Heartbreaking letter

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Incredibledisc, Mar 16, 2018.

  1. Incredibledisc

    Incredibledisc Well-Known Member

    Don’t know if any of you follow Dan Snow’s Twitter account. He posted this letter from a father to his son’s CO after he was killed in action. I thought it was worth sharing here.

    Dan Snow on Twitter
     
  2. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Any chance of copying into your post? (I don't have twitter/password..)
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Nor do I but if you click the link you can read it.
    It's a public tweet so everyone can see it.
    Click on the first page & it's easy to read the whole letter by clicking the > arrow
    I am on my laptop at the moment though , might be different on a mobile or tablet.
     
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  4. Incredibledisc

    Incredibledisc Well-Known Member

    I wasn’t sure of the ethics of just nicking the photos to post here.
     
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  5. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Casualty

    I believe the letter was written to his son's pilot, not his CO. The aircraft that he was onboard was lost with all crew so presumably he was flying as a spare bod.

    The "French boy" who visited Sgt Smith's parents appears to be 654574 F/Sgt James George Louis Martin, whose DFM was gazetted 11 February 1944.

    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36374/page/740/data.pdf
     
  6. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    photo of Runnymede panel from my photo collection

    upload_2018-3-17_14-7-3.png
    Sergeant SMITH, JOHN GEORGE
    Service Number 1810132

    Died 23/11/1943

    Aged 20

    630 Sqdn.
    Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

    Son of John Henry and Ada Marie Smith, of Woolwich, London.
     
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  7. Incredibledisc

    Incredibledisc Well-Known Member

    After reading the letter again that would make more sense. Thanks for the clarification.
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I see the author of that letter served in France in WW1.
    I used to know a Great War veteran whose son (only child) was killed whilst a skipper of a Stirling bomber.
    (I have mentioned them a few times on here)
    It really was heartbreaking for those chaps who'd fought in & survived the trenches of WW1 to loose their sons in the following war.
     
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  9. Incredibledisc

    Incredibledisc Well-Known Member

    Yes his comment at the end of the letter saying “finish it this time” speaks volumes.
     
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  10. RosyRedd

    RosyRedd Senior Member

    Thanks Owen - was on phone earlier and wouldn't work. Does now I'm on my pc, though.
     
  11. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

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  12. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Well spotted Owen. The link shows that Sgt Smith was the rear gunner on the lost plane.
    Tim
     

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