AN appeal for information has been released on behalf of an elderly lady from Birmingham, who is desperately trying to trace a relative she believes could be living in the Tavistock area.
Violet Holman is 80 and in poor health. Mrs Holman is trying to get in contact with her second cousin, Howard Gale, who she believes would be about 68-70 years old.
Mrs Holman's son Bob said Howard Gale was born in Birmingham, the only son of George Gale — his mother Gladys died at the age of just 21 in 1937, of tuberculosis.
Bob said: 'At the outbreak of the second world war, George enlisted and was subsequently wounded at Dunkirk.
'After Gladys's death and while George was away, Howard was looked after by my grandmother and her family, including my mother.'
He said George Gale remarried in 1942 in Tavistock Parish Church — his bride was Iris Ives, of 25 Crelake Park.
Bob said: 'George was subsequently posted to Burma and joined the Chindits, a guerilla force which operated behind Japanese lines.
'Tragically on March 6 1943, aged 28, he was killed on active service.
'He has no known grave but is commemorated on the Rangoon memorial in Burma, now Myanmar.'
Bob said Howard moved with his stepmother Iris to Tavistock — and then the family lost touch.
He said his mum was about 19 when Howard left.
'I've rung a couple of people in your area but they weren't the right ones. Mum has talked about this for a couple of years now — they were so close, it would be lovely to find him,' said Bob.
Anyone who knows anything about Howard Gale, who would have moved back to the Tavistock area with his mother Iris after the war, should contact Bob Holman on 07763 183099.