Australia Australia - Marion Barter, 51, missing after trip to UK, June 1997 #9

[TootsieFootsie]

Change of name

"In NSW, you can only change your name once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime.

If you change your name or use an additional or other name with the intention of breaking the law in any way, you could face criminal charges"

 

[LouLouSleuth]

So within 2 years after RB & DH return from overseas her father (age ~75) and mother (age ~67) both die.
I sure would love to know if/when his first two ex-wives died.

Yep I am not ruling out a body count all through history IMO

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

The Gendarmerie / Army Pay Book investigations got me thinking and, based on my knowledge of national service for the males in my French Family, a sudden bell went off in my head (DING!) that of course Gendarmerie is not the same as the Belgian Army and there could be national service records elsewhere!

So this has become my vignette for the timeline around 1959-64 when WW allegedly was in the Gendarmerie (Belgian military police force) at 227, Avenue de la Courrone, XL.

Theory: At this time there was compulsory national service for males in Belgium Army (same as France) when they turn 18 (with postponements if they are formally studying).

From 1830 (Belgian Independence) the Gendarmerie was formally part of Belgian Army. HOWEVER, in 1957 the Gendarmerie was formally separated from Belgian Army. So for this period in question they are two separate entities. Also following change of government 1954 compulsory national service was reduced from 2 years to 18 Months. It follows that if WW DOB is 9/7/1939, he would be eligible for conscription to national service on 9/7/1957 and should have done 18 months conscripted service at that time. Did he do National Service in the Belgian Army from 1957 (for 18 months) and then enter the Gendarmerie in 1959 (at age 20)? Perhaps there are National conscription service records to be found for 1957 - 1959?

NB: If RB is really FD with DOB 7/6/1942 he would be conscripted for national service for 18 months in 7/6/1960. [Whacky tangent = injuries due to horse “crash” is noted as 1960 on WW medical report.]

Also maybe of note: In France conscription to national service can be based in the DOM-TOMs as well as mainland France. In Belgium, it could be the same where national service could be based in any of the Belgian Protectorates (Belgian Congo, independence 1960! anyone?!)

It was his wife that mentioned the Belgium Congo at the Coroners inquest. Did the Belgium military have mounted police/soldiers in the Congo at the time of their independence in 1960?

 

[gymtonic]

Further to my last post about the Gendarmerie records document, I did find the History of the Gendarme that is at the beginning of the document very, very enlightening though! a couple of statements leapt out at me:

"Quatre pelotons mobiles sont également institués dans les grands centres urbains - Bruxelles, Gand, Anvers et Liège - en 1914, dont le but est de soutenir les unités territoriales en cas de désordres importants. Les brigades à cheval sont remplacées par des unités à bicyclette, plus rapides et moins coûteuses." Which roughly translates to
"In 1914, 4 mobile groups were set up in the main cities....the Mounted police (horse) were replaced by faster bicycles." So WOW! I take this to mean that RB's horse story is anachronistic.

Then later statement:
"Sous la deuxième occupation allemande, le secrétaire général du ministère de l'Intérieur et de la Santé, Gérard Romsée, place Emiel Van Coppenolle à la tête de la Police générale du Royaume. Créée au sein du ministère de l'Intérieur en 1934, cette institution était destinée à recueillir l'information sur les menaces potentielles à l'ordre public. Cependant, écartelée entre les différents organes de police, elle était restée un échec relatif. Dans une tentative de centralisation accrue, Van Coppenolle devient également en 1943 le commandant de la Gendarmerie, faisant de ce colonel un homme-clé en matière de sécurité. Le corps connaît - tout comme les polices communales - de nouvelles réformes."
Which roughly translates to "During the German occupation of WW2, the Sec. General of the Ministry of Interior and Health...appointed Emiel Van Coppenolle as head of the Kingdom's General Police...In 1934 [due to centralisation] EvC became Commander of the Gendarmerie - making [this Colonel] a key security man". So WOW again! is this EvC the one in the family tree (Uncle?)

 

[gymtonic]

Yes!! I agree. Was Ric a real person he knew and put in the company directorship? He wouldn’t just invent a name in 1960, then use it again in 2021 and not in between.

Richard C Blum, (US billionaire b1935) is pretty famous! (and has a wife called Dianne LOL)

 

[MrsWattle]

I haven't looked into the marriage rules here in 1997. The chapel at Nikko Narita Tokyo. Someone mentioned it's possible to get married within 24 hours could this be true? Certainly if A Remakel marriage took place it would have been recorded in the registry books..

 

[BabeBlues]

Great point! While I still think WW could be a fabrication – he maybe even assumed someone else's identity, I do believe he is the WW from 1969 that was linked to IK. The photo on the top left is the one associated with that name and time of his life. It really does look like him! (It's ok if you think otherwise).

I actually thought the top left photo was a woman. Is it possible this was IK's photo and it was her brother travelling with her posing as her husband? This is a wild guess. The photo I have shared here is allegedly FDH from NAA records but IMO his lips are quite
different, his eyes aren't as hooded and his his nose isn't the same compared to the photos you've shared.

