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Acknowledges his letter telling her about his flight in an aeroplane. Tells him about a conversation with Mrs Irvine about the Ministry of Labour being slow bringing men back from France. Informs him that Marjorie Waterhouse is coming to stay. Updates him on the progress of hiring the cook. Discusses how to answer a letter from the Heanies. Is glad to hear that he was welcomed back by his battery. Updates him on news from Mr and Mrs Irvine concerning the process of applications between the War Office, the Labour Bureau and the Headmaster.

Gives him the news that he will be sent home through the normal demobilisation process rather than through the scheme to get schoolmasters back first. Expresses her heartache over this disappointment. Informs him she has engaged the new cook and discusses wages for the staff. Tells him her plans for visits in London. Describes a visit from Marjorie Waterhouse. Reflects on the fact the Fletcher's did not inform her of the demobilisation decision. Tells him about the parcel she has sent him for Christmas. Sends him her love.

Hopes that he will have a happy Christmas. Tells him about the daffodils she has bought him for Christmas. Expresses how much she loves and misses him.

Tells him about the uninspiring church service she attended. Expresses her views on religion and politics in detail. Describes the town during polling day. Acknowledges his letter telling her he has moved to Calais. Discusses the coal and wood situation at the Holt. Is sad to hear his headaches are back and asks him if he received his parcel of apples. Tells him about the books she is sending him. Describes a conversation with Owen O'Malley about his return and leaving the Holt. Informs him of Bob's new address in Dunkirk.

Describes her Christmas shopping trip and the presents she has bought everyone. Discusses the renovations at the Holt for when they move in. Tells him about the items in his next parcel. Describes a visit to see Nancy Graves and gives her opinion about their characters. Describes the weather and the living conditions at Westbrook. Tells him about a suggestion from Stephen that he rent a room in Calais to write in.

Describes a visit to a tea shop with Jelly. Expresses her impatience for him to be home and how thankful she is that he survived the war. Updates him on news of Doris. Describes her visits to Stephen and Bridget's house, and Joyce Fletchers'. Discusses the organisation of demobilisation.

19 December - Acknowledges his letter telling her he has applied for leave.

Describes her activities shopping, going to lunch, and visiting friends. Tells him about her conversation with Ka regarding speaking to a man at the Ministry of Labour to get him brought back to Charterhouse as a solider. Updates him on Ka and Will's news. Describes her journey home on a wine cart. Acknowledges his letter telling her not to use the spare room as a nursery. Asks him if he can order reading glasses.

Discusses Christmas arrangements. Tells him David Pye has been asking after him. Discusses the arrangements for the nursery at the Holt. Asks him to see a doctor about his headaches and is glad to hear his ankle is fully healed. Expresses her opinions about Stephen Tallent's book.

Tells him about Clare and Beridge attending a party at the Holt. Describes Violet's reaction to receiving her five pound bonus. Describes making a necklace for Marjorie. Asks him for reading suggestions and expresses what she would like to read. Tells him she would have liked to vote in his place. Asks him where in Calais is he located and expresses her fears of him being assigned another task that will keep him from coming home. Expresses her opinions about party politics. Discusses the nature of their friend's marriages and openness of their lives. Tells him she will always use the baby welfare group for doctor's advice because it is paid for by the rates. Sends him Christmas wishes.

Reflects on the last few months and expresses her sadness that he is not home for Christmas. Discusses the progress of demobilisation. Describes a conversation with Mary Anne and Violet about the Holt and the moving date. Expresses her concerns about Clare learning bad manners from the Fletcher boys. Tells him what presents she sent to his family and the preparations for Christmas. Reflects on all the things they can do together when he is home. Discusses the sugar ration.

Expresses her disappointment that he may not be home for another nine months. Recommends that he write to Mr Beveridge and Mr Fletcher about his leave. Discusses arrangements for the Holt in his continued absence. Asks him for his opinion about the Government's organisation of demobilisation. Expresses her gratitude for him surviving the war and her disappointment that it is taking so long for him to come home. Asks him what the French organisation for demobilisation is like. Discusses her opinions on Neitsche and Christianity and the merits of living alone.

