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.
Morning - Discusses his present location and problems with poisoned water supplies. Surmises that he is north of Ypres. Expresses her opinions on her friendship group and their different relationships with each other. Thinks Mary Anne is looking well.
Afternoon - Describes her lunch and the journey home. Intends to buy Shakespeare's Sonnets as he suggested. Intends to contact the Reades. She has sent him ham and cake from Buzzards. Tells him she loves him.
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.
She has settled in with Mary and Ralph. Compares their baby, Barbara, with Clare. Describes Mary and Ralph's garden. Informs him she has purchased Shakespeare's Sonnets in the Temple edition. Intends to cut her trip short and head back to Westbrook. Expresses her admiration for Bridget. Discusses the meanings of Shakespeare's sonnets. Is looking forward to him coming home on leave.
Discusses sending him cake, tea, and dried fruits. Updates him on Clare's progress. She has enjoyed her time with Mary and explains the friendship dynamics between Bridget, Ralph and Stephen. Discusses the progress of the war and the dangers of speculating on locations of loved ones. Expresses her wish to have a baby boy next time and tells him about Clare's character. Discusses her thoughts on life and death.
She has read his letter to Ralph and Mary. Discusses his duties and living conditions as described in his last letter. Expresses her opinions about the progress of the war. Describes her walk with Clare and Mary. Discusses her thoughts on the fear of Hell and the merits of good behaviour. Intends to stay to see Henrietta Livingstone. Informs him his pamphlet has been read by Mr Clutton-Brock, Mr Arthur Benson, and Mr Fletcher and gives their opinions of it. Tells him she is proud of him. Describes the maps of Armentières and the trenches she was shown by Ralph. She hopes he does not have to see dead bodies.
Asks him what he thought of the trenches. Describes how she plays with Clare. Tells him she has sent his food items and asks him to let her know when he receives her parcels. Informs him that Clare had been sick due to eating grass. Updates him on Clare's progress. Expresses her wish for him to write her poetry. Asks to know more about Glen and Savage. Asks how many back copies of The Times he would like.
She is home at Westbrook with Diana and Olive Kennedy. Informs him that Bob is to be made a temporary Lieutenant Colonel. Describes how the children play together. Expresses her wish to see him and hopes his conditions are not too bad. Asks for his opinions on war and discusses her thoughts on when the right time to attack would be. Asks if he would like a Christmas pudding sent to him. Requests that he tell her the name of his new Major. Marjorie and Mary Anne are coming to stay and brining their own sugar. Informs him they have made £50 from the sale of 80 trees sold by her father. Her father intends to clear the common of trees.
Expresses her concern that letters from France may be stopped; requests that he keep a diary if so. She has sent him May and June issues of The Times and asks if he would like the New Statesman. Discusses the location of the Germans to Verdun. Wonders when he will be granted leave and shares her thoughts of women in war. Expresses her wish to have another baby and have Clare to herself without Violet; wonders if she would find it too taxing full time. Describes what life will be like for them after the war.
Describes her environment while sitting for breakfast. Mary Anne is expected to visit with Jane and stay in the attic rooms. Describes the bed Aunt Polly has lent them. Discusses Clare’s progress compared with Jean Kennedy. Voices her concerns for Owen and Mary Anne due to Owen suffering with his nerves at work. She hopes he is keeping well and compares his surroundings with Owen. Expresses her depression over the war. Discusses her feelings towards him and compares the security he gives her to her mother. Expresses her thoughts on moral issues. Asks him if he has done much shooting. Reassures him she is trying to stay sociable. Discusses their opinions on the characters of Stephen and Bridget. Confirms her opinion that women who have children are working too.
Tells him she plans to make butter while Mildred goes fishing with father. Describes Mary Anne spending time with her father. Discusses in depth her thoughts and beliefs on religion. Expresses her wish to develop her own faith either separately or together with him. Sends her first letter back to him.
Intends to visit the hospital depot. Describes Clare's character and expresses how much the servants adore her. Compares Clare to Jean and Diana. She has not had a letter from him. Informs him that she intends to go to London with Marjorie to talk about helping on a farm. Tells him that Bob has secured a new job, possibly in Rouen that will make him a temporary Lieutenant Colonel. She has made him anti vermin pants. Describes her father's relationship with Diana. Is glad the Italians are doing well in the war.
Tells him about her dream. Asks him about the frequency of firing. Is glad to receive his letters and is happy he has a new cook. Asks him if he likes his new Major and how he is getting on with his tent. Hopes that her previous letter about religion didn’t bother him. Discusses the progress of the war. Describes her visit to the national mission meeting with her father. Discusses Mr Pilcher's speech about religion. Describes her father and Mr Kendall’s speeches. Tells him how she gave a talk about Sunday school and expresses her nervousness. Informs him Violet intends to go on holiday. Talks about dealing with shy children.
