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Asks him how his bank holiday faired. She had finished making a dress. She can't pay the butcher's bill because they have mislaid their accounts. Is expecting Mrs Brock [wife of Arthur Clutton-Brock] to bring Alan and John to tea. Discusses her book of old wives tales and asks him if he has read Wives and Daughters. She is expecting Alison the next Monday and has not heard from Trafford or Doris.

She hopes he has had a good time in Wales. Is sorry to hear of Mr Pye's recent appendix operation. Tells him of the work she has been doing making up patterns. Major Morgan is expected and is being met by Marjorie and Mildred at the station. Asks him if they could ask David Pye to visit. Hopes that he will have a good time in Yorkshire with his father and Trafford and tells him not to feel blue when at Birkenhead.

Praises the quick postal service and hopes he is having a nice time with his father, despite the bad weather. Expresses her wish to be there. Encourages him to stay longer and look for a present for Marjorie’s birthday. Tells him of her morning activities; having her hair washed and china painting. Asks about the date for Trafford’s wedding. Discusses how they intend to educate their children. Tells him her father, Mildred and Major Morgan have gone fishing at Eut

Apologises for her tone in the last letter. Expresses her wish for Marjorie Waterhouse [old school friend, they attended Prior's Field School] to stay again. Describes the weather. Asks if she could accompany him to Yorkshire in the future. Discusses a suitable wedding present for Trafford and Doris. Intends to start reading the Dawn of Russia.

Tuesday 9 Jan. evening - Describes in detail the trouble she had at the station with the signal man. Informs him that she will visit Aunt Rosamond. Updates him on her symptoms. Discusses the weather and the progress of the war.

Wednesday 10 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letters and discusses whether she might be pregnant. Asks him if he will ride with the colonel. Expresses her wish for their children to learn to ride. Hopes that he will see Trafford. Asks him about Mr Bell and Mr Lithgow. Discusses the progress of the war.

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.

Reminisces about their time in Italy and about how she is looking forward to Spring. Tells him that David has sent him a letter and discusses going up in an aeroplane. Describes the garden and ordering seeds. Tells him that she has the book on Fountains Abbey and about Mr Britlins's book called The War and After. Tells him about a small fire that started in the nursery. Discusses the progress of the war. Updates him on her father's health.

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.

Describes in detail a surprise visit from Trafford and Doris. Tells him about his father coming to visit and about Trafford's disappointment at not getting a promotion. Acknowledges his letter talking about Polly's fathers' second marriage. Asks him if he is feeling depressed. Expresses her envy that Doris has Trafford back.

Acknowledges his letter and asks if he will get to see Trafford and Geoffrey Keynes. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him Clare has written him a letter. Informs him she has bought an account book and discusses financial matters. Tells him about news from Charterhouse. Describes tooth ache she has been suffering with.

Acknowledges his last letter about his position at Charterhouse. Discusses the progress of the war. Reflects on the nature of their relationship and what it will be like to live together again. Describes having tea with Mrs Irvine. Discusses Clare's progress with her button frame and tells him of her plans to start a Montessori class at the Holt. Tells him that Trafford is home on leave and she intends to post his curtain that day.

Describes the children playing together. Describes dinner with the O'Malley family and their plans to find a new house. Discusses the prospect of peace. Tells him she has heard from Trafford and updates him with news of Doris' health. Informs of her plans when visiting London. Updates him on her father's health.

Acknowledges his letter. Describes in detail her impression of the Montessori school classes she observed and her conversation with the secretary of the Montessori Society regarding starting classes a the Holt. Describes her lunch with Trafford and relays to him all of his news.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass [no date]

He hadn’t received a letter from her. They had an amusing adventure getting passed the soldiers who were guarding the pipes running from the lake to the power station and so on to LLiwedd. He had managed to get hold of the newspapers and he was beginning to back the Russians as the Germans were taking too long to get through. Hoped she was well and wasn't bored. Changes were a blessing at times which men want more than women. Did she have any news of Trafford.

Friday - they were going to make an early start, take things gently and he wouldn't attempt anything that was not within his powers.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass on Wednesday

He had been for a delicious bathe in the little lake. On the previous day Owen had cut his hand and couldn’t climb so he had conducted Ursula and Bertie Graham on an easy climb. They met Cottie and Owen at the top and he and Cottie climbed on Clogwyn y Ddysgl and then walked along the ridge towards Snowdon. Then down the zig zag path and along the Pip Track which didn’t get them back until past dinner time.

Was urging people to get ready and hoped to go to the Buttress of Lliwedd. They hadn’t got their pass yet but he thought they could avoid the sentries again. He was due to leave on Friday [6 August] and sleep the night at Birkenhead and he thought Trafford would have arrived before him [he was to collect his father and then spend a week travelling with him in Yorkshire]. Asks her to send her letters to Birkenhead as he didn’t know where they would be in Yorkshire.

