Tells him of the weather and her plans to start another china pattern. She has heard from Mildred about their trip. Tells him of her new routine of sleeping during the afternoon for the sake of the baby. Discusses her opinions about the diary of the Empress Dowager she has been reading. Hopes he will have a good time climbing with Ursula. Informs him that Mr Cauldicott has left for France. Discusses the potential affects Russia might have on the war. She hopes that he will be allowed to climb on Llewidd. Reminds him that she is leaving for Westbrook the next day. Encloses a letter for his mother.
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.
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.
4 July – She has received his letter requesting she write every other day instead of daily. Discusses the progress of the war. Is sorry to hear he has temporarily lost his hearing and asks him about ear protectors. Tells him about bathing in the river with Ursula. Discusses the content of her letters and expresses her wish to have more children. Tells him of a poem Mary Anne wrote about Owen entitled The Angry Man.
5 July – Discusses the progress of the war and what she has read in the paper about underground passages. Mr Raxworthy thinks the war will be over by the end of the year. Hopes that he will describe his officers to her in his next letter. Discusses his idea of shifts. Expresses her opinion of his friends.
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.
Updates him on Clare's progress. Tells him she has heard from Ursula. Describes a conversation with Constance Mussen. Discusses food rationing. Expresses her opinions of Boswell's writing.
Describes in detail the conversation at tea with Mr and Mrs Burton Brown. Updates him on Ursula's sisters' health. Describes the weather. Expresses her opinions about the extracts from his note book. Asks him to send her more extracts. Expresses her fear for the coming Spring offensive.
Letter to Ruth Mallory, written from Pen y Pass on Thursday
They planned to go to see the Cwellyn country and would get a car to take them the five miles down the hill so they would only have to walk once over Snowdon. The two men fell out yesterday about climbing so he took Cottie and Ursula up the slanting Buttress of Lliwell which had a beautiful view from the top. Cottie was unable to join the party that day which was positively sickening as she was longing to see it.
Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Oct 1 1916'
Acknowledges receipt of wooly waistcoat.
Had been busy all day firing at the Fleurs Line which the Infantry then took. They had advanced about 200 yards. They were setting a faster pace and thought enemy was a bit demoralised.Had fine waether and things were looking brighter. Also had good news from the East.
Had received a good letter from David who was climbing in the Lake District.
She had remarked that he never mentioned the other officers. He wasn’t with them often but would describe them in another letter. Sends his love to Ursula.
Describes the ground between High Wood and Martinpuich.
Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Oct 7 1916'
Comments on the contents of her letters in which she referenced his remarks on ordering the Shakespeare book and his views on heaven and hell. He had received letters from Ursula, Benson, and David. Had been into Corbie to buy flour for the men.
Describes packing for a trip to Wales. Tells him she has left his address for any forwarding letters. Describes her activities for the day, including an outing in the pony trap. She is looking forward to her trip with Ursula. Tells him she has asked the police to watch over the house while empty. Hopes he is having a nice trip.
Discusses the timing of the post. Tells him that her father and Mildred arrived late and explains why. Informs him that she is not attending church and will go for a walk in Eashing instead. Hopes that Ursula is getting on well with the climb. Mentions that photographs of her father's garden has appeared in Country Life. Asks for Mr Pye's address.
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.
Tells him that the man killed was not Harold Porter as she thought. Describes a dinner party she attended at Priors Field. Describes her morning activities. Expresses her wish for him to keep warm. Describes an intended concert by Ursula to raise money for the Red Cross. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Discusses the possibility of reading a book called Raymond by Oliver Lodge. Discusses the progress of the war and expresses her wish to have him home.
Describes the weather and expresses her concern that he might be feeling the cold. Hopes that his leave won’t come at Christmas. Tells him about her dream. Discusses Boswell’s Life of Johnson and her desire to be able to write poetry. Expresses her wish to have a son. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him about her day and her intention to write to his mother, Marjorie and Mary Anne.
Wednesday 3 Jan. evening - Tells him about making him a lining for his sleep sack. Discusses buying a higher fence for the garden at the Holt. Describes a visit to Mrs Irvine and discusses the troubles she has had with her nurse. Expresses her thoughts and worries about coping with a new baby. Hopes that the new baby will be a boy.
Thursday 4 Jan. morning - Acknowledges his letter and is glad he hadreceived his parcels.
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.
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.
Reassures him she is starting to feel better and not to worry about her. Tells him she is happy he was thanked by the General and the Colonel. Asks him about the job he is going to do. Thanks him for the photograph of where he is staying and tells him she likes his note book extracts. Tells him about Ursula's sister being ill and intended visits from Mrs Burton Brown and Bice. Updates him on her father's health.
Discusses arrangements for moving back to the Holt. Expresses her enjoyment in reading War and Peace. Informs him of the guests they have arriving. Describes a disagreement between Mrs Woolten, Violet, and Marjorie over cutting back on milk consumption. Reflects on her feeling about the end of the war and when the bells for peace will ring. Expresses her opinion about the German and Russian Revolutions. Tells him about Mary Anne and Owen's plans to move from the Holt.
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.
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.
She has been busy looking after Clare in Violet's absence. Mary Anne, Owen and Ursula are expected to stay. Tells him she retrieved The Dowager Empress of China book from the Holt and updates him on how the Green's are looking after their house and possessions. Discusses the garden at the Holt. She is pleased the house is being looked after. Is happy that the news about the war is good.
Describes her thoughts on remembering his face and character. Describes her morning activities. Reminisces about exploring Heddon's Mouth with him. Discusses the progress of the war. Describes meeting Dorothea Fox and her intention to visit Prior Fields. Tells him about a garden fete for the Red Cross Hospital. Expresses her wish to have visitors when she gets home. Tells him about Mrs Philip Fletcher's new baby.
Describes her bad dream. Describes in detail the Mission service she led and discusses her thoughts on the Parish Magazine. Asks his opinion on if she should be involved regularly. Describes the idea for a ‘Mother welcome’ group in the parish. Expresses her opinion about the involvement of the clergy in parish matters. Describes her conversation with Ursula about attending Church. Discusses the progress of the war. Is glad to hear he does not have lice. Describes her morning helping the families she met through the mission service.
Expresses her longing to have him home on leave. Discusses the morale of the Williams family and intends to visit them. Informs him that Violet’s mother is staying. Describes catching a goose for the Clutton-Brocks. Describes her gardening plans. Discusses the progress of the war and how and when it will end. Describes a disagreement with Violet.
Describes her dream. Discusses in detail her opinions on the influence grandparents have on children. Describes her intended morning activities. Informs him Ursula is not coming to stay at the weekend and that she will send him his books. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Expresses her wish to have him home on leave. Describes the weather.
Tuesday 12 Dec. evening - Discusses the progress of the war and expresses her wish to have a boy. Describes the weather and updates him on Clare's progress. Says goodnight and hopes to dream of him again.
Wednesday 13 Dec. morning - Expresses her happiness in hearing he may be home on leave before Christmas. Discusses their plans for his leave. Asks for his opinion on the Germany peace proposals.
Discusses the progress of the war and the imminent possibility of peace. Tells him about Ursula's concert at Woolwich. Describes a conversation with Violet about Clare. Discusses hiring Maggy back. Expresses her sorrow to hear he has been sick and warns him to cook his oysters in future. Expresses her wish to have him home and imagines what their days will look like.