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Letter from Ruth Turner to George Mallory written from Ireland

Discusses her opinions on truth and reflects on growing up. She has changed her opinion of her book The Brothers Karamazov and has started reading William Morris by Mr Clutton-Brock. Expresses her desire to have Barnsley furniture in their house. Urges him to attend his sister’s wedding without her. Requests a photograph of Mary.

Full Transcript

29, Courtfield Road,
S.W.
My dearest
It is most awfully hot here, but I have not had at all a bad day, we just sat comfortably all the morning and shoped a Liberty from our favorite shop man. I seem to have bought an awful lot of things but I made a careful list before I started so I don’t think I got any thing that I don’t more or less need. I have bought two pieces of stuff for ties for you if you like them. I have not begun climbing things yet. I am going to tea with Doris tomorrow and I think I shall go to the British Museum before that, and that will be lovely. I have a lot of patterns for Mary.

I have just had to stop in the middle of this letter to talk and give tea to an Aunt & Cousin of Alisons because neither she nor Mrs Steel are in. Alison warned me that they were dull. The Aunt however is not so bad she will at least talk but the girl hasn’t a word to say for herself.

I am so sorry for all the dull dreary people who have to live in London and for all the silly smart ones who want to. But I am much sorriest for the smart ones in grand clothes because there is not even any good in it. I wonder if you will ever have to live in London dear, I suppose there are realy a lot of compensations.

Good night & morning dearest I wish I could write a psalm poem about you & my love for you.
Your loving Ruth

Describes her morning working at the hospital with Mildred. Discusses the new dress patterns she received for her birthday. Hopes he is safe and well and informs him of a letter he received from Mr Thompson. Discusses what she has read in Vanity Fair. She has heard from Mary about the location of the armies. She hopes he is not near Ypres.

Informs him that Robert Graves has been wounded and she intends to ask him to visit. Tells him that Ralph is to get leave and will go to Birkenhead with Mary. Describes her intended activities for the day. Asks him if he would like some apples to be sent out. Expresses her love for him. Intends to go to Alborough to find lodgings and will start at 8.30 and not get back until after 9.. Updates him on her father's trouble with male staff. Intends to have tea with Mrs Kendell.

Acknowledges and discusses his letters from the 1st and 3rd March. Reflects on how they may change in their marriage. Describes the weather and her surroundings. Describes saving a piglet from death. Describes her plans for the garden. Updates him on her father's health. Asks him if he would like some rhubarb.

Expresses her wish for him to be on leave. Describes her activities of the previous afternoon. Discusses the possibility of him learning book binding. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Describes the visit from the boy Johnstone [friend of Robert Graves] and the conversations they had. Asks him if he needs any more butter.

Discusses the recent naval battle. Tells him she has read his letters out to his family. Informs him she intends to stay with Bridget and then Mary and forwards him Bridget’s address. Describes her difficulties with her dressmaker. Tells him of an accident that happened at Godalming involving a motor car. She intends to have Polly to visit. Asks him for photographs of Mr Bill.

Discusses cutting back the ivy at the Holt. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Describes Violet’s visit to the dentist and tells him about her father’s health. Informs him of the feeling of depression sweeping through the country over the war. Discusses Mary and Ralph’s position in the war. Informs him she will not be meeting the Bishop but will be meeting Mrs Radcliffe and will gather him news of Charthouse. Discusses news on the war given to Mrs Reade by Geoffrey Young. Hopes that he will get leave soon.

Acknowledges his last letter. Describes in detail how Ralph has measles and expresses her concern for everyone's health. Reflects on how different their life is now and what their life might be like when he is home. Expresses her irritation at having to rest in the afternoons.

Tells him that Bice has German measles and has postponed her visit. Informs him that she will stop sending him parcels until she knows where he is located. Tells him that Mary has accepted her invitation to stay when Ralph departs. Expresses how much she misses him. Discusses the progress of the war. Hopes for another letter from him soon.