Tells him about collecting holly and describes a trip to Highdon's Ball in the cart. Tells him about the trees she climbed in the woods and Clare's reaction to her climbing down. Expresses her love of the trees and wishes he was there. Describes the weather. Asks him if he wants his daffodils sent to him. Informs him she is attending a meeting of the Young Wives Fellowship. Discusses the conversation she had with Mr and Mrs Fletcher and tells him she sent a formal letter to Mr Fletcher about his release. Discusses furniture arrangements for the Holt. Reflects on their relationship and on her own character. Tells him she loves him.

Informs him that she has had a letter from the Headmaster saying that he may come back at once. Tells him she will wire the letter but he won't receive it before Christmas. Expresses her excitement for his return and tells him she has told Mary Anne. Thanks him for his Christmas letter.

Tells him she has not received any letters for the last three days and the children have colds. Informs him that she has sent him Mr Rendalls Christmas book of Winchester photographs. Describes the weather. Expresses her feeling that writing is difficult because she hopes he will come home instead. Updates him on news from David and Jelly. Expresses her opinion on finding passages from the Bible. Apologises for the uninteresting letters and puts it down to not reading. Tells him about singing around the piano with Aunt Polly.

Describes Christmas morning in bed with the children. Expresses her opinion about the sermon at Church. Tells him that Mrs Bond lost her son in the final few weeks of the war. Describes giving everyone their presents.

Describes a visit to the Williams' house. Describes the presents they all received. Expresses her impatience to have him home. Tells him she has written to Will and Ka inviting them to stay. Reflects on his time away at war. Expresses how putting the children to bed her makes her happy. Expresses her anxiety over waiting for his return. Asks him if he can bring currants and raisins back from France.

Acknowledges his letters and sympathises with him for having to live with drunken people. Asks if he has seen Bob and wonders if he can carry on his writing when back at Charterhouse. Expresses her opinions on an article she read in the New Europe about Christianity and politics. Discusses employing a gardener for the Holt. Informs him of the moving date and updates him on news from Mary Anne and Owen. Discusses where to hang the painting he bought. Hopes that he will be able to continue writing when home.

Expresses her anxiety over the delay in the post. Describes her father playing billiards. Update's him on Clare's character. Tells him about an article she would like to read in the New Europe about Germany. Describes the garden at the Holt and her plans for it. Reflects on the people they will have to visit and if he will have a form class again. Expresses her thoughts about not wanting to write anymore because she would rather tell him in person. Sends him her love.

Describes the German reaction to the armistice. Discusses how they will manage storing the O'Malley's boxes at the Holt. Expresses her hope that moving will go smoothly. Tells him that the calf has been born.

Describes the weather and a trip to see the new calf. Tells him about her morning tasks and activities. Tells him about the new maid delaying her start date and her plans to hire a temporary maid. Discusses where to keep their books at the Holt. Expresses her longing for him to be home. Hopes that Clare will become more settled at the Holt.

Updates him on Clare's health and news of Mary Anne and the moving date. Tells him that the temporary maid cannot come. Reflects on their previous letters to each other from the beginning of the war and on her abilities as a housewife. Tells him she plans to make a curtain for the nursery door. Acknowledges his letter and expresses her thoughts on living with challenging people. Expresses her impatience for his return. Informs him that she has enclosed a letter from Ka for him to read. Discusses moving back into the Holt. Expresses her reluctance to attend the study circle meeting without Mary Anne.

Discusses if he might be home in time for the new term. Expresses her opinions about the War Office's slow demobilisation process. Discusses in detail her thoughts about the meaning of humility. Describes her relationship with Aunt Maud. Tells him that Mr Raxworthy and Mary Mussen are visiting. Explains how Uncle Hawes intervened with Mr Fletcher for his release. Retells a story told to her by Mr Raxworthy about Mr Fletcher being rude to a General.

Asks to hear from him as it has been two days since she has. Informs him that Clare is feeling ill. Describes her search for a launderess. Tells him about attending the study circle and having tea with Constance Mussen. Describes the domestic troubles Mary Anne is facing. Expresses her wish for him to be there to help her.

Acknowledges his letter and asks him what his lecture was about. Expresses her hopefulness that he will soon be released. Updates him on Clare's health and Berry's progress. Discusses what to do with their letters to each other and suggests destroying hers but keeping his. Describes unpacking at the Holt. Expresses her longing for him to be there with her and her gratitude that he survived the war. Updates him on news from Robert Graves. Discusses the furniture arrangements and errands to do at the Holt. Tells him she intends to write to Robert and Mary Anne. Send him her love.

