Schoolgirl's letter returned with a bullet hole, 1944

Letter from Beryl Speed, aged 9, to her uncle, Jack Bilton

Contributed to Letter in the Attic by Beryl Tucknott

Transcript of the letter

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Jack Bilton, Queens Own Canadian Rifles, outside 49 Ashton Street, Brighton

Contributed to Letter in the Attic by Beryl Tucknott

Beryl Speed was born in 1935 in Eastern Road, Brighton, and has lived in Brighton all her life. Her mother, Rose Speed, was born in 1908 and moved to Brighton at the age of 16. During the Second World War, the family were living at 49, Ashton Street in Hanover, Brighton.

Jack Bilton, a Canadian serving with the Canadian Army Overseas, was a distant relative of Beryl’s mother. Jack Bilton was billeted in Brighton during the Second World War and consequently got in touch with his family.

On 25 November 1944, Beryl, aged 9, sent a letter to her uncle. The letter was returned damaged, apparently by a bullet, in enemy action (although Jack Bilton received no injuries).

The letter is one of a number of papers contributed by Beryl to the Letter in the Attic project.