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Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Had received another batch of her letters. Describes in more detail the layout of their previous position in relation to the Germans, trenches and guns. Unpleasantness of the prevalence of dead bodies and how you would find a corps when digging anywhere near the surface. His own dugout had been clean.

Describes their new position which was different. Their guns were due to arrive that night. Expected to be very busy. Hoped big things weren’t planned for that part of he line just yet. Warned her that she would have to wait for news because of the difficulty of communications in a battle. Tries to reassure her.

Glad to hear of Clare waving and he had a longing to see her. Glad she was seeing the Brocks and asks if he had seen his pamphlet as he was the one man he would want to approve of it. Asks if Benson and Fletcher had received a copy.

[Postscript] – had never felt anxious about the Italians. Discusses prospect of the war ending in August and the effect of the defeat of the Austrians on Germany. They were a full battery now. Bell had gone back to their previous position for one day and had now rejoined them. He saw the garden there which had been ravaged. Their Major had been promoted and they were hoping Lithgow would be promoted in his place.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from 'A Trench'

Had remembered it was his birthday. Had been brought up to a trench. First time he had been quite near the Germans and seen their trenches. Had a good view from an observation post. First shots very successful with three rounds fired and all hitting same spot. Germans had started sending shrapnel over so they had retired into the dug outs.

He had only got three hours sleep so wasn’t happy yesterday. They were registering targets but trouble was the noise of the trucks on the nearby road. Works were interfered with by shooting, the arrival of ammunition and the presence of the other half battery.

Asks her to send some back copies of The Times. Had just received letters from various people but no cakes. Says she ought to encourage Violet to take up war work if the Government require it but he would regret her departure.

Was feeling better after a good night’s sleep and things were calmer and happier. He was often in poetical mood. Would attempt to describe the Mess and various officers in his next letter.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Life was getting strenuous. Had been busy and was feeling happy about the work. The guns were shooting well. Anxious not to make any mistakes as he didn’t want to make things any less easy for the Infantry.

Thought he had written about the £250 cheque. Was amused to hear about Owen’s visit to Westbrook. She was having a much more sociable summer than the previous one. Was interested in her London visits and the Bridget and Stephen household. Asks if she has seen Will.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

22 June – had received her letters and cake. A good cook had arrived with the other half of the battery so things in the Mess were better.

23 June – had to stop writing last evening to do more mathematics and registering of targets and had been very busy since then. Was delighted with his birthday present. Comments on her visit to Mary and Ralph’s.

There had been a great storm that afternoon when he was working in the ex-messroom with Lithgow. They had made inadequate arrangements to carry water away. Had to make some damming arrangements. The tent he shared with Bell had been blown away and their things were exposed to the pelting rain. Wondered how he would manage for dry bedding although the weather had turned warmer in the last couple of days.

Was feeling tremendously strung up for great things and hoped they would begin soon.

Comments on Stephen and Bridget’s relationship. Wishes he could talk with her more and although they were ok for officers now it would be a while before he was due leave.

Asks her to thank Clutton-Brock for his book which he had received.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Had been on duty all night. Describes the sound and sight of the guns firing on the German lines.

Feared the spiritual side of life did not have a good chance out there – not the intellectual or aesthetic part and the chance to read Clutton-Brock’s book had a revivifying effect.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Was working in shifts of 24 hours. Apologises that he hadn’t had chance to write. Had been on the guns from daylight to diner. They were all happy and full of hope. The men rise to the occasion and will enjoy it even if they have a bad time. Was feeling rather deaf last night. Lithgow looses all sense of cool control the moment a hitch occurs. Thinks people in England must be excited. Didn’t think the Germans would take Verdun. Had heard that five German divisions had been taken from the British front.

Was glad she had enjoyed her time with Mary. Ask what she thinks of Ralph. Acknowledges letters, soup tablets and cakes and thinks the prunes were a good idea and he would save them for private consumption. Describes the mess and people he eats with. Asks her to send one cake a week. Had read most of Clutton-Brock’s book The Ultimate Belief which he comments on and he recommends she get a copy too.

He was in the map room standing by to be given a job. He was always standing by. Hoped to get some sleep before going on night duty again.

