Heartbreaking post-war reality unveiled in HIDDEN WWII letter

Heartbreaking post-war reality unveiled in HIDDEN WWII letter
Heartbreaking post-war reality unveiled in HIDDEN WWII letter

A teenager's written account of the challenges and hardships experienced after the war was found hidden inside a door panel.

As per BBC, Tom Yuen, a 31-year-old from Cardiff, was looking for second-hand door panels when he discovered a note dated 1947.

He described finding the note as feeling like a “handshake through time.”

"I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective," said Mr Yuen.

Heartbreaking post-war reality unveiled in HIDDEN WWII letter

The note reads, "To the person who will read this, Steve Alford hopes that things are much better now. Peter Cowley, now age 16 years, also wishes the same to you."

“This year of Jan Feb 1947

The Great Freeze Up Light and power cut off for 6 hours a day

The country in a hell of a state

No coal in any quantity

No light in some parts of England

Food in short supply

Some talk of 40 hour week for building trade

Linseed oil 21/- a gallon

Gloss Paints 42/- a gallon

When you can get it

And you must have a permit to do any work over £10.00

Fags in very short supply

A ten horse power car cost new about £400.00

A second hand car 10HP cost about £6000.0

And this is a Labour government, happy days if we live long enough

Don't go down the mine daddy, there is plenty of coal in the cwtch

Dr T. Davies Lives Here

The BMA about to be state controlled

No football has been played for a month, ground frozen”

Yuen got the door panel for free from a paint stripper yard in Cardiff, where it was about to be discarded.

"I was drawn to it, Selfishly, I was considering getting it (the note) framed, but I think it belongs to all. It's quite sad really, dated two years after the war, they are cold, have no food, there is no central heating,” said Mr Yuen.

He added, “I think you can't really compare life today to then, it really puts life into perspective."

It is pertinent to note that even after World War II, rationing of goods was still in place. In 1947 the winter was extremely harsh, with snowdrifts as high as 10 feet, making it one of the worst winters people could remember.

The National Museum of Wales is interested in displaying the door panel as an important historical artefact.

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