A return walk from Charilla [Provincia de Jaen] through local hills; looking left, right then straight ahead at irregular intervals and at a total distance of 8.69 miles.                                                             08/11/17

Dearest Mother,

I’m sorry to have left it so long in writing after the wedding and this may be the last opportunity for some time as it was a difficult journey through the occupied land both with Rosa and little Guillermo but our luck held and we arrived in her village safely a week ago.

Now here, I sense the end is near for me and can hear the Falange lorries make their way toward the village up the steep track. It will be hard to get away from my predicament, though I will try – there are caves in the hillside opposite where I can hide and although I  have many friends here, there are those in the village who whisper for their own advancement.

I am now in haste and will write again when I can.

Love to Sally and David and of course yourself. I look forward to the day when we are all reunited and you meet Rosa and your beautiful grandson.

Yours ever, Thomas

Letter from Thomas Bell to his mother dated January 10th 1939, shortly before his disappearance. His body was never found.

From ‘The Papers of Thomas Bell’ by David Bell pub 1947