Describes her trip into town with Marjorie. Tells him about her involvement in the baby welfare group. Informs him of the parcel of sausages and ginger she has sent. Updates him on her health. Discusses his mother's new diet to help with arthritis. Expresses her wish for the war to be over. Discusses her opinions on praying and the progress of the war. Tells him she loves and misses him.

Update's him on her father's health. Describes the weather and her morning activities. Describes her pregnancy symptoms. Discusses her book The Dardanelle's Expedition. Tells him she is expecting a letter from his mother. Tells him she loves him.

Tells him she misses him. Updates him on Clare's progress and discusses her future. Describes a walk to Munstead with Doris and Mildred. Reminisces about a walk they had together on the same route. She has heard from Mary and discusses Ralph going on a course. Discusses the progress of the war and arrangements for meeting him in London when on leave.

Acknowledges his last letter and hopes he is feeling better. Asks him if he has been given the staff job. Describes in detail his mother's visit. Discusses helping Mary and Barbara by inviting them to stay with her. Tells him about Trafford's leave. Updates him on Marjorie Waterhouse's visit. Tells him she is sending him a parcel.

Discusses cutting down on wheat flour. Describes a walk to gather primroses and tells him about how Clare enjoyed it. Tells him about an intended visit from Mary and about Mary's miscarriage scare. Expresses her wish to have a boy. Asks him what he thinks about.

Describes in detail her shopping trip to London and what her and Mildred bought. Describes how she will copy out his letters discussing Hell. Tells him about a letter from Mary describing being bombed. Expresses her concern for his safety. Discusses his previous letter about being cynical.

Acknowledges his letter of the 18th March. Updates him on Marjorie's working situation. Asks him about his reconnaissance mission. Discusses how much they should tell their children about the dangers of climbing. Asks him about his dugout. updates him on Clare's progress.

Her box has arrived at Birkenhead. She delivers the news that the dog has passed away and hopes Marjorie won't be too upset. Tells him about her experience volunteering at the maternity hospital and describes the situation of some of the mothers. Expresses her wish to help people in need. Informs him she intends to make copies of his letters to send to Mary, Avie and Trafford. She encloses a letter from Mr Rendall regarding his pamphlet.

Describes taking Clare for a walk and her morning activities. Tells him about an invitation from his mother and why she won't go but tells him she will go to the Isle of Wight instead. Updates him on everyone she has heard from. Expresses how she misses him. Compares her first sightings of cars to Clare's first sightings of aeroplanes. Informs him that Barbara is arriving soon.

Tells him she has been warmly welcomed and describes her feelings after he left. Describes in detail her visit to tour York Minister. Reassures him she is being looked after and sends him news of his parents. Updates him on Avie's health. Expresses her opinions on Mary and Ralph's friendship with Lord and Lady Nunburnholme. Hopes that peace will come soon.

She has read his letter to Ralph and Mary. Discusses his duties and living conditions as described in his last letter. Expresses her opinions about the progress of the war. Describes her walk with Clare and Mary. Discusses her thoughts on the fear of Hell and the merits of good behaviour. Intends to stay to see Henrietta Livingstone. Informs him his pamphlet has been read by Mr Clutton-Brock, Mr Arthur Benson, and Mr Fletcher and gives their opinions of it. Tells him she is proud of him. Describes the maps of Armentières and the trenches she was shown by Ralph. She hopes he does not have to see dead bodies.

Reflects on the last few months and expresses her sadness that he is not home for Christmas. Discusses the progress of demobilisation. Describes a conversation with Mary Anne and Violet about the Holt and the moving date. Expresses her concerns about Clare learning bad manners from the Fletcher boys. Tells him what presents she sent to his family and the preparations for Christmas. Reflects on all the things they can do together when he is home. Discusses the sugar ration.

