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→Army personnel serving after January 1921
The Ministry of Defence has released an aid for the files they hold for service personnel with a '''birth date prior to 1901''', which contains name, date of birth and service number. Numbers with a P prefix are believed to designate officers.<ref>Underdown, David [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/221706-index-to-be-released-of-pre-1901-dob-service-records-still-held-by-mod/?do=findComment&comment=2196454 Index to be released of pre 1901 DoB service records still held by MoD] ''Great War Forum'' 05 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.</ref> The aid is in the form of a letter of advice and eight attachments in MS Excel Spreadsheet format, which may be found in [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foi-responses-released-by-mod-week-commencing-1-december-2014 FOI responses released by MOD: week commencing 1 December 2014].
<br>'''Update''': 2017, April. This MOD database is now available on Ancestry as [http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=61448 UK, Military Discharge Indexes, 1920-1971], although Ancestry does not advise the source. (Located in the Military category, and otherwise appears unclassified. If locating through Ancestry Search, use the card catalogue with search term Discharge). Also available on Forces War Records as [https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/collections/180/pre-1921-mod-retention-records/ Pre 1921 MOD retention records], (seen 2018, May).
<br>'''Note''': It appears that this database aid is not 100% accurate, as there is a known instance of a file which the MOD subsequently located, which was not included in the provided database.<ref>Dragoon [https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/255470-soldiers-records-after-1918/?do=findComment&comment=2584570 Soldiers Records after 1918?] ''Great War Forum'' 20 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2020.</ref>The release (in January 2022) of the 1921 England and Wales Census has also revealed some discrepancies.
Hints, mainly from WW2Talk Forum. Note however, release of record conditions appear to have changed during 2021, and it is unclear just what currently applies.
*"You want to get next of kin FULL records (make a note on the application for '''FULL''' records)"<ref>jacksun (Wayne) [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/grandfather-ww2-rasc-burma-help-and-suggestions.47075/#post-555463 Grandfather WW2 RASC Burma - Help and suggestions!] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 18 April 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2016.</ref>
:'''Note''', to receive full records, either 25 years must have elapsed after death, or within 25 years of death, the consent of the immediate next of kin must be been given. '''Update''': It may not be possible to obtain full records (as at 2021/10/19). In July 2021 the MOD advised "Currently under the MOD Publication Scheme all we are releasing is a copy of the AFB200 & attestation papers (if held). These documents meet all our obligations of disclosure".<ref> J Kubra [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/service-records-online-application-process.90243/ Service Records - Online Application Process] ''WW2Talk Forum'' 21 July 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.</ref>. Comments/complaints have been seen about the small number of pages of records received.
