Richard Stanley Wratten (1921 - 1978)

Born 1921 in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 1 Jun 1978 at about age 57 in Otago, New Zealand

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Biography

Last Address 93 BEDFORD STREET DUNEDIN Occupation:- LABOURER Native of:- ENGLAND

Richard enlisted voluntarily for military service, as printed in the Evening Star, 10 January 1940; ^[1]

EMBARKATION DETAILSWW2 Private 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.527 25th (Wellington) Battalion 2NZEF Nom. Roll 3, p.527 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Third Echelon AWMM. ^[2]

According to the Otago Daily Times, 17 July 1943; "Richard Wratten arrived back after approximately three years' service overseas [On furlough from the Middle East]. A large gathering of residents of Owaka and the surrounding districts, together with the school children and teachers and local returned soldiers, awaited their arrival at the new post office, and the men were received with rousing cheers as they alighted from their taxi." ^[3]

According to the Otago Daily Times, 12 August 1943; " A social evening was held at Owaka on Monday evening, the guests of honor being Private Richard Wratten and Sergeant A McEwen who are at present home on furlough. The programme consisted of dancing and concert items, a feature being the conjuring tricks by Mr Philip Duncan... On behalf of the RSA... speeches of welcome and each of the guests replied." ^[4]

The Evening Star, printed in 1 June 1945; Richard Stanley Wratten, who had yesterday been sentenced on a charge of theft was charged with unlawful conversion of a motor vehicle in September last. This matter had been adjourned for 12 months but the accused had now broken the condition imposed. Accused was sentenced to three months imprisonment." ^[5] The Otago Daily Times reported that the accused knew that the complainant had money in this trunk in his room at the Leviathan Hotel. The accused had kicked a hole in the side of the trunk and taken the notes. None of the money had been recovered, the accused stating that he had spent it all in drink." ^[6]

The Evening Post reported on 15 November 1945; Richard Stanley Wratten, carpenter, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering on November 7, the shop of Electrical Refrigeration (NZ) Ltd, Lambton Quay, and there stealing two keys valued at 2s and also that on November 6, he attempted to enter the shop of Clifford Keith Vercoe, Lambton Quay with intent to commit a crime. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentencec on each charge." ^[7]

The Evening Post printed in 21 November 1945; "In the Supreme Court yesterday the Chief Justice sentenced... Richard Stanley Wratten, 24, Carpenter... probation for two years for shop-breaking and attempted shopbreaking and was ordered to take out a prohibition order." ^[8]

Otago Daily Times, printed on 31 March 1949; " [Clifford] Fox, charged, with Richard Stanley Wratten, aged 27, a carpenter, with forging a 360 pound cheque on February 10. Both accused pleased not guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Fox and Wratten were also charged With Harry Gordon, aged 23, a stewards, with forging a 750 pound cheque on February 11... Wratten pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence." ^[9]

The Bay of Plenty times printed on 14 May 1949; " A prisoner from the Mount Crawford gaol escaped from a working party this afternoon. A large number of olice carried out searches for him and took steps to prevent his escape from the Miramar Peninsula. The man is Richard Stanley Wratten, described by police as 27 years old, 5ft 7in in height, with fresh complexion, brown hair and eyes, and tattoo marks on his right forearm. At the time of his escape he was wearing prison clothing comprising white moleskin trousers, a grey jacket and possibly an army grey long-sleeved pullover. Wratten was serving a recently-imposed sentence for forgery of cheques." ^[10]

According to Gisborne Herald, 17 May 1949; " Richard Stanley Wratten, who escaped from Mt Crawford prison on Friday afternoon was recaptured by the police this afternoon on Mt Victoria, Wellington" ^[11]

Then on 8 June 1949, the Gisborne Herald printed; "A sentence of three months reformative detention in addition to the term already being served by the accused was passed by Mr Justice Cornish in the Supreme Court, Wellington yesterday on Richard Stanley Wratten, aged 27, a carpenter, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping from detention." ^[12]

• • Please check NZ BDM for info on birth, marriage and/or death**

Sources

1. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19400110.2.59?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=2&snippet=true
2. ↑ https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/122620
3. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19430717.2.88.3?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=2&snippet=true
4. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19430812.2.86.2?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=2&snippet=true
5. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19450601.2.5?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=3&snippet=true
6. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19450601.2.74?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=5&snippet=true
7. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19451115.2.128?query=Richard%20Wratten&page=5&snippet=true
8. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19451121.2.17?query=Richard%20Wratten&snippet=true
9. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19490331.2.91?query=Richard%20Wratten&snippet=true
10. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BOPT19490514.2.25?query=Richard%20Wratten&snippet=true
11. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19490517.2.84?query=Richard%20Wratten&snippet=true
12. ↑ https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GISH19490608.2.14?query=Richard%20Wratten&snippet=true

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136331099/richard-stanley-wratten