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Ruth Turner's letters to George Mallory, to whom she became engaged in April 1914 and married on 29 July 1914. They first met at a dinner in the Autumn of 1913 at the house of Arthur Clutton-Brock, a lawyer and writer who lived in Hindhead Road not far from Charterhouse School where George was teaching. Ruth’s mother Mary had died six years before and Ruth and her two sisters Marjorie and Mildred lived with their father, Hugh Thackeray Turner, at Westbrook, an elegant house on the far side of the Wey Valley. They met socially several times over the next few months and in March Thackeray Turner invited George to accompany him and his daughters on a trip to Italy. George and Ruth fell in love during the week long’s holiday and became engaged in May.

Shortly after the engagement Ruth left to accompany her family on a long standing pre arranged holiday in Ireland based in County Donegal. George and Ruth pledged to write letters to each other daily when separated.

George and Ruth got married on 29 July 1914, George’s father conducted the ceremony and their best man was Geoffrey Young. Due to the worsening situation in Europe they could not spend their honeymoon in the Alps as they had hoped but instead went to North Devon and then camping on the Sussex coast.

George Mallory’s correspondence with Ruth Turner, to whom he became engaged in April 1914 and married on 29 July 1914. They first met at a dinner in the Autumn of 1913 at the house of Arthur Clutton-Brock, a lawyer and writer who lived in Hindhead Road not far from Charterhouse School where George was teaching. Ruth’s mother Mary had died six years before and Ruth and her two sisters Marjorie and Mildred lived with their father, Hugh Thackeray Turner, at Westbrook, an elegant house on the far side of the Wey Valley. They met socially several times over the next few months and in March Thackeray Turner invited George to accompany him and his daughters on a trip to Italy. George and Ruth fell in love during the week longs holiday and became engaged in May.

Shortly after the engagement Ruth left to accompany her family on a long standing pre arranged holiday in Ireland based in County Donegal. George and Ruth pledged to write letters to each other daily when separated.

George and Ruth got married on 29 July 1914, George’s father conducted the ceremony and their best man was Geoffrey Winthrop Young. Due to the worsening situation in Europe they could not spend their honeymoon in the Alps as they had hoped but instead went to North Devon and then camping on the Sussex coast.

Increasing numbers of George’s friends were joining up to serve in the war effort in different capacities but when he enquired about doing so himself his Headmaster refused him permission as the Government wanted to retain its school teachers. By July Ruth was pregnant and George was restless so he went on a climbing trip to Pen y Pass with Hugh Heber-Percy and toured Yorkshire with his father.

On 18 September their first child was born - a daughter called Frances Clare (known as Clare).

His brother in law, the artillery officer Ralph Brooke, offered to help him get a commission in the Royal Artillery, if he could get permission from his Headmaster to join up. This was finally agreed and Brooke wrote to a friend who ran an artillery training course in Weymouth to recommend Mallory. The training was due to start in January 1916 so he travelled to Birkenhead to spend Christmas with his parents, then a few days climbing at Pen y Pass with Conor O'Brien and Herbert Reade before visiting his sister Avie in Mobberley. He did not spend Christmas with Ruth and Clare.

Letters
PP/GM/3/1/1915/1-9 Pen y Pass (July and August)

PP/GM/3/1/1915/10-11 Touring Yorkshire with his father (August)

PP/GM/3/1/1915/12-13 Pateley Bridge on his own (August)

PP/GM/3/1/1915/14 On the train to Cambridge (August)

PP/GM/3/1/1915/15 On the train from Birkenhead after having spent Christmas with his parents (December)

PP/GM/3/1/1915/16-17 Pen y Pass (December)

Increasing numbers of George’s friends were joining up to serve in the war effort in different capacities but when he enquired about doing so himself his Headmaster refused him permission as the Government wanted to retain its school teachers. By July Ruth was pregnant and George was restless so he went on a climbing trip to Pen y Pass with Hugh Heber-Percy and toured Yorkshire with his father. On 31 July Ruth moved into Westbrook, her father's house.

On 18 September Ruth gave birth to their first child - a daughter called Frances Clare.