Letter to Ruth Mallory, written from Pen y Pass on Friday

He was leaving Pen y Pass that day to travel to meet his father and Trafford, although he still hadn’t heard where they would be. He describes the previous days climbing which included walking over Mynedd Mawr which had a wonderful view of all the Snowdon group, stopping for a cup of tea in Snowdon village before walking over the flank of Snowdon and the top of Lliwedd getting back at 8.30pm. Ursula was a good walker and showed no signs of having been unduly exhausted. Was sorry Cottie had not been able to go with them. The group had a great deal of fun and good talk. Bertie Graham was a solid good natured Scot with a real sense of humour. He liked Owen but thought he was a professional pessimist and it was a pity he was so unfit. He hadn’t been reading the papers carefully but it was a comfort that the German losses must have been very big.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Ripon on Sunday

He was currently sitting at a large open sash window on the first floor of a Georgian house looking out over a square in Ripon which was pleasant and quiet. This was very different to the previous day as there were 40-50,000 troops stationed in the neighbourhood and the street seemed a scene of barbaric turmoil after the quiet of the mountains. It had rained so they had been unable to go to the surrounding countryside as planned. Trafford was supposed to have arrived with a sidecar and he [Mallory] brought a bike from Birkenhead. However, Trafford had not arrived in Ripon and the soldiers had taken all the bikes in the town so their mobility was limited. They had a huge pile of luggage but no power of mobility. He hoped they could find a place to stay in the country until Wednesday when his father had to leave him.

Trafford had obtained his father’s consent to his marriage and had gone to London to make arrangements, but they had received no wire from him. All the troops that had been in the cathedral had now left and were marching in columns in the square and he couldn’t work out how they didn’t run into each other. He had enjoyed his time in Wales and had left it with many regrets.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Castlestead, Pateley Bridge on Monday

They had left Ripon and were in Nidderdale staying in a railway carriage in the gardens of a country house which were used as an overflow for guests from the main house. He and his father had been cycling in the countryside around Ripon. His father often amused him and often shocked him by saying outrageous things but he never talked about family matters. He was a terrible snob.

He regrets not having seen Fountains Abbey again and but hoped to stay a couple of extra days after his father had left so that he could visit it along with Bolton Abbey and Skipton Castle. Trafford would probably get married on 19th and he would tell her the full story later. He was sitting near lots of wild raspberries which reminded him of Exmoor and says lots of little things remind him of Devonshire.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France on 'Jan 4 1916' [it was actually written in 1917]

Bell was on his way back to join his new battery and Captain Lithgow had been awarded a Military Cross and he was dining at the battery that evening to celebrate both events.

Had spent 2 gay evenings playing poker chiefly to amuse the Colonel. It was annoying that there wasn’t much for anyone there to do but supposed it would be different when big operations were going on.

He had read more of A Shepherd’s Life and asks if she had too.

Trafford had called to ask him to meet him at a Hotel in Amiens.

Supposes she would have Ursula with her and asks Ruth to tell her the carols had arrived two days ago along with Mother’s Xmas parcel. Avie’s was still to come.

Music was at a discount and he couldn’t practice the occharina there but they did have a good gramophone.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France on 'Jan 6 1916' [it was actually written in 1917]

He had been hoping and hoping for this news [that she was expecting their second child] and they wouldn’t worry whether it was a girl or boy.

He wasn’t sure how to describe his job. Robinson had spent the first two days telling him there wasn’t much for him to do. He felt Robinson was impressed with himself in the role of adjutant and was anxious to do everything himself. His role was to look after the Colonel which meant accompanying him on his rounds and being generally informed. He had taken the Colonel up to see where they observed from. They had also ridden out to see an alternative battery position. He had only ridden a horse once in the last 10 years but it was a tame business. Thought their children should learn to ride.

He would have to get to know the other batteries in the group which would be interesting. He was in charge of the living quarters and would probably have to run the mess although McLeod, the signalling officer, was doing that at present. It was a footling old woman’s job. He hoped he could make a better job for himself. He liked the men there especially the Colonel and McLeod.

Wondered if anything would come of the strained situation between Austria and Germany.

Had to write letters to mother, Avie, Trafford and Geoffrey Keynes.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France on 'May 4 1917'

Busy day at the observation post. Had tried to hit some distant Germans but missed and he was keenly disappointed. They had fired a lot in the last few days but were no further forward and there seemed little happing further north too.

It was lovely and warm and he was feeling quite sunburnt. There were larks singing and swallows who couldn’t find eaves on houses to nest in.

Was glad she had seen Trafford and Doris. He didn’t know Trafford was going home, thought he was to get a job in France. Trafford was a Major now but promotion in the Royal Flying Corps was rapid. Was glad he was safely back. Was surprised Mary was having another baby as her health was delicate.

