I assumed that he knew that this was the person he was looking for. Presumably I missed an earlier part of the thread. Notwithstanding the above, I think that it is likely that, whoever he was, T .Bates 406664 will have been invalided out with a pension and at least his pension records will be available at Kew. Ron S I agree, get all the info you can! but in this particualr case its not a known yet, I'm hoping it turns out to be a connection cos i love when shots in teh dark make good! Mellie How Come My Coat Of Arms Has Buckles At The Back?