A LETTER written to a prisoner of war could finally reach its destination – 65 years after it was sent.

The letter was written by Eileen Pitts, once of Sidmouth Road, Leyton, to her husband, Rifleman George Pitts and is dated August 17, 1944.

It was found by tour operator Philip Baker, 60, in a coal mining museum in Zabrze, Poland, during a recent trip there with the families of former prisoners of war (PoWs).

Mr Baker, of Broadstairs, in Kent, said: “Every year, I take a group of former prisoners and their families back to Poland.

“A lot of them were forced to work in the coal mines.”

He believes George Pitts could have been one of the prisoners sent into the mines after the letter and a photo were found in a nearby house and given to the museum.

“Somebody was just having a clear-out and found this stuff in the attic. They didn't even know what it was as they didn't read English and brought it to the museum to have it translated," he said.

“It was written to this chap but the chances are he never got it.”

Mr Baker fears the letter never reached its destination as post often arrived months after it was sent and Lamsdorf, the PoW camp where he believes Mr Pitt was held, was evacuated in January 1945.

He added: “The soldiers were taken on this terrible march and a lot of them died along the way.

“I don't know whether he survived or if he's still alive. He might have been in more than one place – he could have been in the other work camps as well.”

He now hopes to trace Mr and Mrs Pitts, or their family, and return the letter to them.

Mr Baker's company, Camino Journeys, has been running the trips to Poland for about seven years, for former PoWs, who were held at Lamsdorf.

He has also compiled a website with the stories of the various people who have taken the tours at lamsdorf.webs.com

An extract from the letter:

My own darling husband George,

Here I am again with a few lines to let you know I am still keeping safe and well and I hope you are doing the same...

...and may God bless you always because I love you with all my heart and always will.

I am yours forever and a day, Eileen