Copy of Letter from Teddy Cosgrove to his Family
Title
Copy of Letter from Teddy Cosgrove to his Family
Description
The letter was written 12 days before his last flight over Germany. He expresses his feelings if he is captured or dies serving his country.
Creator
Date
1941-09-30
Language
Format
One typewritten sheet
Is Part Of
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SCosgroveAE968259v10028
Transcription
A copy of a letter written By Sgt. Observer Navigator, ALFRED EDWARD COSGROVE, R.A.F/V.R. Twelve days before his last flight over Germany & received sixteen days after his death in action, 11 October. 1941.
My Dear Mother, Father, Maureen & Brian,
I dont Know why I am writing this letter now because I dont feel at all at the end of my life, but one can never be sure. By the time you receive this however, I don't suppose there will be any doubt.
One never Knows: I may be a prisoner of War somewhere you now. [sic] Not everyone who is reported in casualty lists is dead.
If I am a resident of some "Stalag" or other then I'll do my utmost to escape once I have let you know I am safe,
If, however the worst comes to the worst, then try not to worry & remember you are just one of the millions who have lost part of the family, and it's in a good cause anyway.
I only hope this war will have been worth the lives of the men, women and children who have given there [sic] lives to wipe hitler from the earth forever.
Well, this letter will not, I'm afraid contribute to cheering you up, but it will serve to let you know how grateful I am for your continuous affection and thought for my welfare. It is my only sorrow that I may not be able to repay you for ever for what you have done for me.
If only everyone had a home like I have had there would have been no War at all.
I don't think I should say any more now except that if at some time you hear about "Plum Pudding" remember me.
Cheerio & Keep Smiling,
Yours with love,
Teddy.
My Dear Mother, Father, Maureen & Brian,
I dont Know why I am writing this letter now because I dont feel at all at the end of my life, but one can never be sure. By the time you receive this however, I don't suppose there will be any doubt.
One never Knows: I may be a prisoner of War somewhere you now. [sic] Not everyone who is reported in casualty lists is dead.
If I am a resident of some "Stalag" or other then I'll do my utmost to escape once I have let you know I am safe,
If, however the worst comes to the worst, then try not to worry & remember you are just one of the millions who have lost part of the family, and it's in a good cause anyway.
I only hope this war will have been worth the lives of the men, women and children who have given there [sic] lives to wipe hitler from the earth forever.
Well, this letter will not, I'm afraid contribute to cheering you up, but it will serve to let you know how grateful I am for your continuous affection and thought for my welfare. It is my only sorrow that I may not be able to repay you for ever for what you have done for me.
If only everyone had a home like I have had there would have been no War at all.
I don't think I should say any more now except that if at some time you hear about "Plum Pudding" remember me.
Cheerio & Keep Smiling,
Yours with love,
Teddy.
Collection
Citation
Cosgrove, T, “Copy of Letter from Teddy Cosgrove to his Family,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed April 15, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/collections/document/43104.