‘Herschel House, Cambridge’ [Letterhead]

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Tuesday the 3rd [March]

My dearest George,

I was very glad to find that The California did not sail after all till Saturday morning. I suppose it was because the weather was so stormy.

I am afraid I am going to do the one thing you told me not to and use a ton of coal straight away. We are under thick snow here. Some fell on Saturday night but on Sunday night there as a heavy fall and yesterday was a glorious sunny day. The children played at making snow men in the afternoon in the garden and had a lovely time. It was thawing most of the day and when I went to bed but it froze later in the night and was freezing hard this morning.

Blunt has again not come so I have rung up Mrs Salter and he is well so I have taken his address and written to him.

Nellie, the new cook is so far very satisfactory. She seems very nice and cooks well.

Frances Wills is coming here tomorrow for five days. I shall enjoy that. We are both going to dine with the Cranages on Thursday before the lecture. So far I seem nearly as full of engagements as I was before you left. People are being most awfully kind and nice. Really I think more friendly than they were at Godalming.

Mrs Cranage rang Vi up to find our when I was coming home that she might meet me with her car. Vi didn’t know, but it was most awfully kind of her.

At Bletchley I got into the same carriage as John Chaister [?]. He was coming to Cambridge to stay with David for the Greek play. So I saw him again in the evening.

I enjoyed seeing the Greek play quite a lot, the dresses were very good and the colour scheme pretty. As I did not understand it there did seem a lot of standing still and spouting at the audience. But I expect if I had understood it I should not have felt that so much.

I am so sorry you left your dressing gown behind. I am sending it to Bombay [Mumbai] and then addressed to Darjeeling in case it misses you.

Wednesday

I see that the California left Gibraltar on the 4th. So now you are in the Mediterranean. I hope it is warm and nice. I am getting rather worried about the garden. If the weather goes on being so cold I shall not possibly be able to get the necessary seed sowing done before I go away. If I can’t do it I think I shall come back for a few days of solid gardening in April.

I hoped to do a lot of greenhouse seed sowing today but I can’t get the seed boxes. The fishmonger promised them but he has not sent them.

I went to the Quay Village performance last night. It was quite good and very well arranged. There was no scenery so there were no long pauses as there so often are in amateur theatricals. I think the whale show was a great credit to Mrs Salter.

The young man we picked up at St. Neots came round yesterday just as we were starting nursery tea so I asked him up and he was quite pleasant and jolly and evidently enjoyed seeing the children. Clare was in an appallingly talkative mood all day yesterday. Nothing would stop her tongue and at tea time she had her fling. I found her this morning before breakfast engaged in writing out thirteen times table. She has determined to write out and learn all the difficult ones up to 19 times she days. Mrs Reade came to lunch yesterday. I took her after lunch to see the new Sidney Sussex chapel and we met Mani Forbes there and they had a long talk about the chapel etc which Mrs Reade evidently enjoyed very much.

I don’t think I was very good company. My period had just come and I wasn’t at all on the spot. I have just fallen down from ladder and all trying to get the climbing things into the loft. Luckily I did not hurt myself at all.

I have heard from Mr Raxworthy. My bank balance is overdrawn £823 and your £112 that is £935 in all. He suggests we sell of our £500 Vickers 4% which would bring in £400 and £400 National War Bond for £420. If we get £2500 for the Holt we need only sell the Vickers I think so I will tell him only to do that for the present.

Dearest one I do hope you are happy and having a good voyage. I am keeping quite cheerful and happy but I do miss you a lot. I think I want your companionship even more than I used to. I know I have rather often been cross and not nice and I am very sorry but the bottom reason has nearly always been because I was unhappy at getting so little of you. I know it is pretty stupid to spoil the times I do have you for those when I don’t.

Very very much love to you my dear one.

Your Loving,
Ruth

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.

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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 from Stella, believed to be Stella Cobden-Sanderson. Postmarked 2 April. Mallory used the envelope to note down the code numbers and pressures of five oxygen cylinders.
This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.

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Forum Club,
6, Grosvenor Place,
Hyde Park Corner,
S.W.I.
[Address has been crossed out and replaced with ’23 Hertford Street. W,]

Dear George,

Just after writing to you last week, I saw in The Times that the expedition had started from Darjeeling – And now you are really on the march. I think of you so often & try to imagine what you are doing. What is the weather doing? Is it terribly hot?

