WHEN Michael Alexander bought a lamp from a second-hand store, he got more than he had bargained for.

He found a letter written by a soldier from thousands of miles away reminding his daughter Hazel how important it is to attend school in 1936.

Michael, 47, bought the lamp from the Old Auction Room, in East Hill, Colchester.

He said: “All I wanted was to buy a new lamp, but I got home to open it and at the bottom of the box was this letter.

“I read it and I couldn’t believe it.

“All I could think of was getting it back to the family which owns it. It might be important to them.

“If I can’t do that, I would love to get it into a museum.”

The letter, dated May 29, 1936, is written by an unnamed British engineer based in Peshawar – modern day Pakistan – to his daughter, who was not enjoying going to school.

The mystery father wrote: “Mummy tells me that you have been asking for me and wonder why I do not write.

“Well, my dear, here is a letter all to yourself and Mummy will help you read it. If you do not go to school, how are you going to learn to read and write so that you can read my letters and answer them?”

The father added: “Now darling, enough about school.

“I hope by the time you receive this letter that you will be feeling quite well again.

“Don’t forget to write a nice letter to your ever loving daddy.”

The soldier was part of the Bengal Sappers and Miners, the equivalent of the Royal British Engineers.

Michael, of Porter’s Close, Fordham Heath, bought the lamp on Tuesday for a few pounds.

Dominic Welge, who runs the Old Auction House, said: “It would be great to get it back to the family who owns it. I can’t remember how it came in, but it could be quite important for a family to get it back.”

l Anyone with any information about the letter can call the Gazette on 01206 508419.