She has settled in with Mary and Ralph. Compares their baby, Barbara, with Clare. Describes Mary and Ralph's garden. Informs him she has purchased Shakespeare's Sonnets in the Temple edition. Intends to cut her trip short and head back to Westbrook. Expresses her admiration for Bridget. Discusses the meanings of Shakespeare's sonnets. Is looking forward to him coming home on leave.

Describes the weather and how she is not going to church. Updates him on Clare's teething and her father's health. Tells him she has not heard from Mary or Doris and that Ursula is coming to stay. Describes her dreams.

Tuesday 16 Jan. evening - Expresses her love for him. Tells him she is on the house furnishing committee. Updates him on her symptoms.

Wednesday 17 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letter. Expresses her thoughts about him being taught to make fires. Describes her morning activities and the parcels she is sending him. Describes a letter from Mary and Ralph discussing a move to Camberly.

Describes the weather and her surroundings. Expresses her anxiety over him being in danger. Tells him about the setback Mary Anne has experienced with letting her house. Informs him that Trafford has been sent back to the fighting. Asks him about his recent work laying two miles of wire. Is sorry to hear the rats ate his Cheshire cheese. Expresses her wish to be able to do real work. Tells him about six planes flying overhead to the Somme.

Explains that this is the second letter of the day written to him. Reiterates details from her previous letter. Intends to have Mary Anne, Owen, Diana and Ursula to visit at Westbrook. Expresses her anxieties about the war. Intends to visit Mary and Ralph while in London. Asks him again if he has received a cheque for £250 from his aunt's legacy. Advises him to write to her lawyers. She will forward his address to Birkenhead.

Acknowledges his letter and discusses him buying a picture and asking the artist to paint Clare. Reflects on making friends unexpectedly. Expresses her wish to learn French. Describes in detail the Labour meeting about the League of Nations and gives her opinions of it. Updates him on news from Mary and Berry's progress.

Describes the weather. Tells him about the situation regarding the visitors and German Measles. Compares baby Barbara with Clare and describes how they get jealous of each other. Updates him on Clare's progress. Updates him on everyone's news. Expresses her love for him. Describes the mothers at Baby Welfare group.

Letter from Mary Brooke, Mallory's sister written from Colombo. This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.

Full Transcript

Ap. 12th
Steelback Lodge
Galle Face
Columbo

My dearest George

I hope you have been getting the weather reports all right – it will be very interesting to hear whether you can trace a connection with our weather & how long afterwards. Since sending you the observatory report yesterday we have had the most terrific storm – gale of wind from S.W. – torrents of rain & thunder – we had noticed very heavy clouds at the sunset & it looked as if something were approaching, but the storm didn’t break till about 1 a.m. last night. It was most violent for nearly three hours so if you get the same you had better be on the look out – I wonder how far you have got now – I do hope you are getting on well & making good time. We were very disappointed not getting up to Diyatalawa last Monday, we were all packed up & everything planned when a wire came from the C.C. postponing the whole move & in a furious temper that he hadn’t been told some little minor details that no one thought he would want to know. I believe there were some very heated telegrams between him & our Colonel but of course it didn’t alter things & we have just had to wait here in the heat & packed & angry! There is hardly anyone left down here now, but I believe we really shall get off on Monday & are much looking forward to getting up to the hills & a cooler atmosphere. Ralph is going off for a week’s shooting on Thursday – he & another man & they ought to have quite a good time & see a lot of interesting country. They are going to camp out & I believe try for panther & bears at night as it will be full moon. When he gets back we expect Wynyard for a few days on his way home from Shanghai. This place is getting rather gay now with the flamboyant trees & others all coming into flower – I am afraid we shall miss them at their best. We took the children to the museum the other evening. really most interesting – besides all the Ceylon animals, birds insects, precious stones etc they had a very interesting room of the native handicrafts – pottery etc some of it most attractive – I believe you get the best things of that sort at Kandy & we must certainly make an expedition there when we get back here.

With much love & let me have a line when you can
Your loving sister
Mary