Showing 29 results

Heathercliffe, Goodeve Road, Sneyd Park, Bristol.—Is not likely to get leave this week, but he will probably get it when his transfer comes. Has read G. B. Harrison’s memoir of his father in the Review of English Studies, which at first sight he found ‘somewhat empty, the work of someone who had not fully understood either Daddy’s personality or work’. Describes a visit to the Bristol Museum and refers to excursions to the YMCA, the library, and the theatre (to see The Chocolate Soldier). Has had to move rooms, and his friend has joined the RASC as a clerk, which is ‘a blow’. Will be interested to hear of the progress of letting the house. Is sorry that Colin was unable to come home with Mr Whitaker for a few hours.

(With envelope.)

(With an envelope postmarked at Croydon, 22 Dec. 1933.)

(With an envelope postmarked at Great Missenden, Bucks., 23 Dec. 1933.)

Cowage Farmhouse, Hilmarton, near Calne, Wiltshire.—Has been moved from Bristol for a fortnight’s training. His friend is also present. After the course he will probably return to Bristol or Swindon, and then either go on another course or join the ranks of the Artillery, which he believes is a necessary step before going to an officers’ training unit. Will have no leave during this course, but hopes to get home to see Colin during vacation. Has sent various items home. The course includes physical training, rifle drill, and anti-gas training.

(With envelope.)

Crossways Club, Upper Stratton, Wiltshire.—Has not yet been able to discuss the question of leave with the Major. His first act on returning to Stratton was to go into Swindon for a bath, as he has had no clean clothes for a while, their usual laundy having been bombed. The Company HQ has moved from the Crown Inn. The course at Calne finished this morning with an inspection; he did reasonably well in Thursday’s rifle-range practice. Discusses Christmas cards. There is a rumour that 10 Section is to be distributed among other AMPC Companies. The King visited Bristol recently and twelve of the NCC detachment were among the servicemen inspected by him.

(With envelope.)

(Dated from the Dragon School, Oxford. With an envelope postmarked at Oxford, 26 Dec. 1933.)

The Red House, Ingatestone, Essex.—Thanks them for the photos. Asks whether they have been skating. The Pekes have recovered.

(With envelope.)

Marlborough, Wiltshire.—(18th.) Expects to be moved shortly. Has written to various friends. Refers to the death of Mrs Compton. Their work this week has been as usual. Most of last evening was wasted by a useless hut-inspection.—(19th.) Has cut his finger at work, and has to use his left hand to write. Is sorry to hear of Colin’s flu.

[Marlborough, Wiltshire.]—Describes the nature of the injury to his finger, which will take several weeks to heal. Has been excused work, and is spending time reading. They will probably not be moved for a week or so. Has received a letter from Colin, who says that Professor Adrian’s lecture was a success. Is glad that he has decided to go to Bart’s Hospital.

Hembsy Camp, near Great Yarmouth.—(5th.) Is expecting to be moved to Yarmouth shortly, and there are rumours of future movements. Discusses his usual daily routine, his accommodation, and clothing. Has met someone he knew at Cambridge.—(6th.) He supposes Colin has gone back to Cambridge. Will write to him there.

(With envelope.)

[Marlborough, Wiltshire.]—Discusses the progress of his finger. Hopes to get some sick leave. Is able to do some shopping when he visits the medical officer. Thinks that Colin will be sure of ‘decent medical work’ at Barts. They expect to move on Sunday, possibly to London. May be put on light duties shortly.

(With envelope.)

(With envelope.)

[Marlborough, Wiltshire.]—(4th.) Discusses the progress of his finger. The move to London has apparently been cancelled. Keys is now an officer; Andrew is still waiting [for a transfer]; and the colonel who promised to endorse his (Malcolm’s) application for a commission has left.—(5th.) Thanks her for a letter, and reassures her about his finger. Colin has been invited to the Commemoration dinner at Trinity. Expects to get a weekend’s leave when he is ‘out of the doctor’s hands’.

(With envelope.)

Three Beeches, Balerno, Midlothian.—Thanks him for a copy of his Prolegomena, and praises it. Has just returned from Germany, and finds it hard to believe that a war is coming.

(With envelope.)

