Letter to his wife from Edward Milling

Letter to his wife from Edward Milling

Letter from Sergeant Edward Milling to his wife to be sent in the event of his death. Edward urges his wife to remain strong in the face of adversity, remembers the happy time they had together, and expresses his love and devotion for her and their daughter. He also mentions his parents and his friend John.

1943-02-20

Seven page letter

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EMillingEMillingEM430220

[RAF Crest]
Saturday
20.2.43.
To my Darling Wife,
Darling. If by any chance you do receive this letter you will know that I shall not be coming back.
Please darling, if it does happen, try not to let it upset you. I know it will be hard for you, for I know you love me, but be brave & remember dear, it is for something which will last long after we have
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all left this earth, so please be brave dear.
Remember darling, you have our little girl [deleted] K [/deleted] now to think of; and she is worth all the love which you have for me, so look after her & love her for me dear.
Life is a funny thing dear. All the years we have been married, (Incidentally the happiest years of my life), we have just had the two of us to love each other, now, when we have someone to share our love, & really complete
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happiness, I have to leave you, but I guess that is how it was meant to be. I am not grumbling. My life has been happy enough. The last six years have been everything a man could desire. A perfect wife and pal. One whom I could give all my love & devotion to, & know that it would not be wasted. One whom I knew would return my love with just as much fervour & devotion as I could give mine. I have loved
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you darling more than anything in this world. My one regret at leaving is that I am leaving behind the dearest wife who ever lived, & the mother of my darling little girl.
Well sweetheart I’m afraid I can’t say much more. I haven’t said much but what I have, comes from the bottom of my heart, & if I had my time over again I would do exactly what I already done. Marry the sweetest little girl in the
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world. I must ask you again dear to love & take care of our little girl. Bring her up to be everything that you are, & you will have a daughter to be proud of.
I must close now dear as it is time I was off. If I can I will write to Mum & Dad & John. Just in case I can’t manage it, give them all my love. Tell them I am sorry for any sorrow or worries I may have brought them, & this is from my heart. I think
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they are the finest parents a man could have, & I only hope that I go worthy of the love & devotion they have given me.
Tell John to take care of himself & I think he is the finest brother & [underlined] pal [/underlined] anyone could have. He is a grand lad & I wish him all the [deleted] indecipherable word [/deleted] luck in the world.
Good bye darling & until we meet again all my love forever.
From your ever
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Loving husband
Ted XXXXXXXXXXX
Give my love to Anne & Joe
I LOVE YOU DARLING