His brother in law, the artillery officer Ralph Brooke, offered to help George get a commission in the Royal Artillery, if he could get permission from his Headmaster to join up. This was finally agreed with Fletcher and Brooke wrote to a friend who ran an artillery training course in Weymouth to recommend Mallory. The training was due to start in January 1916 so George travelled to Birkenhead to spend Christmas with his parents, then a few days climbing at Pen y Pass with Conor O'Brien and Herbert Reade before visiting his sister Avie in Mobberley. He did not spend Christmas with Ruth and Clare.

January 1916 - began his military training in Weymouth.
They rented out the Holt and Ruth and Clare moved to a cottage near Dorchester and then a more suitable place in Abbotsbury (a village 5 miles from Weymouth) so that they could spend their weekends together.

1 April - George moved from Weymouth to Lydd and Ruth returned to Westbrook. He only had Sundays off but they found a tiny flat in Littlestone where they could stay together.

4 May - George was assigned to the 40th Siege Battery and left for France. After a week he took the troop train to join the battery which was positioned in the northern sector of the western front a short distance from the front line.

Ruth remained at Westbrook and they let the Holt firstly to Mr and Mrs Green and then to the O’Malleys.

George was a Second Lieutenant meaning he was third in command behind the commanding officer Captain Lithgow and Lieutenant Bell. His responsibilities included taking charge of the firing of the guns and manning the observation posts (O.P.s) from where the fire could be directed. As he spoke fluent French he was also tasked with buying provisions at the local markets.

29 May – the unit moved south to ‘a hot part of the line’. A British infantry attack was imminent and the battery had to haul its guns into position with horses.

30 May - when the attack was launched the battery fired off more than 600 shells.

14 June – the battery moved south again and took up position near Albert, just north of the River Somme.

1 July – launch of the British offensive at the Somme. The battery had been firing at the German line for a week and at 6.30 on the morning of 1 July the firing intensified.

6 July - the battery fired all day in support of another British attack.

15 July – he saw flame throwers being used by the French for the first time.

29 July – George and 5 of his men went up the front line and after renewing a telephone wire they were crossing open ground when they heard an incoming shell and dived for cover. The two men who were carrying the coil of wire were moving more slowly and were killed.

Mid August – George was sent to rest camp near Amiens for 10 days. He started writing a novel, later to be called The Book of Geoffrey.

26 September - the British captured Thiepval (which had been their goal on 1 July)

December – sent home for 10 days leave returning to France on Boxing Day and arriving back at the battery on 29 December.

January 1916 - George began his military training in Weymouth and they rented out the Holt. Ruth and Clare moved to a cottage near Dorchester and then a more suitable place in Abbotsbury (a village 5 miles from Weymouth) so that they could spend their weekends with George.

1 April - Ruth returned to Westbrook when George moved from Weymouth to Lydd. He only had Sundays off but they found a tiny flat in Littlestone where they could stay together.

4 May - George was assigned to the 40th Siege Battery and left for France. After a week he took the troop train to join the Battery which was positioned in the northern sector of the western front a short distance from the front line. Ruth remained at Westbrook and they let the Holt firstly to Mr and Mrs Green and then to the O’Malleys.

George was a Second Lieutenant meaning he was third in command behind the commanding officer Captain Lithgow and Lieutenant Bell. His responsibilities included taking charge of the firing of the guns and manning the observation posts (O.P.s) from where the fire could be directed. As he spoke fluent French he was also tasked with buying provisions at the local markets.

His Battery took part in the Battle of the Somme which lasted from 1 July until 18 November 1916.

In December he was sent home for 10 days leave returning to France on Boxing Day and arriving back at the Battery on 29 December.

January - On his return to France following leave George Mallory was transferred to Brigade Headquarters, 3 miles behind the front line. He was appointed as assistant to the colonel but as the colonel hated delegating he only had menial chores to carry out. He had to learn to ride a horse and accompany the colonel on inspections. He had a batman who had been a barber in civilian life.

February – brief assignment as a liaison officer to a nearby French unit.

End of March – he applied to return to his battery which had moved to a new position. The Germans were starting to retreat and talk was of the Americans joining the war.

He was increasingly getting pain in his ankle making walking hard. The doctor said it was the result of a previous break in 1909 which hadn’t healed properly and he would need an operation after the war. The ankle worsened and he was sent home for the operation in London followed by recovery at Westbrook.

July - his ankle was better enough for him to visit the island of Arran with David Pye and Will Arnold-Forster [first time he had been to the Scottish hills] having first spent a few days with Cosmo Gordon's family.