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Transcript

Three Beeches, Balerno, Midlothian
5.5.39

My dear McKerrow,

The Prolegomena arrived by the first post this morning & I fell to at once. I had to run off to the University at 11, but have read enough to realise how grateful we all ought to be to you & how gently you have handled my serial theorisings, a good deal of which I have ceased to believe myself! And then this afternoon I had your letter. My dear man, you little know the thickness of skull I have developed after 18 years of editorial adventure {1} or you could not imagine I should be anything but delighted with your friendly thwackings. Think of EKC’s {2} bludgeon for example; yet we are still friends. Indeed I even gave him £100 prize the other day!.

I am sorry to hear about Colin & Malcolm. But I think you’ll find that they will be allowed to finish their course & hope that there will not be a war.

I have just returned from a fortnight in Germany, where I was overwhelmed with kindness by all, & cannot believe a war between our two nations is coming. Anyhow it’s the most peaceful country in Europe to look at. I left them all dancing round maypoles!

Yours ever
J.D.W.

Many thanks for the book. I am so glad you have got it out. Kindest regards to Mrs McKerrow. My wife & I laughed over your tirade against N.C. {3}—quite a pleasant man really & a keen Shakespearean

[Direction on the envelope:] Dr R. B. McKerrow | Picket Piece | Wendover | Bucks

—————

The envelope was postmarked at Edinburgh at 8.30 p.m. on 6 May 1939.

{1} The reference is to the period since the publication of the first volume in the Cambridge Shakespeare in 1921, though Dover Wilson had in fact been invited to help edit the series in 1919. See ODNB.

{2} Sir Edmund Chambers.

{3} Neville Chamberlain, the prime minister. ‘There is probably no prime minister who knew his Shakespeare better than Chamberlain’ (ODNB).

[Marlborough, Wiltshire.]—Has received a letter from Colin, mostly about the Commemoration dinner, which was slightly marred by ‘one man who drank himself dead drunk and had to be removed on a stretcher and dealt with by the First Aid Party!’ His finger has started bleeding, and he has therefore been excused duties today. He went on the working party on Monday, but did no work. There is a new medical officer, who is said to be very good. Recounts an amusing incident he witnessed while ‘working’ at the officers’ cookhouse.

(With envelope.)

[Marlborough, Wiltshire.]—He arrived back in camp last night. Has been moved in-to temporary accommodation with the Company police. The men transferred from the NCC have now all been sent to their new units, except for Andrew, himself, and two others, all candidates for commissions. The fact that his original transfer has been cancelled seems to indicate that his application for a commission is not ‘dead’. Has seen the medical officer, who put him down for full duty, but he has only been doing light duties.

(With envelope.)

[Cairo.]—(10th.) Is attending a French class conducted by a ‘Cairo civilian’ with an appalling accent. Has been on one of Mrs Devonshire’s trips and has received some photographs taken by one of the Czech officers with whom he went to Baalbek.—(12th.) Thanks her for her letter. Is sorry she will miss Colin’s weekend visits for a month or so.

(An air-mail letter-card. Dated at ‘M.I.8, G.H.Q., M.E.F.’ The latter part of the address stands for ‘General Headquarters, Middle East Force(s)’, but the meaning of ‘M.I.8’ is unclear.)

(The document includes handwritten alterations and additions by McKerrow himself, as well as later initialled comments and corrections by Alice Walker and Colin McKerrow.)

(A printed card, filled up by hand and stamped.)

Enderley, [Little Kingshill, Great Missenden].—Is glad to hear they have arrived safely, and hopes they will have a ‘royal time’. Can only find two pairs of pants. Hopes Mr McKerrow’s back is better. Sends love to Colin and Malcolm.

(With envelope, directed to the Royal Oak, East Wittering, Chichester.)

Pollok Estate Camp, Glasgow.—Does not expect to be moved for a week or so. Is thinking of applying for a transfer to the Royal Army Medical Corps or the Royal Army Service Corps; if he does so, he will have to sign a statement renouncing his privileges as a non-combatant. Discusses the characters of his officers. Refers to Aunt Jessie’s report that he was growing thin, and points out that she saw him the day after he had had ptomaine poisoning. Is eating occasionally at the McMillans’ and has tickets for two concerts by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Supposes that Colin will be back [from Cambridge] soon.

