MY DEAR DAD LOST HIS FIGHT WITH CANCER AND DIED IN 1975 AGED 59. AFTER MY MOTHER DIED IN 1983 I FOUND THAT SHE HAD KEPT A BOX OF LOVE LETTERS THAT HE HAD SENT TO HER DATING FROM 1938 - 1945 WHILST HE WAS SERVING IN THE ROYAL ARTILLERY. I HAVE KEPT THEM EVER SINCE AND WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED TO READ THE LETTERS SENT DURING 1945 AS THE WAR WAS ALMOST AT AN END. THEY ARE MOSTLY FROM MY DAD AND ARE FULL OF LOVE AND HIS LONGING TO BE BACK WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN IN 1939 AND 1941.
I AM SAD THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECOUNT HIS WAR YEARS WITH HIM DUE TO HIS EARLY DEATH BUT THESE LETTERS KEEP ME CLOSE TO HIM AND GIVE AN INSIGHT INTO MY PARENT'S THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AS A YOUNG FAMILY GOING THROUGH VERY TOUGH TIMES.
I WAS BORN IN 1952 SOON AFTER MY MUM HAD COME OUT OF HOSPITAL AFTER SUFFERING A BREAKDOWN. I AM SURE THE SUFFERING AND DEPRIVATION OF THE WAR HAD CAUSED HER MUCH PAIN.
DAD WAS ABLE TO ENJOY ME AS A SMALL CHILD WHICH HAD BEEN DENIED HIM WITH MY ELDER BROTHER AND SISTER DUE TO THE SEPERATION OF WAR. HENCE I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HIM. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE ROYAL ARTILLERY 1938-1945 ESPECIALLY WHAT MY FATHERS MOVEMENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DURING THAT TIME.
HIS NUMBER WAS 6844662, L/SGT R ASHLEY,101ST FIELD BTY, 33RD FIELD REGT.B.L.A. I AM POSTING AN EXTRACT OF ONE OF HIS LETTERS INCLUDING A POEM WRITTEN ABOUT 'THE BRITISH THIRD DIVISION'.
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