Graham Dix, a resident of Abingdon, started a personal project during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by his late uncle’s service with the Coldstream Guards in World War II, Graham began researching and writing a book about his uncle’s experiences.
Basil Bateman had never shared his wartime stories, but his life had a significant impact on Graham. Growing up in Cumnor, where Basil Bateman’s name is on the war memorial, Graham felt a strong connection to him. They had shared the same bedroom and worked on the same farm. Graham had inherited his uncle’s wartime papers, and during the pandemic had time to read them carefully.
Through interviews with family members and extensive research, including wartime diaries from the regiment, Graham pieced together Basil’s wartime experiences. He travelled to Germany to gather first-hand accounts and photographs related to the Rhineland Offensive, a significant but often overlooked series of battles in which his uncle fought.
Initially, Graham intended to create a memoir for his family. However, as his research progressed, he realised the broader importance of sharing his uncle’s story. He aimed to honour his uncle’s memory, pay tribute to the Coldstream Guards, and shed light on the Rhineland Campaign.
Copies of the book are available in the Book Store in Abingdon where it is selling well.
Inspired by this project, Graham Dix is now considering exploring the wartime experiences of his grandfathers in WWI.
