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Letter from Dunkirk soldier arrives 80 years later
May 27, 2020
The family of a soldier who died at Dunkirk during World War Two have finally received his last letter 80 years after he wrote it.
Pte Harry Cole, of the Suffolk Regiment, wrote the letter just before he was killed but it never left France.
The letter to his mother was found with a collection of other post by a German soldier who handed them to the British embassy in 1968.
His surviving brothers Derek and Clemmie Cole have now been found.
They were tracked down by Suffolk County Council's assistant archivist Heidi Hughes, who realised she lived in the same village where Clemmie still lives - Hasketon, near Woodbridge in Suffolk.
Image copyright Suffolk Records Office Image caption A German soldier handed the collection of post to the British embassy in 1968
In the letter, Pte Cole, 29, wrote: "Well Mother, Dad and boys, I guess I must close once again, hoping you all keep well, roll on when this do is over so we can get back to rest peace and quietness once again.
"Don't worry if you have to wait a long while for a letter or card sometimes Mother, as we can't always write for days at a time, also there is delay in getting it away."
Clemmie Cole, 87, said it was amazing to receive the letter after all that time had passed.
"It's unbelievable that such a thing could happen," he said.
Image caption Clemmie Cole said it was "unbelievable" to get the the letter after 80 years
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