A SET of World War Two letters found in a bin 17 years ago have been reunited with its writer’s family – 78 years after they were first penned.

Gawler East resident June Argent found the letters, written by Gawler digger Edward Keith Orchard, in a recycling bin at the old Gawler East High School, where she worked at the time.

After keeping the letters in her possession for nearly two decades, Mrs Argent decided in August to search for Warrant Officer Orchard’s family in order to return the letters to their rightful owners.

The letters were penned in 1941 and described Orchard’s time in Egypt, including seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

Also in the letter he thanks his sister, Pat, who the letter is addressed to, for a pack of food sent from Australia.

Upon returning to South Australia from the war in 1945, Orchard settled in Port Pirie and raised a family.

He later died aged 51-years-old.

The town was Mrs Argent’s first contact point in her search for Orchard’s family, and with the help of Port Pirie Historical Society member Kevin Saltmarsh, she got in touch with the Warrant Officer’s eldest son, Anthony Orchard.

Anthony now lives in Canberra and works as a botanist.

“He (Mr Saltmarsh) promised to leave no stone unturned in the search for Keith’s family, and he lived up to his promise,” Mrs Argent said.

“I received a lovely note of thanks from Anthony Orchard, saying he would treasure the letters and make sure all his family would receive copies.”

Warrant Officer Orchard had four children – two sons and two daughters – all of whom are still alive, but have limited memory of their father.

Pat, the recipient of the letters, is still alive and currently living in a nursing home.

She will be able to read the letters she first received 78 years ago once again.