Benedict Cumberbatch reads 19-year-old Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher's letter

[@carlhicksjr8401]

Anyone notice that Benedict is wearing a Rifles Green tie? A very nice little bit of respect he's showing there....

[@BeardedChieftain]

Even for an Aussie, that was noticeable. The man sets a standard a lot of other "celebrities" would do well to emulate.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

Thank You👍

[@AngelicusImmortus]

He is a very classy guy. Subtle touches like the colour of the tie are very much his way of doing things.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

@@AngelicusImmortus I'm an old American cavalryman. Regimental ties are the kind of thing we notice. We may not always know which unit they are, but we're nearly guaranteed to look it up later 😁

[@Watusifarm]

I’m a father of three sons. If one of of them ever said to me what this son said to his father I could die that day doing nothing more in my life and know I did my job.

[@BeardedChieftain]

I was sitting in Iraq when Cyrus wrote this, having left Afghan some months before. It hits home and it is a far better letter than any of those 'mors littera' I ever wrote. Lest. We. Forget.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

I know this is year late, but I hope you'll accept the respects and regards from a US Army veteran, a lifelong military historian, and old cavalryman. Thank you for your time. You know what for. We're all in this thing together. A sincere tip of the Stetson to you and all your mates. You done good.

[@BeardedChieftain]

@@carlhicksjr8401 Always appreciate the sentiments and "right back atcha" Brother. Gary Owen. Edit to explain: Was billeted with 'A' Troop 4/73 Cav, 4BCT, 82nd on FOB Funk in Waza Khwa in '07. Great times and people!

[@carlhicksjr8401]

@@BeardedChieftain My combat time was as an attach to 7th SFGA in Honduras way back when. Prior, I served with 2/11th ACR patrolling the German border.

[@BeardedChieftain]

@@carlhicksjr8401 I have 2 good mates from 7th Grp. I was blessed to move in circles way above my paygrade and abilities! 🍻

[@if6was929]

Well read by Benedict Cumberbatch. Letter writer, Cyrus Thatcher's parents must have been quite special to have raised such a thoughtful and loving young man. This is what war takes from us.

[@hilltopvt]

I am crying my eyes out. This letter is a beautiful gift to the family, and they will need it to survive his loss. If young men have this kind of beauty hidden inside them, maybe there is hope for us yet.

[@ginalou5774]

Me too. And I’m just about to go to work

[@digitalimager4946]

But then they send them off to die.

[@criticalcommenter]

​@@digitalimager4946wow! Talk about missing the point. Whole letter went straight over your head.

[@digitalimager4946]

@@criticalcommenter And flew under your radar.

[@lyndanixon4824]

I lost my son a year ago,he was 36 and it broke my heart.There were no goodbye words...i would like to think these are some of the words he would've said to me....my darling son,that i be his reason.....my tears roll..

[@MiaDjojowasitoMalik]

I'm very sorry for your loss, Lynda 🙏🏼

[@lyndanixon4824]

@@MiaDjojowasitoMalik thank you honey...i saw this today and my son as always,fleeting through my thoughts...💔

[@ruthherring5684]

I am so sorry. I cannot comprehend what you must be going through. R x

[@lyndanixon4824]

@@ruthherring5684 thank you honey💟so kind of you

[@hilltopvt]

I am so sorry for your loss, and that your son didn't have a chance to say goodbye, but I imagine he whispers his love and gratitude in your ear as you sleep

[@BLynnE]

I was struggling to fit into a single comment everything I feel after watching this video, from the contents of the letter, to the reading of it, when I realized one word will suffice: Respect.

[@dontbefatuousjeffrey2494]

That is the best, and most appropriate, word.

[@chrsd2536]

Oh Cyrus. What a precious gift you gave your family.

[@yoeshelkarma1494]

Letters can present words like we can never say while spoken and the way he reads is so beautiful

[@bravosierra2447]

The most profound farewell letter ever read out loud.

