Sent from Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Telling Herbert about his success at Queens’ [sports club, in the high jump] and that he was going to the [British Museum]. Also passing on news of Dr Bolton, and Uncle Herbert and family, and sending his love to Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] and [Robin Dickinson].

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge. Thanking Herbert for letters and notes, and asking for further notes on architecture in southern Italy; telling Herbert that he was applying for Crower and Warr studentships to work on Creto-Egyptian relations or Greek athletics, that [Arthur] Cook was pleased with John’s work and would put in a good word for his election [to a studentship], and that there would be a Founder’s Feast when Herbert visits in June; discussing dates for going [to Malvern] in June, and that he would be going to Kings [College] Ball so wouldn’t be able to get home before the Southern [athletics] Championships on the 18th [of June].

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge on “St Augustine’s day”. Thanking Herbert for notes and asking him to send a precis of an argument against wooden origin of Doric [columns]; discussing that work was going well but the standard in archaeology seemed to be low; telling Herbert that he didn’t know when his viva was but he hoped on Saturday, that [Charles] Seltman had written him a nice letter of recommendation, that he would like to go to ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and asking Herbert to invite Ruth too, and that he was sorry Herbert would not be able to stay with Mrs Rule [in Cambridge].

Sent from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Telling Herbert that the date of his viva was the 11 June and that he would be go to Malvern that Saturday; discussing an essay that he wrote for an examination in archaeology, and an examination in history.

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge. Sending Herbert his last exam paper, discussing his Tripos exams, and plans for [going to Malvern, 28 May or 4 Jun] and preparing for his viva.

Sent from Pembroke College, Cambridge. Discussing his forthcoming exams which would start the next day, his viva, and that he had had a “little strike reunion dinner” with the Chamens and “the rest” who were [in Cambridge] playing cricket.

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge. Telling Herbert about his viva which he thought had gone well but was short; about his bad performance in the high jump the previous day, that London had done very well and John would see him again in the Southern [Championships], and that Lewden would also be in the AAA [Amateur Athletics Championships]; and discussing a wig, chain and sword [for a costume].

Written on the train around Wurzburg and Munich during John [and Bob Dixon’s] journey across Europe to Athens. Discussing meeting [Alan] Wace [in London] who gave John [and Bob Dixon] introductions to people in Munich, Belgrade, Vienna and Constantinople [Istanbul], advised John to catalogue Egyptian objects found in excavations whilst he was at the British School at Athens, and told John that [Carl] Blegen would be touring sites in Greece in the summer and that he should try to go with him. Also telling Herbert people he had met in London including Jim and Pat, about a rough crossing [across the English Channel], about the journey so far and books he was reading.

A letter written across 3 days, started at Hotel Wagner, Munich. Discussing John’s journey across Europe [with Bob Dixon] including visiting Augsburg, the museums in Munich, and travelling on to Vienna. Also telling Herbert that John [and Bob] were concerned about their train tickets but they turned out to be alright, about “Pembroke men” they had met or were planning to meet (Geoff Bell in Munich, and Martin Leake in Constantinople [Istanbul]), and about opening the curtains in his hotel room after getting out of the bath and there being a dining room full of people able to see him naked; and asking Herbert to send cigarettes to Athens.

Written in four parts from Vienna, from the train, Budapest, and the train to Belgrade. Telling Herbert about the hotel, buildings, people and food in Vienna, and that he [and Bob Dixon] had walked to the Danube and been to an opera; about the hotel, visiting the city, and trouble getting a Bulgarian visa for Bob Dixon in Budapest; mentioning that the manager of the hotel in Vienna told John that a Mrs Pendlebury used to stay there, and that his suitcase had broken but then was mended at the hotel in Pest; telling Herbert that they were having a “pro Ally” conversation with a French man and 2 Serbians in broken English on the train to Belgrade and Rothmere and Hungary [Lord Rothmere had written a newspaper article arguing that Hungary should regain territory lost at the end of the First World War]; and telling Herbert that he had been arrested by Serbian police for trying to stay in Belgrade on a transit visa but had been helped by a Serbian he met on the train.

Telling Herbert he would write from Belgrade, that he had bought Robin [Dickinson] a Maygar paper which was remarkable because it was dated for the next day, that he [and Bob Dixon] were “taking plenty of nourishment”, and to tell Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] to be good.

Written on the “Stamboul Train” [during John and Bob Dixon’s journey to Athens]. Telling Herbert about their stay in Belgrade including meeting the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and 2 members of Parliament and an archaeologist (Vassits); about the journey on the train and giving his first impressions of Turkey and Constantinople [Istanbul]; about meeting an old Wykehamist in Bulgaria called Monty; and commenting on relations between Serbia and Bulgaria.

