'My darling girl, you are everything to me' - auctioned letters reveal WWI love story
Summary
Letters written by Gunner Willie Webber to his wife, Gladys, during World War I have led to a community memorial in Knighton, Powys. Webber was killed in an accident in October 1918, weeks before the Armistice; more than a century later, a collector bought the letters and worked with their seller and local supporters to preserve the couple’s story.Key Facts
- Webber and Gladys married at St Edward’s Church in Knighton in December 1917.
- Webber served with the Royal Garrison Artillery’s 297th Siege Battery on the Western Front.
- He sent Gladys more than 100 letters between December 1917 and October 1918.
- Webber was 25 when he died after his gun backfired in October 1918.
- Andy Garner bought the letters at an online auction in 2025 for £351.51.
- Seller Keith Budgen returned the auction money to Garner after the sale.
- Supporters raised £1,600 in two and a half weeks for a memorial bench at St Edward’s Church.
- A remembrance service included a tribute from bell-ringers and a bugler, with support from the Royal British Legion.
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