Wonders what the future held for them and whether he would be home for good before Xmas as he longed to be with her and build up a life together again.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France

Full Transcript

Dearest Ruth,

I’m sitting in a café at a village on a main road which acts as our advanced base whither I have been sent on an errand to the Field Cashier. I can get this posted here, and have a few moments.

This also is part a foraging expedition and the driver luckily knew of a farmhouse where many things are sold – quite a number of farms hereabouts have become provision shops but the usual difficulty is that they have no provisions. Today we have been very lucky and I have somewhat prepared for goodness knows what future. I too am afraid that correspondence is going to be difficult but I think I may get letters from you at intervals of 3 or 4 days on the average. You see our lorries have to bring us provisions and ammunition at frequent intervals and the ordinary way is for the ration lorry to bring the mails. Of course I can’t guess what may happen. I don’t suppose we shall be in Berlin in a fortnight but its clear that life will be a very different affair for us if the Army continues digging in shallowed trenches and so on!

I think it would perhaps be a good plan to write to me every other day for the present. Will you try and tell me as much as you can about the people about you who seem to be very numerous just now. I am glad you should have the feeling towards baby that makes you want to have her to yourself all the time – but you won’t let her come too much in the way of other sides of life will you my dear? We’ve talked of that – still I think from your last letter that you seem to be almost too absorbed in Clare at the moment. Your letters vary very much (I expect mine do too) – sometimes more thoughtful than others so that I sometimes feel that your mind has control and sometimes the feelings have it all their own way. I do hope you haven’t many despairing moments.
I expect you keep pretty cheerful and interested too, that’s the main thing.

This must end. I have to fly.
All my love, your George.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. 'Saturday July 1 12.30am'

Discusses his views on religion and what should happen to Clare’s religious upbringing if he should be killed.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme

Describes the build up to the beginning of the battle when they bombarded the German line and watched the Infantry arriving, and the first few day of battle - the din, firing rounds and watching the walking wounded and bands of prisoners pass by.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, [no date]

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Just a note dearest Ruth to let you know I am alright. I hoped to write you a proper letter this morning in time for posting but have been too busy. You’ve no need to be anxious and you shall have a proper letter written today.
I was distracted yesterday by many small troubles in my work here and that’s why I left it to this morning. The dispatch rider is waiting but for other things besides this note.

I wonder what folk in England are thinking about the fighting here. I suppose they must be generally disappointed – if they think of the initial success in Champagne last September so much greater than this. But the point is that we are pressing the Hun on all fronts and if it’s a slow business here the hope is that we shall make him fight to exhaustion. There’s good evidence of his lack of men and that must tell if we attack sufficiently. There’s every sign of such determination in these parts.

I didn’t see a French paper yesterday. There was a charming rumour which I met to cheer me in the course of a dismal expedition in a thunderstorm the day before. I’ll tell you if I hear any more of it – it concerned the French more than ourselves – they have done extremely well in their sector, reaching their objective very quickly with slight losses.

The feeling that we are supporting infantry in the most direct fashion makes a great difference to me now. One requires so intensely that all the shooting should be absolutely right. Life is strung up and there’s nothing slack about it now though there must necessarily be idle times.

My chief interest today is the starting of a canteen for the men - a dry canteen for selling cigarettes, tobacco, chocolate and biscuits – those things primarily. We ought to have arranged it before, but I suppose the feeling that we might at any moment be leaving here prevented us. Anyway the discovery of a large wholesale canteen, within reach has made the idea bear fruit and I have bought about 150 shillings worth of goods as a start. The men are rich as they have no opportunity of spending their pay here, so I expect the concern to prosper and be very welcome to the men – and no doubt my stocks will have to be increased enormously.

We have had wretched weather here the last two days. It was beautiful for the beginning of our attack but broke down badly the day before yesterday with a thunderstorm. It is cold now and I have no feeling of summer. Warm sunshine is so much a comfort in itself that it makes up for everything.

Now Goodbye. All my love dear one, George

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme

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My dearest Ruth, My ‘note’ of this morning turned out almost a letter nevertheless it seems that I owe you a great deal of information and this is a chance of supplying it. I am taking Quinn’s place at the guns for a very slow job, as, owing to certain rearrangements he is superintending some more digging work. It is now 3.15pm and we have to fire off 60 rounds or so by 9pm so you may imagine how slow I feel this job to be. I am sitting beside the one gun which is to fire.

