Trying to find the owner

[carol80]

Help needed. 19 years ago i found a Diary in my father-in-laws personal paper's. My father-in-law was 962 Dvr Gordon Biddiss.The diary i have is not his. Can you help me return it to the family it belongs too.
Front Page;
     To
                Marie Watson
                239 High Street C1
                Christ Church
                New Zealand

Please post this to the above address, if any thing ever happens to me.

To the only girl i ever loved and adored.

12643
T Bitters

Trained at Burnham Camp Ch-Ch N.Z for six months before leaving for overseas
T Bitters 12643

Came into Burnham Camp 12 May 1940.

Back page has;
Tiny Douglas
C/o Jack Douglas
Clarendon Hotel
Wakefield St
Auckland.

Last page: This book was with me in Greece, keep it for me Darling please no matter what happens.
The last entry is dated 15 Th May (1941 i have entered the year)

I would really like this diary to go home. Can you help?
I have tried for 18 years to find it's home without success.
                    Carol

[firefly74]

From the WWII nominal roll:

Name in full: Bitters, Thomas
Army No. 12465 (the last number lloks to me like a 5 but it could be a 3)
Rank: L. Cpl.
Unit: 2 Div Cav
Conjugal Status: S
Place of Enlistment: Blenheim
Occupation: Boilermaker assistant and mechanic
Last NZ address: Care of H Heberly, Te Pauga, Tory Channel
Name and address of next of kin: Mr T Biddis, 71 Severn St, Island Bay, Wellington (father).

[TwiggyTree]

Long shot:

There is a Marie Yvonne WATSON on the electoral roll in 1938 living in Lyttleton, Canterbury.  Others with the same surname are in that area too. 

Perhaps someone could have a look to see if age/status etc fit.

[kiwihalfpint]

Long shot:

There is a Marie Yvonne WATSON on the electoral roll in 1938 living in Lyttleton, Canterbury.  Others with the same surname are in that area too. 

Perhaps someone could have a look to see if age/status etc fit.

Ages do not appear on Rolls.  Marie Yvonne Watson, 120 Opawa Road, Spinster.

Cheers
KHP

[carol80]

Next of Kin T Biddis  71 Severn Street Island Bay Is the Father of Gordon Biddiss.
Thomas Biddiss  Wellington did not a have son by the name Thomas.
This has me Stumped as the Biddiss family belongs to my late husband.
Thomas had 4 sons and one Daughter as follows;
Len, Gordon, John, Catherine (know as Ina ) one living son in his 90's.

I have this post on another board  http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=35644.0

Could i have found my missing man? With a slightly diffrent name ? I will not sleep to night now

Modified;Tonight I have read the diary for the first time. Other Names noted are Mrs Loveday and a Mrs Herberly also Doris, Zeta and Millie.
Thomas Bitters was born 8 March year unknown
Leonard Thomas Biddiss was born 8 March could it be him using his middle name?

                                     Carol Biddiss (carol80)

[firefly74]

Hi Carol

I can't find an entry for Leonard Thomas BIDDISS (under BIDDISS or BITTERS) on the roll - the only BITTERS is Thomas and the only BIDDISS is Gordon Kennard, so I think it is quite possible that Leonard registered under Thomas.

As Leonard is buried in an RSA plot at Marlborough cemetery, I think it should have his service number on it. Do you have a picture of it? Or a copy of his death notice so you can compare the service numbers?

You could also obtain a copy of his service record. This is quite easy to do and it is free if order less than one per year. You'll probably need to say you think he was registered under his middle name, and also that two variants of the surname were used.

http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/how-to-find-contact-us.htm

The few that I have ordered have taken 2 or 3 weeks.

Cheers
Helen

[Lucy2]

Hi Carol

PapersPast has the following snippets :

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

"Evening Post" (Wellington) - 14 September 1939 - Recruiting

Amongst those enlisting at Army HQ, Buckle Street, Wellington, was "L.T. BIDDISS".
------------

"New Zealand Herald" (Auck.) - 23 December 1941 - Roll of Honour

Roll of Honour - Wounded

BITTERS - Thomas -- Mr T.J. BIDDISS (father), Wellington

   ~  Lu

[carol80]

I have been tossing and turning all night trying to figure this out.

Leonard Thomas Biddiss was b 8 March 1911 Brecknock, Cefn, Wales the eldest son of  Thomas John Biddiss and Maud Mildred Kennard.
I know Uncle Len was a boilermaker (In the Whaling industry i think ) Len married Kathleen Grace (Surname unknown place unknown ). Len died 24 Nov 1983. When i met him he walked with a limp.
L.T. Biddiss signed up at Buckle Street ( Do not know where that is) in 1939  ( Papers past)
 According to the diary;
Thomas Bitters was b 8 March( entry for 8 March reads My birthday today )
Had been at Burnham Camp for 6 months ( First entry was 7 Nov 1940 when he left for overseas)
Thomas Bitters was a boiler maker. Father stated as T Biddiss Severn Street ( this was the home of
Thomas John Biddiss.) Thomas Bitters was injured while riding a bike when the Huns ( His words not mine) dropped a bomb in front of him. ( He received leg and head injuries)

The diary also mentions meeting friends from  Picton. In Papers past there are 2 items mentioning Thomas as wounded father T Biddiss and T. J. Biddiss Father.
Now to prove Thomas is Len.
Sending an email to Lens son to see if he can help.

                             Carol Biddiss

[Lucy2]

Hi Carol

Buckle Street (Army HQ) was in Wellington (see my previous post). 

It looks then as if L.T. BIDDISS enlisted twice - 1. in September 1939 in Wellington under that name ... and then again as Thomas BITTERS at Blenheim in 1940.

   ~   Lu