Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher's letters were written during the war, when they could have been killed just for loving one another.
One of the letters states: : "Wouldn't it be wonderful if all our letters could be published in the future in a more enlightened time. Then all the world could see how in love we are".
In the end the pair did get their wish and it could even go more mainstream in the coming years.
A volunteer for the museum, Mark Hignett purchased the letters on eBay!
Mr Bradley's connection to Oswestry comes from being stationed to train as an anti-aircraft gunner there in 1939.
The letters prove the couple were in a relationship from 1938, and they continued to exchange letters until 1945 when they moved on.
Though homosexuality was decriminalised 50 years ago, in the U.K. you couldn't be openly gay in the military until 2000.
Apparently since their discovery the letters have received interest from producers, playwrights and publishers.
I think it would be fantastic to see this on the big screen!
Following on from the likes of The Imitation Game, when Benedict Cumberbatch played gay codebreaker Alan Turing.
We all know LGBT+ people have always existed but many of their stories go untold in the mainstream.
The world needs to be aware of the invaluable contributions the LGBT+ community have made, including serving in the armed forces.
How very wonderful! (Chrisbro62 from Twitter)
ReplyDeleteI would love to see this made into a movie and help fulfil the wish that their story be told in a more enlightened time . I can only imagine there reaction to LGBTIQ people openly serving in the military . My Dad served in the RAAF in Borneo in WW2 and he said gay men were there and liked by most they referred to them as "Nancy boys" . He did say the air force was more tolerant than the army though .
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post Sam , cheers Wayne
Thanks for the thoughts Wayne :)
DeleteI really hope this happens too!
How fantastic this is. I wish it would possible to meet them today.
ReplyDeletewe too would have loved to have met them but that poses an enigma because unfortunately they had to pass for us to get the letters to know their story, one of life ironies really sad in one way and yet their wish is coming true
DeleteGreetings, we will be doing our utmost to try and get his story told in as many ways as possible including the film route, the story is a great love story about two men loving life and each other, both are real characters and the letters are full of humour and real life, very little about them is depressing in any way
ReplyDelete