How much have I told you already about the recent fighting? I have an idea that much remains to be said but I hardly know what. The conditions just here are very different from those when the scrap began. That day was one of suspense and excitement; a continuous flow of tales collected from wounded men walking from the road kept us informed of what was going on and one made out a story, partly true. But now the intense fighting is south of us and though we may still support the infantry as we did yesterday it is not apparently those on our immediate front and they don’t evacuate their wounded along this road – so we feel a trifle ‘out of it’. Possibly that state of affairs won’t last forever. And for us the salient fact is that we are no longer working out a prearranged plan matured perhaps months ago // but rather on plans formed in a day to fit the occasion consequently we have little warning and often have to open fire at a moment’s notice.

This is what you would expect but none the less a condition of action that makes severe demands on everyone; so many things have to be considered that for perfect accuracy there must always be a short delay before the figures worked out in the office from the map can be telephoned through to the guns; and then the ‘Nos. 1’ or ‘Gun Captains’ as they are called in coast defence have to be made to understand the figures and its wonderful how difficult that process seems to be in some cases and how often they make mistakes. And then before a gun can be fired it has often to be turned about in a confined space and on muddy ground – so that altogether you may imagine that when we are ordered to open fire at once on XYZ it requires a cool head to avoid agitation and that’s just what Lithgow hasn’t got – he has a clear head and can work quickly and accurately, but when he comes along in a tremendous fluster to inquire why the guns aren’t ready it requires some presence of mind to keep cool oneself. It must be added that Lithgow has been better in this respect during these last two days – and we have been quicker on the guns too. My impression is that our Nos. 1 are not a very adaptable lot and don’t easily send themselves to new conditions; also some of them haven’t had sufficient training and two are capable of any folly. We never let them fire the 1st round of a series without making certain that they have the right angles on the sights, so no serious mistakes can be made that way.

These remarks from the mark // are written on Saturday morning. I’m glad to say that during the incessant firing of yesterday all went well. I only had two guns to look after during the most exacting periods instead of four as often happens when I am on duty; it is a much better arrangement to have an Officer for each section when we have to fire all guns rapidly at an exacting target, and I find no difficulty in taking charge of them properly: but four in a space of 120 yards along that slippery bank and in the din of traffic and field gun fire are a handful.

Well my dearest one I had a pretty hard time before I turned in last night. My day off duty turned out more laborious than usual in the end from the time I stopped writing this letter, because the work on the guns suddenly ‘bucked up’. I hadn’t a moment’s rest till 4am when I lay down for an hour and a half. And then began a day beside which the 1st day of the offensive appears as a mere whiff of smoke – I refer only to our own experiences but so far as artillery is concerned the whole attack must have been far more vigorous. It certainly seemed to be so judging from what we heard here – that was partly because we heard so very much more than we liked of certain field guns which fired over our heads but there was far more big gun fire too in this sector. The infantry were to attack at 8.0; the bombardment began soon after 7.0 and this battery had to open fire at 7.20. Before that the guns had to be calibrated – i.e. to fire on a known point with the particular lot of cordite which each separate gun was to use – so as to get any correction for elevation or line which might be required and as there was a difficulty about communication from the observer’s position involving the use of signals – flag waving (known as the flapper) with morse code – we had to start that operation at 6am.

It's no use attempting a detailed description of yesterday. We were firing all day but the strenuous parts of the day were up till 11.0am and from about 3.30pm to 9.0pm I was on the guns all the time except when I was relieved for meals. The operations appear to have been successful and again we see groups of German prisoners passing periodically as a gunner remarked to me ‘a mixed lot like our own; some fine soldiers and some that look as if they could hardly hold a rifle – and they all look as though they were straight from prison!

