Below is correspondence between Anthony and me. The first letter was sent in January of this year. He recently contacted me again and sent some further information.
Jan 2011
Hello Marion
Firstly I must express my extreme gratitude for your prompt reply to my e-mail. The reason for my application is as follows. My son in law Philip's father was an American marrying here in England after the war.Ten years ago after a very hearty Christmas dinner Philip's father and I sat enjoying a brandy whilst the post dinner clearing up was going on. Ernest said to me that this Christmas Day was far better than the one he had spent in a railway carriage in 1944 in France and nothing else was said conversation moved to other things. Sadly the following day Earnest died of a heart attack.
Last year whilst moving some old boxes Philip had acquired after his mother moved to Devon but had not examined he came across some old American Army documents of his fathers and mentioned them to me. Saying what Philips dad had said to me on the Christmas Day there was a long pause as I found out that Philip's Dad had never spoken to ANYONE about his time in the War not even his Mum.
I am 64 and have had the privilege of working in my time alongside a lot of veterans from WW2. My wife's father served in the Army and was at Monte Casino and my own father was in the Fleet Air Arm,we currently have family also serving in Afghanistan.
My respect for these service personnel is immense and my life has been what is is because of them and their efforts,so I hope you can understand our interest.
If needed I will provide Philips fathers Army Number but his name was ERNEST HARRY WHITWORTH................I have wondered if it is possible to claim any Service Medals he may have been entitled to also,we do possess a few photos and I am not quite sure but maybe one of the original memorial in its original location but will check that out. This would be of great help as we have tried to find out but were told that some army records were destroyed in a fire in America and we are tracing this history for our two twin boys my grandchildren but also to fill in the blanks for my son in law.
Kind Regards
Anthony Melling
Stalybridge,Cheshire, England
Letter from June 2011
Hi Marion
Hope this finds you well,at last I thought I had better get round to sending you some information about Ernest and why not on the eve of the very auspicious and famous date that inspired our contact.
6th June 1944 how long ago that seems...
The two documents will now enable you to put a face to the name and maybe it may jog someones memory and help our quest.
One of the biggest problems I have come across is to exactly when Ernest landed, I have seen from research that his unit sadly took casualties and were supporting the 29th Division at the western end of the beach but cannot get a definitive time and location. Maybe you can point me in the right direction?
I have a few more things that I need to forward onto you but dont want to give you overload.
Many thanks for your patience i look forward to a reply...
Sincere Regards
Tony
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
