World War II diary found in attic with hopes the author’s family can be found

By Sarah Ward and By Filipa Gaspar via SWNS

A diary from World War II was found in an attic - amid hopes the author's family could be found.

The leather-bound diary from 1944 was found in the loft of a house on Margate Street in Walney, Barrow, Cumbria, England, last year by Chris Linton.

It was written by a woman who was a volunteer with the fire service during the war and lived in Birkenhead on the Wirral.

Written in tiny handwriting in red ink, it chronicles the woman's hopes to see a soldier, Alfie, who was away at war.

In one week alone, five entries start: "No news from Alfie today."

A snapshot of the young soldier is in the back of the diary but there is no indication of if he survived.

Diary written in 1944, which was found in an attic. (Chris Linton via SWNS)

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Chris said: "It is a very small book and it has got an old picture of the soldier on the back of it and the writing is very small.

"I read the diary and it was quite a piece to read because this lady who wrote the diary shares the experiences she was doing through World War Two.

"She mentions that she hasn't heard back from Alfie for three weeks.

"Unfortunately the diary ends later on in the year, but there is no mention if Alfie has survived the war or if she was left still hearing from him.

"It mentions day-to-day things where she would go out with friends, visiting the Lake District and she has also commented on the diary about the letters which have been sent back to Alfie.

"In that respect it is like a glimpse of history."

Chris said the diary mentions that the woman lived in Birkenhead, and hopes it can be given to the woman's relatives.

He said: "She was not local, so we don't know how it got to Margate Street.

"The woman might not even be alive now but maybe she has got a daughter or a son so to get it back to a family member would be absolutely brilliant.

"If I had a bit of family history that was lost I would like to have it back."