He kept looking up at the German planes which they were shooting at as he had never seen one shot down.

Discusses the progress of the peace negotiations. Tells him about a meeting with Mrs Trew being cancelled. Describes Clare's progress with the Montessori apparatus. Updates him on the visitors they are expecting for the weekend. Reassures him she is recovered from influenza and that the children are free of it. Tells him she has not heard from Jelly who has been ill with influenza. Asks him if he intends to see Trafford straight after the war. Describes her father's feelings about her Montessori classes and discusses continuing them at the Holt.

Informs him she has had a second round of influenza and that she is still on bed rest. Expresses her hopes that he will be home soon. Acknowledges his last letters and expresses her happiness that he has seen Trafford and Geoffrey Keynes. Updates him on Berry's progress and her father's health. Expresses her love for him.

Acknowledges his last letter. Updates him on her health. Tells him she has heard from Jelly and updates him on her news. Describes reading about the fight against the submarine warfare of the Germans. Updates him on Berry's progress. Tells him about the seriousness of the flu in Guildford and the deaths they have had there. Discusses the mutiny of the German navy.

Acknowledges his last letter and discusses Trafford's character and how he might get on after the war. Apologises for him not receiving any parcels while she was ill with influenza and tells him the contents of his next parcel. Expresses her anxieties over starting the Montessori class and the slowness of the postal service. Discusses how to give the appropriate amount of time to the children and their plans for moving back to the Holt.

Describes the weather. Acknowledges his letter stating he was playing football with Trafford. Tells him about the cat getting stuck in the door. Expresses her worries over not being ready to teach the Montessori classes. Describes her conversations with Mary Anne when she came for tea. Informs him that David Pye is coming to visit. Discusses what servants they will need at the Holt. Expresses her opinions about Mary Anne's Young Wives Fellowship group. Expresses her opinions about how to introduce religion to children.

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.

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 to Ruth Mallory written from France

Was interested in her visit to the Montessori school and wanted to hear all the details. It was a splendid enterprise of hers. Was delighted to think of her getting in touch with the Montessori movement and working out practical ways for it to work in Godalming.

She must have been very busy on her visit to London. He was glad Trafford was so bright. Had no idea Doris had been dangerously ill. Hoped to hear more on her visit to Will and Ka. It was a pity she hadn’t managed to see Jelly.

He had been made quite anxious by all the talk of influenza [Spanish flu] and hoped she wouln’t get it. The number of deaths seemed most alarming. The wife of one of the men there had died of flu.

Had spent a very quiet day. The Major [Gwilym Lloyd George] and Wilson had gone to Calais on a pure joy ride. He had studied French in the morning and gone to a neighbouring wood in the afternoon to collect Autumn leaves and berries. He had received two parcels from her, one with ginger, macaroni and flour and the other with an excellent cake from J & M. Also had two Manchester Guardians by post which were particularly welcome as they couldn’t get yesterday’s paper.

The Major [Gwilym Lloyd George] had received orders to proceed to Versailles for several days. He was lucky and he wished his father was Prime Minister.

Was greatly amused by Aunt Eleanor’s envelopes. Asks Ruth to note the correct spelling of ‘probably’. Also the words ‘apparatus’ and ‘jealous’ [Ruth was dyslexic].

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Had hardly got back from Geoffrey’s C.C.S. when Trafford arrived and carried him off to stay with him at an aerodrome south of Cambrai. Was delighted to see Trafford who was in tremendous form - happy, gay and full of life. He gave the impression of success. He affected magnificence running about in a splendid Crossley car giving orders like Alexander the Great or Lord Northcliffe or Rockefeller. He enjoyed every detail of a successful action and had a wonderful forward looking conviction and was untroubled by doubts or reflective inconveniences. Didn’t have the air of one who had been through a time of anxiety or felt the burden of responsibility. His success was evident from the engagements and liaisons he had with the big wigs in the Flying Corps and Tank Corps and even the G.O.C. RAF himself.

He was to have stayed overnight but Trafford had been summoned to confer with a General at the Tank Corps.

Last night they celebrated peace in Cambrai at the Officers’ Club. It was a good evening, the kind one would expect from the public school type of British Officer - much hilarity and no drunkenness. The prevalent feeling was the elation that comes after a hard game or race of supreme importance won after a struggle in which everyone had expended himself to the last ounce. He was inundated by waves of untroubled joy which he hadn’t known since war began. He doubted if he had realised before what a load they were carrying about constantly.

Wondered if Fletcher had applied for his release and how soon he would see her again. They would have a wonderful life together and what a wonderful thing they must make of such a gift. He wanted to loose all harshness of jagged nerves and above all be gentle.