This letter was written to my maternal grandfather, Arthur Beach, by his sister, Catherine. Arthur had emigrated to Canada in 1903 with his mother. His older brother, Ernest, had been sent over by the National Children’s Home in 1901 on his own (aged 14). Arthur’s father was left behind (living in London until his death in 1941 but that’s another story) as were two older sisters, Catherine and Daisy. The girls had been residential students at the Muswell Hill Cottage Home in Southgate, Middlesex and then went into service in London. Daisy emigrated to Canada in 1911 at the age of 22. But Catherine stayed in London her whole life. Although their mother died only a few years after arriving in Hamilton, Ontario (in a house fire), and there seems to have been no relationship with their father, the siblings managed to stay in touch.
In my mother’s files, I found a few photos that Aunt Katie had sent at Christmas over the years. I also found this letter which was written during an air raid on 14 Dec 1940.
Although the letter is not from a service person, I feel that it reflects some of the anxiety and strain that was on every person in the UK at the time and how much they tried to maintain any sense of “normality” like writing letters to family and trying to keep up with the news of their children.
PS I have the copy of Arthur’s birth certificate so it seems his sister managed to accomplish that task for him.
The photo shown with the letter is Catherine Beach.
