An incredible talk has been lined up this month by the Plumstead Road Library Friends. On Wednesday, June 25th, at 2:30 pm in Plumstead Road Library, local self-published author Andrew Garner will be talking to us about his mission to give the silent voices of WW2 and WW1 a much-needed platform, guiding us through a vast array of powerful letters from both conflicts. We caught up with Andrew before the big day to find out how his possession of these letters came to be, and to get a glimpse of what we can expect from the talk.

Andrew, a mechanic by trade, has always been fascinated by WW1 and WW2. In his spare time, Andrew is a scout leader and a reputable Swing DJ – aka DJ AndyAV8. Many years ago, while visiting Seething Airfield, a chance meeting led Andrew to learn that the 95th Bombardment Group at Horham Airfield were looking for a swing DJ for an open day event. Not only did they find their new swing DJ, but they also found a new member and volunteer. 20 years later, Andrew is still there! The connection with American servicemen and families exploded as Andrew became a researcher and writer for their members’ newsletter.

While always attending Remembrance events and laying poppies with his scout troop, Andrew was becoming increasingly perturbed that American soldiers were barely ever mentioned during services. After the unveiling of a memorial at Bungay airfield for the 446th Bombardment Group, Andrew decided to start posting pictures of all the Remembrance poppies he laid on social media: “I just wanted to let them know that someone was remembering them. Completely out of the blue, I was contacted by Ann Marie Brown from America – her uncle had flown out of Bungay airfield with the 446th BG. Then one day a big box arrived from Ann filled with memorabilia she had found at auctions and thrift shops, such as dog tags, books, magazines, and lots of letters. Ann ended up sending 5 or 6 boxes. I didn’t know what to do with all the letters; they felt so personal, so they sat untouched in the loft or under my bed.”

A few years later, Andrew’s fiancée, an English high school teacher in Norwich, asked if she could borrow some of the letters on Remembrance Day to show her class how people communicated in the past. Andrew agreed and was shocked to later hear that one young 13-year-old girl had burst into tears after reading though the letters. These old letters were just too important to keep quiet, so Andrew took it upon himself to transcribe them all, and to then write and self-publish his first ever book called: All American Letters Home.

Andrew’s first book was an instant hit, both here and in America. The book allowed you to follow Earl’s journey across the globe, as told through his own words, from enlistment, training, and then into combat. To hear the stories from Earl to his mother and father of suffering from cold, thirst, hunger, loneliness, and homesickness is heart-wrenching. You could even see and feel Earl’s pain through the changing of his handwriting after suffering a serious hand injury – something that he desperately tried to downplay to his mother.

Andrew’s second book, released in 2025, is based on two American soldiers: one called George who wrote love letters back home to his wife Gretchen, while the other was a serviceman named Smith who wrote to his Uncle. Even though these two soldiers never met and had 700 miles between them, the two stories of George and Smith somehow become unbelievably entwined with an ending that will shock you. To find out exactly what that ending is, you will have to come to the talk!

With books 3 and 4 in production, we are delighted that Andrew has taken time out of his busy schedule to do a talk for us. He will go deeper into his historical passions and bring history to life through the words of Earl, George and Smith. You will even get the opportunity to read and hold some of the letters. Although they may be yellowing on the edges, the power of the words is as fresh as ever. Andrew will also be explaining the challenges of becoming an author and his next mission – to walk in the footsteps of fallen soldiers.

So… to find out if Earl, George and Smith made it back to America, and to get such a special insight into life in WW2, the only place to be on Wednesday, the 25th of June, at 2.30 pm, is the Plumstead Road Library.

See you there!