Description:Amongst Duchess Millicent's papers are letters written to her during the Second World War by Squadron Leader Nathan Crawford who was killed in action on January 2nd 1945. A leather framed photograph of a man, presumably Nathan Crawford, in an RAF uniform accompanies these letters.
The letters survive in envelopes addressed to Lady Millicent Sutherland and were written from the Officer’s Mess of the Royal Air Force Station, Upwood, Huntingdon. They were written during 1944 and suggest that Crawford was a good friend of the Duchess and her granddaughter. Indeed, Crawford refers to Duchess Millicent as ‘Gran’ in his letters, indicating his good relationship with the family. The letters provide poignant and moving insights into the experiences of men serving on the front line in 1944.
Crawford was a Canadian stationed in Britain. Many of his letters refer to social occasions, plays, novels and foreign places he had visited. Many also describe his thoughts and feelings, and his increasing homesickness.
In athe letter featured above dated February 7th 1944 Crawford enclosed photographs of his family – his wife Betsy with his first son David and daughter Joan Elizabeth. He writes that his third son Timmy, ‘a very loveable little lad...has not yet joined my collection of treasured snaps’. The letter reflects the importance of photographs which were prized possessions amongst men on the front line. Crawford requests that the Duchess return his photos so he can 'show them off again’.
Click on the images on the left to see more of Nathan Crawford's letters.