I think I might have been very tired yesterday. I had such variable moods. Mostly I was very happy and in the slack time after lunch sitting on a pile of empty cartridge boxes rained on at intervals I had a notable idea for a book – really quite the most pleasing idea I have ever had – a form which would give me scope to say all that I wish to say about life, ethics and education quite pleasantly and humorously. I will tell you more about it if it occupies my thoughts any more. On the other hand I was very nervy.
I read your letter in bed last night and that was a great joy four of them and half of one of my own! I’m very glad you get your friends and mine down to Westbrook – it is very agreeable for them and good for your family too. Mildred seems to be delighted by Mary Ann and Ursula – our discovery has been embosomed. I should love to have to have seen your father write ‘The Professor’ - an appropriate nickname. It’s a great matter of luck and first impressions whether such meetings ‘come off’ but I’m not in the least surprised and I think its creditable to you father – there’s a good deal for an elderly man to put up with in Owen.

I am interested in your account of the meeting you attended. Please tell me exactly what you said in your brave speech. I’m delighted to hear that you spoke. But I’m altogether ‘assommé’ as the French say – knocked down by your calm assumption that I am not a Christian – this after how many months of married life? I‘m blowed if I’ve the energy to write you another philippic proving how good and Xian I am. I always thought your own standard a high one and couldn’t expect to live up to that but if it’s not high enough to let a poor humble gunner like me into the fold but must be damnably low and at all events I can say I’ve more respect than that for Christian teaching so there!

And I won’t write any more – not in this spasm perhaps later in the day. But will this letter ever reach you?
I suppose we shall meet again one of these days perhaps for a period things will be more quiet and then!! But is does seem distant.

Ever so much love – your loving George.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 10 1916'

Comments on where she is in the garden when she is writing to him and describes where he is writing from at the end of his night duty shift. Asks her to send a pound of butter as an experiment to see if it arrives fresh. Thanks her for the cake. He could get chocolate so not to bother sending that. Asks her to try and get 5 stone of new potatoes sent to them as getting vegetables, especially potatoes was difficult.

Yesterday and so far today had been peaceful and sunny.

Comments on the Holt and that he should try and write to some friends in the hope of getting good letters back. Asks what happened to the parts of his letters she copies out and thinks that others besides the family would like to see them. Would write to David. Mr Allen had written to say he might be coming our as a Chaplain.

Describes in detail where he lives (the offices and his dug out) and includes a sketch of the location of the map room. Tents were used but only in the cover of trees.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Saturday'

Full Transcript
This mere note to precede a very long letter I am in the course of writing in reply to two beautiful letters from you. We are depressed on this bit of the front. Nevertheless a fair number of prisoners drift by. We have been very busy. I am rather tired but very well. Great love to you dearest from your loving George.

Dispatch rider just off. A few moments more. I am sitting on the roadside other officers gazing at prisoners 100 yards off through glasses. ‘A damned seedy looking lot those!’ says Glen. The air is full of jars. Not much doing this evening. We are disgusted at not being allowed to fire more rds [rounds]. I hope the show has gone well elsewhere. The din this morning was terrific. I’m feeling tremendously excited – but I fear we shan’t go forward as soon as we hoped. The weather is v. fine which ought to help matters. It is extraordinary how little shelling the enemy has done here. All the damage to our men on this bit of front done by machine guns. Here goes my love again. Congratulate Mildred and Robert from me.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 1916'

Full Transcript

My dearest Ruth,

This is merely a note in advance chiefly to say that if you haven’t already bought the potatoes it will be better after all not to send them. We have discovered a way of getting them here.

I have just had breakfast after firing for 3 hours. We are very busy and I feel rather tired – chiefly I expect because these field guns make such an offensive noise. I believe our operations are going as well as expected – it’s a hard life in which one has to be reasonable. Will you send along parcels of the Times 4 or 5 at a time. It so often happens that for some days I see nothing but the Daily Mail and the Harmsworth popular press disgusts me in its present stage of rampant jingoism over ‘the great push’ than at any previous period of the war. The government is very largely to blame for that e.g. for the official photos. A picture of one of our guns as it stands in the emplacement with its girdles on appeared in the Daily Mail of July 5. This is evidently the advertising centre. O God! O Montreal!

