How can I find out about my relative’s military medal entitlements?Updated 7 months ago

Uncovering your family’s military history can be fascinating and rewarding! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to research your relative’s service history and medal entitlements.

1. Gather Information

Start by collecting as much information as possible about your ancestor. Sources like the Australian War Memorial, family documents, and online tools such as:

• ancestry.com.au
• findmypast.com.au
• myheritage.com
• trove.nla.gov.au

For UK relatives, consider:

• forces-war-records.co.uk
• nationalarchives.gov.uk
• britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

2. Check Nominal Rolls

Once you have details like the full name and birth information of your relative, search the relevant nominal rolls to obtain service details such as their service number, enlistment date, and unit information. Rolls include:

• Pre First World War Conflicts Nominal Rolls
• WWI (1914-1918)
• WWII (1939-1945)
• Korean War (1950-1956)
• Vietnam War (1962-1975)
• First Gulf War (1990-1991)

3. Use the National Archives of Australia (NAA)

For many Australian service records, the National Archives of Australia (NAA) is an invaluable resource. They provide scanned records for certain wars, including the Boer War and WWI. WWII records are being digitised and are available on request (fees apply). Searching with various keyword combinations can help refine your results.

4. Apply to Honours & Awards

You can apply to the Department of Defence for an official list of your relative’s medal entitlements. For UK relatives, similar applications can be made through the UK Ministry of Defence. These applications take time (up to 12 months) but can provide a formal record of medals awarded.

5. Let Us Do the Research for You (fees apply)

Foxhole Medals can manage the entire process for you. We handle:

• Initial Research: We gather details using public records like the Nominal Roll.
• Requesting Service Records: We can request full service records from the NAA on your behalf (fees apply).
• Formal Medal Application: We can apply to the Department of Defence to obtain a formal list of entitlements (fees apply).

Why Choose Foxhole Medals?

• Expertise: We have extensive experience in researching service records and medal entitlements.
• Time-Saving: The research process can be complex and time-consuming, but we’ll handle it for you.
• Comprehensive Service: From initial searches to retrieving official documents, we manage the entire process to provide you with accurate results.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to know more about how we can help with researching your relative’s service history and medal entitlements, feel free to contact us. We’re here to make the process easier and more thorough!