Finding an old soldier

[Deleted member 26715]

My father is 90 in mid November, in 1945 he had to do his national service at the age of 21 as he was in a protected apprenticeship. On the day he went to basic training he met another recruit who was born on the same day as him & his service number was 1 after my father's. Over the next 2 years they travelled the world together but at the end of their service they went their separate ways. My sister & I think it would be a fantastic surprise for both of them out we could locate him, there is a risk he is no longer alive, but we do not know where to start, does anyone have any ideas?

We know the man's name, we could get his service number & the regiment by carefully asking our father.

Alan..

 

[classic33]

Have you tried putting both the names through one of the many armed forces sites? Including when they did the National Service.

 

[TVC]

Royal British Legion may have the best advice

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Thank you for those it's finding the starting place that is proving difficult, as far as we know since then our father has had no contact with the military & if the other person is the same then are they likely to know anything?

Alan

 

[classic33]

It might give a discharge date & location. Start from there.

 

[cosmicbike]

Royal British Legion may have the best advice

+1 for that

 

[classic33]

Any particular reason for wanting to start now?
Some online groups/sites might be willing to give that bit of extra help if there's a reason.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Any particular reason for wanting to start now?
Some online groups/sites might be willing to give that bit of extra help if there's a reason.

Not really other than he is 90 his health is not as good as it was, just seemed a unique thing we could do for him

Alan

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I wish you good luck, hope you find him and they can meet up after all these years

 

[classic33]

Try both names in here http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/search/

 

[0lonerider]

my dad r.i.p used safa and had great results in no time .

 

[Hover Fly]

I can tell you that the MOD in Kentigern House, Glasgow won't give details of any ex-service personnel to non-family members, and they won't have current addresses anyway.
Some possible starting points:
http://www.veterans-uk.info/links/comrades.html

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

A little doubt in my mind here. Fond memories and lots of stories from a troubled time, no contact afterwards. It's the going their separate ways bits afterwards that would make me hesitate. Perhaps they chose to leave it there....

 

[0lonerider]

id give it ago

 

[classic33]

A little doubt in my mind here. Fond memories and lots of stories from a troubled time, no contact afterwards. It's the going their separate ways bits afterwards that would make me hesitate. Perhaps they chose to leave it there....

One may have stayed in. Phaeton did say that his father was in a was in a protected apprenticeship.