The car is to start now. So au revoir till I talk to you again later on.
Your loving George.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Thursday July 13'

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My dearest Ruth,

Somewhat of a gap I’m afraid. I’m doing a spell in the O. P. [observation post]. I came up here on Tuesday evening – a lonely flat hill top with a wide view of bare rolling valley country intersected by the white lines of trenches and broken here and there by little woods. For companions two signallers Scotsmen. For comfort a bed of rabbit wire in a wet clay hole, a pipe, & a saucepan to brew my excellent French coffee over the Tommy’s cooker. The Hun is not much in evidence though I saw about 60 passing in small groups along a distant road – that was between 5 & 7 am. Now at 11 o’clock I have just finished registering one of our guns on a distant windmill. I enjoyed doing that; the gun did the unexpected & Lithgow was in a state of great incredulity owing to my large corrections for line – but I scored heavily by getting a hit with the last shot. The variable powered telescope which I have been using is an ingenious instrument & I had quite a good view of the windmill though its about 8,500 yards from here, & the holes in its well battered sides give me a queer mixture of pain & satisfaction.

I was rather depressed last night, a field gunner who visited this spot yesterday was telling me some unpleasant tales of what he had seen in the trenches. The pity of it all! Sometimes I have to think very hard about the Hun’s misdeeds to make up my mind to it. If the settlement of this business was in the hands of the German rank & file & our own I believe they would say at once let’s chuck it & not be such damned fools, any longer. It’s so hard to feel. I have horrid doubts too about our offensive with no particular reason. I do hope it is doing all it was expected to. Of course it’s a common place to observe that this is the great crisis of the war – but what a crisis!

What will be the fresh mental attitude of the German people when they are faced with something very unlike victory? And if they should resolve to fight to the last?

I hope I may have a letter from you today my dear one; the last reached me on Monday. In it you tell me about your visit to London. I am very glad you saw Mrs Reade. I am sure she is one of the best of women. You told her that I like the life out here & she was surprised by that. I wonder what she understood by it. It’s not a style of existence I particularly care about & I would never choose the soldier’s profession. Probably campaigning is more tolerable than the artificial peace time interest of the barracks – the hot-bed espirit de corps & diverse forms of puss blind eyewash. But No; I wouldn’t choose the life for its own sake even as I find it at its best out here. Like the life? I prefer to say that I like living; to be in a state of mind that won’t say so much is to be defeated & the most degrading condition of that defeat is boredom, it’s most usual companion ‘self pity’. No! I’m not bored & I don’t intend to be, nor have I the faintest degree of pity for myself who have so much more to be grateful for than the great dignity of men, though I believe I am capable of feeling some for the world at large – the world at war. It all comes, my dear Ruth, to what Hamlet says ‘There’s nothing good or evil in the world but thinking makes it so’ – in this sense, - that living is fashioned by Thought out of Circumstances & to fashion it well or ill is in the thinker’s choice. Far be it from me to say that it’s always easy to think life good.

The reflection that disgusts me most at this moment - & you’ll observe that it’s of universal application – is that we poor mortals are made of clay. Even so I’m sufficiently optimistic to entertain a healthy conviction that it wasn’t wet clay – my thoughts about that substance are too obscene to communicate, and so far as I recollect it was never stated that we are to return to clay. To dust – I am resigned to that thought because I shall spread so plentifully. To return to clay would indeed be a sort of immorality: but not one that I ambish – not if it were wet.

I am here for three days & this is the second. Truly I thank God that he held his beautiful hand yesterday & has wet me with only a cool shower or so this morning. A signaller sits by my side & we keep our eyes open. There are only two spots where one can hope to see the enemy in person; we watch them periodically – he more than I just now while I am so busy philosophising to you. Neither side seems active today – or I should have more to do – reporting enemy fire etc. Provided God is kind in the way I have indicated I quite like to be here for a change – its such a relief to get away from one’s companions isn’t it? I really quite half feel this but I don’t think it comes of misanthropy only that people interrupt thought so grievously.

I shall have done with this letter now. The signallers are relieved at 1.30, so I hope they’ll be in time to catch the dispatch rider before he starts at 2.0. I shall try & get a few letters or rather notes written to various neglected friends before I leave here tomorrow. This solitude suits the task. I do like to be alone.

Why do I talk about solitude when I have two companions? Because they haven’t the right of interruption – the first of the sight on man which makes the idea of liberty a Utopian dream.

