Identity area
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Title
Date(s)
- 4 May 1916 (Creation)
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1 item, paper
Context area
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Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letter to Ruth Mallory written from the British Officers' Club, France [he had arrived in Le Havre, France]
Had breakfast in the open air at a café and had experienced the same note of pleasure as he had when in France before. He had ordered and made purchases in French as his companions didn't speak the language. They were pitched very happily in quite a grand house with spacious florid rooms, oak parquet floors and much ornamented ceilings.
[Broke off writing to attend an office in town to receive his orders] - he had learned nothing of his destiny except that they would go to a camp that afternoon and he would send her a postcard with an address if he knew it by then.
He had had an uncomfortable journey the night before but couldn't tell her any details for fear of infringing the laws of censorship.
He was missing having her with him. She was so beautiful and splendidly brave yesterday afternoon. Their last moments would stay with him in spite of their sadness, as great joyous ones. He had gone off with her return train ticket. Hopes that having a practical thing to bother about would have helped her.
He found his companions very kind and pleasant yesterday. Hopes that she will get the letter tomorrow and wants to hear that she is somehow happy.