September – army doctors passed him fit for duty. He was sent to an army camp at Avington Park, near Winchester, to train on the new sixty-pound guns. He borrowed a motorcycle and visited Ruth at the weekends. She was nearing the end of her pregnancy with their second daughter Berridge (known as Berry) who was born on 16 September.

Early Oct – made a full Lieutenant and undertook a course for newly promoted officers.
On his return from Westbrook on his motorcycle he cashed into a gatepost crushing his right foot. He was in hospital for a month and took another month before he would walk on it.

End of 1917 – passed fit for service but instead of returning to France he took a battery commander’s course at the artillery school at Lydd. This school came under the command of his brother-in-law Ralph Brooke. Ruth and the children went with him and stayed with Ralph, Mary and their three children.

Christmas 1917 – spent at Westbrook.

January - On his return to France following leave George Mallory was transferred to Brigade Headquarters, 3 miles behind the front line. He was appointed as assistant to the Colonel but as the Colonel hated delegating he only had menial chores to carry out. He had to learn to ride a horse and accompany the Colonel on inspections. He had a batman who had been a barber in civilian life.

February – brief assignment as a liaison officer to a nearby French unit.

End of March – he applied to return to his battery which had moved to a new position. The Germans were starting to retreat and talk was of the Americans joining the war.

He was increasingly getting pain in his ankle making walking hard. The doctor said it was the result of a previous break in 1909 which hadn’t healed properly and he would need an operation after the war. The ankle worsened and he was sent home for the operation in London followed by recovery at Westbrook.

July - his ankle was better enough for him to visit the island of Arran with David Pye and Will Arnold-Forster [first time he had been to the Scottish hills] having first spent a few days with Cosmo Gordon's family.

September – army doctors passed him fit for duty. He was sent to an army camp at Avington Park, near Winchester, to train on the new sixty-pound guns. He borrowed a motorcycle and visited Ruth at the weekends at Westbrook. She was nearing the end of her pregnancy with their second daughter Berridge (known as Berry) who was born on 16 September.

Early Oct – made a full Lieutenant and undertook a course for newly promoted officers.
On his return from Westbrook on his motorcycle he cashed into a gatepost crushing his right foot. He was in hospital for a month and took another month before he would walk on it.

End of 1917 – passed fit for service but instead of returning to France he took a battery commander’s course at the artillery school at Lydd. This school came under the command of his brother-in-law Ralph Brooke. Ruth and the children went with him and stayed with Ralph, Mary and their three children.

Christmas 1917 – spent at Westbrook.

January – George was best man at the wedding of Robert Graves and Nancy Nicholson.

Easter – attended the wedding of Geoffrey Young and Eleanor Slingsby.

End July – George and Ruth spent a week in Skye with David Pye and Leslie Shadbolt.

September – training in Newcastle accompanied by Ruth.

End of September – returned to France. Assigned to the 515th siege battery positioned between Arras and the Channel coast.
Commanding officer was Major Gwilym Lloyd George (son of the British Prime Minister). Fighting was further to the south.
Ruth returned to Westbrook.

10 November – George was with Geoffrey Keynes who was with a unit near Cambrai when they heard shouts about an Armistice late at night.

He spent Armistice Day with his brother Trafford (who had trained as a pilot after being invalided home in 1915, joined the Royal Flying Corps, and by the end of the war was a Royal Air Force squadron commander).

He spent a week in Paris and Christmas with his men. Then rented a room in Calais waiting to be demobilised.
Returned home in the second week of January 1919.

January – George was best man at the wedding of Robert Graves and Nancy Nicholson.

Easter – attended the wedding of Geoffrey Winthrop Young and Eleanor Slingsby.

End July – George and Ruth spent a week in Skye with David Pye and Leslie Shadbolt.

September – training in Newcastle accompanied by Ruth.

End of September – returned to France. Assigned to the 515th Siege Battery positioned between Arras and the Channel coast.
Commanding officer was Major Gwilym Lloyd George (son of the British Prime Minister). Fighting was further to the south.

10 November – George was with Geoffrey Keynes who was with a unit near Cambrai when they heard shouts about an Armistice late at night.

He spent Armistice Day with his brother Trafford (who had trained as a pilot after being invalided home in 1915, joined the Royal Flying Corps, and by the end of the war was a Royal Air Force squadron commander).

