Research Forum

This may be a coincidence - but could the writer be Bernard Sinclair CARTER who appears on the 1939 Register at 34 Severn Avenue with his parents and younger sister, Cynthia.   

A Bernard CARTER of the Royal Artillery was reposted to LAA in May 1943 which might the year of this letter?  

Hi Pat,

I hope you are well. A fascinating find - I think you are spot on with Bernard. There is this record of him in the National Archives where a letter of recommendation is sent in support of him applying for a colonial audit post. Fantastically, the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive has digitised the correspondence with the Foreign Office and put this letter online. So, in 1960, he is living at Eastertown, Lympsham, he has a BA in History from London, and has worked in various colonial posts. More importantly, he served with the Royal Artillery during the war and I think "Cranham Corner" is a good clue here. According to this first-hand account from the BBC "WW2 People's War" site, the RA were stationed at Cranham Corner to man anti-aircraft batteries on the Cotswolds.

Lastly, according to this report (p. 16, Lynn Advertiser, 23 September 1932 - see "Terrington St. John"), he was a clever pupil, and it confirms his father (Alphonse Bernard Carter) was also an officer in the civil service (HM Customs and Excise).

I hope this helps,
Richard

That's marvellous! - thank you Richard - That letter from the Foreign Office is a bonus.  You've added to what I had found - I am very grateful and let you know the outcome.  It was one of our relations who found the original letter so am very pleased to let him know as well.  

Great News!  We have made contact with a daughter of Bernard Sinclair CARTER who confirms his identity and we will be passing over the letter plus all the supporting research from Richard.