories imperial war museums. Get military service records for the army, royal navy, royal marines or raf from 1920 who can apply, how long it takes, cost, how to apply. Marines in the boxer rebellion, an article in prologue. Navy cruise books yearbookstyle books detailing sailors and others on board u. The royal navy in 1940, contemporary perspective drawing. Unlike british army service records, royal navy records normally only run to one page, and sometimes no more than half a page. British military records online genealogy familysearch wiki. Tracing your royal navy family history imperial war museums. The records include mercantile reservists, shetland royal naval. Ww2 royal navy records decipher world war two page 1. Search for your naval ancestor today, plus download your free tutorial how to search naval records and 2 original documents from. Navy ships or in other naval activities between 31 january 1938 and 31 december 1949.

Published regularly since 1814, the navy list is a good starting place for researching the career of an officer in the royal navy, royal marines, queen alexandras royal nursing service, coast. There are several records groups containing wwii navy records in the custody of the textual reference archives ii branch at the national archives at college park, md. An overview posted by geoff on sep 5, 2014 5 comments this post is an introduction which touches briefly on some of the more common elements of wwii navy service records sometimes referred to as wwii navy o. More than 16 million american men and women served in the us armed forces during world war ii, and another 3.

Ship and operational histories see the national archives tna guides for royal navy operations during the first world war and the second world war. The first commanderinchief for the mediterranean fleet was the. Search over 10 million military records for world war ii. This guide will help you find records at the national archives relating to royal navy operations and actions that took place between 1939 and 1945. Uk, navy lists, 18881970 search historical records.