Bless you dear Ruth. What’s the good of all this gas when I can’t kiss you. Please try to feel kisses & write & tell me what like it feels.
I notice that I never say that I want the time to come when …. perhaps I’m too proud; though you often speak of it. Perhaps because I almost feel that things taken for granted are communicated without speech even at this distance.

I understand from the papers that letters are not to be stopped so I’m happy to think that you’ll be receiving budgets from me.

Fare thee well beloved,

Your loving George

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Saturday July 15'

Comments on good news they had heard about the battle and his three days at the observation post where he didn’t see the cavalry go over because it was misty. Describes the sight of trenches on fire due to the use of a new French invention – flame throwers.

Wanted to hear her thought on his views on religious education. Planned to write a book about it.

Discusses his thoughts about how the war might end and the damage done to the French countryside.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 17 1916'

Comments on her reply to his views on religious education.

Responds to her question as to whether he will be older after the war by saying he used to be more gay but could be so again after the war and this healthy life of action was wonderfully youth giving.

Had little to do yesterday and were still idle. Describes what he thinks will happen next in the battle. They were in the thick of the fighting and half the places mentioned in the papers were in their line of fire or visible from the observations posts.

Thanks her for two parcels. Asks her to send soup tablets. It was wet weather. Bell was playing the flute. He had written to his mother so that would save her copying out his letter. Corrects her spelling of the word ‘copying’ [Ruth was dyslexic]. Asks her to read over her letters before sending them as some of her omissions makes it difficult to make out the meaning. Hopes she treats other people better than she treated him in that resect. He didn’t think it nice for her to let her thoughts go forth in such a careless fashion. Says he has been severe and says she writes very good letters and he didn’t want her to change the general manner.

Comments on Clutton-Brock’s reviews. Discusses how the canteen operates. Asks if she had received a photo of him that Sayle said he would send from Cambridge. He has one of her pinned to a sandbag.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Wednesday July 18' [Wed was actually the 19th]

They had had three days of idleness and bad weather and it was very depressing. Discusses the current situation in the battle and the hope they all had the Russians would win them the war. Had heard from his mother that Trafford would be going out almost at once. Had received the parcel of butter which was delicious. Had been sent to town to see the Field Cashier Comments on the state of the town.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 20 Friday' [Friday was actually the 21st]

Describes the work he had to do the day before clearing and then occupying an enemy trench. Had walked to the front line but seen nothing by ruin and shell holes. Describes the German dug out they had taken. Describes his companion Glen’s physical appearance and character and the fact he was a great blessing for whom he felt quite an affection.

Not as optimistic about the situation as she was. Still at the stage of weakening the enemy.

Comments on the capital the press were making out of the war and that Lord Harmsworth had passed by and stopped to look at one of their guns firing but had missed him as he was drinking tea in a tent at the time.

Comments on her letters.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Saturday July 21' [Friday was actually the 22nd]

Night had been strenuous but day was peaceful so he had slept until noon ready for a long day in the trenches tomorrow.
Gives views on the Wings of a Dove by Henry James which he had almost finished reading. Discusses memories of Venice and wants to go back.

Comments on news in her letters. Had heard from Geoffrey Keynes who was in the area. Thought Raymond might be near too but Trafford was in the north.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Monday 25 July' [Monday was actually 24 July]

Yesterday was adventurous mending a wire and dodging shells. Was with two young fellows. Then he went to the observation post.
Comments on news that his battery had been accused of shelling their own troops in a trench. Very anxious and tried to work out if it was true as it would have been his fault. Turned out it couldn’t possibly have been their battery so all was well.

Comments on the labour shortages there would be after the war and how all moral sense was lacking in so many trade unionists.
Acknowledges receipt of three copies of the Times.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 25'

Had seen Mr Thompson’s name in the casualty list but he wasn’t the same man that had joined with him. Describes how dangerous his position was and that it was nothing for her to worry about. His name had been put forward to do observation work from an aeroplane but he didn’t think it was on the cards that he would leave the battery.

Her parcel had arrived minus the tea and prunes. The potatoes and carrots had arrived. Asks for a chocolate cake next time and buns if they wouldn’t go stale.

