Hello All, I've only just arrived back from Cardiff. I spent a few hours going through my mother's photographs and was delighted to find a multitude of old photographs that I hadn't seen before. Amongst the photos I found the last page of a letter that my mother knew about and never got around to reading as her eyesight isn't great. After reading through several times I realised the writer was a grand uncle of mine who was killed in March 1918 and was buried or had his name inscribed on the memorial at Arras. My question is how important (historically ) or rare these letters are? It means everything to me and of course I will pass onto my children. Obviously this question is to researchers who would be clued into the military side of their research. My grand uncles letter isn't dated as I have the last page but he does state he is in France and that he thanked his parents for the parcel which they rarely received. He also asks about a brother of his who was ill and he would like to hear from his brother and sister in Canada. He ends with ......your loving son etc. xxxx I never thought I'd make such a discovery and to be honest I felt a touch of sadness and yet excited too. Many thanks, Kevin.

How wonderful to have found something like that relating to your family. Such letters are not uncommon, and there are many such examples in archives and record offices around the country as well as many more in private hands no doubt. I expect more will emerge as we approach the centenary of the outbreak of war (and the personal memory of the individual who wrote them recedes). They would have been treasured in families particularly if the loved one never came back. Their historical value is in describing the experience of the ordinary soldier (though they were censored and I'm sure many men painted a picture brighter than the reality). Best regards Liz Rees On 04/06/2013 14:59, K Mc wrote: Hello All, I've only just arrived back from Cardiff. I spent a few hours going through my mother's photographs and was delighted to find a multitude of old photographs that I hadn't seen before. Amongst the photos I found the last page of a letter that my mother knew about and never got around to reading as her eyesight isn't great. After reading through several times I realised the writer was a grand uncle of mine who was killed in March 1918 and was buried or had his name inscribed on t he memorial at Arras. My question is how important (historically ) or rare these letters are? It mean s everything to me and of course I will pass onto my children. Obviously this q uestion is to researchers who would be clued into the military side of their re search. My grand uncles letter isn't dated as I have the last page but he does state he is in France and that he thanked his parents for the parcel which they rarely received. He also asks about a brother of his who was ill and he would like to hear from his brother and sister in Canada. He ends with ......your loving son etc. xxxx I never thought I'd make such a discovery and to be honest I felt a touch of sa dness and yet excited too. Many thanks, Kevin.