Last Letters Home; Memory, Loss and Digital Conflict
“All I wanna say is how much I loved you, and cared for you. You are the apple of my eye and I will be watching over you Darling!”
Neil Downes
British Army, 2007
His final letter to his girlfriend, Jane Little, to be opened only in the event of his death. Jane was hoping to marry Neil, he made her very happy. However, 12 weeks into his second tour in Afghanistan he was tragically killed. Neil was supposed to return home from duty the following Thursday, instead this day would be reserved for his funeral.
John Broomfield
King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 1915
An unknown soldier writes a letter to the wife of his best Pal, John, within hours of his death. In this letter he details how he was with John moments before he met his end after he courageously charged out to aid a friend who had been injured, before he himself met a similar fate.
