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Letter to Ruth Mallory, from the S.S. Caledonia [P. & O. S. N. Co. Letterhead]

Brief Summary
Life on board ship. Opinion on use of oxygen. Opinion of colleagues. Watched porpoises.

Detailed Summary
They were all getting along happily enough. There was a good deal of scientific discussion around the subject of breathing oxygen. Wakefield was somewhat distrustful of the whole affair and sometimes irritated by Finch who was dogmatic in his statements. In this company he was amused by Finch. Was much intrigued by the shape of his head which seemed to go out at the sides where it ought to go up. He was a fanatical character and didn't laugh easily. He greatly enjoyed his oxygen class.

The oxygen drill was being abandoned and so they would hear less on the subject, which was extremely interesting and Finch had been very competent about it. Refers to a full page hand drawing by Somervell, entitled ‘Homeward Bound' [included on the next page of the letter] which showed an unfortunate man whose apparatus had broken and so he was forced to go down taking the oxygen straight from the bottle.

At his first meeting with Strutt, which took place at the Alpine Club, he thought him a dry, stiff solider but he was rather a chatterbox and quite entertaining though never profound. He describes Strutt’s diplomatic role with a mission to Denikin’s army [Russian Lt. Gen Anton Denikin] and an Austrian prince and was High Commissioner in Danzig or some big town in the Baltic. Over one affair Curzon tried to get him court marshalled as a traitor to his country so he concluded he must be a good man.

He had enjoyed good talk, especially with Noel who he particularly liked. The Everest film should be worth £15,000 for foreign rights alone, which gave him some hope that there would be generous terms to the lectures.

Further describes life on the ship, the warm weather and the sunset. The bugle sounded warning them to dress for dinner. He had to go and bathe as he had been playing deck cricket. He slept with a fan in his cabin and thought how romantic a voyage could be if one was lazy enough. If she were there he would take quite a lot of interest in the phosphorescence of the water, the dolphins, whales, sharks, the flying fishes, and all the rest.

[Continues next morning] - previous night he had watched porpoises in the sea which kept pace with them. His porthole and door had closed overnight so the fan was just churning round the same old air and it was very stuffy.

She was very brave about his going away and she wouldn't be dull without him. He will have to wait a long time to hear news from her and wonders if they will still be in Darjeeling when the mail arrives. Many supplies were still on their way notably the oxygen cylinders.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Corrie, Isle of Arran, on Friday

Describes climbing with David Pye and that Will Arnold-Forster had caught three mackerel from a boat.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Skipness on Sunday

Describes his 2 1/2 hr journey on the steamer, his fellow passengers and then the 1 1/2hr coach journey to get to Red House where Ethel Graham was waiting for him in a car. Describes the countryside, house and gardens where he was staying. Amongst the other guests were Cosmo Gordon's father and Lee Warner [who ran the Medici Society], Mary Ann and Frances [Cosmo's wife]. Arran was visible and he was going there on Wednesday to stay in the hostel in Corrie.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Skipness

He describes a walk up the burn, clambering over obstacles, and descending to a cave where he crawled through a small hole to get out. There was lots of rock scrabbling but he was feeling feeble, stiff and old. His ankle had been feeble. Frances had received a letter from Cosmo [Gordon, from France] and he was alright and out of the line. He had been taking and developing photographs.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Corrie, Isle of Arran, on Wednesday

Describes an expedition to a distant glen. Frances [Gordon] took him in a pony and trap to catch the steamer for Arran. He had a lovely walk over two of the best mountains and was supposed to meet David Pye and Will Arnold-Forster but didn't see them. He saw them later on another summit but didn't try and reach them. Instead he had a bathe and returned to the hotel. He was much pleased with Arran.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass [no date]

Had arrived in Pen y Pass but instead of a car there was a little trap to meet them. They were expected but when they arrived the hall was dark as the current had been turned off due to a thunderstorm. They were staying in the lower shack and his bed was too short. Hugh was excited about the prospect of climbing. There was one other guest in the hotel, a man called O’Malley who would climb with them that day. Weather was clearing and they planned to go toward Tryfan. He had been sorry to leave her but was glad to be there.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Pen y Pass [no date]

He hadn’t received a letter from her. They had an amusing adventure getting passed the soldiers who were guarding the pipes running from the lake to the power station and so on to LLiwedd. He had managed to get hold of the newspapers and he was beginning to back the Russians as the Germans were taking too long to get through. Hoped she was well and wasn't bored. Changes were a blessing at times which men want more than women. Did she have any news of Trafford.

Friday - they were going to make an early start, take things gently and he wouldn't attempt anything that was not within his powers.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Warwick House, Weymouth

The Weymouth Queen which sailed between Weymouth and the Channel Islands was unloading below his window which was faintly cheering the scene and the grey blight of the everlasting east wind. It had been a very bleak day.

He had selected his landlady and moved his things in the previous evening. It was not the most comfortable room nor the largest but had the right aspect and if the sun ever shone again it would shine on them.

A good landlady, although a trifle lazy, but clean and homely and not avaricious (although she was Scotch). Room cost a guinea a week with light and coal extra. Two armchairs in the room and not much room for clothes in the bedroom. Bed was comfortable and the sheets were linen and rather good. Breakfast was nicely cooked and the damsel who waited upon him seemed alert and willing.

She was not to count on joining him in Weymouth until he could write again after seeing Clarke. He had read most of Hugh’s letters and was vastly impressed and moved.

Postscript – I wonder what you bought in London today?

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Weymouth

Had seen Clarke and there was no hope of him going to Lydd immediately so he would be in Weymouth for about a month. She would be arriving the following day and he wouldn’t be back until about 4.30pm. Reminds her to change at Basingstoke if she comes by the 12.50. The house was in the block on the right near the Pavilion [he has drawn a sketch map showing the location of the house]. The landlady’s name was Mrs Plumbe.

Asks her to bring his white buckskin rubber shoes. Besides that the most important things were flowers and tea (Miss Jekyll’s kind).

Not quite so grey today, little rain in the morning but lots of mud.

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Avington Park Camp, Winchester. No date except 'Tuesday'

Describes the injury to his foot and that the pain had ceased. Was doubtful he would be up and walking enough by the weekend to visit her but might be able to by train. Avie had suggested November 16th for a visit and he would write and ask her to come to Westbrook. He had been visited by Avie's former doctor who spent a long time talking to him. Geoffrey was one of the best friend's in the world and he liked to plan things for others.