• Skip main menu
• MOD home
• defence for...
• about defence
• defence news
• A - Z index
• contact us
• help

Search Term:Search defence:

Search Scope:

Making a request for service details of deceased service personnel

Note that if you are not the Next of Kin and do not have the consent of the Next of Kin, then for a period of 25 years following the date of death the only information that will be disclosed to you is: Surname, Forename, Rank, Service, Service Number, Regiment/Corps, Place of Birth, Age, Date of Death, the date an individual joined the service and the date of leaving.

After this period then, depending on what information is held, an individuals record of service can be disclosed, this information is likely to consist of: an account of the dates that the individual served with the Armed Forces, the units in which he/she served and the locations of those units, the ranks in which the service was carried out and details of any orders of chivalry and gallantry medals (decorations of valour) some of which may already have been announced in the London Gazette.

Proof of death is required before a request can be accepted.  However, if the date of birth of the individual was more than 116 years ago the requirement will be waived.

Before contacting the MoD you may wish to follow the link to the Armed Forces Memorial (AFM) website in External Links. The AFM is dedicated to members of the UK Armed Forces (Regular & Reserve) killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since WW2. The link will also direct you to a search facility for the Roll of Honour.

There is a charge of £30 per record for provision of this service.  Only the widow/widower or civil partner at time of death will receive information free of charge.

The information that is held on individuals varies, and until the search has been undertaken there is no way of knowing what information is held.  In a small number of cases no information is found. If a search is unsuccessful we are unable to refund payment.

Now complete the relevant forms in Related pages and send with payment to the relevant address provided on the forms. The form for Next of Kin has three parts to complete, including a declaration that must be signed.  The form for General Enquirers has two parts.

If you wish to request your own information you should make a Subject Access Request. Please click on the relevant Related links.