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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: Horsley2016 on Friday 10 May 19 14:02 BST (UK)
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Hi there.
I'm trying to trace (deceased) relative Stewart Bateman's WW2 records. I know he was a POW and the experience was never spoken about. As a child I remember the word "Japan" being bandied around but you were never told and you didn't ask!
He married a Hilda in 1944. Was born 19 April 1915 in Liverpool. The spelling of Stewart is accurate.
Any assistance would be much appreciated.
Thanks
M
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For £30 you can apply for a copy of his service record:
https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records/apply-for-someone-elses-records
I can't see his name here https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14571 though it may not cover all POWs, date and place wise.
It looks like FindMyPast hold some records https://www.findmypast.co.uk/articles/world-records/full-list-of-united-kingdom-records/armed-forces-and-conflict/prisoners-of-war---second-world-war-1939-1945---far-east (though they may promise more than they deliver). Someone with a subscription might be willing to have a look for you.
I'm sure someone will be able to help you further.
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Thanks so much Ruskie, really appreciate you taking the time to search.
M
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..... In looking just now. It surely can't be right if he was a POW in possibly Japan that a) he married in 1944 and b) his electoral role places in in Liverpool in 1945 (as a member of the Forces.) That surely couldn't therefore be correct?
If only I had asked more!!!
M
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https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ (May 1944)
Bridal party at the marriage of Cpl. Stewart Bateman, of Sclkrk, to Miss Hilda Riley. Anfield, Liverpool. Bridegroom was wounded in France, and served with Bth Army
ev
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Gosh ev, thanks. I might do a 'pay as you go' for that site as I don't have an account but can already see that he was born in Selkirk - not Liverpool and that explains why I couldn't find him on GRO too!! ::)
M
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Excellent find ev. :)
Horsely, it is odd that you have a memory of a POW in the family ... do you think it might have been a different relative?
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I had a few credits to spare for scotlandspeople and this is his birth entry -
Stewart Bateman - born 19/4/1915 - 2 West Port Selkirk. Marked as illegitimate and only his mother recorded as Margaret Bateman - Darner in Woolen Mill.
Dorrie
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There is a wedding photo of the couple in the Liverpool Echo of 31 March 1944 (page 5). Hilda Riley was the daughter of a Liverpool footballer who was by then a groundsman at Anfield.
There is also a group photograph in the Southern Reporter of 4 May 1944, page 7
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Excuse me butting in but I have special interest in PoW. I agree that being a PoW in Japan, and being married in 1944 is conflicting. But some PoWs in Europe were repatriated in 1942-44 if they qualified through illness or injury. I note that the May '44 newspaper clipping says "wounded in France" Perhaps he was PoW in Germany/France/Poland etc. but repatriated. For instance , see: http://ww2today.com/19th-october-1943-disabled-pows-repatriated-in-prisoner-exchange
His Army records will be the authoritative source - you're going to have to order them up.
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Per the Southern Reporter of 6 June 1940 he had returned safely to UK with a minor flesh wound to the arm.
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A possible as marriage in paper mentions he was a Corpl. in the R A S C
S/74233 S Bateman wounded France 1.06.40
All the soldiers have had written numbers too, they could be ages so this would not be your man as the number next to him is 34.
I m sure you know but others might be interested to learn that he was deemed responsible for bringing You ll Never Walk Alone to Liverpool FC when he was responsible for warm up records at Anfield in the 60 s. (newspaper report with photo "Farewell to the Kop Anthem Man". His wife Hilda was very proud of him.
Cathy :)
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Oh thank you SO much everyone. I must admit I was totally flummoxed by the marriage dates etc. This isn't a 'close' line of family - I just remember the hushed talk as a little one playing on the floor whilst the adults talked and then, as I was older, being told never to ask (I was a curious child fascinated by war stories!)
You're right - I'm going to have to order up the records and see for myself the true line. As time passes, lines blur and memories become not so crystal clear.
For those who've mentioned the LFC connection - most of that side of the family gave their working lives to the club in one way, shape or other. :)
Thank you everyone - you're knowledgable input has helped me incredibly. Much appreciated.
M