VE Day at 80: A Love in Letters

In the summer of 2022, Roseanna discovered her grandparents John and Rita Reed’s collection of letters, personal and military diaries and photographs, dated from September 1939 through to May 1945. In this article, she tells us in her own words about the journey she has been on to tell their story of love in the time of war.

A sample from the collection of letters, diaries and photographs Roseanna found in the Summer of 2022.

What would you do if you had the chance to travel back in time to get to know dearly loved older relatives in their younger years? This was the opportunity that I discovered while clearing my late mother’s study and stumbled upon my grandmother Rita’s treasure box. I found in amongst diaries and photographs a stack of letters in my grandfather John Reed’s handwriting, the dates revealing some of the Second World War years. Having previously been given my grandmother’s letters from the same period I wondered… if ordered and dovetailed, could these letters speak to one another? Would they reveal a conversation over those years? What stories would unfold, and what snippets of my grandparents’ daily lives could be revealed?

This was truly a magical moment, and I had no idea of the precious and wonderful paper trail that had been left to me until I began piecing together this unique story. Having had a very close relationship with my grandparents, I knew how proud they were of their close relationship and that they wouldn’t mind their story being shared.

John and Rita’s story

After marrying on September 6 1939, Rita returned home and stayed with her mother in Barnes, London. John completed officer commission training with the Honourable Artillery Company at Waterloo Barracks, Aldershot, subsequently being transferred to the 63^rd Medium Regiment with the Royal Artillery Company. Rita wrote to John as often as she could, often addressing him as ‘My dearest Mr Snippet’ as he would often include snippets of information in his letters about the army and how the war was progressing from a military perspective.

Capt E John Reed, in Spring 1944

John led a troop as part of the British Expeditionary Force in the spring of 1940 taking part in the mass evacuation at Dunkirk. He then entered a second theatre of war as part of the 8^th Army Group Royal Artillery in the summer of 1944, landing on Gold Beach and participating in the North-West Europe campaign and Battle of Normandy.

Having pieced together John’s story I am infinitely proud of the part he played alongside those of his comrades. John always showed humility and immeasurable respect towards all those involved. Now I have a greater understanding of John’s experiences I hope that bringing this story to life acknowledges the part he and so many others played.

When not in battle, John trained at different locations around the UK. Rita would stay near to where he was stationed when she could but otherwise their main way of communication was through the exchanging of their letters. In one letter Rita wrote:

‘I’m glad I shall be free to come down to you for the weekends you are on duty, darling. It would be a crime if we couldn’t have our Saturday night together! You tell the major that your wife wants you more than the army ever possibly could.’

Rita and John on their first wedding anniversary – 6th September 1940

Passionately in love and hilariously witty in their banter with one another, John and Rita’s letters offer a unique wartime conversation that bridges military and civilian worlds, and transports readers back to another time via an un-replicated authentic perspective.

Rita and John with their firstborn, Rosemary, in October 1941

These are the experiences of real people; set amongst world-shaking events. Forging their way through unpredictable times, and at points living with a constant pressure that each tiny everyday decision might have a life-or-death consequence. I have felt humbled and honoured by the extraordinary opportunity I have been afforded to tell Rita and John’s story and have done so to ensure that narratives such as these are not forgotten.

Letters between John and Rita can be found in The Postal Museum’s new display ‘VE Day at 80: A Love in Letters’. Roseanna’s book Dear Mr Snippet is available to purchase in our online shop.