In Flanders Fields Museum seeks owner of WWI letter found at Tyne Cot Cemetery
The In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres is seeking the owner of a letter from the First World War found at Tyne Cot Cemetery. It was likely lost by a family during a visit to the Westhoek region.
Tourist Britt-Marie Beard from the UK discovered the letter on 11 July. It was dated 9 May 1918 and was written by Lieutenant CE Prebble and addressed to the wife of soldier S Webb, informing her that her husband had been missing since 24 April.
Unable to locate the letter's owner at the cemetery, Beard took the document to the In Flanders Fields Museum. Research by the museum team shows that Lieutenant Prebble was killed on 8 August 1918 in Halloy-lès-Pernois, France.
Both Prebble and Webb's regiment fought in the Westhoek area of West Flanders and the letter was likely lost during a "battlefield trip" in the area. The museum has now launched an appeal to find the letter’s owner.
"Documents like these hold strong emotional value for relatives," says Annick Vandenbilcke, a researcher at the museum. "We believe someone is missing this letter. Additionally, Britt-Marie and I want to learn more about Private Webb. We wonder if there’s a connection to this region."
The museum asks for anyone who knows the letter's origin to contact them at kenniscentrum@ieper.be
#FlandersNewsService | The In Flanders Fields Museum © PHOTO SAKE RIJPKEMA/HOLLANDSE HOOGTE
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