A telegram which copied the only contact my mother’s family had from Len, captured at Singapore. Sent to my grandfather George, his brother, from Ingatestone, Essex to him with the RAF in North Africa in early July 1943. Len actually died from cholera on the Burma Thailand Railway on 25 July 1943. His fate was unknown until late 1945. Held in my grandparents’ photo box which I first saw some 20 years ago. My great grandfather worked on the Great Eastern Railway in Essex, so Len’s death must have been a very heavy blow to my great grandparents.
This was the only contact they ever received. Until his death was confirmed after VJ Day 1945, they had continued to celebrate his birthday (16 June) with announcements in the local newspaper and apparently, my great grandmother would continue to cook his favourite supper once a week until she knew he was dead.
