We have several letters from Ted to his two sisters and mother while he was serving in the Army in WW2. He sent a Book of Shakespeare’s works to his sister Winifred and chatted about his life in camp, thanking them for letters he had received from home. He expressed his wishes to tell them in person about all his adventures when on leave, especially his trip to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. As a staunch Methodist family this was of great interest to him, and they looked forward to his return to hear all about it. Sadly, this was never to be as he died in action in Sicily on July 21st 1943, whist working as a gunlayer in a tank, which was struck by an armour piercing shell. He died from his injuries. We also have the letter to his mother informing of his death, and a reply after she wrote asking for more details. Also letters containing his posthumous medals and some personal effects.
They were passed on to us, her cousin Walter and his family, on the death of Auntie Winnie in 2003 aged 92. Walter died just last May and was the last of the family to remember Ted. So we now are the guardians of this part of our family history. Auntie Winnie often spoke about her brother Ted and how sad it was that he never returned. He also left behind a fiancee. So he never saw VE Day.