Sent from Constantinople [Istanbul], telling her that he and [Bob Dixon] were having a good time, had met a friend at the Embassy [Martin Leake] who was showing them around, that he had been collecting newspapers for Robin [Dickinson], and about their planned journey to Athens.

Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert about his visit to Constantinople [Istanbul], the journey by boat to Athens, that the School were not expecting John and Bob Dixon as their telegram did not have their names on it, and there would not be a British School excavation that year so he hoped that [Carl] Blegen would go to Greece so John might get some experience on an excavation. Also telling Herbert that the school was full with women students so he and Bob Dixon had to share a room, that [Walter] Huertley was “very Oxford and cheerless”, and that he and Bob [Dixon] would go to Mycenae to learn Greek.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Giving first impressions of people at the BSA; telling Herbert about plans to go travelling in Thessaly with Bob [Dixon], [Margaret Rodger] and [Hilda] White; about his work [tracking down archaeological finds of Egyptian origin in Greece] including plans to visit Sparta, Gytheion [Yíthion] and Crete in Spring; and saying he had played tennis at the school, felt very fit and the weather was good. John also tells Herbert that his luggage and cigarettes and [photographic] films had not yet arrived, asks him to request specific books as part of a prize [from Pembroke College] and check if there was a guide to the Cyprus collection at the [British Museum], discusses photographs from his travels (he sent the negatives to Herbert), and asks why Turkish people had lighter complexions that Greek people. John gives his impressions of people he had met at the BSA (Davis, [Winifred] Lamb, [Sylvia] Benton, Miss Whitfield, Miss Roger, Miss Turnbull, [Hilda] White); mentions that the Woodwards [Arthur, Director of BSA, and his wife Jocelyn] and [Walter] Heurtley [Assistant Director, BSA] were also there, and that he felt like an imposter as they were all “so obviously learned to the eyebrows”.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Mainly describing a trip to Thessaly with Bob [Dixon], [Hilda] White and Miss Roger during which they visited Eretria [Erétria], a Turkish fort on Kara Baba [Karababa, Chalcis], Volo [Vólos], Dhimini [Dimini], Pagasae, Kalabaka [Kalambáka], the Meteora monasteries [Metéora], Larissa [Lárisa], and Baba (the old Gonnos) [Gonnoi]. Also mentions: a postcard he sent from Larissa [Lárisa] and that he had received letters from Herbert and Dickie [Mabel Dickinson]; his cigarettes, films and monocle hadn’t arrived in Athens but he had received books; he was going to Phyle [Filí] the next day; Heurtley may be excavating in Macedonia [province of Greece] in the Spring; he was feeling very fit and the boots he had were very good; and Bob [Dixon] had grown a beard during their travels in Thessaly (“a horrid sight which has disappeared today”). John also states that he should write some letters of introduction and asks Herbert to check books by Duncan Mackenzie [for references to finds of Egyptian origin in Greece].

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Mainly describing his trip to Phyle [Filí] with [Winifred] Lamb, Bob [Dixon] and [Sylvia] Benton, including treacherous walking to search for the cave of Pan; and exploring the north side of the Acropolis [Athens] with Hilda White (including teasing a guard). Also contains news that he would be excavating at Chalcidice [Chalkidiki] from the beginning of March [with Walter Heurtley]. John discusses his work [in locating finds of Egyptian origin] including that he needed to visit Aegina and Crete, and that there were finds from Pherai [Pherae] in the Museum at Volo [Vólos] but they were unpublished so he couldn’t include them in a catalogue. Additionally mentioning that he may go on a short trip of the Argolid, they had played tennis a lot [at the BSA], and not to worry about parcels not having arrived as it was usual for them to take a long time.

Sending [birthday wishes] during a trip to the Argolid (sent from [Náfplio]) with [Sylvia] Benton, [Bob Dixon and Hilda White]. Mainly describing the trip so far (they had been to Mycenae, Midea, Tiryns, Nauplia [Náfplio] and Asine [Asini]), and that John had fallen over twice hurting his knee on the second time too much to carry on the walking tour. John thanks Herbert for “accounts of the relays”; tells him not to worry about [checking if there was a guide to the Cyprus collection at the British Museum]; mentions a letter from [Ellis] Minns about possibly founding a studentship in Egyptology which would include knowledge of language, and that he was thinking about studying language in Summer [to possibly apply for the studentship]; and asks him to tell Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] that she could have a photo and he was the youngest [at the BSA].

