Letter to Mrs Hastings

Letter to Mrs Hastings

A hand written letter sent to Mrs Hastings from a Sergeant named D.G Southwell. Sergeant Southwell is sending his condolences to Mrs Hastings for the loss of her brother nicknamed "Bob" by members of the Squadron.

1942-11-01

Double-sided hand written letter

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ESouthwellDGHastings[Mrs]421101-0001, ESouthwellDGHastings[Mrs]421101-0002

Sgt Southwell
2, Bourne Rd
Chalk
Gravesend
KENT

1.11.42.

Dear Mrs Hastings,

Thank you for your letter received this morning, but I am so sorry that I cannot in any way give you hope that your brother may still be alive, he was known to most of us at the Sq[missing letters] as Pop, but one day Sgt Kennedy called him Bob, and from thence onward I always referred to your brother as Bob, believe me Mrs Hastings your brother and I had many things in common, and I made the most careful enquiries trying myself always to believe that it was not our comrades who had lost their lives but apart from the Red Cross information, I must tell you that your brother was described to me by a person who was present on the following morning at the scene of the accident. [deleted] We [/deleted] Our aeroplane was destroyed by a German night-fighter, and Bob fought gallantly to save the aircraft, but circum-

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stances were against us. Bob was killed by the concussion of the plane hitting the ground, and the only consolation I can offer you is that his death would be instantaneous and was not preceded by a period of waiting, he & F/O Valters Sgt Stickney, & Sgt Kennedy were buried, with full military honours, and there were many beautiful wreaths from the local inhabitants, the Germans took a news reel film of the ceremony, and I visited the cemetery some few days afterwards, and paid my respects to them on behalf of our country, and their families

I would so much wish that I could write something that I could give you hope, but I cannot I hope to visit Mrs Stickney, in about a weeks time and I shall call upon you or Mr & Mrs Hunt I have seen Mr & Mrs Valters

Goodbye my dear friend, Bob died for his country but the sacrifice is very great and sometimes I wonder if it is worth it, if this killing and destruction, can ever give any side the victory if it takes away from us our loved ones.

Thank you for your kind wishes

Yours very sincerely

D.G. Southwell