Our client had been estranged from her Mother for a period of twenty five years. The client had heard rumours that her Mother had passed away and instructed Vanguard to establish whether the rumours were true.

Our investigation took us to Malaya where we discovered that the maternal grandfather of the client was a medical doctor during the course of the Japanese occupation in WW2, his wife a nurse. This brave couple treated and nursed many allied personnel and assisted in their repatriation through the resistance network.

Sadly both were detained by the Japanese, and suffered a very significant degree of torture along with one of their daughters, the client’s mother. The long term effects were to have an impact on the client’s mother for the rest of her life.

Through perseverance, our enquiries led us back to West London and in particular to two streets. Patient observations and gaining the confidence of local residents narrowed our search to one particular house.

One particular neighbour finally confirmed that the client’s mother was believed to be resident at the property and had been seen in the very recent past.

She was then written to and in due course responded and confirmed she was indeed alive and physically well.

The pair have subsequently been reunited.