15 July 1944 Frank Ibbotson 25 Royal Army Service Corps

[PaulEllix]

Lance Corporal Service Number T/104165 - Former professional footballer with Leeds, Portsmouth and Reading (although died before ever playing for Reading). Is buried in CWGC at Douvres la Deliverande.

Was born in Bradford in 1918 and married Dylis Richards in 1943 in Liverpool.

I'm trying to find out more about him - if anyone knows anything or has any suggestions for research I'd be grateful.

Thanks

[ScouseBoy]

Welcome to Rootschat.

The T in his service number denotes Transport, so he was probably a driver.   That service number suggests to me that he joined the Army very close to the outbreak of war in September 1939.

[ScouseBoy]

I wonder if he ever played in Army Football matches?

Between different regiments,   or with the Navy or RAF.

[Ruskie]

Hello Paul, and welcome to rootschat. 

Are you looking for information about his army life, his personal life, or both?

For example, as you know who he married, do you know the names of his descendants? Do you know who his parents were?

Do you have his army service record? This would be worth purchasing if you are looking for information about his wartime activities.

Once we have a better idea of what exactly you are looking for, we can try to help you with the relevant information. 

I wonder if he ever played in Army Football matches?
Between different regiments,   or with the Navy or RAF.

Why don't you see if you can find any records relating to this?

[MaxD]

Paul

Welcome from me too.

Detailed service records for the Second World War are still held by the Ministry of Defence and your best move is, as Ruskie has said, to apply for his record.  Here's how:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/overview

The cemetery in which he is buried has the graves mostly of men who fell in the weeks immediately following D Day.  Men of the Royal Army Service Corps were to be found all over the post D-Day battlefield.  We don't know exactly what unit he was in and so what he was doing on the day he was killed is totally a matter of speculation, this link
http://www.dday-overlord.com/eng/15_july_1944.htm tells you briefly what was going on that day.  His record will tell you when he landed in Normandy. 

Can't find him in the Leeds United or Portsmouth player statistics but you may have more success if you spend a bit of time clicking around the club historical stats.  Again, as Ruskie suggests, a delve around to find records of interservice football games may come up with something, here's a link to start you off http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/10-facts-about-football-in-the-second-world-war

Start with his records, everything else is just guesswork.

Good luck and post again if you find something specific that needs looking into.

maxD

[Ruskie]

Wonderful advice and suggestions Max. 

[PaulEllix]

Thank you everyone for your welcomes and advice for research. I'll take those up and if I find something out I'll post it. I'm trying to find out aspects of his personal, football and military life and, with bit of luck, a photograph of him.

Kind regards

[Ruskie]

I'll leave the military aspects of Frank's life to the experts, but his marriage certificate will give his father's name, and his birth certificate will give both of his parent's names, so purchasing a certificate or two will enable you to trace his family.

There are a couple of births for Frank Ibbotson in 1918 -  this one is in Bradford district:

Births Sep 1918
Ibbotson  Frank 
mmn Willis 
Bradford  9b 137
(of course if his name was Frances, there may be other possibilities)

According to this his mother's surname is Willis.

There is a marriage seems to fit the above details:

Marriages Jun 1915
Ibbotson  George
Willis  Maggie
Bradford  9b 473

This is just speculation and you should really purchase Frank's marriage certificate to confirm his father is George. You can order here:
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp

Using these details:

Marriages
Jun quarter of 1943 

Ibbotson  Frank 
Richards  Dilys J
district: Liverpool S. 
Volume: 8b
Page: 144

Let us know if you need further help with this.

Added: I have just checked the CWGC (which I should have done first), and see that the above details are correct and his parents are George and Margaret. You probably don't need to buy that certificate now.  But depending on where you wish to take your research, it might be worth purchasing the marriage certificate of George and Margaret, hoping it gives an age and occupation for George. There are a number of George Ibbotson's so we need more information to work out which George is the father of Frank. 

[ScouseBoy]

I wonder which medals he qualified for?
1939/45 Star
Maybe the Africa Star?