Service Records and Medals

Medals
  • Criteria for award of ALL medals issued since 1914  [more.....].
  • Search recommendations for military honours and awards 1935-1990 [more.....].
  • If the recommendation is approved and the award granted it is published in the London Gazette. When searching the Gazette remember to tick the box "Include Supplement". 
  • Search the London Gazette [more.....].
  • Apply for medals [more.....].

Service Records
This Archive does NOT have access to official military service records of any individual. They are an essential source of information for those looking for information and getting a copy of them is the best starting point. You can apply for them. Most Service Records have now been transferred to The National Archives (TNA) and can be applied for with a Freedom of Information (F.O.I.) request.
Follow this link to Apply for a Service Record.(updated Feb. 2024).

Royal Marines who served in Combined Operations
Unlike today in World War 2 and for some time afterwards not all Royal Marines were Commandos.
Service records of Royal Marines that show reference to certain shore bases such as HMS Copra, HMS Quebec, HMS Dinosaur indicate service in Combined Operations either as commando personnel, non commando Landing Craft personnel, or in some other capacity. There were also other Combined Operations shore bases. 
Victualling records were kept on all who served in the Royal Navy. They are kept at Restore Records Management, Navy Search, PO Box 7814 William Nadin Way Swadlincote DE11 1EG. ( Tel: 01283 227912 ). They will only advise if they have received a formal request via the service record application process to check on an individual.

Follow this link for an explanation of Royal Marines Register Numbers.
 

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All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.