This letter was left to me by my mother, Mary Astles, and is one of a series of letters home, written between late 1944 and June 1945, while she was doing war service with the ATS in Italy. Dated 1st May 1945, this was a letter to her mother sent from Italy. At that time, peace in Europe was expected shortly with Germany on the brink of surrender. The letters describe the rapid movement of forces through Italy and this one describes her billet, a palace which served as a German HQ, where she acquired a number of interesting souvenirs, including a German helmet. The letter also explains to her mother that she has agreed to marry my father Austin (nicknamed Bunny after the tennis player), which must have been a great surprise! I attach a photograph of my mother and father walking together in Florence.
My mother became Mary Astles, my father Austin George Astles came originally from Wallasey. They settled there and had a family of 5 children – Mike, Hilary, John, Peter and myself David Astles. The letter is special as it captures the moment when peace in Europe was nearly upon us, and the point at which our family journey began.
