A chance discovery in a charity shop in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, revealed a heartfelt letter written in 1945 by a woman to her beloved who was serving in the RAF. Andy Hacking, a collector with an interest in World War Two militaria, stumbled upon the letter tucked away in a pocket of an RAF uniform he purchased about five years ago. The postmark on the letter was dated 17 December 1945, adding to its historical significance.
The letter was addressed to a mysterious airman stationed in Wiltshire, and it expressed the woman’s anticipation and joy for her sweetheart’s return for Christmas. Identified only as Jean from Herschell Street, Preston, the woman mentioned in the letter that she had been eagerly counting down the days until they would be reunited. Mr. Hacking, hailing from Accrington, Lancashire, expressed his desire to locate Jean’s family and return the precious letter to them.
Despite his initial intention to wear the uniform at re-enactment events, Mr. Hacking realized it was too small for him, being a 30-inch waist whereas his actual size is 32 inches. Upon showing the uniform to a friend, he uncovered not just the letter but also an RAF diary hidden within its pockets. The personal nature of the letter, signed off with a sweet “so long sweetheart,” has prompted Mr. Hacking to seek out Jean’s relatives for a potential reunion with this sentimental piece of history. Anyone possessing information about the mysterious airman or Jean is encouraged to reach out via email to graham.liver@bbc.co.uk
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