A SOLDIER's bible, left as a keepsake for a Tavistock woman by an American serviceman during the second world war was last week finally returned to its original owner's family, traced after an eight-year search. Rinold Fathauer, who came from Taylor in Texas, was stationed at Abbotsfield Hall during the war. During his time in Devon, he became friendly with a Tavistock family and before he left England on June 6, 1944, to take part in the D-Day landings, he left them his army-issue bible. Jim and Margo Stanger, who liaise between Devon and Cornwall and the 29th Infantry Division Association in America, took up the challenge of trying to find Rinold's descendants in 2000. Margo said: 'The soldiers who were over here were very homesick, and the people of Tavistock made them very welcome. 'This soldier would visit this particular lady for tea. When she died, her daughter was turning out the house and found the bible. She tried for some time to trace the soldier's family and eventually, she came to us. 'We tried all sorts of channels and kept coming up with dead ends, then a little while ago I came up with the idea of getting in touch with the local paper in Taylor.' The Taylor News printed a short story about the couple's search, and within days, Rinold Fathauer's niece, who lives in Brenham, Texas, made contact. Margo said: 'She was absolutely delighted — everyone there had been asking her if she'd seen the piece in the paper.' She said Rinold's niece told them he had died during the Normandy Landings and was awarded the Silver Cross for heroism. posthumously, in 1945. 'Apparently, Rinold was her mother's brother and she can remember seeing a picture of him in her mother's bedroom. 'We are so pleased that after all this time the bible will be going back to his relatives, so he can be remembered,' said Margo. The Stangers sent the bible back to America last weekend, along with a calendar of Tavistock, some postcards and other pieces of information about the town. But their detective work has not finished yet. The couple, who regularly give talks about the 29th Infantry and their time in England, are desperately trying to find another Tavistock family, on behalf of the descendant of an American serviceman who also died in the war. Jim said: 'Captain Robert Stewart was an engineer officer who was billeted with a family called Beer in Tavistock. His daughter, who has been over here, is trying to find this family, but the only thing she knows about them is that they had a daughter, who had problems with her eyes. 'Of course, she may well have married and changed her name. The people he was billeted with have probably died now but they may have family in the area. We are hoping someone in Tavistock will remember them and give us some information.' Anyone who has any information which may be of help should call Jim and Margo Stanger on 01752 564274.
