Letter from Sir Francis Younghusband to Ruth Mallory on the death of her husband George on Mount Everest in which he conveys a message form King George V
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Printed menu card with 'G. H. L.-Mallory' printed on the front bottom right hand corner. Names, including Mallory's, have been written in pencil on the front.
Tells him how she misses him and how she is coping while he is away. Expresses her desire to have more children. Tells him of an upcoming trip to London. Asks him how he is feeling and wishes she was with him. Informs him of a letter received from Avie. Tells him she got home alright after not having her train ticket.
Morning - Tells him about the photographs she has received and that she will send him some prints. Informs him that six copies of his pamphlet have been sent to the Brocks via Mr Bradby at Rugby and eighteen more have been ordered. Describes her morning activities. Tells him that Bob [Major Robert Morgan, Mildred's husband] is leaving for London but Mildred will stay. Asks him to let her know which of her letters he receives, so she doesn't repeat herself.
Afternoon - Describes her afternoon plans by herself. Hopes he is happy and well. Expresses her love for him.
Is happy that he was not sent to a trench mortar and discusses her opinions on warfare. Asks him to date his letters. Asks to know more about his position in the 40th Siege Battery. Tells him she will send him cakes and anything he asks for. Describes her visits to different friends. Tells him of Mr Kendall and Mr Fletcher’s difficulties on allowing Mr Kendall to leave for the war. Updates him on Clare’s progress and describes her recent play date visits. She has updated his parents on his welfare.
Hopes that he is receiving her letters by now. Tells him she intends to send him some seeds to plant. Describes her trip in to Liverpool. Asks him how is getting along with Mr Bell and enquires after him. Asks him questions about the guns he is using. Hopes he is happy in his surroundings. His mother is sending him a picture from Punch magazine.
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.
Letter from Alwyn Scholfield on King's College embossed paper.
He had heard from [Arthur] Sayle that he [Mallory] was in Cambridge but due to leave for Charterhouse the following day. He is disappointment that they won't be able to meet as he had been looking forward to hearing Mallory's opinion of Charterhouse. He hopes that Mallory is enjoying his position and not finding it too laborious.
She is busy helping his mother with the bazaar. Tells him she will be careful not to hint at his location in her letters and will not let his mother know, but will inform his father, Mildred and Marjorie. Lets him know she has sent him some tea and chocolate. Describes life at the vicarage with his mother. Hopes the war will end soon.
Discusses his previous letters to her and her thoughts on his location and duties. Asks him about the guns he is working with and if he will be moving locations soon. Describes a visit to the Brocks' and updates him on Clare's progress. Tells him she has spoken to a chemist about the Liverpool rat virus which will be sent on to him. Informs him of a letter from Mrs Saunders concerning the death of Mrs Pennyfather.
Expresses her frustration at the slow speed of the post and his constant moving location. Describes the Huxley's home after her visit. Updates him on Clare's progress. Apologises for the short letter.
Morning - Intends to visit Alison and Mrs Steel. Describes the weather and its affects on her father's hay he is selling at auction.
Afternoon - Describes her activities with Bridget, Alison, Olive Smedley and Ursula. Discusses Mary Anne's intentions to holiday by the sea and suggests using the Holt as a nursery for the children; if the Greens agree. Tells him she misses him and intends to send him socks for his birthday. Wishes him happy birthday. Describes a picture of Will Arnold-Forster in Monte Fiano. Discusses her housekeeping skills and relationships with servants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is reading The Ultimate Belief by Arthur Clutton-Brock and discusses her thoughts on his writing style, morality and philosophy of spirit. Discuss her opinions on religion in education. She was mistaken in telling him that Mr Thompson had been killed; it was someone else. Updates him on the progress of Mrs Irvine’s premature baby. Describes the weather. Informs him that Clare has not slept well. Intends to have Mr Cockerell and Marjorie Waterhouse to tea. She intends to do more china painting. Discusses the progress of the war.
Corrects the date of her previous letter. Discusses the progress of the war and the regularity of their letters. Asks him about his current position two miles from the front and wonders when he will get leave. Tells him about the people she has been writing to, Doris Mallory, Mrs Irvine, his mother. Asks him if he has trouble with lice. Describes playing with the children in the garden. Discusses the progress of the war. Expresses her wish for them to go to Venice after the war. Suggests that he write to Geoffrey Keynes. Sends him a message of greeting from Mr Becker.
Describes the weather and the garden. Reminisces about previous travels through England and asks him if he likes to imagine other places. Intends to plant seeds in the garden at the Holt. Informs him of Mr Cockerell’s opinion of his pamphlet. Asks him if he intends to write after the war. Discusses making a new dress. Describes her visit to tea with Constance Mussen and compares Clare to Reneé. Discusses her options of a holiday with Uncle Lawerence and informs him that her father, Mildred, and Bob are going to Scotland. She has taken responsibility for the ferrets who always escape.
Describes the weather and a picnic they had with Mrs Mussen, Beatrice Williams and Silvia Cassels. Intends to send him a photograph of Clare. Discusses her opinions on reading plays and the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Describes the progress of her bowl. Describes the Church service for the anniversary of the beginning of the war. Asks him if he is changing positions. Discusses the progress of France in the war. Discusses financial matters. Expresses her hatred of the war.
Discusses the postal service. Describes the weather. Informs him Mildred’s girl, Sylvia Turner, is staying and discusses her opinions of her character. Describes the painting for her bowl. Tells him about her dream. Expresses her feelings about having no visitors. Discusses a conversation she had with her father and Mr Williams about the government keeping information hidden about the war. Describes what she has read in the paper regarding the victory at the Suez Canal. Discusses the progress of the war. Expresses her opinions about Sylvia Turner’s lack of interest in the war. Tells him she is sending him a parcel containing soup tablets and lavender.
