REDISCOVERED wartime letters have revealed the story of a young American soldier who spent his final days at Trebah before departing for Normandy in June 1944, never to return.

Daniel Bowen Craigue Jr, a 20-year-old soldier from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, was among the thousands of American troops who embarked from Polgwidden Cove at Trebah during preparations for the Normandy landings.

Serving with the US Army’s 175th Infantry Regiment, while stationed in Cornwall Daniel met and married Megan Rogers of Penzance. Megan was four months pregnant when Daniel left for Trebah and the couple never had the chance to say goodbye.

Unable to share military details because of wartime censorship, Daniel wrote almost daily letters to Megan from Trebah in the days leading up to D-Day. The letters, carefully preserved for decades, reveal an ordinary young man trying to maintain a sense of normality amid growing uncertainty, writing about repairing watches, asking for photographs, making gentle jokes and checking on Megan’s wellbeing.

In one of his final letters, dated 1 June 1944, Daniel wrote: “Well dear, I can’t think of anything more to say, only that I love you very much and miss you very much and hope to see you soon.”

Days later, Daniel crossed the English Channel with the 29th Infantry Division as reinforcements arrived during the Normandy campaign. On June 21, 1944, he was killed near Saint-Lô while attempting to rescue his wounded friend Robert, who was just 17 years old. Daniel was posthumously awarded both the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his bravery.

Back in Cornwall, Megan did not receive confirmation of Daniel’s death until September 1944. The following month, she gave birth to their son, naming him in honour of his father.

After Megan’s death in 2017, Daniel’s letters were rediscovered by her family, offering an extraordinary and deeply personal insight into the experiences of one young soldier connected to Trebah’s wartime history. The letters, along with photographs and family history, were shared with Trebah by Megan’s granddaughter through her subsequent marriage: Marie Tonkin, a published poet now living in Sweden.

To commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, Daniel’s story has been added to The Story Of Trebah exhibition, a permanent exhibition exploring the history of the garden from the Middle Ages to the present day. His story will help visitors better understand the human experiences connected to the garden’s past and the thousands of American troops who departed from its shores in 1944.

Trebah Garden marketing manager James Lewis said: “Daniel’s story is one of the most moving personal accounts connected to Trebah’s wartime history. We’re honoured to be able to share his story and include it in our current exhibition.”

For further information, visit www.trebahgarden.co.uk