A poignant collection of First World War letters which reveal a blossoming relationship between a serviceman and a Coldblow woman tantalisingly end before the outcome of their friendship is discovered.

Now, Walmer man Brian Fawcett hopes possible descendants of Miss Nellie Atkins or her brothers Ern and Walter may help him unravel the mystery.

Mr Fawcett, 75, of Dover Road, bought the collection of letters from a dealer in Folkestone some years ago. He initially paid for a handful, but returned for the rest, intrigued by what he read.

The bundle contained letters to Nellie from her siblings and a soldier called Bert who was in the Canadian war hospital at Walmer. Mr Fawcett believes Nellie may have nursed injured soldiers at Walmer.

There is a letter from Teddy, the nephew of Nellie’s mother, Mrs A. Atkins. He served on HMS Dreadnought. On September 16, 1918, Teddy sent a photograph of himself in naval uniform, and mentioned an unnamed uncle in Manston.

But it is the exchanges between Nellie and Alfred Harries that are most intriguing. A Canadian in his early 20s, Alfred found himself in hospital in Walmer. Alfred at first refers to himself as ‘A R Harries’ and writes to ‘Miss Atkins,’ until the later letters when he writes to ‘My Dear Nellie,’ and signs off, ‘Yours, Alfred.’

His letters begin in April 1917 and in June that year he describes to Nellie his feelings of nostalgia as he listens to the gramophone and reveals he has injured his hand.

The letters resume in October 1917 when he writes that if granted leave, he would visit Winnipeg where he has friends. He talks of his mother, a midwife, aged 41, who lives in Monmouthshire. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, he tells Nellie that he is glad war is over.

The last letter to Nellie is written from Hoffnungstahl, near Cologne, in which Alfred says he will be spending Christmas in the town having missed out on leave.

He had been ill and writes: “My attack of ‘flu lasted three days but it was a hard fight to keep on marching, I don’t remember being so miserable for years as I was for those few days.

“I am longing to be home again, or not exactly home, but in civilian clothes anyway, my home is anywhere. I have not formed any plans for the future, but I know that I shall have to get busy and learn some useful trade, or make a stake and start in some kind of business.

“I should like to own a big hotel and restaurant somewhere in England and I am going to, someday, unless I marry some rich munitioness who will be able to support a husband.

“I guess some of the girls are not going to care for a quiet stay at home life, after driving staff cars and making shells and aeroplanes.”

Alfred concludes: “I think I shall be here until peace is signed anyway, and I suppose that will take a month or so yet to decide. I remain yours, Alfred.”

The correspondence ends at this point and Mr Fawcett wonders what happened to Alfred, and indeed Nellie.

He said: “What was his future? Did he marry an English girl and settle in England?”

Mr Fawcett now hopes local historians and possible Atkins family descendants will be able to shed light on the lives revealed in his fascinating collection of letters.

Can you help Mr Fawcett with his research?

If so contact mercurynews@thekmgroup.co.uk or speak to Eleanor Perkins on 01304 365526.