Digitisation of Home Guard records

[AdrianBruce]

See https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine ... rd-records. That is an interesting article (thanks WDYTYA mag) because it contains the clearest statement I've yet seen about how the commercial relationship works - e.g. no, TNA are not paying their contractors.

It's worth following the links to the TNA notice https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... e5a8feeb29 and from there to the PDF about MOD Service Records, Home Guards, Collation 110057 Digitisation and Licensing Procurement Document since that PDF makes a loose indication about GDPR implications.

[Thunder]

This sounds good but the contract will run for 10 years!. We must keep an eye on TNA about the transfer of the original records to TNA and make sure they don't plan to do a 'Ministry of Justice' and destroy the original files when the records are digitised. Given the very poor listing of the Second World War records by MOD (we need full names) it has to be better and will MOD insist on a 125-year closure on these files as well.

[meekhcs]

As a matter of interest do either of you know what rules the TNA are applying to the access of Army records that they have now have in their keeping? We applied for my F in law's APTC records only to be told we cannot access them until 2028. He passed away in 1999.

Many thanks

[AdrianBruce]

Did you supply a DC?

From https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/abo ... e-records/

Can I open a record of an individual I know to be deceased?

Whether or not the material can be opened will be assessed upon request and considered under relevant access legislation.
To open a record, it must first be located and checked. For those records relating to individuals born less than 115 years ago, we will require proof of death so that we can consider whether information from the record can be released. Suitable forms of evidence are an official death certificate or published obituary.

(My emphasis)

Now, I think that there is a wrinkle in all this. There's a lengthy thread on http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/mo ... 021.92212/ that (from possibly fallible memory) says that the key to getting the data is to explicitly request that data under Freedom of Information. If you don't, it can be treated as a normal data request and if any part of the packet is regarded as sensitive, then the whole packet cannot be released. If you explicitly ask for it to be released under FoI rules, then they have to, as I understand it, redact / remove all the sensitive bits and release the rest to you. That last bit is what the FoI principle is about.

Following the links through, it sort of implies that any request should be treated under FoI anyway but if TNA have already refused to release stuff even though you supplied a DC, then maybe FoI will work. (That first link at the top eventually guides you to an application form).

[meekhcs]

Thank you Adrian

Yes we did supply a DC, but only a copy. He was born in 1911 so that doesn't fit. It took a year to get to the point of refusal. I wish I had applied directly to the Army but thought TNA would be quicker!! If I may I will PM you re this.

Sally

[Thunder]

Thank you Adrian

Yes we did supply a DC, but only a copy. He was born in 1911 so that doesn't fit. It took a year to get to the point of refusal. I wish I had applied directly to the Army but thought TNA would be quicker!! If I may I will PM you re this.

Sally

TNA are not dealing well with the FOI cases on the Army records, they obviously don't have enough staff (they are only managing to deal with 68% percentage within the set time limit if I recall correctly). The other problem is the poor list provided from MOD and accepted by TNA.

[meekhcs]

Thank you Thunder. That explains the length of time it took to get an answer. I visited TNA recently, my first visit in years. Whilst the layout was greatly improved the reduction in staff was very noticeable to the point where there were just two people answering queries who sadly didn't have the expertise I had experienced before. In days gone by there were experts on hand specialising in different subjects.

[Thunder]

Yes, alas TNA is a mere shadow of it's past with a lack of experienced staff and woke. An example is the opening of court indictments from 2003 after 19 years when they were supposed to be closed for 100 years and they still haven't sorted it out, they must have known court records are not opened after 19 years. They also close records which should be open. The only hope is the new CEO (when they are appointed) might change it but it is a culture issue IMO.