[@joeking4206]

Wow, what a find this channel is. I am 60 year old healthy, strapping bloke; this reading made me cry.

[@Vixduffield]

Truly incredible. Both letter and delivery.

[@addie_is_me]

Letter’s Live is such a gift. What a letter to leave your family, he really was/is loved.I’m glad he had all of that love and he could appreciate it so much and express it so well at only 19 years. Benedict Cumberbatch, you go with your bad self! 😎

[@yesemitesam333]

This letter really affected me. That's probably because it was my son's 19th birthday on the day that Rifleman Thatcher died, aged 19. I am fortunate to be able to say my son has since gone on to get married and raise his own sons. I cannot imagine the void the loss of a child leaves but I hope Cyrus' letter helped his family cope with their grief. He seemed like a very fine young man.

[@allysmith2284]

As the father of 3 boys I could hear Ben choking a little as read it too.

[@waynesmith7410]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.

[@BeardedChieftain]

Lest. We. Forget.

[@paolagrando5079]

I hope this letter gets read in schools.

[@JACKnJESUS]

He's not a victim...he soldiered through. It's a difference of attitude that defines one. Well done lad...well done.

[@rosemary5531]

What a brave, brave, very brave young man. Respect to Cyrus and his family who obviously raised a great young man.

[@DogsandFilm]

Thanks Benedict and Letters Live for this emotional moment. It was perfect

[@delciagarcia8287]

Beautifully written. Beautifully read. I hate war and yet this heartbreaking state reveals the heroes of our lifetime. We must honor their passing and cherish their stories while we support respectfully those left behind. My deepest sympathy to those mourning today. May you be comforted by bright and beautiful memories of your loved ones. Respectfully always. 🙏💔

[@JungianHeights]

Wow, what a letter. I guess I'm not entirely surprised that Benedict managed to hold it together. He's an actor, after all.

[@chronicles624]

Cyrus captured brilliantly the thoughts of those words that were never said, and feelings never shared by our departed loved ones. Emotional but healing.

[@rw8733]

This absolutely broke my heart. Such a brave young man.His comments to his mum were so beautiful. I wish I'd told my mum the same.

[@tm502010]

War takes and destroys many of the best of us. When you say, “I support the troops,” that should mean that you strive for a world where we don’t have to send the national treasure that is our youth, into harms way. Troops DO NOT need another war! They need - and deserve - peace.

[@rayjennings3637]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, all around the world, in every nation, the billions we spend on training our troops, was all wasted money because there was no conflict - anywhere!

[@mariannegeraud6318]

I like to think that when we go the only thing that Really matters is the love we take with us but above all the love we leave behind, and this young man's letter is so full of love!!!

[@rogers6184]

Such loving words for a family suffering at the loss I cannot even begin to imagine.

[@robleary3353]

Lest we forget. A truly humbling experience listening to that letter.

[@dustinrobbins4172]

Tears for the first time in years. Letters from war and the brothers who served will always be my weakness or strength. The men you get the privilege to know will stay with you for life. 6535 never forgotten.

[@sachita_pokhrel]

So soothing and heartbreaking at the same time.

[@mpftick4068]

Wow this was a powerful listen tears coming out of my eyes, stand easy rifleman, forever be in peace, once a rifleman always a rifle man.... Swift and Bold brother. You will always be a chosen man

[@pipsmum100]

That must have been so hard to read without choking up

[@elviramcintosh9878]

What courage! Thanks for sharing this message of love in the face of grief.

[@Evie3331]

As a mother and human being this would break the strongest 😥

[@ericthompson3982]

Kid knew the value of his family.

[@sherlockmay]

His kids must be so lucky, having him read a bed-time story in the night.

[@reggieramos9052]

I kind of lost it when he read the part where Cyrus thanked his family, especially his mum.

