Hi everyone! This is a pretty obscure one, but hopefully someone out there can help me out, I’d really appreciate it! In the early 1940s, how might you research someone’s background? Specifically, I’ve got some people who are suspicious of a man who isn’t fighting in the war but seems physically and mentally able, so they look into his background (including previous service in the First World War). Obviously they can’t just google his Facebook account - I wondered if they’d have to call someone in specific, or have someone bring them files? Thank you for your help, Piper
Anyone who fought in the WWI would be close to 40-50 years old when WWII came around, so unless they were a member of a patrician officer's class, their participation might not be expected. As for the research, you'd likely be limited to local town records (hospital, school, taxes) and anyone who knew the person. Probably be tough to do remotely. Might have to send somebody out to the actual town or village. ETA: is this in the US or Europe? That changes the years and expectations of service by quite a bit...
If he fought in ww1 you'd expect him to have military records - but yes war is a young mans game so someone age 40 plus wouldn't necessarily be expected to fight, although you'd expect to see him in the home guard or the ARP or similar (assuming he's in Britain) Also some people were in reserved occupations (ie occupations essential to the war effort - farming for example) and thus unable to volunteer to fight anyway. that said if the authorities were suspicious of him for a serious offence the first step would be to have him in for a 'chat' - the sort of chat that happens in a basement with rubber hoses and rabbit punches to the kidneys .. suspects rights weren't really a big factor at that time