I am so longing for sun & warmth that today I have definitely decided to go to my friends near Cannes for about a month from the middle of May – It won't be fashionable but a great great joy to get to the south. The flowers will be heavenly then.

My alternative was to do a round of visits in England. For a long time I was tempted to do this because I love my friends & making new ones. But I suddenly had such a desire for the south & peace. And now I am glad to have decided this.

I expect to go to Paris for Easter with the Macmillans then join the Shears & other American friends in Paris until middle of May. So I shall start with a gay time.

Last night I saw Shaws St Joan” I was very much moved & impressed with it. And I do think that its wonderful of Shaw at his age to write without exaggerating his mannerisms. Some of the dialogues are far too long – But its wonderfully written & without the desire to show his own personality too much. The acting is excellent & its most beautiful to look upon.

I had lunch with Mrss Graies yesterday at her club – Sissie is in Italy & she pressed me to go saying she was lonely & had a great many things she wanted to discuss with me. But these consisted of abuse of Macdonald because she had not seen him, that Ishbel's head had been turned, & that Macdonald had treated Sissie badly. In between this, improper stories. And all this shouted at the top of her voice in a public room. My answers having to be made equally loud down a speaking tube! Poor Sissie, I am really sorry for her.
London with the strikes has been very exhausting & terrible for the wretched daily workers. It’s amazing how good natured is an English crowd.

On Saturday the day of the boat race my brother is expecting nearly 200 as their garden goes down to the river at Hammersmith. Mother & I are not going as we have too many old associations of my father.

I am longing to hear from you since your arrival.
My love to you dear
Your affectionate
Stella

April 2

Letter from Mary Brooke, Mallory's sister written from Colombo. This letter was found on George Mallory's body in 1999. It was wrapped in a handkerchief along with two other letters.

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Ap. 12th
Steelback Lodge
Galle Face
Columbo

My dearest George

I hope you have been getting the weather reports all right – it will be very interesting to hear whether you can trace a connection with our weather & how long afterwards. Since sending you the observatory report yesterday we have had the most terrific storm – gale of wind from S.W. – torrents of rain & thunder – we had noticed very heavy clouds at the sunset & it looked as if something were approaching, but the storm didn’t break till about 1 a.m. last night. It was most violent for nearly three hours so if you get the same you had better be on the look out – I wonder how far you have got now – I do hope you are getting on well & making good time. We were very disappointed not getting up to Diyatalawa last Monday, we were all packed up & everything planned when a wire came from the C.C. postponing the whole move & in a furious temper that he hadn’t been told some little minor details that no one thought he would want to know. I believe there were some very heated telegrams between him & our Colonel but of course it didn’t alter things & we have just had to wait here in the heat & packed & angry! There is hardly anyone left down here now, but I believe we really shall get off on Monday & are much looking forward to getting up to the hills & a cooler atmosphere. Ralph is going off for a week’s shooting on Thursday – he & another man & they ought to have quite a good time & see a lot of interesting country. They are going to camp out & I believe try for panther & bears at night as it will be full moon. When he gets back we expect Wynyard for a few days on his way home from Shanghai. This place is getting rather gay now with the flamboyant trees & others all coming into flower – I am afraid we shall miss them at their best. We took the children to the museum the other evening. really most interesting – besides all the Ceylon animals, birds insects, precious stones etc they had a very interesting room of the native handicrafts – pottery etc some of it most attractive – I believe you get the best things of that sort at Kandy & we must certainly make an expedition there when we get back here.

With much love & let me have a line when you can
Your loving sister
Mary

Reflects on when he might get leave. Describes a visit to the William's house. Expresses her wish for Clare to start talking. Describes a funny moment between Clare and Violet. Discusses her opinions on The Times article about the Education Bill. Describes her plans for the Baby Welfare group, focusing on pre-natal care. Expresses her thoughts on military service. Sends him her love.

Evening - Informs him that Mary Anne has influenza and she is taking care of Diana. Tells him about having Car and Mr Reade for dinner.

Morning - Describes her night with Diana. Reflects on her feeling for Mr Reade. Tells him she is requesting help from Mrs Steel with Diana and Lilly while everyone is ill. Updates him on Mary Anne's health. Expresses her desire to help the O'Malley's financially. Is glad that she came to London.