Researching real identity of man born in Tournai in 1939 - WILLY WOUTERS / FREDERICK DE HEDERVARY
I’m looking for some help to solve the mystery of an identity of man born in Belgium in 1939.
I’m assisting a lady who’s mother has been missing since 1997 and some recent developments in the investigation and an inquest in to her disappearance has revealed some information about a Belgium man who has history of fraud and using different aliases that had a relationship with her just before she disappeared. This man has given his evidence at the inquest, however, his story doesn’t add up.
This man has said he was born July 9th 1939 in Tournai, Belgium.
He does not know for certain what his birth name was but he has said his record of birth says the name: WILLY COPPENOLLE.
He has said he was told his mothers name was MARIA COPPENOLLE and his fathers name was DÉSIRÉ DAVID (or DAVID DÉSIRÉ) DE HEDERVARY.
He has said when we was about 3 years old (around 1942) his home was bombed. His mother lost both of her legs. His father was arrested by the Germans and executed.
Following that he went to an orphanage and in 1951, after his mother remarried, she came to collect him. His mother (Maria) had married ANDRE FLORENT WOUTERS. After this his surname was changed to WOUTERS and the family moved to Germany as Andre was based in the army there. They returned to Belgium 5 years later.
He has said he had two brothers, but he doesn’t know if they were half brothers or step brothers. Their names were FREDDY DAVID and DÉSIRÉ DAVID. He does not know if they are still alive.
He has said in the late 1950’s he did national service in the Belgium armed forces for one year, then he joined the Gendarmerie in 1958. He was with them until 1964.
He has said during this time in the Gendarmerie, in 1960, he married his first wife JEANNINE LEROY. They had a son, GAETEN, and a daughter which he could not remember the name of (and said he didn’t want to!). There may have been a third daughter but he questioned the paternity and didn’t know her name.
He has said he was injured badly during a training exercise in the “Swine Forest”, which involved being crushed by a horse. This resulted in hospital treatment for two years.
1965-1969 he committed various crimes in Belgium, including fraud, writing cheques without cover, false documents and embezzlement.
It is believed that at some point during these years he married his second wife NICOLE RENAUD. He said it only lasted a matter of weeks and they had no children.
He has said in 1969 he married ILONA KINCZEL (Hungarian born) in Brussels, May 10th. Later that month Ilona migrated to Australia and he followed her there, but the marriage soon broke down and he returned to Australia early 1970.
Records show that he entered Australia under the name WILLY WOUTERS.
He served time in prison again 1971-1975 for further offences of fraud, false impersonation, cheques without cover,
In 1976 he returned to Australia and it not yet known which name he entered on, but it was not Willy Wouters. Shortly after he changed his name by deed poll to FREDERICK DAVID DE HEDERVARY.
Over the years he has changed his name by deed poll many times, used 30+ aliases and has had busy international movements between Europe and Australia. He has used variations of the Frederick de Hedervary name, as well as:-
DAVID FREDDY
WILLY DAVID COPPENOLLE
WOUTERS WILLY
His wife has given a slightly different account based on what he’s told her, which is the name of this mother is unknown, Maria was his aunt and her children (Freddy and Désiré) were his cousins. Also, he told her that during his time in the Gendarmerie he was injured during a demonstration in the Belgian Congo (and he has told others this too).
So, it is not clear who this man really is. Is he Willy Wouters, Freddy David (whom he says is his brother or cousin) or someone else?
How can I start to research his birth and early life? Is there a genealogist out there that is an expert in the Tournai area during the 1940’s and beyond? I’d welcome any suggestions you have.
Comments
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The mother does exist (if she is his mother/aunt) and is born in Ramegnies-Chin ; Belgium, this belonged to the Provincie Tournai (Doornik)..,and is French/Flemish bilingual , hence the two names.So you can also use the term Doornik in queries.In the run-up to WW2 the whole area was in the German crosshairs,admin taken over by the Germans during the war years., as it was occupied.It would be unlikely to find much evidence.You could be lucky to find more info tough as the mother seems to be deceased also in Tournai,probably around 12 feb 1990.5 ( i did not check out this one),anyway , this is the mother, and her parents are named in the certif, Foulon Julie and Charles-Louis Coppenolle.It is in French.so if you want to read it, type it over and feed in google translate...
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9L1-S8XD?i=182&cc=2138500&cat=2365502
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