A fisherman today told how he uncovered a tragic First World War love story when he caught an old bottle in his nets.

Steve Gowan, 43, from Canvey, found the 85-year-old sealed green bottle as he fished for cod in the Thames Estuary.

When he rubbed off the dirt, he found a letter inside an envelope marked with the words Army Form C398.

The letter was written by Private Thomas Hughes as he sailed from Southampton to fight the Germans in France in 1914. He had popped it inside the sturdy bottle, signing it "Ta ta sweet for the present".

Tragically, Tom died just 12 days later on his first day in the trenches.

The letter was destined for his wife back home in Portrack, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham.

It read: "Dear wife, I'm writing this note on the boat and dropping it into the sea just to see if it will reach you.

"If it does, sign the envelope on the right hand bottom corner where it says receipt, put the date and hour of receipt and your name where it says signature and look after it well."

There was also a covering letter with it, which read: "Sir or madam, youth or maid, kindly forward the enclosed letter and earn the blessing of a poor British soldier on his way to the front this ninth of September 1914."

Tom and 40 comrades died on September 21 after landing at St Nazaire and making their way to the River Aisne where the Germans lay in wait.

His body was never found. The bottle stayed in the sea for 85 years.

Discovery - Steve Gowan with his romantic find

(Right) Tragic - the last note Private Hughes wrote to his wife before he was killed

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