 

[gymtonic]

I haven't looked into the marriage rules here in 1997. The chapel at Nikko Narita Tokyo. Someone mentioned it's possible to get married within 24 hours could this be true? Certainly if A Remakel marriage took place it would have been recorded in the registry books..

Do you think he actually would have got married? I mean that would be bigamy (a crime and an unnecessary risk) and his MO seems to be more of promising marriage and doing a runner? I can see him taking advantage of some loophole where he appears to get married but actually isn't (i.e. a ceremony that appears to be legal but is just a sham).

 

[Lord Peter Flimsy]

Do you think he actually would have got married? I mean that would be bigamy (a crime and an unnecessary risk) and his MO seems to be more of promising marriage and doing a runner? I can see him taking advantage of some loophole where he appears to get married but actually isn't (i.e. a ceremony that appears to be legal but is just a sham).

If Marion did fill in the arrival passenger card I wonder why she ticked the box emphatically that she was married on her return?

Just what game was he up to this time?

 

[gymtonic]

I actually thought the top left photo was a woman. Is it possible this was IK's photo and it was her brother travelling with her posing as her husband? This is a wild guess. The photo I have shared here is allegedly FDH from NAA records but IMO his lips are quite
different, his eyes aren't as hooded and his his nose isn't the same compared to the photos you've shared.

OMG! I was actually just looking at a photo of the very famous Richard C Blum (having gone down a Ric Blum rabbit hole search!) when your post and photo popped up and I thought it was the same person LOL see this link! Richard C. Blum and Dianne Feinstein: The Power Couple of California - FoundSF

 

[Liselle]

Does anyone think that the lawyers and/or paralegals engaged in this case would look at the information that's posted here? The huge amount of research undertaken by the sleuths on this forum and discovering what appears to be new and relevant results, would be extremely beneficial in the next part of the inquest.

 

[MrsWattle]

I actually thought the top left photo was a woman. Is it possible this was IK's photo and it was her brother travelling with her posing as her husband? This is a wild guess. The photo I have shared here is allegedly FDH from NAA records but IMO his lips are quite
different, his eyes aren't as hooded and his his nose isn't the same compared to the photos you've shared.

YES that is exactly my theory. (Ilona) Jacqueline Reid married her brother Michael J Reid. To return to Melbourne. Here is some earlier travelling to Melbourne

 

[Procrastinator]

If Marion did fill in the arrival passenger card I wonder why she ticked the box emphatically that she was married on her return?

Just what game was he up to this time?

Something to do with paperwork because with MB having the same initials (nearly) due to marriage ... FN Remakel and FNM Remakel but what would that be?

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

Yip, paying for other women’s trips overseas, of course he saw that outlay of cash as an investment but in JO’s case he didnt get a return. Maybe he mostly failed and he ended up spending more on the cons than gaining ? Cause I can’t figure how they seem below average money wise, maybe he is just no good at it. Looks like he spent DH inheritance conning other women

Clearly he’s crap at it.., he lives from scam to scam and it appears the last 10 years he’s too old to scam so they live with family cos they’re broke… I wonder how D feels no security at this age when they had property and security… even Tamborine land he sells because council charge to much to spray weeds!!
Jo says the travel OS they don’t stay anywhere nice it’s done on the cheap.. he says he catches the ferry from Holland to Uk cos it’s cheaper.. he dumps a hire car at Dover cos it’s cheaper than paying for the fuel to return it to the town he hired from.

He has no money.

He married a woman who obviously came from a family with some, they died and D’s money has supported their lifestyle and in between that, he scams some cash here and there, sells some coins, rips off some women and most likely some men too over the years… in other hustles. He can portray what he likes.. the reality is he’s a tall man with small man syndrome inferiority complex.
And the one thing he has had is his ‘wife and kids’ and surely regardless of whether a father or a husband.. surely they must be thinking - who the hell are you? What kind of person are you? Perhaps not D, she knows who he is and she still chose him….his kids.. they didn’t choose him.
I wonder if now as adult children they look back and elements of their life or his behaviour that was odd.. now make sense.
So this man really has nothing and the only thing he did have of any importance were his wife and kids…. But that’s not enough, not for a man who so desperately wants the golden life at any cost. As more and more is revealed.. it becomes evident he in one way or enough is the reason Marion has been missing since 97…
Everything about him has a foul stench.

On a seperate note A big wow day for this thread, some incredible finds by some sleuths (you know who you are) and more web untangling..

Bravo to those today for the persistence of going through over 3000 files to find if the Chusan story was true… a mammoth task.

Bravo for the constant RB timeline updates..

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.. my new name for RB is no long ‘man of many names.
I’m liking ‘tall man with small man syndrome ‘ lol

 

[centred]

I haven't looked into the marriage rules here in 1997. The chapel at Nikko Narita Tokyo. Someone mentioned it's possible to get married within 24 hours could this be true? Certainly if A Remakel marriage took place it would have been recorded in the registry books..

He did insist no "overnighters " though ..so we know that's not true

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

Change of name

"In NSW, you can only change your name once in a 12-month period and 3 times in your lifetime.

