The Saddest Farewell Story You Will Ever Hear

An Earlier Photo of the Future Sgt. Major Cavan

A First World War soldier who was called to the Western Front at short notice made a desperate bid to say goodbye to his family by scribbling a note in a matchbox and throwing it from a moving train.

Sergeant Major George Cavan hurled the message onto the platform of Carluke train station in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, and shouted to an onlooker [probably known to him]  to give it to his wife, Jean.

Dearest wife and bairns, off to France, love to you all, Daddy

The serviceman and his unit were suddenly called to fight in the Ludendorff Offensive—Germany's last major effort to win the war—from their base in Glasgow, but didn't have time to tell loved ones.

Just 15 days after penciling the note, Sgt Maj Cavan died after being wounded in the battle, though his body was never found.

The note, which read "Dearest wife and bairns, off to France — love to you all, Daddy," was eventually given to his wife, Jean Cavan.

George Cavan's wife, Jean, and their three children
(L-R) Lucy, Jean, and Georgina

She kept the letter and matchbox for the rest of her life and handed it to her daughter Lucy who in turn left it to her daughter, Maureen Rogers. Mrs Rogers, [then] 72, said: "The matchbox and letter were treasured by my grandmother for the rest of her life.  My grandfather must have thought "How on Earth am I going to let my family know I am going to war?"

Sources: Article  –  Daily Mail, 26 February 2015; Photos – Private  Collection of Maureen Rogers