Intelligence Corps WWll

[Ranolki]

Thank you for that.  Yes, he did marry Olive Crabtree so that's the right one...

[scrimnet]

There is also a BG Atkinson commissioned 2nd Lt 13th June 1942 in the Int Corps.

Both B and BG Atkinson ended up as Capt at the end of the war...

[Ranolki]

Oh that's interesting!  Is it possibly they are the same person?

[cath151]

Previous post from AlanBoyd
There is a 1939 Electoral Register entry from Surrey—Bernard and Olive Atkinson—address 'Windrush', Lunghurst Road, Woldingham

At that address in the 1939 Register, Olive Atkinson, married,  plus two redacted, so no sign of this Bernard Atkinson at the address.

Interesting passenger list?
Ship Baluchistan sailed 27th June 1940 for Basra.
Atkinson  Bernard aged 41
Merchant
Windnesh, Woldingham, Surrey.

Googling there might have been need for intelligence in Iraq in WW2.
Cathy

[cath151]

 Interestingly..
He was travelling on the same ship as
Douglas McKay Tulloch aged 28  Master Mariner from Falkirk.
There is a passenger list from Swansea to Port Said in 1945 with the same
Douglas McKay Tulloch  33 who is now an Iraq Government Official heading back to Iraq.
I'm probably making up my own story here but might be of interest.
Cathy

[Kiltaglassan]

He was travelling on the same ship as
Douglas McKay Tulloch aged 28  Master Mariner from Falkirk.
There is a passenger list from Swansea to Port Said in 1945 with the same
Douglas McKay Tulloch  33 who is now an Iraq Government Official heading back to Iraq.

Good Finds!

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FBT27%2F1560%2F00%2F0057%2FP%2F0001F&parentid=TNA%2FBT27%2F1560000057%2F00004

https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=TNA%2FBT27%2F1578%2F00%2F0072%2FP%2F0001F&parentid=TNA%2FBT27%2F1578000072%2F00008

[Ranolki]

Once again, the research abilities of people on here are amazing.  Thanks for all that, I'm on the trail!

[Ranolki]

I have found interesting info about Bernard Atkinson and wonder if I have found everything available from online records.  We're putting a trip together to Kew to see what they have for him, but I seem to have uncovered a potentially interesting trail.  It seems after leaving the Army after WWI he worked in Hull for a grain merchant. 
He was not on the 1939 Register so potential abroad in September  1939.  By 1940 he is travelling to Basra on the Baluchistan.  From a few personal letters we have found, this wasn't his first visit and it seems he could have been working for MacAndrew & Forbes, who were importing medical grade opium from the region, going out each season to deal with quality control testing etc.  It appears from there he was recruited into the Intelligence Corps.  It seems it was a common route for businessman at that point and involved something called Paiforce, something I'm researching now online.  I'm thinking there was in fact only one Bernard Atkinson in the Intelligence Corps at that point, it seems strange that there could have been two and I don't immediately see anyone who could be a candidate for a second one.
Any "out of the box" thoughts on where I might find more information would be appreciated.  I think finding his actual service records will be reasonably easy, it's information concerning where he travelled as a civilian which I'd love to find.  I only use Ancestry for records searches, is there any other platform with more comprehensive info on travel?  For example I can see him arriving back in the UK, but no outward info...