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Letter from George to Ruth Mallory from France

It was only 10 days until term started and he still hadn’t got his release. When was she moving into the Holt? Was sure he would come in for the move. No move would be complete without him.

She mentioned Mr Brooke several times. Thought he had met him at Brooke Hall and expected him to be quite interesting. Did she see the Head Master’s speech at the Head Master’s conference in which he said they should aim for voluntary Chapel which seemed a very long step for him. Wonders if he had read Clutton-Brock’s book and if so what he thought of it. Thought he would offer to preach in Chapel as it was important to have religious teaching other than official Church teaching.

Thanks her for the parcel of chocolates which were very good. Was sorry about the bad news of Violet’s father’s leg. Was afraid this would not increase the chances of Violet staying with them.

Had prepared his lecture for that afternoon which was on the growth of freedom in England.

Was sorry Clare had been unwell and she was to give her his love and tell her Daddy said she must be gay and happy and not cross.

Hopes he had a nice Christmas and tells him what she received from Marjorie, Mildred, Bob [Major Robert Morgan, husband of Ruth sister Mildred], and her father. She has not gone to church due to feeling unwell. Discusses her book The Meaning of Good. Explains that the house is busy so she will seek quiet in the nursery with the baby. Asks for the Pen y Pass address.

Is happy to have received his letters. Expresses her views on the meaning of love. Hopes that they will have more children and tells him of Clare’s progress.

Describes her morning with Aunt Maude, Aunt Constance and Mildred. Thanks him for the present. Hopes he will have a good time climbing. Tells him of her struggles concentrating on her book. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Informs him that she will be staying at the Holt with Alison and Marjorie Waterhouse [old school friend, they attended Prior's Field School]. Tells him of her intention to offer help to Aunt Patty.

Is glad he received her letter. Describes her morning with Clare. Is glad he is coming home and asks what train he is to arrive on. Informs him that Bob [Major Robert Morgan, husband of Ruth sister Mildred] is due to arrive in London. Expresses her wish to live closer to Weymouth while he is there.

Sunday - Is glad to hear about his journey and warns him not to tell her too much information. Updates him on Clare's progress. Informs him that his pamphlets have been sent to Mr Rendall, Mr Benson, Mr Fletcher and Mr Allen.

Monday - Describes the weather and her plans for the day. Tells him she misses him and updates him on her train journey home after they said goodbye. She hopes that she might be pregnant. Expresses her wish to help the war effort. Informs him she is is going to Hazelmere.

Is writing to him from the train to London. Tells him Marjorie took Clare to the hospital to show her off. Discusses the book she is reading on psychology. Asks him to date his letters. Wonders if he has received her letters yet through the Poste Restante Honfleur. Hopes that he will get the guns he likes. Informs him that Ursula Nettleship is expected to visit. Tells him how Mildred was robbed in London. Describes fabric she intends to use to make two dresses. Informs him she intends to stay at Birkenhead for a fortnight. Tells him of the china and earthenware she bought from Wedgewood wholesale. Hopes he is getting on well and that she has sent his pillowcases.

Asks if she can have a batch of envelopes censor stamped to speed up the postal service. Describes her morning walks with Clare and Violet. Expresses her concern for the war. Tells him Ursula has visited and Mary Anne has got some new work. Describes her morning activities. Asks his opinion on her working at a hospital store to help the war effort. Is amused at his story of giving away her ticket to French children as a souvenir. Expresses her wish to go on climbing holidays with him after the war.

Is happy that he was not sent to a trench mortar and discusses her opinions on warfare. Asks him to date his letters. Asks to know more about his position in the 40th Siege Battery. Tells him she will send him cakes and anything he asks for. Describes her visits to different friends. Tells him of Mr Kendall and Mr Fletcher’s difficulties on allowing Mr Kendall to leave for the war. Updates him on Clare’s progress and describes her recent play date visits. She has updated his parents on his welfare.

She has received photographs and will send six of them to his friends. Describes her activities at Birkenhead with his mother. Discusses her opinions on public and private debt. Intends to visit Nancy Warr. Hopes that he does not feel frightened. Updates him on Clare's progress. Expresses how much she misses him and what she is doing to fill her time.

She is having a nice time with his parents. Tells him that she is teaching a Sunday school class. Describes a walk to Bidstone Hill with Clare and Violet. Hops that he will receive her letters soon. Tells him of his father being called away to a dying man. Informs him that her Sunday school lesson went well. Expresses her feelings over her recent depression. Discusses her opinions on the life of a clergyman.

Recounts to him his father’s story of how he cured his warts with a charm. Discusses her opinions on the search for truth. Intends to take a drive with his mother and her friends. She updates him on Clare’s progress. Asks him if he has horses with him and asks for more information so she can find the location on Ralph’s map. Speculates on his location. Describes how she has sent him letters to different locations. She hopes that he will stay in his current location. She intends to go back to Westbrook on 1 June.

