Showing 53 results

Letter from his brother Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory. This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.

Full Transcript

65 Longridge Rd
London SW5

Ap 2nd 1924

My Dear George

Many thanks for your p.c. Both children had flu about a week after I had it, & then I got a second dose. However we are all splendid now.

As you will see from the address, we have moved. The children were beginning to get a bit out of hand & we always seemed to be catching one disease or another. We are awfully comfortable now in very nice rooms. We have got two double bedrooms, a single bedroom for Tom, & a sitting room. Tom’s bedroom is ordinarily a sitting room, so nurse can have the children down there when we don’t want them. I like it ever so much better than the Hotel, because I now have somewhere quiet to read & write.

I suppose you see a few papers, & know what a series of strikes we are having just now. It would appear that the Trades Unions regard this as a good moment for getting the best possible terms. The most serious thing I think is the development of strikes organised by Communists against the advice of the Unions. I hope they will get the firm handling they deserve.

I went to a most interesting meeting at the B.I.I.A. [British Institute of International Affairs] last night, on ‘the Balkans’. I find that one gets a lot of most useful information there, which is good from an educational point of view.

Mother stayed a night here on her way to Aix Les Bains. I am not quite sure whether she is particularly pleased with it now she has got there.

I am going up to Birkenhead to stay with the old man over Easter & hope to see Avie & her family at the same time.

I imagine you have now started your trek. I have seen one article in the Times so far, but that just dealt with the administrative arrangements & the composition of the party.

A Trafford cousin has suddenly turned up. He is normally a cantonment magistrate in India & home on leave. He is an odd piece of work & seems to have a passion for getting to know relations. We had him to supper one night & he took us to Diplomacy last Saturday. The revival of Diplomacy is excellent. I never thought anything of Gladys Cooper as an actress, but I must say she seems to have improved tremendously lately.

The children are bursting with life & I think very happy.

Good luck to you
Your affectionate brother
Trafford

Letter from Ruth Turner to George Mallory written from Ireland

Describes her morning watching her father fish. Tells him how happy she is to hear from him and what she has been doing with her family; Mildred has been painting and she has been rowing. Expresses her wish to have a photograph of him and asks for Avie’s address. Discusses her thoughts on Scrambles Amongst the Alps. Notes the change in weather, how she is missing him and how Uncle Hawes is enjoying fishing. Tells him how perfect life is going to be with him.

Discusses studying a map to follow the progress of the war. Expresses her hopes for peace soon. Describes her morning activities. Reflects on a conversation with Avie about his mother and tells him about John's character. Expresses her wish for them all to live together at the Holt. Asks him where he might be sent next. Expresses her opinions about a speech given by President Wilson. Reflects on how the war has affected individual people's thinking about justice.

Updates him on Clare's activities. Describes her feelings towards Harry and his relationship with Avie, and compares the household with St John's Vicarage. Informs him that she is going to Birkenhead. Discusses her thoughts on raising children.

Reflects on when he might get leave. Describes a visit to the William's house. Expresses her wish for Clare to start talking. Describes a funny moment between Clare and Violet. Discusses her opinions on The Times article about the Education Bill. Describes her plans for the Baby Welfare group, focusing on pre-natal care. Expresses her thoughts on military service. Sends him her love.

Sunday 9 July - Informs him that the Clutton-Brocks are expected to tea. Tells him about the gardener leaving after sixteen years of service. Describes the man applying for the gardener position as a retired soldier with ‘shell shock’. Describes her morning activities; gardening, looking after Clare and painting china. Intends to send him pictures of Clare. Expresses her feelings about the progress of the war.

Monday 10 July – She has received his letter and reassures him they are all happy with the progress of the war. Expresses her sadness to hear that Uncle Arthur’s youngest son has been killed and her sadness at all the death.

7 July - She intends to write to Avie and Doris Turner. Tells him Doris had only achieved a fourth at Oxford. She has received his letter and is sorry he is having a bad time. Discusses the progress of the war and wishes for peace. Tells him how Clare has caught a cold from Mary Anne. Describes her visit to the Brocks. Discusses Mr Brock’s review of his book. Tells him she has had visits from Aunt Beatrice, Uncle Bertie, Aunt Agnes and Uncle Peter.

8 July – Tells him about her morning; Marjorie let the ferrets out resulting in an accident involving Clare falling out the pram. Discusses the progress of the war and reflects on helping at the hospitals. Informs him she will send him a cake.

Updates him on her condition with influenza and tells him Clare might have the beginnings of it too. Relays news about Robert and Nancy Graves. Expresses her opinions about War and Peace and on the character of the German people. Asks him if he has received Mr Clutton-Brock's book. Discusses the progress of the peace talks. Describes the plans she has for the garden at the Holt. Discusses what items from his mess to use at home after the war.

