# Need Birth certificate information about my Grandfather.

**URL:** <https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/need-birth-certificate-information-about-my-grandfather/2716>\
**Category:** Questions and answers\
**Created:** [17 February 2026 02:18 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/need-birth-certificate-information-about-my-grandfather/2716 "2026-02-17T02:18:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![milliard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@milliard](https://forum.naa.gov.au/u/milliard)\
**Post date:** [17 February 2026 02:18 UTC](https://forum.naa.gov.au/t/need-birth-certificate-information-about-my-grandfather/2716/1 "2026-02-17T02:18:30Z")

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My grandfather was John Patrick Gallagher. He served in the RAN from 1939 to 1948. His service number was 18911.

He was born in Dublin, Ireland. According to NAA records his date of birth 17/04/1907. Using this date to search the Irish Births, Deaths and Marriages website, I cannot find any record of his birth certificate.

My question is that when he enlisted, would he have been required to produce a birth certificate or would it have just been word of mouth? If he was required to produce a birth certificate then would the RAN have a copy of it? If so how would I go about getting a copy?

Many thanks

Dean.