Father in British Army and Police in 1930's-48 in Palestine

[amibritish]

I'm wondering if I can get British Citizenship
My father was a soldier in the British army and police during the 1930's-1948 in Palestine. He was not born in England nor Palestine but came from Eastern Europe to Palestine in early 1930's. Does this give me any rights to British citizenship?

[vinny]

Were you born at that time?
Where was he recruited?
Was he married to your mother?

See also 20.2.5.

[amibritish]

Hi,
To answer your questions...
I was born in the 50's
He was recruited in Palestine
He married my mom while still in the British army
By the way...Thanks for the quick reply!!

[vinny]

Unfortunately, if he was not in the crown service at the time of your birth nor was recruited in the UK, then it's unlikely that you can claim British citizenship.

[secret.simon]

Mandatory Palestine was not a British colony, but a mandate territory that was governed for the League of Nations by the United Kingdom. As it was not a part of the Crown's dominions but merely governed on behalf of the League of Nations by the United Kingdom, it was from the viewpoint of nationality law, foreign soil and birth in Palestine did not make a person a British subject. It had its own distinct citizenship (i.e non-British citizenship) between 1925 and 1948.

To the best of my knowledge, Crown Service of itself has never conferred British citizenship/CUKC by itself. Your father's Palestinian passport would have been that of a British Protected Person*, not of a British subject/CUKC. If he acquired any other citizenship (either Israeli or Jordanian or any other), he would automatically have lost the BPP status.
* - Pre-1948 Palestinian citizens were prerogative BPPs, not statutory BPPs.

Even assuming that the BPP status is retained, it does not give any right to reside in the UK. It is subject to immigration Control and you will still need a visa to enter the UK.

So, to look at whether you may have acquired British citizenship, you will have to see if your father was registered as a British subject/CUKC before your birth. Mere proof of Crown Service is not, in my opinion, sufficient.

Further Reading:
"Mandated Territories" and "Trust Territories"
Protectorates and Protected States
Chapter 54: British protected persons, general information (nationality instructions)