My mother gave me the letters before she passed. My nan celebrated VE Day in 1945 expecting my grandfather Richard James Allen (BDR No 97694) home from the war, unaware that he died on 22nd April 1945.
She received this telegram three weeks after the war ended.
He was also one of the soldiers at Dunkirk but unfortunately she never received his Dunkirk Medal.
She wrote asking for his wedding ring and received this response from the regiment’s chaplain:
These silk handkerchiefs were sent to my Grandmother from my Grandfather whilst they were apart.
It was a terrible time for her and she never really got over it. She used to light a candle for him at our local Catholic Church on his birthday and Christmas until she passed.
The photo is of my grandparents on their wedding day.
This final item is a letter to my grandmother from the chaplain in the regiment who sent a photo of my grandfather’s grave.
