Mystery continues over 77-year-old wartime letter from South Shields - with a fresh appeal for help on VE Day

Sue Griffiths, from Flint in North Wales, has been researching three letters which were found in the handbag of her late grandmother Sarah Waite.

Each was from worried people who feared they had lost relatives in the Second World War and they messaged Sarah to see if she could help.

The reason they contacted Sarah was because her story appeared in a 1940s newspaper about her own son Richard Thomas Waite.

Richard had been missing and Sue said: “Nana had received notification that he was missing presumed dead.”

But grief turned to joy in March 1943 when Sarah received a telegram to say Richard wasn’t dead. He’d been captured and was a prisoner of war.

The story was read by around the country and three people sent letters to Sarah. Each asked if Richard could help with more details on their own missing children.

All three letters were found in Sarah’s handbag years later. Sue took on the quest to find answers to the questions.

She has managed to contact two families to give them the update they sought for years.

But a third letter, from South Shields, is yet to be reunited with the family of the original author.

Sue added: “Grandmother kept the letters from the time she received them up until her death in 1964, always carried in her handbag.

“It would be lovely to know that their families have received the letters after all this time, especially now we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of VE Day.”

The letter appeals for information on an Albert Yardley who served on the SS Tredinnick which was lost in 1942, adding: “I am worried to death about him, I am still not giving up hope.”

The letter was dated March 17,1943 and sent by a Mr and Mrs Yardley from South Shields. Sue would love to return it to the family of those who sent it.

She added: “Albert Yardley is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial. He was 26 years old at the time of his death.”

Can anyone help? If you can, email [email protected].

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