He spent a week in Paris and Christmas with his men. Then rented a room in Calais waiting to be demobilised.
Returned home in the second week of January 1919.

He was demobilised and returned home from France in the second week of January 1919.

After spending the Christmas and New Year period making arrangements for moving, Ruth finally moves back to the Holt on 7 January, and George arrives home in the second week.

Outline of 1921 Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition

The aims of the expedition were to explore how to get to the vicinity of Mount Everest, find possible routes to the summit, and if possible attempt the first ascent.

The expedition party consisted of: Charles Howard-Bury (leader), Harold Raeburn and Alexander Kellas (experienced mountaineers), George Mallory and Guy Bullock (younger and less experienced climbers), Sandy Wollaston (naturalist and doctor), Alexander Heron (geologist), Henry Morshead and Oliver Wheeler (surveyors seconded from the army).

During the expedition Kellas died and Raeburn fell ill and had to leave the expedition making Mallory the lead climber.

Bad weather meant they could not make an attempt on the summit.

The expedition succeeded in identifying the North Col as a feasible route to the summit.

April - George Mallory sailed from England to Calcutta in India on board the S.S. Sardinia
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/1-8 - describes the voyage

May - Arrived in India and met up with other members of the expeditionary team at Government House, Darjeeling and began the trek to Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/9 - at Government House
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/10-12 - trek to the vicinity of Mount Everest

June - Mallory’s first views of Everest and reconnaissance efforts
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/13 - reports Dr Kellas’ death
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/14 - first view of Mount Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/15 - ‘we are now in a county no European has previously visited’
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/16 - ‘until incredibly higher in the sky than imagination had ventured to dream, the top of Everest itself appeared. We knew it to be Everest’
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/17 - written from ‘1st Base Camp under Everest’

July - Reached 2nd Advanced Base Camp and 1st Base Camp Rongbuk Glacier, further reconnaissance efforts and climbing achievements
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/18-23

August - Confirmed the existence of the North Col and therefore a passageway to Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/24-28

September - Bad weather meant they had to abandon plans to attempt to summit and they returned home
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/29-31

October - return trip to England
MCPP/GM/3/1/1921/32 - written from ‘Benares’ on his way home via Marseilles where he met up with Ruth

Outline of 1922 British Mount Everest Expedition

This was the first mountaineering expedition with the express aim of making the first ascent of Mount Everest. It was also the first expedition that attempted to climb Everest using bottled oxygen. In the previous year the reconnaissance expedition had explored the eastern and northern sides of the mountain and had established a possible route to the summit.

The party consisted of Charles G. Bruce (expedition leader), Edward Strutt (deputy leader and mountaineer), George Mallory (mountaineer), George Finch (mountaineer), Edward Norton (mountaineer), Henry Morshead (mountaineer), Dr Howard Somervell (mountaineer), Dr Arthur Wakefield (mountaineer), John Noel (photographer and film maker), Dr Tom Longstaff (expedition medical officer), Geoffrey Bruce (translator and organisation and cousin of Charles G. Bruce), John Morris (translator and organisation) and Colin Crawford (translator and organisation).

After two unsuccessful summit attempts, the expedition ended on the third attempt when an avalanche killed seven climbing sherpas. Not only had the expedition failed to reach the summit, but it also marked the first reported climbing deaths on Mount Everest. The expedition did however establish a new world record climbing height of (27,320 ft).

March - Sea journey from England to India on board the Caledonia and start of trek to Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/1 - nearing Port Said
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/2 - nearing Aden
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/3 - nearing Bombay [Mumbai]
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/4 - Chevremont, Darjeeling (21 March)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/5 – Kalimpong (27-28 March)

April - Trek to Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/6 – Gnatong (1 April)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/7 - Phari (6-7 April)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/8 - Kampa Dzong (12 April)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/9 - Tinki Dzong (18 April)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/10 - Shekar Dzong (26 April)

May - Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/11 - Rongbuk Base Camp (2 May)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/12 - Rongbuk Base Camp (10 May)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/13 - Camp III (15 May)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/14 - Camp III (17-18 May); 1st Attempt (20 May)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/15 - Base Camp; 2nd summit attempt (26 May)