[@TulsaTaurus]

Damn you! The first few of these letters made me laugh out loud, and now I'm in tears! NOT the way I'd planned to start my day but what wonderful things are letters!

[@JD-tn5lz]

To be able to express himself like that on paper at the age of nineteen speaks wonders of the future he gave up to serve his fellow man. His family and all the United Kingdom lost so much that day

[@lesyankee6129]

This letter from a complete stranger has me in tears. So sad for the loss, but so beautifully full of love and thanks and strength and hope. How can anyone listening not imagine themselves as the recipient of such a letter? All wars are such a waste of young lives.

[@LeveretteJamesClifford1955]

I'm almost 67 and while I came from a family like Cyrus grew up in, I wouldn't mind if I had grown up in his family with him as a big brother.

[@petersmith-daye8608]

As a Dad that lost his eldest son senselessly, I feel EVERY syllable of this young man's letter. Needless to say, I am in floods of tears listening to Benedict's reading

[@sajedehmalekzadegan7571]

He chooses right letters , and reads them in a charming way👌🏼😌

[@ineversleep9715]

My favorite letter so far. Unlike most of the other ones, this one lacks flowery metaphors and contains profanity. However, you can feel the honesty. These are the true thoughts of a regular guy. Probably doesn't have a PhD or a long career in the arts, or anything like that, but you know that these words really reflect how he feels.

[@Spacegoat92]

I'd be a blubbering mess if i tried to read this out to an audience...

[@imoffthehillma8013]

Damn. I wrote two of these in my time (it should have been five but I was selfishly optimistic when I was young) and I thought mine were good but, if I'm honest, they don't compare to the eloquence of this young man. I was in my thirties before I had the balls or the foresight to write such a letter. Respect, brother - I'm sorry you're gone.

[@BeardedChieftain]

Never fear, we all were selfishly optimistic feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof. The rest echoes my own mind too... Well said!

[@Shadow-mb7tf]

Listening to this sad letter read by Benedict Cumberbatch and don't get sad...? Impossible..

[@C.Chandler_May]

What a lovely Son & soldier. Cheer's Cyrus!

[@davidd5316]

No words, just tears

[@adrianlindsay3194]

one hell of a letter

[@serenajavaheri5103]

he just makes my week everytime i hear him

[@miladydewinter8551]

Profoundly moving

[@jeanhawken4482]

Very humble and beautiful

[@alisong2328]

So heartbreaking, but what a gift to leave behind. ❤

[@kirasussane1556]

Well..I'm crying .

[@Hameedinsanit]

While listening to this I can only think about my dad who passed away an year ago...who is the reason for what I am today but couldn't say good bye during his last moments. Something which I am going to regret till my last breath.

[@BaldursPicketFence]

They shall never grow old…

[@arlenehutchinson9259]

❤❤❤❤ HERO 🙌🏾 standing ovation only 😢 Cyrus i needed this TODAY. You Sir, continue to INSPIRE.

[@timh.boston649]

Gut wrenching and inspiring…

[@sheilacasper2030]

How heartbreaking.

[@skie6282]

Holy shit this hits the feels

[@jasoncatt]

How did Benedict come to be reading this?

[@Bookdragon79]

Sad but amazing

[@royalblue9108]

Heartbreaking but beautiful letter. I wrote 5 separate letters, wife, kids, mum and dad, brother, sister. Took me around 12 hours, singularly the hardest thing I've ever had to do. ❤

[@southernforestgypsy]

Wow. Love this channel.

[@deejayk5939]

Crying. So sad and lovely❤

[@robinw2613]

That was heartbreaking.

[@catholicmilitaryassociation]

A remarkable testament.

[@sofia_cumberhahn8318]

Oh Benedict amazing 😍😍

[@elizabethlychak6562]

Beautiful!

[@Socialundergroundsite]

Oh this hit hard.

[@connorduff9278]

Til Valhalla brother. SWIFT & BOLD

[@lemmdus2119]

Wow! Utmost respect from a Yank that listens to this on our Independence Day.