Describes her visit to Nancy Warr with Clare and how she got on the wrong boat on the way back to the vicarage. Expresses her feelings about Clare and how much she misses him. Tells him of her activities with his father. Informs him that she is due to see submarine work at the cinema and describes life at the vicarage. Asks him questions about his location and what his tasks are in the war.

Hopes that his new work is going well and that he is feeling better. She has been reading a book of poems by Robert Graves and discusses her opinions about nerve strain. Updates him on Clare. Describes her afternoon at the cinema viewing photographs taken from a submarine and discusses her opinions about the sea. Tells him of her morning shopping. He has had a tax form in the post.

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.

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.

Discusses the idea of investing money at compound interest for Clare's future.

Tells him she is back at Birkenhead and waiting for her box to arrive. Describes how Clare is starting to play with other children. Tells him about her conversations with Harry. Hopes he is well and happy.

Tells him her box has still not arrived and how she is managing without it. Is disappointed she won’t know the time of his arrival at Southampton. Expresses her thoughts and feelings about a conversation she had with Mr Brook Gwinn over dinner regarding the safety of coding letters to let people know your location from the front. Reiterates her feelings for him and hopes for his safety. Describes an accident she had with Clare’s bottle. Sends him his mother’s love.

Informs him her box is still missing and Violet has arrived back from her trip. Tells him of the cakes she has made for his mother’s bazaar stall. Describes her activities with Clare in Birkenhead. Discusses her opinions on the sermon his father gave in Church and the National Mission of Repentance and Hope. Wonders how his boots are holding up with all the walking. Asks him what Captain Matheson is like and how his work is going. Tells him she misses him and informs him she intends to see Marjorie that day.

Morning - Describes her visit to Prior's Field with Clare. Informs him that Bridget is visiting and intends to stay with her soon.
Afternoon - Describes her lunch with Marjorie Huxley and Joyce Fletcher. Intends to visit Mary Anne and the Reades. Expresses her fears for his safety and talks about life after the war. Tells him about the prayers at Church for those at sea. She intends to keep herself busy over the summer.

Is glad she has heard from him. Describes the Clutton-Brocks garden. Discusses the possible repercussions of Lord Kitchener's death. Tells him Mr Brock intends to send him his book. Updates him on Clare's progress. She has heard about Mr Kendal from Mr Brocks regarding the headmastership. Intends to take a trip to London.

Discusses his previous letters to her and her thoughts on his location and duties. Asks him about the guns he is working with and if he will be moving locations soon. Describes a visit to the Brocks' and updates him on Clare's progress. Tells him she has spoken to a chemist about the Liverpool rat virus which will be sent on to him. Informs him of a letter from Mrs Saunders concerning the death of Mrs Pennyfather.

Expresses her frustration at the slow speed of the post and his constant moving location. Describes the Huxley's home after her visit. Updates him on Clare's progress. Apologises for the short letter.

Morning - Informs him she is about to leave for London. Hopes that his letters have not been stopped by the censor.

Afternoon - Informs him she has arrived at Bridget's house in London. Describes her journey there. Discusses whether he has received confirmation of a £250 legacy from his Aunt. Asks him which photographs he wants to keep. Discusses the progress of the war and his position within it. Intends to make a visit to Ursula and Mary Anne. Updates him on Clare.

Morning - Intends to visit Alison and Mrs Steel. Describes the weather and its affects on her father's hay he is selling at auction.

Afternoon - Describes her activities with Bridget, Alison, Olive Smedley and Ursula. Discusses Mary Anne's intentions to holiday by the sea and suggests using the Holt as a nursery for the children; if the Greens agree. Tells him she misses him and intends to send him socks for his birthday. Wishes him happy birthday. Describes a picture of Will Arnold-Forster in Monte Fiano. Discusses her housekeeping skills and relationships with servants.

Discusses the progress of the war at Verdun. Describes her evenings with Ursula. Expresses her opinions on Bridget and Stephen's marriage and living arrangements. Asks his opinion on whether she should do more to help the war effort. Asks him to number his letters so she can keep track. Intends to take Clare on the bus to Aunt Patty's for tea. Tells him she misses him and is proud of him.

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.

Describes her morning activities; cleaning windows, going for walks with Clare and Violet, meeting Joyce Fletcher and Alison. Tells him Owen O'Malley thinks she is uneducated. She is having a nice time with Bridget in London showing off Clare.

Is tired of London and wishes to go home. Debates whether she should work at Hilders hospital if Mildred leaves to work on a farm for the war effort. Discusses the need for nurses due to women leaving to go abroad or join munitions factories. Expresses her feeling on communication in marriage. Updates him on Clare's progress and wishes he could know her better. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him she enjoys reading Vanity Fair.