Thread by @jojohook2003

Thread 🧵 Probably the most poignant letter I will ever read to passengers and someone I always make sure to visit whilst in Arnhem is Ivor Rowberry. Ivor came from Wolverhampton. He didn’t survive. Here is the letter he wrote to his mum 1/

Dear Mum, usually when I write a letter it is long overdue and I must make every effort to get it away quickly. This letter however is different. It is a letter I hoped you would never receive as it is just a verification of that terse black edged card which you received 2/

…some time ago and which has caused you so much grief. It is because of that grief that I wrote this letter and by the time you have finished reading it I hope it has done some good and that I have not written in vain. It is very difficult to write now of future things in 3/

…the past tense so I am returning to the present. Tomorrow we go into action. As yet I do not exactly know what our job will be but no doubt it will be a dangerous one in which many lives will be lost. Mine may be one of those lives. Well Mum, I am not afraid to die. 4/

I like this life, yes, for the past two years I have planned & dreamed & mapped out a perfect future to materialise, but it is not what God wills & if by sacrificing all this I will leave this world slightly better than I found it I am perfectly willing to make that sacrifice 5/

Don’t get me wrong though Mum. I am no flag waving patriot nor have I ever professed to be. England’s a great little country, the best there is but I cannot honestly say it is worth fighting for. Nor can I fancy myself in the role of a gallant crusader fighting for the 6/

…liberation of Europe. It would be a nice thought but I would only be kidding myself. No mum, my little world is centred around you and includes dad, everyone at home and my friends at Wolverhampton that is worth fighting for and if by doing so it strengthens 7/

…your security and improves your lot in any way then it is worth dying for too. Now this is where I come to the point of this letter. As I have already stated I am not afraid to die and am perfectly willing to do so, if by my doing it you benefit in any way whatsoever 8/

If you do not then my sacrifice is all in vain. Have you benefited Mum, or have you cried and worried yourself sick? I fear it is the latter. Don’t you see Mum, that it will do me no good and in addition you are undoing all the good work I have tried to do. Grief is 9/

…hypocritical, useless & unfair and does neither you or me any good. I want no flowers, no epitaphs, no tears. All I want is for you to remember me and feel proud of me then I shall rest in peace knowing I have done a good job. Death is nothing final or lasting. If it were 10/

..there would be no point in living. It is just a stage in everyone’s life. To some it comes early, to others late, but it must come to everyone sometime & surely there is no better way of dying. Besides I have probably crammed more enjoyment into my 21 years than some 11/

…manage to do in 80. My only regret is I have not done as much for you as I would have liked to do. I loved Mum, you were the best mother in the world and what I failed to do in life I am trying to make up for in death, so please don’t let me down Mum, don’t worry or fret 12/

…but smile, be proud and satisfied. I have never had much money but what little I have is yours. Please don’t be silly or sentimental about it and don’t try to spend it on me. Spend it on yourself and the kiddies, it will do some good that way. Remember that where I am I am 13/

…quite okay and providing that I know you are not grieving over me I shall be perfectly happy. Well Mum that is all and I hope I have not written it all in vain. Goodbye and thanks for everything. Your unworthy son Ivor. END