Search using service number

[Sylvia]

Hello

Is there any way to find out the identity of a deceased military person if all you have is a service number?

Thanks,

Sylvia

[Jomot1]

There's no single answer to that as it would depend when they died, and whether they died in service.

If they died during WW1 then its more of a problem as the same service numbers were used by multiple regiments. In the inter-war years this changed, and a man retained the same number throughout his career.

[christanel]

Welcome to the Brit-Gen forums Sylvia.
Which country and which war are we talking about, WW1/WW11? If it is the UK and WW11 you will not find much online at all other than a record of their death if they died whilst serving. The CWGC site has the records of those deaths. If they survived the war then The MoD still holds their service records but they can be applied for at a cost of 30 pounds, the supply of their birth date and a copy of their death certificate. Then you will have a wait of up to about 18 months at the moment but when the backlog due to Covid restrictions eases it may be sooner. However as you don't have a name that route is not open to you.
Would you kike to give us the service number and we can see if there is anything to be found?
Jomot1 is way ahead of me
Christina

[Sylvia]

I have a photo of a family member in military uniform taken in 1933. It maybe my grandfather. The name on the back is Jim and the number on the back of the photo that I suspect might be a service number is 20507 or just 2507. It is very faded.

[almach]

There's a James May, service number 20507. Regiment Lancashire Fusiliers. Any good?

Also James Thornley, Welsh Regiment.

Both WW1

Why not give us the name of the person you think it may be.

[Sylvia]

Thank you very much for that information! I will look into it. My father was adopted and does not know the name of his father. The photos were recently sent to him, but there is no last name on the photo.

[Jomot1]

1933 is after the British Army renumbered, so a 5 digit service number would be unusual - in fact I think the only regiment with anything less than 6 or 7 digits was the RASC with 1 - 294000 and then 10660001 - 11000000.

[Sylvia]

The whole entry on the back of the picture is 11/2507.13 or 11/20507.13. So maybe not a service number at all. The uniform is quite distinctive, but I don’t see how to upload it.

[christanel]

Hi Sylvia
Here are the instructions for uploading photos
The first step is to make sure that you are in Go Advanced mode on the Brit-Gen thread where you want to place the photo. Click on the picture frame in the row of images above the reply box. (6 from the RH side). The box that appears requires a URL address.
You have to upload your photo to a free site which will provide a URL address. I use Postimage which is very simple.
On the home page of Postimage click on 'Choose images' then find and click on the file you want to upload where you have the photo stored on your computer eg Pictures. Then click on the particular folder that holds your picture and Open it. Choose your photo, click on it and click on Open. You are now taken back to the Postimage page where you are given a choice of 9 links. Click on the URL 'Hotlink for forum' Now right click on the URL address and then click on Copy. Go back to the reply box on the Brit-Gen thread and in the URL box right click on your mouse and from the menu click on paste. The URL for your photo is now ready to be posted on the forum along with any information you have typed in to accompany it.
There are other free sites from which to upload images with URL addresses if you want an alternative.
christina

[Sylvia]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rz8yTVmAeRzKQVzV8