[@thunderbird19603]

here's to letters that didn't have to be opened.

[@sam21462]

I'm not sure how he read that with dry eyes, I certainly didn't listen to it that way. Damn

[@marzigeisha]

Sorry Cyrus, I'm balling and I don't know you. Profoundly moving and the beyond your years.

[@macydee]

Wow!

[@woodrobin]

It's sad that he didn't live long enough to see through the ra-ra gung-ho and understand the futility and tragedy of war and killing. The grief for dead soldiers is icing. The cake is the grief for a humanity that continually creates the need for people to become soldiers in the first place. No should ever have to find the courage to die bravely in a war, it's only due to the failure of others to find the courage to live together in peace that it ever happens.

[@patriciacarline6975]

I served in the RAF during the Cold War, much to the distress of my parents but I knew the risk and hoped for peace - now in my 70s, I still hope for peace - but I do nit think politicians are capable of it!

[@DMLand]

The audience all in masks at 0:37 dates this beautiful work of art so precisely. If only people in 2022 still cared that much about each other.

[@eltonronjovi2238]

Heartrendingly brillant

[@MrInfinitefinality]

Only the dead have seen the end of war

[@stevemeredith9022]

True Dat !

[@Salamander_falls]

I’m reeling. My knee-jerk reaction as a parent is anger at Cyrus for being soo at peace at his own passing. But i KNOW that’s unfair, that I’m projecting my own fear for my children… because on the other side of the coin, this is very much the type of love and wisdom i would wish to impart to my family when i go. Cyrus seems a good man… gone too soon.

[@dave4451]

I‘ve been to war, jumped out of planes, did alot SOF stuff, thought i was a tough guy: cryed like a bit**

[@kzkz9496]

Heartbreaking

[@duedman-alleswasknallt5775]

That was a moving letter. But if you think about what the great thing is he thought he'd accomplished it gets even more sad

[@acchaladka]

All wars are a waste in some sense. No wars are a waste in some sense. We are on our side, God, king, and country.

[@rebeccajodhiwilliams182]

What a mature young man

[@johnrowland3105]

Wonderful.

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

There's so much about this letter that is heartbreaking. Look at the state of Afghanistan now. He died for someone's cause that a few years later would be politically forgotten and handed back a few years later to religious fascists. The army is designed to give young men companionship and meaning, and spill their own blood for somebody else's cause. I wonder how many Russian soldiers are currently dying proud of their war crimes. I'm not sure how to process this young man's sacrifice.

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@Sam Harrison (now Apr 2023). Your words here are very open, recognising perhaps that you exceeded Cyrus's age in safety. /I wanted to write that - I believe, for some people - living close to the possibility of death - means feeling aliveness in a sharp, crystalline focus. Such that another person, who lives without personal danger for say ninety years, may never feel.

[@SamHarrisonMusic]

@@comealongcomealong4480 Your right, I'm sure, about feeling alive. But there must be better ways to feel alive than at the expense of others deaths, and eventually your own. Perhaps evolution needs to move past this kind of conflict. I hope it can!

[@nicolelochren9560]

So beautiful.

[@peterlehman8448]

Peace.

[@davideddy5877]

Wow.

[@FACELOWNER]

BRAVO....!!!!!!!

[@jameslochridge4265]

The dust is getting thick in here.

[@peternorth2288]

😢

[@bennewton]

Wow

[@retroboomer3197]

"I can't be held responsilbe for creating the conditions in where you all ate each other" "All I did was create those conditions" "You're the ones who ate each other"

[@loraineriddell7157]

🥺

[@AnnieWarbux]

😥😥😥😥

[@jamesmterrell]

My tears make it hard for me to make this comment.

[@minitademw6913]

19 08 2024 I love you 🔥 ❤ 🙏

[@davidhull1481]

I thought this was going to be the Todd Rundgren song.