Leonard spent his final leave with my grandparents before leaving for ‘real’ war duty. Before leaving Canada he shows some optimism in his letter to his parents.
9th September 1943
We hung out all our flags out yesterday to celebrate Italy’s defeat. I hope it was not a premature gesture. Anyway it should all be over by 1950.
Leonard’s last letters
London
21st May 1944
Just a line to let you know that I arrived on time after a good night’s sleep. I was just checking my baggage at the station when one of the chaps tapped me on the shoulder, so I had company for the evening.
I hope I didn’t make too big a mess of your holidays. I’ll do my best to let you know well in advance next time. I certainly enjoyed my leave, quiet as it was.
The last letter from Leonard gives us no idea of what was to come.
Hawkinge
Kent
1st June 1944
Dear Mother and Father
Have had no news from you since coming off leave. Possibly you have used the old address consequently it is taking some time to reach me. We have now settled down in our new surroundings and are very comfortable. From what I can see, there will be little for us to do for some time. I hope to be able to drop you a line every Friday but don’t get worried if I should slip up and leave it a couple of days.
My grandfather writes to my father on 6 June 1944 (D-DAY)
My dear son,
Very glad to hear from you and learn you are still OK. Note the day on which I am writing. Excitement reigns and paper sellers are besieged as the issues appear. Mother and I feel a further excitement (if so it can be called) – Leonard is now stationed at an RAF Camp at Hawkinge which is near Folkestone on the south coast, consequently your mother with her usual optimism concludes Leonard must be helping in the invasion activities now commenced.
Tragic news
News from the Lieutenant Commander about Leonard’s squadron took some time to reach the Green family.
17th June 1944
Dear Mr Green
There is little one can say on these occasions, but I know that I speak for the whole squadron as well as myself in saying that we have suffered a personal loss. Your son was a cheerful, willing lad – one of the best.
I’m afraid I’m unable to tell you any details of the circumstances in which he went missing owing to security regulations, but I can say that to date we have learned nothing of how it happened. I will of course let you know if any information turns up which can be passed on. Without wishing to raise any false hopes, I would also like to point out that your son is posted only as missing. There is therefore a slender chance.
Your son’s personal effects have been listed and packed and will be forwarded to you in due course if he does not turn up. If there is anything else I can do, let me know, and please do not answer this letter.
Deepest sympathies
18-6-44
Dear Mr. Green
We, the Telegraphist Air Gunners of this squadron, send our deepest sympathies to you over the loss of your son Leonard. To us all he was a great friend and one whom we miss immensely. Personally, he was my greatest friend being as we had been together ever since joining the service. Every place I have been to, Len has been with me and now that he has gone I feel lost.
Yours sincerely
Wilf
19th June 1944
My dear son
Now that you have received our sad news you will realise how anxious mother is to hear from you. She was before, but at the moment there is a tendency to pessimism. We have had a personal note from Leonard’s Lieut. Cmdr. at RAF station Hawkinge to tell us how concerned they are at the failure to return of his machine and that absolutely no information as to what happened is forthcoming. He points out that the verdict is “missing”, therefore we have hope.
May God guard and keep you. Love from us both
Father
20th June 1944
My Dear Mother and Father,
Even now I hardly know what to say. No words of mine can express my feelings. There is no point in dwelling on them, as you are experiencing the same. In my mind, I feel sure that we will receive favourable news before long. I am praying hard that this will be so. His plane may have landed on the French coast. Even if he has landed in German territory, we can be assured that he will be released pretty soon. I realise only too well that there is nothing I can do to help, but if my confidence helps to inspire the same in you, then this letter won’t have been in vain. I believe that our prayers will be answered.
Your loving and devoted son,
John
21.6.44
My dear John,
You will know by now our heart-breaking news about Leonard.
I am afraid that I was worried as soon as I knew Leonard had gone to Hawkinge, and from the moment D-Day started I knew he would be in it. When the knock sounded on the door at lunchtime Friday 19th June I knew it was a telegram for me and about Leonard too. My fears were realised. It seems terrible that what I have always dreaded has come true. I have always felt that something would happen to that boy. Before he joined up I tried my best to persuade him otherwise but to no effect and after that I never let him know how worried I was. My heart has been gradually breaking ever since he went and I feel dead inside now.
We can’t get to know much about what Len was doing except that he was patrolling the Pas de Calais area. We thought his job was hunting U-boats but of course an emergency would arise to put him in more danger. We wondered about letting you know but of course John we were obliged to. It must have been terrible for you.
Much love from
Your Mother
5th July 1944
My dear son
Thank you for your note of confidence. It is, as you say, all we can do to help mother. I think she hovers between hope and despair with a leaning towards the latter, but no harm is done in trying to bring her to the former. I hover myself, but actually there is little one can do but to help oneself. Perhaps the kindest way henceforth, would be to refrain from too much reference to the matter to save the reopening of the wounded feelings.
For the time being, we can but pray and hope.
Love from both
Father
After this letter, my father never mentioned Leonard again.
9th Dec 1944
Dear Capt. Green
This morning I received your letter and was very surprised to receive a letter from England. I wish to express my deepest regrets over the death of your brother. I will try my best to tell you all I can about Leonard.
My girlfriend and I spent a day at Niagara Falls in July of 1943. While we were there we asked one of Leonard’s friends to take our picture, and we all started getting acquainted. We decided to go sightseeing together and had a very enjoyable time.
Afterwards we sat around talking until their bus came. We were together a very short time, but I doubt if I will ever forget any one of them. It was just as if we had been friends for a lifetime.
Leonard was a very fine young man. He seemed very proud being in the service of his country.
Yours very sincerely
June Strasser.
This is the final part of Leonard’s story. You can read part one here:
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