The Letters of Bob and Diana
In the midst of World War II, amidst the chaos and destruction, a young couple’s love story blossomed, amidst the backdrop of air raids, war efforts, and separation. The letters exchanged between Bob and Diana, a pilot and his bride-to-be, reveal a tale of love, longing, and sacrifice.
Early Years of Love
Their love story began in 1939, when Bob, a young pilot, wrote to Diana, his future wife, from South Cerney in Gloucestershire. The letters, exchanged between 1939 and 1942, portray a deep affection and mutual adoration.
- Their first letter, dated September 18, 1940, expressed Bob’s longing for Diana’s love and care during the air raids.
- Bob’s brothers, who were serving in the war, played a significant role in their union. Bob’s younger brother, Dick, was asked to be the best man at their wedding, and his younger brother, John, was a sergeant pilot stationed in Newmarket, who was fatally injured on a training flight.
A Separation of War
In October 1940, Bob was posted to George, a town about 250 miles east along the coast from Cape Town, for navigation and reconnaissance training. The letters from this period reveal the difficulties of their separation, as Bob struggled to find the time and resources to communicate with Diana.
- Despite the distance, their love continued to flourish. Bob was thrilled to have managed to phone up to say that their Saturday off had been cancelled, and he had ordered a uniform on the strength of receiving his commission.
- Diana was also a source of comfort for Bob, who wrote to her about John’s fatal accident and expressed his own anger and sadness.
The War Effort
As the war progressed, Bob’s role as a pilot continued to grow. He was posted to the Shetland Islands, where he worked with 210 Squadron, conducting reconnaissance missions for Allied ships heading for Russia.
“I’m so tired now darling and so wanting you,” he wrote to Diana on March 23, 1941. “People out here are amazed at the way we want to get back home.”
Tragedy Strikes
On May 16, 1942, Bob’s life took a devastating turn when he disappeared while patrolling the west of Trondheim Fjord. His aircraft and crew were officially declared dead in January 1943, and their names were inscribed on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, Surrey.
A New Life
In the aftermath of Bob’s disappearance, Diana found solace in her family and eventually married Bill Dawkins, a family friend who had returned from fighting in Burma. The two went on to have a daughter, Penelope Anne, who was born on October 12, 1942.
| Diana’s Life | Events |
|---|---|
| Got married to Bill Dawkins | After Bob’s disappearance |
| Had a daughter, Penelope Anne | Born on October 12, 1942 |
| Moved to Sierra Leone with Bill | After Bill’s career in the Colonial Service |
| Became a widow in 2009 | When Bill died |
| Passed away in 2012 | At the age of 91 |
A Legacy of Love
The letters of Bob and Diana serve as a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the darkest of times. Their story is a reminder that true love can conquer even the most daunting challenges, and that the memories and emotions of those who have come before us can continue to inspire and motivate us. “I wish I could have been home,” Bob wrote to Diana on February 22, 1941. “But now there is nothing I can do – no comfort but which will re-open the hurt and the pain.”
Despite the pain and loss they experienced, Bob and Diana’s love remained strong, and their story continues to captivate and inspire those who read about it today.
