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- 6 November 1916 (Creation)
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Letter to Ruth Mallory written from France during the Battle of the Somme, 'Nov 6 1916'
Had received nine letters from her. Glad to hear of his friends coming into her life. Very pleasant to hear of her making a friend of Robert who had stayed at Westbrook. The Headmaster didn’t encourage Robert’s friendship with Johnstone and was not disposed to let him go out very much on the grounds that he was somewhat spoilt and didn’t get on well in the house. Advised her to write to the head of Saunderites House using a dictionary [Ruth was dyslexic] to request a visit. She could also tell Johnstone that he would be very glad to receive a letter from him.
He had heard from Rooper that Clements had left Charterhouse and he was sorry as he was the one really interesting boy he knew.
Her visit to the Reade’s seems to have been a success. Kar Cox was a charming person but he didn’t know her as well as some of his friends notably David and Geoffrey Keynes. Didn’t know Ward but he was a friend of Rupert Brooke. Was sure Bridget was one of the best of people.
Comments on Arthur Clutton-Brock’s speech which Ruth had recounted to him.
Only bitter feelings he had towards Mr Rendall was that he wanted to avoid a bore. He felt in his bones the ill bred pomposity of Langton probably because he had offended his vanity by having too little regard for his opinions.
Was glad she was getting to know Mrs Brock. News about Kit was really bad and must have upset them very much.
He hadn’t written to her much lately as he was in a sociable mood and spent time talking after meals. He had played bridge. He went to bed at 9.30pm as it was difficult to be comfortable outside bed. He read whilst his feet got warm. He never had night work which was a blessing but was liable to be woken at 6.30am.
Two parcels of clothes had arrived. She had chosen well and he felt luxurious. The men didn’t go short of warm clothes but they didn’t have oil stoves in their dugouts nor a dry mess room. He drew the line at a hot water bottle as it would make him feel like a pig. He would be quite cosy once he got a curtain.
Lithgow had applied for special leave to attend to business and would probably get it.
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Robert Graves attended Charterhouse School where Mallory taught before the war. He sang in the choir, where he met an aristocratic boy three years younger, G. H. "Peter" Johnstone, with whom he began an intense romantic friendship. The scandal led ultimately to an interview with the headmaster. Graves himself called it 'chaste and sentimental' and 'proto-homosexual,' and though he was clearly in love with Peter (disguised by the name Dick in Good-Bye to All That), he denied that their relationship was ever sexual. He was warned about Peter's morals by other contemporaries.