Those who serve England must expect nothing from her we debase ourselves if we regard our country as merely a place in which to eat and sleep. It means that your sacrifice is as great as mine. My death would not mean that your struggle has been in vain. I have always admired your amazing courage in the face of continual setbacks in the way you have given me as good an education and background as anyone in the country: and always kept up appearances without ever losing faith in the future. No man can do more, and no one calling himself a man could do less. Though it will be difficult for you, you will disappoint me if you do not at least try to accept the facts dispassionately, for I shall have done my duty to the utmost of my ability. Our patrols far out over the North Sea have helped to keep the trade routes clear for our convoys and supply ships, and on one occasion our information was instrumental in saving the lives of the men in a crippled lighthouse relief ship. You must hope on for a month, but at the end of that time you must accept the fact that I have handed my task over to the extremely capable hands of my comrades of the Royal Air Force, as so many splendid fellows have already done.įirst, it will comfort you to know that my role in this war has been of the greatest importance. Though I feel no premonition at all, events are moving rapidly and I have instructed that this letter be forwarded to you should I fail to return from one of the raids that we shall shortly be called upon to undertake. The following letter was published in the Times in June 1940: It was inevitable that I should read it - in fact, he must have intended this, for it was left open in order that I might be certain that no prohibited information was disclosed." Group Captain Keith told The Times: "This letter was perhaps the most amazing one I have ever read simple and direct in its wording but splendid and uplifting in its outlook. Group Captain Claude Keith sent the letter to the Times writing: "I sent the letter to the bereaved mother, and asked her whether I might publish it anonymously, as I feel its contents may bring comfort to other mothers, and that everyone in our country may be proud to read of the sentiments which support 'an average airman' in the execution of his present arduous duties." On passing it to Vivian's mother he asked her if she would permit it to be published anonymously.
When he read the letter he was very moved by the content.
It had been left open, so that it could be passed by the censor.
Keith, found a letter among the missing airman's personal possessions. His station commander, Group Captain Claude H. The next day on the 31st May 1940, Vivian was reported 'missing believed killed'. His aircraft was shot down near Veurne, 25km SW of Oostende, killing all the crew. Their mission was to provide close ground support to the British Expeditionary Force as they withdrew from the beaches of Dunkirk. Vivian was co-pilot of Aircraft R3162, part of 38 Squadron.
On the 30th May 1940 a force of 17 Wellington bombers, took off from RAF Marham in Norfolk. He was further promoted to Flying Officer on the 31st December 1939. The rank of Pilot Officer was made substantive on the 31st May 1938. In March 1938 he was posted to the School of Air Navigation at RAF Manston. Prior to the war in 1937, Vivian was already in the RAF as an Acting Pilot Officer. His early years were spent in Brentwood & it was here that he attended Brentwood School. He was the only son of Vivian Samuel Rosewarne and his wife Lilian Alice (née Noall) of Wimbledon Park, Surrey. Vivian Allen William Rosewarne was born in April 1916 in Camberwell, Surrey.
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