SERVICEMEN and their families who were stationed in Paderborn, West Germany, in 1981 are being urged to rack their memories to see if they can help solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a British toddler 36 years ago.

The Royal Military Police this week began a major forensic search on the bank of the River Alme at Paderborner Str, in the hunt for missing Katrice Lee.

Katrice went missing from the Schloss Neuhaus NAAFI, near the military base where her father was stationed with the British Army, on November 28, 1981, her second birthday, while out shopping with her mother. Wide-scale searches of the area were conducted by the RMP, German Police, British troops and volunteers but Katrice was never found.

“Thirty-six years have passed and allegiances may have changed,” said WO1 O’Leary Richard O’Leary, of the Bulford-based investigation team. “We are appealing to members of the public and the military community, including veterans and retired civil servants in both Germany and the UK; do you know what happened to Katrice?”

At that time servicemen stationed in Paderborn would probably have either been with armoured corps regiments and units within those regiments, along with military support personnel and civil servants.

Many of those units have since been re-named: Katrice’s father Richard was a Warrant Officer in the King’s Royal Hussars at the time, in the 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars. The Lee family came from Hartlepool, in Yorkshire, one of hundreds of military families from all over the UK who were stationed in Paderborn then.

The RMP reopened the investigation into Katrice’s disappearance in 2012. As part of this investigation they reanalysed evidence gathered during the original investigation, which has identified the bank of the River Alme at Paderborner Str, as being of particular interest.

WO1 O’Leary, of the Bulford-based investigation team, said: “A team of military personnel and civilian forensic experts will be carrying out a detailed excavation of the site, which is expected to last approximately five weeks. The aim of the search is to find evidence that could finally shed light on what happened to Katrice.

“In February 2017 the case featured on BBC Crimewatch. “As part of the feature a photo-fit was released of a man seen at the NAAFI on the day Katrice disappeared, holding a child similar to Katrice and getting into a green saloon car. We are keen to hear from anyone who could help to identify this person.

“A green saloon car was also seen on the River Alme bridge near the NAAFI the day after Katrice disappeared. It may or may not be the same car, but we are very keen to identify this car.”

The investigation team would also like to hear from anyone who was living in the Paderborn area who owned a green saloon car in 1981, so that they can be ruled out of the team’s enquiries.

Investigators have not ruled out the possibility that Katrice was abducted and is living in Germany or elsewhere, not knowing who she really is. She was born with an unusual eye condition in her left eye and it would take two medical operations to correct it.

WO1 O’Leary said: “An image of what Katrice may look like now, aged 38, has been produced. If anyone feels they know someone who looks like this, or believes they could be Katrice, then we would encourage them to come forward.”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The disappearance of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and I have been struck by the courage and dignity of the Lee family, who have never given up on their search for Katrice.

“As this major dig gets under way, the efforts and expertise of the Royal Military Police are behind the family. I urge anyone who was in the Paderborn area at the time of the disappearance to contact the helpline – even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this heart-wrenching case.”

The search of the riverbank has been named Operation Bute. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Op Bute team on: UK Helpline 0800 616888; German Helpline 0800 184 2222; on Facebook Operation BUTE; Twitter @operationbute or email: SIBRMP-OpBUTE-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk