A soldier’s last letter of love
TO THE loved ones of a serving soldier, all correspondence is cherished.
But there is one letter they pray they will never read — the one that says
goodbye.
Before they leave to fight overseas, many soldiers will compose a note
their family will receive if they are killed.
These final words can mean the world. Here, NIKKI WATKINS speaks to two
mothers who opened such letters.
Cyrus Thatcher, 19
GRIEVING Helena Tym lost her son Cyrus Thatcher in June 2009.
The 19-year-old was serving in The Rifles regiment when an explosion in
Afghanistan killed him instantly.
Helena, from Reading, was told by his friend that Cyrus had left a letter in
the family home, but it was not uncovered for almost two weeks.
The 52-year-old, below — who has two other sons, Zac, 25 and Steely, 21 —
worked in a day centre until Cyrus’s death.
She says: “Finding out your teenage son has died is painful beyond words but
the letter was incredibly helpful for our healing process.
“It was our last connection with Cyrus and it was wonderful to see that he
knew how much we cared about him.
“I just cannot imagine how he got himself in the zone to write that letter, it
must have been so difficult for him.”
The letter, which was addressed to Helena, Cyrus’s dad Rob and his brothers,
reads: “Hello its me, this is gonna be hard for you to read but I write this
knowing every time you thinks sh*** got to much for you to handle (so don’t
cry on it MUM!!) you can read this and hopefully it will help you all get
through.
“… My hole life you’v all been there for me through thick and thin, bit like
a wedding through good and bad.
“Without you I believe I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have.
“I died doing what I was born to do I was happy and felt great about myself.
“… although the Army was sadly the ending of me it was also the making of me
so please don’t feel any hate toward it.
“I love you all more than you would ever no and wish you all the best with
your dreams.
“Remember, chin up head down.”
Helena says: “The letter was so like Cyrus — disorganised and terribly spelt.
“I’ve never been able to read it since that first time, but it is etched into
my mind.
“My youngest son reads the letter all the time, over and over when he cannot
get to sleep.
“But my husband and eldest son read it just once more.”
Chin Up, Head Down, by Helena Tym is out now priced at £8.95.
Helena is a member of SSAFA Forces Help’s Bereaved Families Support Group.
Story Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/454506/a-soldiers-last-letter-of-love/