Flat 4, 102 Great Portland Street, W.1.—Is very upset to learn of Colin’s suffering, and very sorry too for her and Ronald. Has arranged that Ronald should only ring if Colin is worse.

(The end of the letter is missing.)

[On the train.]—(16th.) Thanks her for a food parcel. They left Nitshill [Glasgow] this evening and expect to arrive at Swindon in the morning.—(17th.) The journey is comfortable. In a few weeks they will probably be put in billets instead of tents.

[Crowdy’s Hill Camp, Cricklade Road, Swindon.]—The new camp is an improvement on Nitshill. Does not yet know what their work will be, but it will probably be something on the railways. His new tent-mates are ‘a queer crowd’. Asks her to arrange for his watch to be repaired. Is glad that Colin has passed his ‘viva’, and was interested to hear that he had dined with Mr [A. S. F.] Gow.

(With envelope.)

81 Marsh Lane, London, N.W.7.—He and his family hope to see Colin while he is at St Albans, and he has asked a friend to visit Malcolm. The Press still expect to print R. B. McKerrow’s small book (‘Elements of Bibliography’), but not before the end of the war. Would like to check a point in the corrected copy of Printers’ and Publishers’ Devices. His family had a pleasant Christmas.

—————

Transcript

81 Marsh Lane | London NW7.
2 January 1942.

Dear Mrs McKerrow,

A happy new year to all three of you!

Kitty has told you how delighted we all were that Colin got safely through the Anatomy. We shall look forward to seeing him while he is at St. Albans and to having him back in the family occasionally. Will you pass this message on to him? I saw my friend Pafford a day or two ago. I find he is some little way away from Malcolm, but I did ask him again to do what he could to see him and he has promised to do so.

My main purpose in writing this letter is to tell you that I have been in touch with R. W. Chapman about that little book of Dr. McKerrow’s. It appears that they are not hoping to print before the end of the War, but that the whole transaction is on a regular basis and that they are expecting to publish the book. It remains, I think, if you would still like me to see to the final details, to go through the MS. making the alterations in the general form, which Dr. McKerrow apparently agreed on. I should like sometime to see the original MS. to see any corrections that have already been made. I may say that it would give me great pleasure to be associated in such a task.

I should like sometime to see the corrected copy of the “Devices”—or perhaps Colin could look for me to see if any device had been added for Hugo Goes of York? That is the present reason for wanting to see it. Dr. Scholderer has discovered such a device and he wishes to know if his discovery has been anticipated.

We have had a very pleasant Christmas—indeed it is still going on for the children! Parties galore! They have all enjoyed this christmas† more than any before, I think. I expect it is because they are now all able to take part in games and in the general excitement. We were all out in Christmas afternoon and evening with Dr. Bell’s family and to the family’s great excitement stayed the night! I do hope you had a pleasant time. You would enjoy having your house to yourselves and having Colin with you. Was Malcolm able to get home?

We shall look forward to seeing you again soon and we shall expect a visit from Colin as soon as he can manage it after reaching Hill End.

With our love

Yours ever
Frank.

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† Sic.

40 Murray Road, Wimbledon.—Sympathises with his difficulties in saying ‘good morning’, and makes some suggestions. He would have spoken to him on Sunday, but waited till he had seen his (Colin’s) instructor, Miss Michaelis. Suggests he try to ‘get some fun’ out of his stammer.

The Nurses’ House, Cell Barnes Hospital, St Albans.—Is sorry he has a cold. Discusses arrangements for going to see The Merry Wives of Windsor with him. He (Colin) seems to be having a hectic time in Casualties. Has bought a gramophone record of the ‘Warsaw’ Concerto and an aunt has sent her some primroses. Yesterday they sent a case of measles to the Fever Hospital, so they are in quarantine again. Mr Scarlett is doing Dr Franklin’s holiday. Dennis Dent, their coeliac, is improving.

40 Murray Road, Wimbledon.—Thanks her for a portrait of Colin and Malcolm, and sends one of himself [D7/8b]. Is concerned to hear of her ill-health.

(With envelope.)

(With an envelope postmarked at Wimbledon, 21 Dec. 1933)