'My scars aren't so bad when you get used to them': Touching letters reveal heartache of RAF pilot proposing to his lonely sweetheart after he survived three WW2 crashes
- Over 100 love letters written by a wartime pilot to his love have come to light
- Flying Officer Jack Shelley wrote to Gladys Wright over his RAF experience
- The letters showed him pining to be reunited with Gladys and he proposes to her
- The letters as well as other belongings were sold at auction in Bristol for £300
Over 100 love letters penned by a wartime pilot to his sweetheart have come to light at a Bristol auction.
The letters by Flying Officer Jack Shelley to Gladys Wright showcase his heartache at being apart from his loved one, and in one note he proposes to marry his sweetheart.
The airman provides Gladys with stories during his time serving in the Second World War, where he suffered a series of crashes while flying all over the world.
Over 100 love letters from a wartime Flying Officer to his love have come to light in Bristol
Jack Shelley (L) wrote to his love Gladys Wright (R) throughout his time serving in the RAF during the Second World War
He does not conceal any of his hardship as he reveals he has been involved in three crashes which left his face scarred. However, he reassures her that 'they are not so bad when you get used to them'.
Flying Officer Shelley was clearly pining for Gladys and was counting down the days before they could be together.
In another letter he proposes to her, telling her 'what do you say to us getting married - I'm all for it'. The couple did wed after the war and are thought to have enjoyed a long and happy marriage.
Jack wrote regularly to Gladys, often pining for her and on one occasion he proposes to her
This postcard written by Jack to Gladys lets her know that he is 'still living' while away in Cape Town, South Africa, and he says he would like to spend a holiday there with her
The letters emerged from a house clearance at a deceased estate and sold with East Bristol Auctions alongside Flying Officer Shelley's leather flying helmet, jacket, uniform and family photos for £300.
Andy Stowe, specialist at East Bristol Auctions, said: 'I've never read such a touching collection of letters - they are so filled with love, hope and dreams I respect of his future with Gladys, they're really so sweet.
'The way Jack proposes to 'his Gladys' is just the most charming thing. They aren't just letters - they are a real snapshot of life during the 1940's from the perspective of two young lovers.
'Jack appears to have been stationed all over the world, whilst Gladys patiently waited at home for his return. It's very moving to read such outpourings of love and sentiment between two people.
'Even through something as monstrous as the war, these two people were able to continue a relationship and eventually get married. It's rather unusual to have letters from this period which actually show a dislike for being in the RAF.
'Usually letters are full of praise and longing for active service, but these very often show Jack's raw human emotion - and he seems to actively dislike the Royal Air Force.'
The letters emerged from a house clearance and sold alongside Flying Officer Shelley's leather flying helmet, jacket, uniform and family photos for £300
This is the flying helmet which belonged to Jack Shelley during his time serving the RAF
Flying Officer Shelley, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, began his military career in the British Army with the Middlesex Regiment before transferring to the RAF.
Throughout the war, he was stationed in Northern Ireland, Canada, Italy, India and the US. He served in 120 Squadron, flying Liberators. He sunk 14 U-Boats in the north Atlantic and damaged many more.
In one of his early letters dated September 1943, he writes to Gladys from his hospital bed after a near miss in an aircraft accident. He describes hitting the ground with an 'awful wallop' and his aircraft bursting into flames.
He writes: 'I suppose you know by now that I was involved in an aircraft accident - fortunately however I'm not seriously injured and although I'm in hospital at the moment I hope to be out in a few days.
'I lost all my kit in the crack-up (it was a fire) including the presents I had bought for you. However I managed to save my neck even though I hit the ground with an awful wallop - I only got two cuts on my face, nothing else anywhere.'
Jack was still stationed after the war ended and said the Air Force was a 'dead end' as he longed to return home to Macclesfield, Cheshire, to be reunited with Gladys
The long-lasting effects of the crash are mentioned in a letter from February 1944 when he states: 'You needn't worry about the scars on my face because they aren't so bad when you get used to them. They are not very plain and I'm not the least bit disfigured.'
A month later, he proposed to Gladys, writing: 'I'll probably be with you 18 months from now - let us hope so. Anyway... what do you say to us getting married when I get home on my first leave - personally, I'm all for it!'
The later letters are tinged with sorrow at his continued separation from Gladys as he continues to serve his country.
In 1944, he writes: '...(I) pray that it won't be long before we're back together again...shall we go away again for a day or two and just make whoopie in the old home town?'
It appears his patience has finally ran out by November 1945, by when the war was over but he was still stationed at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridge.
He laments: 'You know I'm fed up to the teeth with this life in the RAF - and I shall be glad when I get back to my old job again.
'As far I'm concerned this Air Force is a dead end and a sheer waste of very valuable time...(they're) arranging for me to see another nerve specialist and you can rest assured that I've made up my mind I'm not going to fly again.'
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