My grandparents' relationship began through letter writing during World War II when my great-aunt asked my grandmother to write letters to her friend, a soldier named William, to lift his spirits while he fought abroad. Through their letters exchanged over two years as he was stationed in North Africa, Italy, and Austria, my grandmother and William discovered their many similarities and continued connecting while he was away at war. They finally met in person after the war ended in 1945, fell in love, and married in 1948, enjoying a quiet family life together until my grandfather's death in 1970.

1. A WARTIME
ROMANCE

2.  My grandparents’ relationship began in 1944
during World War II. My nana, whose name was
Sybil, was working in England for an officer in
the Royal Air Force. My nana’s sister Gladys was
married to a soldier called Peter. Peter was
friends with another soldier called William. It was
common during the war for people to write to the
soldiers fighting abroad to motivate them and
help them to feel connected to home. Peter
asked my nana to write to William and they
started sending letters to each other when he
was fighting in North Africa.

3.  They discovered that they were similar in
many ways. They were both quiet,
hardworking, family orientated with a
similar sense of humour and they liked
the same types of music. They continued
writing to each when he went to Italy and
then Austria. They wrote to each other for
two years, exchanging stories about their
families and life before the war.

4.  The war ended in 1945 but it would be
another year before they could finally
meet in person. Romance blossomed and
they got engaged in 1947. They got
married in 1948 and had two children, my
mum and my uncle.

6.  They enjoyed a quiet family life until my
granddad died in 1970 when he was fifty
six.
 Like lots of couples who met during the
war, I think the devotion and support they
shared through the letters made their
lifelong love for each other stronger.
