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Letter from Ruth Turner to George Mallory written from Ireland

Describes her morning watching her father fish. Tells him how happy she is to hear from him and what she has been doing with her family; Mildred has been painting and she has been rowing. Expresses her wish to have a photograph of him and asks for Avie’s address. Discusses her thoughts on Scrambles Amongst the Alps. Notes the change in weather, how she is missing him and how Uncle Hawes is enjoying fishing. Tells him how perfect life is going to be with him.

Informs him of the parcels she is sending him. Acknowledges his recent letter. Tells him about the horde of jam they have stored. Describes the items they all bought in London and the bedtime routine with the children. Expresses her opinion about the point of marriage. Tells him about a neighbour receiving the news that her son is missing in France. Discusses the terms of peace.

Discusses the progress of peace talks. Hopes to get another letter from him. Describes a walk with Clare. Discusses economising on light and what books to read in a short space of time. Updates him on news from Alison. Expresses her father's opinions about the Austrian Emperor's proclamation. Expresses her worry that she has not had a letter from him and hopes the O'Malley's will leave the Holt soon. Asks if he can send the drawings back of the plan for the Winchester Memorial. Discusses living at the Holt by herself with Violet and one other servant.

Discusses studying a map to follow the progress of the war. Expresses her hopes for peace soon. Describes her morning activities. Reflects on a conversation with Avie about his mother and tells him about John's character. Expresses her wish for them all to live together at the Holt. Asks him where he might be sent next. Expresses her opinions about a speech given by President Wilson. Reflects on how the war has affected individual people's thinking about justice.

Discusses the idea of investing money at compound interest for Clare's future.

Describes why they were late arriving at Westbrook. Acknowledges his letter from His Majesties Service Commission. Send her apologies to his mother for not writing.

Describes her activities of the previous day. Informs him that Marjorie Waterhouse, Doris, and Olive Smedley are staying for the weekend. Tells him about Hugh Wilson’s brother being wounded. Describes visiting Priors Field with Doris and Helen. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Describes Marjorie Waterhouse’s work at the hospital. Expresses her love for him.

Complains that his father has not provided an address. Asks him about his trip and is glad he likes Mr O'Malley. Tells him of visiting their house to collect parcels and organise items for her confinement. Informs him that Ralph [Brooke, husband of George's sister Mary] has 10 days leave and intends to go to Scotland to stay with cousins. Describes her new painting pattern and closes with a description of the weather.

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 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.

Discusses the progress of peace talks. Describes having Mr Pilsbury and a young boy round for tea and how they played with Clare. Expresses her opinions of the benefits of Clare playing with older children. Tells him she has got influenza and is in bed reading War and Peace.

Informs him she is staying at the Holt but will return to Westbrook with Mildred and Bob [Major Robert Morgan, Mildred's husband]. Describes her evening playing billiards. Tells him that Doris and Marjorie Waterhouse [old school friend, they attended Prior's Field School] have visited. Hopes he is having a good time and asks him to give her thanks to Mr Reade.

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.

Is glad he received her letter. Describes her morning with Clare. Is glad he is coming home and asks what train he is to arrive on. Informs him that Bob [Major Robert Morgan, husband of Ruth sister Mildred] is due to arrive in London. Expresses her wish to live closer to Weymouth while he is there.

Discusses how she fills her days and nights. Intends to send him a cake. Tells him about his mother’s idea about an armoured waistcoat. Describes her itinerary for the day. Tells him about men with weak hearts being called up for service. Describes her outing to the depot with the William’s girls and Constance. Expresses her love for him.

Expresses her sadness over the defeat of the ship The Invincible. Confirms that she has had his letters regarding him moving south. Hopes that he will stay safe and expresses her anxiety over the continuing length of the war. She is glad he has Mr Bill and Captain Lithgow with him. Describes her morning activities. Expresses her sadness over the death of George Morgan.

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.

Describes her morning with Aunt Maude, Aunt Constance and Mildred. Thanks him for the present. Hopes he will have a good time climbing. Tells him of her struggles concentrating on her book. Updates him on Clare’s progress. Informs him that she will be staying at the Holt with Alison and Marjorie Waterhouse [old school friend, they attended Prior's Field School]. Tells him of her intention to offer help to Aunt Patty.

Is happy to have received his letters. Expresses her views on the meaning of love. Hopes that they will have more children and tells him of Clare’s progress.

Describes in detail a conversation she had with Mrs Brock about religious and moral behaviour and interest rates. Describes the plans herself and Beagly have for the garden at the Holt. Tells him she has taken back the pots Mr Green was using. Asks him questions about Captain Bell and Captain Lithgow. Describes Clare playing with Violet and hopes that she will turn out to be clever.

Updates him on Clare's activities. Describes her feelings towards Harry and his relationship with Avie, and compares the household with St John's Vicarage. Informs him that she is going to Birkenhead. Discusses her thoughts on raising children.

Hopes he had a nice Christmas and tells him what she received from Marjorie, Mildred, Bob [Major Robert Morgan, husband of Ruth sister Mildred], and her father. She has not gone to church due to feeling unwell. Discusses her book The Meaning of Good. Explains that the house is busy so she will seek quiet in the nursery with the baby. Asks for the Pen y Pass address.

Describes her visit to Nancy Warr with Clare and how she got on the wrong boat on the way back to the vicarage. Expresses her feelings about Clare and how much she misses him. Tells him of her activities with his father. Informs him that she is due to see submarine work at the cinema and describes life at the vicarage. Asks him questions about his location and what his tasks are in the war.

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.

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

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.

Discusses her opinions on each of the photographs. Decides which ones to send to his friends.

Full Transcript

29, Courtfield Road,
S.W.
My dearest
It is most awfully hot here, but I have not had at all a bad day, we just sat comfortably all the morning and shoped a Liberty from our favorite shop man. I seem to have bought an awful lot of things but I made a careful list before I started so I don’t think I got any thing that I don’t more or less need. I have bought two pieces of stuff for ties for you if you like them. I have not begun climbing things yet. I am going to tea with Doris tomorrow and I think I shall go to the British Museum before that, and that will be lovely. I have a lot of patterns for Mary.

I have just had to stop in the middle of this letter to talk and give tea to an Aunt & Cousin of Alisons because neither she nor Mrs Steel are in. Alison warned me that they were dull. The Aunt however is not so bad she will at least talk but the girl hasn’t a word to say for herself.

I am so sorry for all the dull dreary people who have to live in London and for all the silly smart ones who want to. But I am much sorriest for the smart ones in grand clothes because there is not even any good in it. I wonder if you will ever have to live in London dear, I suppose there are realy a lot of compensations.

Good night & morning dearest I wish I could write a psalm poem about you & my love for you.
Your loving Ruth

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.