Were reduced to four as Quinn had gone to another battery which had suffered casualties so they would be short staffed until Quinn returned.

Liked to think of her in the gardens of Westbrook writing to him. Points out her regular spelling mistakes and askes her to explain Willet Time and if it had anything to do with the Daylight Saving Bill.

Explains what he wants her to do about money and paying off their debt.

When he had finished Wings of a Dove he had thought how glad he was that she was so pure and true. He would have wobbled much more without her. No shadow could come between them unless she considered it a shadow that she couldn’t spell. He wants her and asks her to be as brave as she was constant and true.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Thursday July 27'

Advises her to read Mr Brock’s letter to answer her questions about the good, beautiful and true. Would love to discuss it with her. Gives brief summary of his views.

Thanks her for Sidney Cockerell’s message and was sorry to have missed his visit to Westbrook. Explains how Cockerell was received in Cambridge.

Nothing had transpired about the aeroplane work so far. Had taken his turn in the forward party. Seen firing on the German front line and a bombing attack. Had found a very safe way to get there and back but it was rather gruesome. His nerves were unaffected but his nose wasn’t. Exclaims at the pity of it when seeing the dead lying out and feels anger when corpses are inexcusably not buried.

Had received good news but wasn’t sure how good as it would depend on fighting elsewhere. Didn’t think war would be over by Xmas. Disappointed by slow progress of the Russians. The Germans were making a wonderful fight.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'July 29'

Describes the death of two young men in the battery who were killed as they all returned together from the trenches.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 2 1916'

The heat had been trying but he was getting used to it. He walked up with a ruck sack filled with a water bottle and it served to carry his coat. Expeditions reminded him of the Alps because of their adventurous nature, code of conduct and companions.

Germans had been fairly quiet. He had returned three nights ago. Trench was filthy. Refused to sleep in a deep dark hole so carved out a hole in the side of the trench and had reinforced it with wood. Trench was infested with rats. The area was dotted with white crosses and swarms of black beetles.

Mr Quinn, who had gone to another battery, had been severely wounded in the leg. Mr Glen had gone to hospital with gastritis but would soon return.

Discusses good news from Russia and the stiff fighting where they were.

Was glad Sidney Cockerell’s visit to Westbrook had gone well and that she had given him a copy of his pamphlet.

Describes countryside behind the lines and travelling to find the Field Cashier, calling in to look around a chateau on the way.

Acknowledges safe arrival of tea and prunes.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 4 1916'

Full Transcript

Dearest Ruth,

I’m still in the battery, neither Bell nor I was up in the line yesterday and he is taking his 3rd day now – tomorrow my turn again. The men are digging themselves in very comfortably down here, and most of them have very good places to sleep in – much more agreeable than the old dugouts a little way apart up the hill in the trenches but not so safe. I am sitting in the evening sun on the steps of the Xc’s post & much busyness is going on all around me – the making of wire beds etc. This gorgeous weather with a clean cool breeze is the greatest blessing. I only wish the nights were as peaceful as the days. But we have good news from the infantry again today and German helmets of prisoners are in evidence. The men here at once say that the war will be over for a fortnight, and evidently some of them do quite definitely entertain the happy thought without really believing such an event probable. What a sum total of thoughts there must be about the end of the war!

I’m with you very often in Westbrook garden and in the drawing room too and many a time Clare is with us. I like all you tell me about her. You don’t seem to understand why she doesn’t crawl but can’t you see the heredity in it as how would you expect a daughter of mine to be crawling – did you ever see me stick my knee against a rock if any foothold would serve? Naturally she won’t rub her knees along the floor when she sees other folk walking. I imagine the garden quite glorious now in the golden sunshine. I want to see the great elm trees looking dark above the valley on the far side of the corn fields – or is it no corn that one may see this year from the look out by the spring garden? I know what the heart will leap to most readily – just cultivation – to see land solid well cared for, teams of cart horses t work in the fields, the farm hand sowing or reaping it doesn’t matter which and good manure being dug well in. I think I should fancy Herefordshire for mere country after this plaque spot – or the Tern Valley which we will assuredly one day visit, that would do me.

