Japan WW2

[Horsley2016]

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

[Ruskie]

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.

[Horsley2016]

Thanks so much Ruskie, really appreciate you taking the time to search.

M

[Horsley2016]

..... 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

[ev]

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

[Horsley2016]

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

[Ruskie]

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?

[dowdstree]

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

[ShaunJ]

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