Service with BAOR

[roly]

I am trying to trace the movements of my mother, Eleanor Teresa Ducie (b. 1919), who served with BAOR at the end of World War II.  I cannot be sure of her status - I think that she was working with a coal commission - but whether this was with the RAF or the Army is not clear.

I know that she was in Berlin for some time - and possibly at RAF Gatow.
She met and married Louis Sabot, French officer, engineer, who was working in a French Commission for mines.  The marriage took place in Dusseldorf but I am not sure when.  She subsequently became a French citizen.

I have only recently been appraised of these small details and, after a prolonged and unavoidable separation from my mother (deceased), it is difficult to reconstruct a life.

Can anyone help - possible sources of information?

roly

[nanny jan]

Do you know where Eleanor was born? I can't see a birth for her in England; I was hoping that it would lead to her marriage being listed as registered overseas/abroad. A copy of the marriage certificate might show her occupation.

**Just found a birth in Carlow, Ireland, 1919, for an Eleanor Teresa Ducie.

[MaxD]

Following up Nanny Jan's lead, her marriage is in the GRO Consular marriages index.  Dusseldorf, married a man called Pierre L Sabot.  Vol 43 page 205. (in the 1946-50 index but you don't need the date)

As Nanny Jan suggest, the marriage cert may give more info.

MaxD

[roly]

Thanks to all.  My mother was, indeed, Eleanor Teresa: and her husband was Louis Sabot.

I have access to other family records (not extensive, mind, though I'm currently chasing a marriage certificate) but I want to know where and when as regards her service record.  She certainly moved to and fro England.  I also think (can't confirm yet) that she stayed in post as late as 1948.

I've tried worming something out of the RAF with no success.  Ditto Gatow.

Here's hoping.

roly

[MaxD]

The point about the marriage certificate which you can get from the GRO is, as Nanny Jan says, it may show her occupation/service from which you may be able to advance.

If she was a servicewoman then her records will still be with the Ministry of Defence and can't be "wormed out" of anybody!

You could download, free, the cards for RAF/WRAF which (although not entirely foolproof) may have a card for her http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C15624003

 If she was a civilian then needle/haystack come to mind or perhaps the French equivalent of the GRO although I understand you have to know what area of France she lived in.

MaxD