Episode 8
Documentary series. In WWII, many soldiers were declared missing, but later returned. Maureen was adopted after her birth mother's husband returned from war unexpectedly.
In World War II, thousands of British soldiers were declared missing, presumed dead, only to eventually return to their families. Sometimes, their wife had started a new relationship and had new children - only to then have to give them up for adoption. Maureen Cooper from Bristol was adopted out as a young girl when her father returned from war unexpectedly. Her long search for her birth mother eventually lead Maureen to her sister Christine, who had also been given up for adoption for the same reason. Unfortunately, Christine had died by the time Maureen traced her, but Maureen has since met up with all her nieces and nephews, who grew up in Ireland. Today, Phil and Edele and other relatives are coming over from Ireland to Bristol to meet Maureen's sons Matthew and Mark for the very first time.
Wendy Stringer's mother was pregnant by a new man when her husband returned from the war, despite also being declared missing. The baby boy was hastily given away once born, by Wendy's grandparents. It was only when her father died that Wendy felt she could try and find her half-brother John. Unbeknown to her, he was also looking for his birth family, but a simple spelling error on his records meant he hadn't been able to trace them. Wendy's husband Graham took the search to social media sites and eventually found John. John and Wendy visit their mother's grave - which John has never been to before.
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