The letter was written by my grandmother to my mother during the war. My mother gifted the letter and the coins to my younger son ten months before she died in September 2015.
My grandmother was born Hilda Wheeler in London on 20th August 1890. She married Harry Drury in 1925 and some of their children – Joan, Jack, Betty and Rita – are mentioned in the letter. They lived in Lewisham.
During the war, Hilda remained in the family home in Lewisham. Her daughter Joan, my mother, had been evacuated to Letchworth to stay with a relative.
The letter was written by Hilda to her daughter on the 11th July 1944. Enclosed with the letter were two half crowns (five shillings) as a birthday gift for Joan’s 18th birthday on 12th July 1944. The two half crowns were never spent and became keepsakes passed on by my mother.
They were not spent because, just two and a half weeks later on 28th July, a German V1 flying bomb landed on Lewisham High Street, killing 51 people … among them was Hilda Drury. Hilda had gone to Lewisham market to shop; her youngest daughter Rita (12) was supposed to accompany her mother but as she hadn’t finished breakfast, she remained at home.
The Lewisham Local History and Archives Centre lists Hilda Drury’s name as one of those killed.
A memorial bronze plaque was set into the pavement at the Lewisham Market entrance to Marks and Spencer on Lewisham High Street. The memorial was rededicated in 2011 and a plaque was placed on the wall of the Marks & Spencer shop.
11 / 7 / 44
My Dear Daughter,
Thanks for your nice letter received last week and we were all very pleased to hear the good news of Bill being a little better. We all hope he is still improving.
So pleased you had a nice time with Doris & Eric & Janet. I am sure Janet is lonely. I would dearly have loved to have seen them but not here, but I may be seeing them sometime.
I had a very nice offer from Doris & Eric to all from them if they wished and to anyone I know who wanted to get out of London, I have written to thank her for the offer and Dad was very pleased about it, and said we could go, but I will hang on a bit longer Joan. Have a lot to think about you know dear, I only hope we get through alright, our home is still safe, we had it terrible on Saturday night we all thought our house had got it but only dust and dirt everywhere. I was up out of the shelter at 6.30 on Sunday morning and soon had it all cleaned up. We had a dreadful day all day Sunday but we had our Sunday dinner just the same after a struggle, but we had it. Also another bad one today, one in Vicars Hill at 2.30 this afternoon – we felt that but no windows out. Well, we will say no more about bombs. We all hope you will spend a Happy Birthday and live to enjoy many more dear. We all hope to see you soon.
Dad and I have sent you 5/- to get yourself something dear. I must tell you Betty will be coming on the 18th not the 21st. I have asked Hilda if she could manage to have Rita, she would love to come with Betty for those few days.
They have been very good and so is Jack and very thoughtful for me but we are all keeping cheerful. Poor old Wennie; he is up every morning at 6 o’clock and goes indoors and makes a jug of tea and brings down to the shelter for us. We are very comfortable down there Joan but of course not like being in bed. I shall be very glad when I can get my clothes off.
Over three weeks now but I am not feeling too bad. Dad is OK. He sleeps in the Anderson shelter in Mr B’s back garden. He is on his own, he likes it best. Well dear, you will see Mr V has sent you a nice row of beads. I bet he paid a bit for them but he wants you to have something to remind you of him.
My Mother brooch you gave me I have never had off. Last night when I had got down the shelter, I found I had left it on my other blouse so I popped up indoors and put it on as it seems lucky for me.
Well my dear, once again I wish you many Happy Returns. I hope you will soon see Stan. Give my love to all.
Cheers dear & God Bless you.
From Your Loving Mother
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