08. How can I get hold of my service record?

You may need to get hold of personal information held by the forces for many reasons, including:

• to prove you were in the services;
• for medical reasons; or
• because you are researching your family history.

If you are a former serviceman or woman wanting your own service records, you must make a 'subject access request' (SAR).

You must make a SAR in writing and you must include some proof of your identity, such as a copy of your passport or a recent utilities bill. You must also include enough information to help locate the records you want, such as your:

• service number;
• rank;
• full name;
• date of birth; and
• the dates you served in the forces.

If you were in the army, you must also include details of your regiment or corps.

Service records are stored in various places around the country. To find the address you should write to for your records, contact the Veterans Agency (see 'Further help' below for details).

You should receive a reply to your letter within 40 days.

How can I find information about a serviceman or woman who has died?
If you want information about someone who has died, you need to send in a copy of their death certificate, unless they died in service. The Veterans Agency can tell you where to send the certificate. If you are not a close relative (next of kin), you will also need the permission of the closest relative or relatives. You may have to pay a fee for the information.