Urgent advice please

[Titanicfan]

Can anyone please help me with an urgent query.

My aunty is filling in the MOD forms to apply for my grandfather's Army service records but she has just phoned me with a query regarding the Certificate of Kinship form. It states on the form that you have to be the next of kin. My grandmother passed away many years ago but my grandfather remarried. My grandfather has since passed away and my aunty wants to apply. Does she count as next of kin now because she is a direct descendent from my grandfather even though my grandfather's second wife could possibly be still alive?

I would be grateful for any advice. Thank you. :)

[Guest]

This actually cropped up when one of our (grown up) sons went into hospital and I was surprised to find that there is actually no legal definition of "next of kin". There is a document HERE (http://static.advicenow.org.uk/files/Next_of_Kin003-988.pdf) which explains a bit more from the NHS viewpoint.

In terms of the Mental Health Act - see HERE (http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/data/datamodeldictionary/help/faqs-07/next-of-kinhttp://) - spouse precedes child as "Nearest Relative".

That being the case, it might be best for your aunty to ring the MoD to check what their attitude is before parting with any cash that might not be refunded.

Graham

[pipsqueak]

I applied for (and got) my father's medals last year, as his next of kin. The MoD were quite clear that if the person is not alive, the next of kin line goes like this: wife, eldest child, second child (etc), eldest grandchild (etc.). The only person who can make claim is the first living person in that list. I have yet to apply for his records - when I claimed the medals I only had to provide name and rank and I figured out his corps from old photos.

[Andrewb]

Titanicfan

I would still fill in the forms and return them with a note of explanation. If they can't give you the information they will tell you, or alternatively, what other documentation you need to provide. Even if there is someone else with a prior claim on the information, if you can get their written permission MOD will usually release it to you.

Trust me it will be a while before these records see the light of day on Ancestry or anywhere else. Personnel records such as these have a 75 year embargo before they are released to TNA. If they are deemd sensitive MOD can retain them for up to 100 years.

Andrewb

[Geoffers]

Does your aunt have any elder siblings who could provide a letter giving her authority to obtain the record? I did this with my grandfather's service record, my dad providing permission for the information to be released to me.

If your aunt is the eldest surving child of your grandfather and his spouse is not alive, your aunt should be able to apply as next-of-kin

[Titanicfan]

Thanks for the info, Pipsqueak and AndrewB,

I am unable to get the authorisation from the official next of kin because she moved a few years ago. Is there any other possible way that I can find out which regiment and rank my grandfather was in so that I can at least order the war diaries for his regiment? The only information I know is that he was in the Royal Artillery Regiment on the home front serving on the coast in charge of the anti-aircraft guns. My aunty found his service number from his tag.

If I contacted the MOD do you think they would give me his regiment and rank if I supplied them with his DOB and service number?

:confused:

[Geoffers]

I am unable to get the authorisation from the official next of kin because she moved a few years ago.

Under these circumstances I think that your aunt should be able to apply in her own right as a next-of-kin - does your aunt know that anyone next up the pecking order is definitely still alive? - If has has lost contact, for all she knows, she is now next-of-kin.

[Titanicfan]

Thanks for the info, Geoffers. :)

[jespa]

Working on the principle that if you don’t ask you don’t get. Contact the MOD setting out the circumstances of your predicament and take it from there. I can only work on experience and when my South African neighbour wanted information about his G-Grand father’s U.K. naval records they were very helpful in steering us in the right direction on our neighbour’s behalf. With in a month we had the information we requested.

[Titanicfan]

Thanks for the advice, Jespa. :)