I wonder if you’ll find me different I think not. Slightly more self indulgent perhaps, a bit easier going – I was wanting to be that before ever I came out here. But I don’t think I shall ever be a person to let myself off easily because if ever I’m finding excuses for myself I’m desperately unhappy and that gives the show away.

Lazy – you may find me very lazy, I hope not. One thing has come upon me lately – its no god pretending I can be satisfied with life if it offers too few opportunities for deep thinking; nothing annoys me more than not to be efficient and yet I perceive a real opposition between what is usually meant by efficiency and the experience of thought as I understand it, its no use any more pretending there is none. I can very often get myself to do correctly a number of little things which efficiency demands (I’m not only referring to the soldiers life) but they give me no satisfaction when done, my mind is in a state of constant rebellion. I believe that always will be so.

Yesterday in some spare moments I began a poem, I don’t imagine it will ever be finished perhaps never continued but when I tell you what it is about you will understand my state of mind. It is called ‘BED’. Not that I am as a rule particularly fatigued – merely that Bed is the nesting place of ideas. There I can be alone in high solitary state and simply think. That is good.
Well my dear Ruth. I want you far more and more ans see my life as it were from a considerable distance. I see you more and more clearly as the one person for me. Dearest how I love you! How the great understanding has grown between us! Don’t you feel that? You’ll never bore me and I’m sure you’re the ne person in the world who wouldn’t.

Fare thee well beloved. Kiss Clare for me and then the Westbrook household.
Your loving George.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 4'

Describes night on duty especially the noise which he hates.

Back in the battery for 3 days now. Describes his duties. Glen was returning to them soon but Quinn had died of his wounds.
They were on rations but he had contrived to get chocolate and biscuits for the men. Hoped the chocolate cake would arrive that day. Asked her to try and send 'cold spring fruit saline' which he had just tried and thought delicious. Thinks men would put up with a lot if only they were well fed.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 7 1916'

Had been with Bell all day and had written to Trafford, Arthur Benson, Geoffrey Young and Graves.

Hadn’t been back to the front line again mainly because of changing arrangements. They were expecting a new officer and Glen back again.

Thanks her for sending thick socks which he would save for winter. Ingrown toenail was hurting him.

Mentions leave but it was still too distant. Were having lovely weather. Assumed she was still at Westbrook.

Was quite pleased with his dug out. Asks her to write on thinner paper because her letters made a bulky package and he wouldn’t want to leave them behind when he returned to England.

Had enjoyed writing to Geoffrey about the Alps. Amazed by the desire he had for that side of life again. You would think he would like something less keen after the war but he didn’t feel like that at all. There was a great life out there and they must bring it off. He felt fit and healthy thanks to the war.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 8'

Another officer had arrived. The weather was very hot. Glen hadn’t returned yet and his recovery would be slower than previously thought. There was a scarcity of papers and he hadn’t heard much of what was going on in the war elsewhere. Was due to visit the Field Cashier and hoped to get French papers.

They were settling in quite happily. Violent bombardment last night but he didn’t know the results. Believed something important was going on where the French were but didn’t know which side was attacking. Had read Keats to soothe himself to sleep. Asks what she was doing and wishes he could bathe in a cool river. Bike punctured so had to walk. Came back with a bunch of flowers.
Disturbing news about lack of information about Kut prisoners. Comments on a letter from Mr Allen. Comments on Ruth’s letter and why people read something which is not for enjoyment.

He was in the dug out with Bell who was on the top bunk. They were idle and enjoying the sunshine. His wits were too dull to write a longer letter. Asks for news of the garden at the Holt.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Aug 12 1916'

He was exceptionally busy. Glen was due to have an operation and Bell was away for four days rest. They had three new officers and Lithgow was unwell with a slight chill. Describes the new officers.

Rest cure was where two detachments at a time go off to spend four days in a delightful country place. His turn was next. He had designs on Amiens Cathedral.

Asks if she was still intending to visit the East Coast. If so asks her to choose a place well armed with anti Zepp guns. He was very please about the fall of Georgia and it made the Austrian situation worse because more men would be needed to defend that front.

Likes the flowers in his dug-out and asks if she could make him some pot pouri.