'My parents WW2 love letters are part of history'

Grace and Les Gould rarely spoke of their time in the service

A man has written a book based on more than 200 love letters he discovered his parents had written to each other during World War Two.

Mike Gould, from Paulton in North East Somerset, found a suitcase in his parents' attic after his mum died, which contained letters, photographs and memorabilia he had never seen.

"I realised that not only are they love letters, but they're history," he said.

Mr Gould's mother, Grace, served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. His Father, Les, was called up to the RAF and spent more than two years living in a tent in the mountains of Corsica, operating covert radar and radio equipment surrounded by enemy battalions.

The couple rarely spoke of their time in service, so Mr Gould discovered much of what happened by reading the handwritten letters, inspiring his book Reluctant Travellers.

The couple sent each other hundreds of letters throughout the war

"I didn't realise when I was growing up what they actually had been through, what my parents had seen, what they'd been involved with. So I now consider them to be very brave people," said Mr Gould.

He added: "I felt (my father) was very brave.

"I mean, to be operating on an island in the mountains under canvas with the enemy on both sides of the island, knowing that they were there, having to keep their heads down but also passing on the information from radio and radar."

As well as the letters, the suitcase contained letters from Mr Gould's grandparents and a number of photographs

Many of the letters, which were censored by the military, talk about everyday life, such as the weather, family illness and catching the bus, but also show the reality of war.

All are firmly rooted in the young couple's love for each other. Mr Gould's father even proposed to his mother in one of the letters.

The author said he felt more connected to his family after discovering the letters.

"I am still very emotional when I read them because they are real feelings of real people.

"Okay, they're my parents, but it's the start of everything really, as far as I'm concerned."

He added: "The emotions are still relatively raw, I suppose."

Mike Gould found the letters in his parents' attic after their death

When Mr Gould opened the suitcase for the first time, he was also amazed to find some photos his father had taken during his service in Europe.

He had also kept some photos of his wife from that time.

Speaking about the book, Mr Gould said: "I've changed a few things, of course I have. It's made into a story, otherwise it's just a diary and that's not what I wanted.

"I wanted it to be a love story and indeed that is what it is."

Les Gould kept a photo album from his time serving in Europe