Jeff Otten RWF - (British Honduras) Belize 1953

[mlsander]

My name is Mike Sander from Luling, LA. USA and I’m doingfamily research. I found a website with photos of Welsh Fusiliers inBelize in 1953 (http://www.rwfphotos.co.uk/) and sent the contact person the note below. He suggested that I post an inquiry on this forum.

My wife is from Belize and her dad was in the Britishforces stationed there in the 1950’s (she was born in 1954). I’veattached a photo of him – his name is Jeff Otten. If you know of any waythat I might be able find any information on him or his family, I’d appreciateyour help. He left Belize shortly after my wife was born and she and hermom completely lost touch with him.

We don't know much more about him or his unit but I'm fairly certain he was a member of the troops shown in the photos on the website mentioned above.

Best Regards,
Mike Sander

[ap1]

Hi Mike, A warm welcome to you.

We have assisted with similar projects in the past. Quite often its a case of just pointing you in the right direction and filling in some background info. I would emphasise that we would always wish to protect the privacy of the UK part of the family. I'm sure you understand.

Looking at the history, it appears that the D Company 1st Battalion RWF arrived in what was British Honduras(Belize) by ship between the 19-27 March 1951. The remainder of the Battalion were based on Jamaica and other islands of the West Indies. By Sept 1951 D Company had been relieved by B Company, they returned to Belize in Sept 1953. In Oct 1953 the whole battalion was urgently deployed to British Guiana. D Company also joined this group, leaving 35 men behind in Belize. Once this was dealt with local garrison life continued. Regimental Records notes that D Company departed Belize for the final time on the 8th March 1954, rejoining the battalion for the trip home. They left behind several members of D Company who had married local girls on Belize.

We do have some members on the Forum from that era, who may recall. Lets see what transpires. Do you have any other information about the family?

[jungle1810]

Hello Misander,
In about December 1951, I was posted back to "B" Company after carrying out relief work after the hurricane (Charlie) that struck Jamaica. I left Jamaica in the Copinsay a small ship and the Captains name was Peter Brady,we stopped in Grand Cayman on our way over to Belize. On my arrival in Belize I was met by C.S.M. Mac Donald M.M. our Company commander was major Tolhurst, by this time Major the Lord Wynnford had left to become an A.D.C to General Sir Gerald Templer."Oscar Slater remained in Jamaica.I was immediately asked by "Mac" to carry out the duties of Provost Corporal. I had L/Cpl Davies 13 and L/Cpl Wheeler as my subordinates. I know that an ex RWF man Len Watts who lives near me married a local Girl her Christian name is Norma. I remember going to Xmas Mass in Belize with the Batty family I think they ran a taxi business in Belize, as well as the local watering hole I distinctly remember a local girl who worked in the "Frozen Bucket as Juanita, she was very good to me and my mate and let us have cigarettes and booze and we squared her up on pay day. I also remember a Sgt Mercer who married a local girl. In my opinion I may well be wrong but the man in the photo looks like he was also on the provost staff. But the difference is that in "B" Company in December 1951 I did not wear any white blanco equipment, that is to say my webbing belt was just scrubbed and the brasses were polished, and we did not wear the type of gaiters shown in the photo in your first thread. In fact we wore a scrubbed webbing belt and we had ammunition boots with blue hose tops and a form of small loose khaki puttees in place of the normal gaiters
. The reason for this was any form of blanco could cause a rash and the medics stopped all companies that served in Belize from using any colour blanco. But in fairness the British army has sent infantry men to Belize for many years later. I will phone Len watts for more details of many of the local girls and the name of the man in the photo, and I cannot say I remember him by name.
Regards RBD aka jungle1810

[ap1]

Good spot Don.

Zooming in on the picture, he is wearing a brasard on the right upper arm, of the type worn by the Regimental Police.

[mlsander]

Thanks very much for the replies. I understand the privacy concerns and don't wish to jeopardize anyone's. Belize is quite a place and we try to visit every other year or so but spend most of our time now on the Cayes. Most of the old families that my wife remembers and grew up with are no longer in Belize City. Occasionally, she still runs across some folks that remember her mother and grandmother. By the way, the Batty family ran the bus service --- "Batty bus" and as far as I know it is still in operation.

Regards,
Mike Sander

[mlsander]

Here's a little additional info that may be useful. Jeff's full name was Fredrich Jeff Otten but everyone called him Jeff (not sure about the spelling of Fredrich). He was also supposed to be a very good amateur boxer -- my wife says she was told he was a "Golden Gloves" champion.

My wife's mom's name was Victoria (Vicky) Forman. Vicky's dad was William Hector but he may have already dead at the time. He was a lumber merchant in Belize City. Vicky's mom was Estelle Jane Fuller.

Hope this helps.

Mike Sander

[Aled Roberts]

On the Cyprus medal roll there is this chap :

22793371 Cpl F L Otten 1/RWF


I have no trace of anyone else by this surname. My guess that the number and rank would be about right? I never rely on people’s initials on Medal Rolls, they are wrong an awful lot of the time. There could of course be another Otten who didn't qualify for any gongs.

[ap1]

Here's a little additional info that may be useful. Jeff's full name was Fredrich Jeff Otten but everyone called him Jeff (not sure about the spelling of Fredrich). He was also supposed to be a very good amateur boxer -- my wife says she was told he was a "Golden Gloves" champion.

Hope this helps.

Mike Sander

Hi Mike,

I would estimate that Frederick would have been born a maximum of 5yrs either side of 1930. Does the family have any idea where in the UK he came from? Regarding Richards detail about the medal, that will definitely be your man. The extra piece of the info regarding his first name pretty much confirms that.

[mlsander]

My wife has always been told that Jeff was from Wales but no other details. I have searched birth records and census data that are available on-line but haven't yet come close to locating any families that might be these same Otten's. Can you tell me what the number sequence for Cpl. Otten means and what year that medal was awarded?

Regards,
Mike

[ap1]

The significance of the number is mainly that it will allow you to apply for his military service record if he's died and you can manage to locate the death certificate. It does tell you when roughly the number was issued, but this is of little interest as we know he was in Belize in the early 1950's and that he served with the 1st Bn in Cyprus during the EOKA Emergency between the dates 31st March 1958 − 6th Dec 1959.

I can also confirm that LCPL(Lance Corporal) Otten is mentioned in Regimental Records. He was part of a group that met HM The Queen on the evening of the 26th Nov 1953 at the Kings House, Kingston, Jamaica during her Commonwealth tour.

I don't know the views of the other researchers, but I think you have a really good chance in making some headway in this project. Its an unusual surname but you will need to persevere and be prepared for a small financial outlay. I would recommend two fee paying sites that you will need to join.

1. www.ancestry.co.uk This will allow you to search for UK births/deaths/marriages)

2. www.192.com This gives you access to electoral(voting) registers in the UK). As an example I have done a cursory search and found a Freddy J Otten living in a property in South West London in 2002(you need to purchase credits to view the info). This site also tells you who the person is co-habiting with.

We'll be quite happy to guide you as you follow the trail.