Saturday 6 Jan. evening - Expresses her concern for his well-being. Tells him about a letter from Avie. Describes in detail the visit to Mrs Irvine's house and the nursery to see her baby. Updates him on Clare's sleeping. Tells him about the trouble she has had sending his letters.

Sunday 7 Jan. morning - Asks him about his new job and about Mr Earl. Expresses her relief that he will be in less danger.

Tells him how she misses him and how she is coping while he is away. Expresses her desire to have more children. Tells him of an upcoming trip to London. Asks him how he is feeling and wishes she was with him. Informs him of a letter received from Avie. Tells him she got home alright after not having her train ticket.

Reflects on the war and her place in history. Expresses her thoughts on her doubts about the war ending that year, Germany's position in the war, and her opinions about the food ration. Updates him on her father's health. Describes in detail the conversations she had with the Irvine's at tea. Tells him that good service is hard to find and she hopes Violet doesn't leave and that she has heard from Avie. Reflects on the good times they have had.

Acknowledges his letters telling her he is now in Paris. Expresses her wish to be there with him. Updates him on news of Avie and Doris' new babies and the sad news of Mrs Bridge's baby being premature and expected not to live. Discusses his plan to write when he gets home. Describes the tasks she needs to do before moving back to the Holt.

Describes her conversations with Avie about his mother coming to visit her. Discusses the progress of the war and the moves made for peace. Describes Avie's children and hopes they can all holiday together after the war. Sends him his parents' and Avie's love.

Expresses her opinions about her stay with his parents and on his mother's personality. Acknowledges his letter. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him that his father has returned home and about visiting a Russian family in need. Describes her morning activities. Apologises for a letter full of trifles.

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.

Acknowledges his letter telling her he made it safely to Calais. Discusses what photographs she liked best and how many to order. Tells him she is going to visit Avie. Updates him on news from home. Describes the errands she has been running for his mother and a conversation with the printer about the Boy Scouts. Discusses her opinions about religion and relays conversations she has had with his mother on the matter. Expresses her wish for the war to be over.

Describes her eventful train journey to Mobberly. Asks him how his work is going. Updates him on Clare. Tells him about her stay with Avie and describes the garden.

Describes in detail shopping with his mother and buying herself a new coat. Discusses when she should leave for home and whether she should visit Avie first. Describes in detail the Mothers Meeting his mother had set up. Tells him about reading Natural Law in the Religious World and expresses her opinions about it.

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.

Updates him about her father's health. Describes in detail a letter from Avie. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him about how she is feeling lazy and unorganised. Informs him that Ursula is coming to stay.

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.

Updates him on news from his mother's letter about the health of Avie and Doris. Tells him she had a nice weekend with Olive. Discusses in detail her opinions of the book Natural Law in the Spiritual World. Expresses her concern for her religious life and discusses the ways she can improve it. Updates him on Clare and Berry's progress. Discusses Clare's character and her relationship with Berry. Discusses the progress of the war.

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.

Discusses Christmas arrangements. Tells him David Pye has been asking after him. Discusses the arrangements for the nursery at the Holt. Asks him to see a doctor about his headaches and is glad to hear his ankle is fully healed. Expresses her opinions about Stephen Tallent's book.

Tells him she is back home and updates him on her fathers health. Acknowledges his last letter and asks about the parcels she has sent. Discusses the progress of the war. Describes a letter from his mother requesting she stay at Buxton with her. Hopes she will get another letter from him soon.

Informs him that she is not pregnant. Expresses her wish to have more children. States that she cannot help at the hospital for fear of passing infections to the baby. She intends to stay with Avie in the week. Relays Mr Reade's compliments on his pamphlet. Expresses her concerns about the war and his safety. Tells him she has sent him his protractor.

Describes her journey to Birkenhead. Tells him she is glad he is safe. Informs him that his mother and Avie are well. She intends to take a trip to Mabberly. She hopes he is receiving her letters.

Tells him she is feeling better. Discusses the other men in his Battery. Expresses her wish for him to be happy. Discusses how to achieve peace. Tells him about an invite to see Mrs Reade. Relays some information about Will Kennedy receiving a Military Cross. Asks him to send her Avie’s letter. Expresses her love for him. Describes a conversation with Violet about spoiling Clare. Informs him that Bice is coming to stay.

Asks what happened to him when separated from the others. Hopes her letters are getting through. Describes her morning activities - making butter and china painting. Wonders what he is doing and hopes the war will be over soon. discusses her opinions on a business government. Describes her shopping trip to Hazelmere. Asks him if he has seen any of the action from the front. She intends to write to Avie and send her some of his letters.