A PENSIONER on the other side of the world has made an appeal to Advertiser readers over a lost war letter to Tillicoultry.

Beverley Nelson is searching for the family of rear gunner Thomas Robson who died sometime during the Second World War.

He had been scheduled to marry a woman in Australia but went missing and was presumed to have been killed.

Beverley — the daughter of his former fiance — is in possession of a letter written by ‘Tommy’ and addressed to his mother in Tillicoultry.

She is hoping to hand the ‘personal’ keepsake over to a member of his family if she can track them down.

Beverley said: “Tommy was engaged to my mother, but as he went missing, the marriage never took place.

“Whilst going through some of her old photos recently, I came across an undated letter written by Tommy to his mother, whilst he was in Almaza, Egypt. His mother, then sent in on to my mother.

“It is a fascinating letter and describes some hair-raising experiences. What is quite fascinating is that the letterhead is YMCA New Zealand!

“This letter is quite a personal document, and whilst it is interesting to me, I feel that it should rightly be with a member of his family.” Beverley has been researching Tommy’s family tree in the hope of making contact with a relative who may still be in the Clackmannanshire area. The original letter was addressed to Mrs T. Robson, 97 High Street, Tillicoultry.

A Sergeant Thomas Fitzgerald Robson appears on the Tillicoultry War Memorial and separate reports indicate he may have died 20 May 1943 and could possibly be buried in Singapore.

Beverley is hoping Advertiser readers might recognise Mr Robson’s name and perhaps recall his life and death being spoken of.

She said: “To date I have had no luck with finding anyone who might be a relative of Tommy’s.

“My mother never mentioned that Tommy had any siblings, though this is by no means conclusive. His mother may have been a widow. The letter begins: “Dear Mother, Phyllis (Beverley’s mother) and Jock.” I believe that Jock was the mothers’ ‘friend’.

“I would be very glad for any help you can give me in this quest to pass on the letter to where it should be.”