If you change your name or use an additional or other name with the intention of breaking the law in any way, you could face criminal charges"

I think qlders may be different I searched this a while back on memory yes only once a year but I don’t think there’s a lifetime limit. He’s been getting ID’s from both states for years I think

 

[KittensAugustus]

I have found something very interesting. If we presume RBs father was Desire David this article proves very pertinent.

28 Jan 1933

Love on the Train

CORRIDOR CAR DON JUAN

Not even notorious Bluebeards like Landru had so many fiancées to their discredit as the
police credit Desire David, the Don Juan of the corridor cars. Deeming himself irresistible to the opposite sex,. ex-Lieut Desire David, wounded war hero, suspected spy, and six times convicted rogue, who has served twelve years in prison, is once more in the hands of the French police, and the allegations are of an amazing character.


It is alleged that for years David has haunted the corridors of the international trains seeking out wealthy foreign women travelling alone, with the object of making lightning love to them in order to gain their confidence as preliminary to extracting money and jewellery from them. So rapid and so thorough were the methods of the man that he has been known to board a train at the Gare deLyon in the wake of an utter stranger, and to emerge with her at the end of the journey an engaged couple! In one instance it is alleged that he actually went through a marriage ceremony with one of the women he wooed in the course of the journey, taking advantage of a long wait at a frontier station.


He has wooed and become affianced to at least one hundred women, several of them English, and one at least well known in London Society. The man had a: accomplices his sister, and his 'petite Amie. 'who are accused of having helped him to pick out likely victims, and if necessary to aid the main gaining the confidence of these victims ,,,, [missing text]


'Everything has gone wrong between me and my friend' she wrote. ‘I am hopelessly In love with him and life is not worth living. ‘One of these letters sent other lover, and all of them are now in the hands of the police. It was through her sister. Mrs. Mabel Scott, that the

tragedy was discovered. She received a letter and, bursting open the door of the Sat, found Mrs. de Brevai dead in bed. She had garbed herself L her oesi pink silk nightdress, and a oiueboidoir cape covered her shoulders. On her face was a peaceful smile, and she appeared to be staring up at the photograph of the man she loved, hanging on the wall above, as if her last earthly thoughts had been of him before she passed out into eternity. . ? .


Mrs. de Brevai spent a fortune of £10,000 in the last three years, she was separated from a wealthy husband who generously provided for her. Known as Peggy Croshie to the habitués of the West End nightclubs, she would sometimes invite a number of her friends to her other flat in Colville Gardens, Notting Hill Gay, luxurious affairs these parties were, in which no expense was spared. Choice foods and wines were on the table, and champagne flowed like water. The revelry reached high pitch on occasions, and many of her neighbours would chaff her in a friendly way about the noise her friends had made on the previous night, She kept her tiny flat in Dovsr street simply as a handy spot where she could take her friends for cocktails, and she also had a cottage at Virginia Water, which she visited at week-ends. 'We knew bar friend was very wealthy,' explained a male acquaintance, who had often been to her parties, 'but though we met him often at the flat, she introduced him simply As 'Bob'.'


On a night just before the tragedy she met the young banker and implored him to have half an hours talk with her. He was unable to grant this, and she said that she could not go on without him. She also tried to get in touch with him by telephone. Then she wrote just before she died, saying there was nothing more to live for. Not even the gaiety she loved would compensate for the loss of her handsome banker. Mrs. de Brevai left a request to be buried in her wedding dress, and arrangements were made to carry out her wishes.

 

[KittensAugustus]

And another article about Desire David: SWINDLING LOVER'S EXPRESS HAULS - SCANDAL'S BREATH SCARES PARISIAN VICTIMS PARIS, Saturday. - Truth (Sydney, NSW : 1894 - 1954) - 29 Apr 1934

 

[Eyespywithmylittleeye]

He did insist no "overnighters " though ..so we know that's not true

@MrsWattle
Yep correct it can be done within 24 hours. Actually if all paperwork is done it can be done in an hour! (scroll to FAQ) on link

Getting Married in Japan as a Foreigner - japanistry.com

The interesting thing is you are not provided with a certificate of marriage.. if you want one you can go back to the municipal office that married you at a later date and providing you gave proof of who you are you can obtain a copy! Boom…


Searching records for western marriages is a tad complex. When both parties are non residents. Japans marriage registry is the Koseki Family Registry -
Kosek Family Registry
Koseki family registry is an official document that registers every Japanese citizen, and it plays a role of all birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates. Please note it doesn’t register non-Japanese citizens.

In order to obtain the record, you must provide following information to the city hall where the Koseki record is registered to:

• Honseki (Permanent domicile)
• Head of family in Japanese writing.

 

[Zanzibar]

Do you think he actually would have got married? I mean that would be bigamy (a crime and an unnecessary risk) and his MO seems to be more of promising marriage and doing a runner? I can see him taking advantage of some loophole where he appears to get married but actually isn't (i.e. a ceremony that appears to be legal but is just a sham).

There was a post earlier today (or last night?) which mentioned that in Belgium you can get married in a religious ceremony but it isn’t recognized until you have a civil ceremony. Maybe that’s what he did? Organised a non civil ceremony and had them think they had been married, hence Marion changing her name to Remakel?