If this story isn't made into a film, there is no justice in the world.

A small museum owner in Shropshire, England has uncovered a secret gay romance between two World War II soldiers, and the power of their heartbreaking relationship is now being brought to life almost 80 years since their love blossomed.

According to the BBC, Mark Hignett from Oswestry, Shropshire has been buying wartime letters between a couple on eBay for several years, initially under the impression they was between a soldier and his girlfriend, who lovingly signed off her letters with the letter 'G'.

However, it was only when Hignett – who is a collector of war memorabilia – started to transcribe the letters that he realised the correspondence was, in fact, between two male soldiers.

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The 300-strong collection of letters have cost the 62-year-old art collector over £1,000, and details the romance between World War II soldiers Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher.

Unfortunately, the letters have come to light nine years after Gilbert's death in 2008 aged 92 (it is thought Gordon died 15 years previously) when they were found by a house removal company and sold to an art dealer who specialises in military mail.

Of course, the real value of the letters is not monetary, but lies in the fact they have survived decades since homosexuality was not only illegal before the Sexual Offences Act 1967, but those serving in the armed forces would have been shot for having sexual intercourse with a man.

'Most love letters from homosexuals at the time were burned, because if they were found, they would have been used as evidence,' Hignett told the Metro about the letters. 'The story really has a life of its own; it's a fantastic love story to rival the Titanic,' he added.

Unsurprisingly, this might be why in one of Gordon's letters, he asks Gilbert to ' do one thing for me in deadly seriousness. I want all my letters destroyed. Please darling do this for me. Til then and forever I worship you'.

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The pair met on a houseboat in 1938 in Devon when Gordon was already in a relationship with Gilbert's nephew, reports the BBC.

As the war began, information from the letters suggest Gilbert wasn't keen on becoming a soldier and even pretended to have epilepsy in order to avoid military service.

The story really has a life of its own; it's a fantastic love story to rival the Titanic.

However, he was latter found fit for duty and stationed at Park Hall Camp in Oswestry, Shropshire, to train as an anti-aircraft gunner. As a result, Gilbert and Gordon were forced to conduct their illicit affair via love letters.

'My own darling boy,' one of the letters reads. 'There is nothing more than I desire in life but to have you with me constantly…..I can see or I imagine I can see, what your mother and father's reaction would be… the rest of the world have no conception of what our love is – they do not know that it is love...'

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What's striking about the letters, according to gay rights activist Peter Roscoe, is the fact the pair's homosexual relationship is presented in such a positive light, despite the prejudices that the pair would have suffered if their relationship had come out.

The rest of the world have no conception of what our love is.

Roscoe told the BBC: 'There is a gay history and it isn't always negative and tearful.

'So many stories are about arrests – Oscar Wilde, Reading Gaol and all those awful, awful stories. But despite all the awful circumstances, gay men and lesbians managed to rise above it all and have fascinating and good lives,' he continued.

Another letter between the pair reads: 'My darling boy. For years I had it drummed into me that no love could last for life…I want you darling seriously to delve into your own mind, and to look for once in to the future.

'Imagine the time when the war is over and we are living together… would it not be better to live on from now on the memory of our life together when it was at its most golden pitch,' it adds.

Unfortunately for the pair, it appears the relationship didn't last and the letters stopped in 1945.

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The publication reports that Gilbert was later stationed in Scotland and fell in love with two other men, which he revealed to Gordon in one of his letters.

Imagine the time when the war is over and we are living together.

Surprisingly, Gordon replied he understood why they fell in love with him. 'After all, so did I,' he explained.

As for Gordon, he later moved to California to become a well-known horse trainer (and bizarrely ended up employing Sirhan Sirhan, who later was found guilt of assassinating American politician, Bobby Kennedy).

Meanwhile Gilbert struck up a relationship with British politician, MP Sir Paul Latham, who was later imprisoned in 1941 following a court martial for 'improper conduct' with several colleagues and a civilian.

Despite their brief romance, Hignett has decided to keep their love burning by exhibiting the letters in the Oswestry Town Museum. Surprisingly, this is something both Gilbert and Gordon joked about in their letters.

'Wouldn't it be wonderful if all our letters could be published in the future in a more enlightened time,' one of the letters reads. 'Then all the world could see how in love we are,' it concludes.

Gordon and Gilbert, you dream is now a reality.

Now, someone get Harvey Weinstein on the phone, we have a film pitch for him.

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Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.