My brother and I inherited a box of some 450 letters written by our parents during 1940 to 1944. After enlisting in February 1940 dad was sent to Laindon in Essex for training in the 17th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment whilst our mother was living with her parents in Brighton. During this time they were in frequent contact with each other by letter as they were very much in love.
The letter reproduced here was sent by our Mum one month before they were married September 1940 and two weeks later our dad was sent overseas to Malta serving with the 59th L.A.A. battery which was one of the first such units to arrive in Malta. He remained in Malta until April 1944. As with many others serving, he did not see his new bride again until 1944. Some of his letters home refer to the pointlessness of war with no winners and how senseless it all was.
The attached photograph is of their wedding on 16 September 1940 taken at St Marks Church, Eastern Rd, Brighton.
