The Army Personnel Centre Helpdesk (0345 600 9663) provides assistance to Army units, outside agencies and the general public who are inquiring about the disclosure of information held on officers and soldiers.
They do not hold unit addresses or telephone numbers for units or Army personnel. These details can be obtained from the MOD Operator on 0141 248 7890.
The Army Personnel Centre Helpdesk does not deal with pay or pension matters. For enquiries relating to these, and for medal enquiries please contact the Pay and Pension Help Desk on 0800 085 3600.
British Army service records
The Army Personnel Centre (APC) Historical Disclosures Section holds army service records for officers whose service ended after April 1922 and soldiers whose service ended after January 1921. APC also holds some records for the Foot Guards (not Scots Guards) back to 1750. Information from these records can be requested under the MOD Publication Scheme.
Details of how to request these records is available at the link within the image below.
Scots Guards
This office does not have access to records for soldiers of the Scots Guards Regiment as they are held in the Guards' own archives.
Please redirect your enquiry to the following address:
The Scots Guards
Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk
London, SW1E 6HQ
Tel: 0207 414 3419
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://scotsguards.org/history/archives/
Please note that there is not as much detail held on Army personal files as people think.
Army files are paper-based records that follow the career of the individual and, in most cases, make little mention of theatres of operation or action seen.
Medals and awards are recorded but citations are never included. Only very rarely does a file contain a soldier's photograph.
Some files contain more information than others and we have no way of knowing what any particular file holds until we have looked at it. Regimental War Diaries, which are held at the National Archives, may be of more use than Army personal files in providing an insight into an individual’s war experience.
Polish forces under British command
If your enquiry is about the record of a member of the Polish forces under British Command during WW2 you should send your completed application form to:
APC Disclosures 5 (Polish)
Building 1 (Ops), RAF Northolt
West End Road
Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6NG
Former Army personnel who wish to receive copies of their service records under the Data Protection Act are required to submit a Subject Access Request (SAR), accompanied by verification of identify (a photocopy of photo card driving license or copy of passport and a utility bill showing current address) to the following address:
APC MS Support - Disclosures 2
MP 535,
Kentigern House,
65 Brown Street,
Glasgow
G2 8EX
Tel: 0345 600 9663
Fax: 0141 224 3172
Email: [email protected]
The Army Personnel Centre Disclosures 3 section is the focal point for requests for Medical records under the Data Protection Act 1998 for ex-Army personnel. Requests should be made in writing including proof of ID (a photocopy of your driving license or passport and recent utility bill) to:
APC MS Support - Disclosures 3
MP 525,
Kentigern House,
65 Brown Street,
Glasgow
G2 8EX
Tel: 0345 600 9663
Fax: 0141 224 3172
Email: [email protected]
Prospective employers may obtain a reference for ex-Army personnel by writing to:
APC MS Support - Disclosures 1
MP 520,
Kentigern House,
65 Brown Street,
Glasgow
G2 8EX
Tel: 0345 600 9663
Fax: 0141 224 3172
Email: [email protected]
Please note that the written consent of the individual to disclose the information should be forwarded with the request for a reference. We will endeavour to answer requests for information within 20 working days.