Antiques Roadshow delivered a heartwarming moment when an expert and a guest embraced amid audience applause after a poignant revelation about a pair of World War II boots. During the recent episode set at Swansea Pier and Seafront, one artefact particularly stood out—a story tied to RAF boots that began with an unexpected connection.
Expert Mark Smith reminisced with the guest: “We met at a talk some months ago and I do have to say, I think we both stopped in our tracks that night, didn’t we? “.
The owner of the boots shared the backstory, saying, “I’d found in a pair of flying boots that I bought many years ago, a letter which sparked me on a 20-year quest to find out all about the man in the letter, his family and what happened to him. So I brought the letter up and said to you ‘I have a letter here from a lady about her dead son. A lady called Hilda Shirt.'”.
READ NEXT: 13 new laws coming to UK in 2025 from TV adverts to passports and childcare
Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the BirminghamLive newsletter here
The moment intensified as the guest continued, “And you stopped dead in your tracks and stepped back as if you’ve been hit with a cattle prod. And you looked at me and said ‘Not Thomas Henry Shirt? ‘ and I looked at you in surprise and said ‘How do you know? ‘ and it’s all stemmed from there.”
Smith shared a poignant story from one of the 65 trips his father had logged: “There is one entry which was always something very special for my dad because it says ‘Operation Nickel II, Special Duties. Encountered anti-aircraft fire over one target during which engagement Flight Sgt Shirt lost his life.'” He continued, “Now Harry, Flight Sergeant Shirt, was my dad’s best friend. My dad told me the harrowing story of how Henry was killed on that target and they swapped over a job in a gun turret. And as they swapped, they were hit by over 1,000 bullets.”, reports the Mirror.
Smith added, “And had they not swapped places, you wouldn’t be standing here talking to me today”, as the expert agreed. “Flight lieutenant Ayshford was your dad’s pilot. He was flying the plane when your dad’s life was saved and the boots belonged to him.”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Smith picked up the original letter in the boot but couldn’t continue reading: “I can’t do it. I can’t do it. You go.”
The guest read out the letter: “‘Dear Flight Lieutenant Ayshford, I thank you for your letter concerning the death of my son Harry. The shock of Harry’s death has made me really very unwell. I do wish to thank you most sincerely and all the members of your crew for all you did for my dear boy. In almost his last letter, he said how very fortunate he was to be with such a grand lot of fellows.'”.
Smith emotionally revealed: “Wow. My dad held his hand for pretty much all the way back and the doctor said: ‘He’s gone, son. He’s been gone for hours.’ But my dad held his hand all the way. And you showed me a photograph of Harry’s funeral which I’d never seen before and there is my dad, standing at the back.”
Recalling fond memories, he continued, “However, maybe I have just one photo for you that you’ve never seen, because this was taken three weeks before Harry was killed. And there is Harry. There’s my dad. And there’s Johnny Ayshford, the owner of your boots.”
An Antiques Roadshow guest and expert Mark Smith hugged after the former presented him with a pair of Second World War boots with personal meaning.
(Image: BBC)
Becoming emotional during the conversation, the guest shared, “Makes me – quite emotional” to which Smith agreed, saying, “Yes, I think that one got me as well.”
But the heartfelt exchange didn’t end there. The guest had a touching surprise, announcing, “Well there is one last final surprise. Johnny was your dad’s pilot so I believe these boots belong to you. And they’re going back with you no matter what.”
Receiving the historically significant boots, Smith embraced the man gratefully and remarked, “Thanks mate. Dad says thank you. Blimey.”
In a touching follow-up, Smith added in an interview: “They are incredible. To have something from my dad’s crew again – just incredible. I will treasure them forever.”