This letter is from the padre attached to my father’s regiment during WWII. It was sent to his father to advise/confirm that my father was missing in action. It provides a little detail of the circumstances and suggests that he may have been captured as a prisoner of war – which indeed he was – I have submitted additional letters from my Dad’s brother – also a soldier with more detail about his capture and subsequent imprisonment.
The letter promotes a positive and hopeful tone but acknowledges the anxiety and worry of families waiting for news of loved ones. It invites my Grandad to keep in touch and let the padre know if there is any news of him. Incidentally – when my Dad was confirmed as being captured and a prisoner of war in our local newspaper – the Leicester Mercury – his picture was printed alongside that of my Mum’s brother (John Bonham) – who was confirmed in that article as being a Japanese prisoner of war ( I attach a photo of this report) The really amazing thing is that my Mum and Dad did not meet until AFTER the war – so at this time, although their photos appear side by side, they were not connected. The article had been kept by my maternal Grandma because it was her son and we never realised the significance and connection until many years later when this was discovered amongst my Dad’s war memorabilia. My Mum’s brother died in whilst in captivity and so the two never met.