June - Everest
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/16 - Preparation for 3rd summit attempt (1 June)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/17 - Base Camp [Post-Avalanche, (6-7 June)]
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/18 - Camp south of Kharta Shikar [Shekar] (27-28 June)

July - Return Journey
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/19 – Kharta (1 July)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/20 - Kharta (1 July)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/21 - Kampa Dzong (10 July)
MCPP/GM/3/1/1922/22 - Chevremont, Darjeeling (26 July)

Outline of 1923 (Jan-Mar; Oct)

January - George Mallory travelled to the United States and Canada to begin a lecture tour.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/1
Onboard the SS Olympic travelling to New York to give a series of lectures.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/2
Staying at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. He describes his press agent Keedick, provides his impressions of New York City, and mentions his writing work.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/3
In Washington, D.C. Discusses his lectures and writings and describes his experiences with American audiences.

February - Continues the lecture tour. Describes having dinner American Prohibition. Learns to ski.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/4
In New York City. Describes his dinner experience during American Prohibition, reports on his speaking engagements and mentions being interviewed. He attended an American Alpine Club dinner and other social luncheons. Shares his impressions of New York.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/5
In Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Reports on recent lecture in New York and describes social visits to friends in New York and Canada.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/6
Hotel Flanders, New York City. Had spent the weekend learning to ski in Canada and reports ‘bad news’ from MCpress agent Keedick regarding lecture tour.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/7
Harvard Club, New York City. Attends a dinner party with the American Alpine Club and spends weekends in Long Island.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/8
Sheffield, Massachusetts and Boston, MA – Describes his impressions of New York and Boston where he attended an opera.

March - Continues the lecture tour, visits Niagara Falls, shares his disappointment of lecture tour results, and is famously quoted in New York Times article, ‘Because it’s there’ (March 18, 1924).

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/9
Toledo Club, Toledo, Ohio. Says Boston was rather charming and that there was another big audience in Philadelphia.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/10
Hotel Seneca, Rochester, New York [with postmarked envelope]. Had given lectures in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Describes a trip to Niagara Falls, and discusses finances.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/11
Chicago, Illinois. Was onboard a train. Due to give a lecture in Iowa City which was the furthest west but was disappointed not to be lecturing in Chicago.

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/12
Somerset Club, Boston, MA. Shares plans for returning home and provides thoughts on his ‘American visit’.

October - Moving house and planning to return to Mount Everest

MCPP/GM/3/1/1923/13
Is writing after lecture tour to Ruth in Cambridge, before their move into Herschel House in Cambridge, where Ruth would later receive news of George's death. Most of this letter is about plans for moving into Herschel House, including moving logistics and design choices. However, the end of the letter discusses his pending decision to re-join the Mount Everest Committee and commit to returning to Mount Everest in 1924.

Outline of 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition

The party consisted of Charles Bruce (expedition leader), Edward Norton (2nd in command and mountaineer), George Mallory (mountaineer and lead of the climbing team), Bentley Beetham (mountaineer), Geoffrey Bruce (mountaineer), John de Vars Hazard (mountaineer), Dr Richard Hingston (expedition doctor), Andrew Irvine (mountaineer), John Noel (photographer and movie camera operator), Noel Odell (mountaineer and geologist), Edward Shebbeare (transportation officer and interpreter), Dr Howard Somervell (mountaineer and medical doctor)

March – Sea journey from England to India on board the R.M.S. California and start of the trek to Everest

April - Journey through Tibet to Everest. Charles Bruce was taken ill with maleria en route and Edward Norton took over command of the Expedition. Mallory was named second in command and lead of the climbing team. They reached Base Camp by the end of the month.

May - Was spent establishing camps and making plans.

1 June - Bruce and Mallory made the first attempt on the summit.
2 June - Norton and Somervell made the second attempt on the summit.
5 June - Mallory and Irvine were in Camp IV. On 6 June they departed for Camp V. On 7 June they moved on to Camp VI.

They were last seen alive by Noel Odell on 8 June.

This series contains the only surviving letter from the Everest period in the Archive that Ruth Mallory wrote to her husband George and the three letters that were found on his body when it was discovered in 1999. They were from his brother Trafford, his sister Mary Brooke and Stella [thought to be Stella Cobden-Sanderson].

Two manuscript volumes giving a draft account by George Mallory of the 1922 Everest expedition