Informs him that she intends to leave for London and Violet is giving her a lesson in washing in preparation for her absence. Violet intends to stay with them and not join the war effort. She has suggested Violet visit her mother twice a month. Discusses her thoughts on being clever and what makes people clever. Expresses her wish for future sons not to be classically educated. Hopes he will get news of leave soon. Intends having tea with Mrs Reade. Hopes he has had her parcels and will send him another cake. Tells him he has had a letter from Geoffrey Keynes.
Morning - Describes her journey to London and tells a story about a Canadian leaving his rifle behind. Describes the women at the Women’s Land offices where Marjorie applied for farm work. Informs him Marjorie has been assigned to a farm owned by Olive’s brother and will stay for 4-6 weeks.
Afternoon – Describes her conversation with Uncle Hawes and Aunt Jessie about their visit to Ogwen Lake. Describes her activities in London; shopping at Wedgwood and Oxford Circus for clothes, tea with Mrs Reade. Describes the relationship between Mr Reade and Owen and expresses her own opinions on the matter. Intends to send Mrs Reade his letters to read. She will thank Mr Clutton-Brock for the book he sent.
Letter marked 'Secret' in red addressed to 'F.O.O. M.V' from M. A. B. Glen giving details of the planned attack by two Divisions of Infantry at La Maisonette, what they needed to do to support the attack, and what signals would be used by the Infantry back to them
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.
Discusses the progress of the German trenches. Describes her father's relationship with Owen and Mary Anne. Describes the servants annoyance at having to move guests about the house. Talks about her domestic duties. Hopes that her letters will still get through to him. Discusses her feelings about soldiers being wounded and sent home. Is enjoying having Clare to herself. Wonders how domestic duties will be allocated when Marjorie leaves. Tells him she misses him.
Expresses her anxiety over the war and hopes he is safe. Informs him that Olive's husband is being sent back to the trenches. Describes her activities that week; visit from Owen, Playing with the children in the garden, picking strawberries with Mary Anne and Marjorie and going for walks. Describes the weather and asks him about the weather in France. Tells him she misses his company. She is planning a skiing holiday with Owen and Mary Anne. Informs him they have made £50 from the sale of her father's fir trees from the common. Informs him she has received his letter.
Thanks him for his letter and expresses her happiness to hear his thoughts on Clare’s religious education. Discusses her thoughts on religion in relation to the war and how to raise Clare. Expresses her thoughts on life after death and hopes they can discuss these matters together. Discusses the progress of the war. Describes her conversation with Aunt Agnes and Uncle Peter at Roke and discusses their relationship. Hopes that they can make their life perfect. Intends to take tea with Marjorie and Clare at Mrs Brock’s house.
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.
Describes the garden and compares her surroundings to his in France. Tells him she misses him. Expresses her worry about what life might be like after the war and talks of how things should change for the better. Tells him how Violet is ashamed of her tanned skin on return from her holiday. Describes her intended activities; painting china, going to golf with her father. Describes to him Bob’s ill feelings towards his requests for parcels and his opinion of his regiment as a tiresome and difficult one.
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.
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.
Updates him on Clare's progress. Discusses Russian prisoners in the course of the war. Describes a visit to Millmead cottage in Guildford where Bob and Mildred may live. Tells him about not wanting to wake Clare up. Hopes that he will not be changed by the war and hopes he is happy in France. Intends to send him a cake.
Thanks him for his letters and for answering her questions. Is happy that he is planning a plot for a book. Discusses the recent action in the war. Tells him about the meeting of the National Mission and expresses her opinion about appropriate dress in Church. Discusses his opinions on Christianity. Describes her disagreements with Violet over the best way to feed Clare and tells him how Clare wakes up in the mornings. Describes tea with her father and Mrs Green. Revises her opinion of Mrs Green. Informs him she wishes to buy them a piano with the £50 from the sale of the trees from the common. Discusses the trenches in Germany.
Thursday 13 July - Intends to send his letters to David [Pye]. Is happy to hear a description of his dugout. Describes her morning routine. Wonders what life will be like after the war at the Holt. Describes Clare’s progress and compares her to Jean. Discusses sending him potatoes and butter by train. Discusses his finances. Reminisces about their early days together.
Friday 14 July – Informs him she has sent the butter and potatoes, also gives him carrots to share with the officers. Intends to buy pencils and Indian rubber to send to him. Updates him on Clare’s health and new feeding routine. Discusses her thoughts on parliamentary matters.
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.