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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

Informs him she is going to London with Bice and Mildred. Updates him on Clare's progress and the meeting with the doctor. Tells him about a letter she received from his mother and discusses him arriving on leave at Birkenhead. Describes a design she helped her father with. Tells him she will search at the Holt for Roderick Hudson by Henry James. Informs him that Trafford has been home on leave.

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

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.

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.

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.

Discusses when he might come home on leave. Tells him Trafford has been made a Captain and Robert Graves’ apparent dislike of Trafford. Describes the educated women’s meeting and updates him on the health and business of everyone there. Tells him she will send him some song books and looks forward to his next letter. Informs him she is going to tea with Aunt Theodora.

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.

Discusses his last letter about his book. Describes the weather and the walks around Aldeburgh. Discusses the book she is reading Boswell's Life of Johnson. Asks if he has heard anything from Trafford. Describes their activities. Asks him if he wants more children. Updates him on Clare's progress. Discusses her opinions on raising 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

Describes her tea with Mr and Mrs Irvine and her visit to Prior Field. Describes the two plays they watched. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Discusses his previous letter and asks him questions about his trip to Amiens. Discusses the progress of the war. Asks him about the poem he was writing.

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 and the garden. Tells him they have received £86 from the sale of fir trees and how Trafford is coming home on leave. Discusses his possible itinerary for his leave. Describes how Will Kennedy received his Military Cross and how the Piccards Rough Hospital is doing well. Expresses her thought about pessimistic people. Discusses the speed of the post. Describes her morning activities. Is glad he has received his parcels from her. Discusses Bob and Mildred living in Eashing and the advantages of an observation post. Informs him she intends to stay at Mrs Reade’s the following week.

Morning - Describes her previous day’s activities. Discusses Boswell’s book, particularly his thoughts on adultery. Describes her trip into London by electric train and talking to Doris about her expected baby. Describes her journey home on the bus.

Evening – Expresses her love for him and her wish to have another baby. Tell him that Doris believes Trafford to be on the Somme.

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.

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.

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.

Morning - Describes her morning activities; feeding Clare, breakfast, helping Marjorie with the Church flowers. Describes dress shopping with Marjorie.

Afternoon – Informs him that Bob has been made temporary Lieutenant Colonel, earning extra money. Describes Clare playing. Describes Constance Mussen’s visit and compares her baby to Clare. Tells him she thinks Clare will make a good climber. Discusses going on a climbing holiday to Wales with Ursula and Mary Anne. Apologises for sending the potatoes before she received his letter saying don’t send them. Describes Harry’s experience of the war. Discusses the progress of the war and the opinion of Mr Powell regarding open warfare. Discusses the use of gas and a rumour of a reviving substance. Informs him Trafford has been sent to France. Expresses her wish to have a son. Asks him about his location. Tells him she loves and misses him.

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.

Informs him Clare is ill and describes her symptoms. Describes the conversations she had with the Heanni’s at tea about Mr Allen. Expresses her worry over not hearing from him for a few days. She has heard from Doris Mallory about Trafford and expresses her opinion on the Green's expenses. She intends to attend the Arts and Crafts exhibition in London. Discusses the letter she has just received from him. Asks him questions about his surroundings. Expresses her longing to see him again.

Asks him about his ankle and what a tapping station is. Discusses the irregularity of the post and tells him about the book she is reading entitled Anne Veronica by H. G. Wells. Acknowledges his suggestion she read Renan’s Life of Jesus. Expresses her opinions on the life of Christ and discusses their opposing viewpoints. Informs him she intends to read Felix Holt and George Eliot. Is glad he has been to Amiens and may get to see Trafford.

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.