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Wishing Herbert a Happy Christmas and New Year, and telling him: his knee had recovered [from falling in on a trip to the Argolid]; he was taking Greek lessons with Stavrides; the [curator] at the Volo [Vólos] museum (Arvanitopoulos) would not allow him to see [finds from Pherae]; and that he had not heard from “the Old Man” [Henry Comber] or [Alan] Wace, even though he had contacted [Comber]. Also outlining John’s plans to continue his trip in the Argolid [as it had been interrupted by damaging his knee] from Epidauros [Epídhavros] with the addition of [Walter] Heurtley, then to travel to Crete, back to Athens, and to the [excavation in Chalkidiki]. The letter had been folded and address to “The Aged & Revered Parent, with enclosures”.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Telling him about Christmas: they played tennis, went to a carol service at the English Church on Christmas Eve though it was too full for them to attend on Christmas Day, the Woodwards [Arthur, Director of BSA, and his wife Jocelyn] came to dinner and they did a general knowledge [quiz, written by Herbert] which [Arthur] Woodward bluffed his way through (“his bluff was very successful!”). Also telling Herbert: about his work [on Egyptian finds in Greece]; that there had been heavy snow in the north of Greece which could have delayed letters, and snow on mountain passes from Sparta which had made it difficult for [others from the school] travelling back from Sparta; [Walter] Heurtley had returned from Macedonia and Constantinople [Istanbul] “feeling much the worse for wear”; he had written 33 Christmas letters and his Greek was improving; and that [the school residents] would dine with the Woodwards on New Years’ Eve. John additionally thanks Herbert for telling him about [sports] matches and says he thinks it is a very good idea to write to the Egyptian Exploration Society soon.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Detailing his plans for the continued tour of the Argolid with [Walter] Heurtley and others from the BSA including that John may go to Aigina [Aegina] at the end to look at items in the museum; describing a day trip he had been on to Kalyvia (near Eleusis [Elefsína]), Daphni [Dhafní] Monastery, the Sacred Way including the Temple of Aphrodite, Salamis [Salamís] and [Pireaus]; and mentioning he would to go to Crete soon. John also mentions that cigarettes had arrived and describes his difficulty in getting them from the post office and tobacco control; that there was no point writing from anywhere other than Athens as post was not collected; and that he would be having dinner with [Arthur and Jocelyn] Woodward that evening and tea with Mr Spanoudes of the Greek A.A.A [Amateur Athletics Association] that afternoon.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Apologising for putting the wrong address on a letter, and explaining that some of his letters must have been lost as he had written that he had he had enjoyed architecture books and his monocles had arrived [which Herbert had subsequently asked about]. Also mentioning that he had joined the Constantinople Athletic Club (which had been announced in a newspaper before he knew about the club); that it was very cold so they had cancelled a trip to Eleusis [Elefsína] that day; that they were starting the continued tour on the Argolid on Thursday; how he intended the structure his [catalogue of Egyptian finds in Greece] and that it couldn’t progress further until he went to Crete; and that [photographic] films were the only thing that hadn’t arrived yet [which he had sent from the United Kingdom]. John labelled the letter as written on “Tuesday”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as 3 Jan 1928.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Noting that he had received a letter from Herbert with an obituary of [William Sheldon] Hadley [Master of Pembroke College], and he hoped that [Henry Comber] was to become Master. Asking Herbert to send anything in ‘The Cambridge Ancient History’ about scarabs in tomb 526 at Mycenae, and anything he could find about a scarab found at Thebes which was now in [the British Museum]. Also telling Herbert about having his first go “out on the track” [high jump at the Constantinople Athletic Club], playing hockey, that [photographic] films had finally arrived [from the United Kingdom], and asking him about a matter in a letter from Herbert (whether there was a connection between Ruth [?] showing CT [?] John’s letters and CT being upset). Annotated by [a later hand] as “Wed 4 Jan 1928”.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Describing a trip to the Argolid with [Sylvia] Benton and [Walter] Heurtley during which they visited Nauplia [Náfplio], Ligourio [Ligoúrion], a Mycenaean bridge and Hellenic fortress at Kasarmi [Arkadiko Bridge, Kazárma], Kato Phanari [Dryópi], Póros (the remains of Kalauria), Dhamala [Troizín] (the remains of Troezen [Trizina] and the “Devils Bridge”), Hermione [Ermióni], Spetzae [Spetses], Leonidhi [Leonídhion], Astros, and then returned to Nauplia [Náfplio]. At Náfplio Heurtley left the group. John and Sylvia Benton continued to Aegina, where they met Hilda White and went to the Temple of Aphaia [Aphaea]. The next day Sylvia Benton left and they went to the Temple of Aphrodite [actually Temple of Apollo], the museum where John found useful items [for his catalogue of Egyptian finds in Greece], and then sailing in the bay of Aegina. John also mentions that: they “picked up” a larger half of a Minyan bowl at the temple of Aphrodite [Apollo]; that he found Sylvia Benton very annoying; that [he and Hilda White] had got a boat back to Athens that morning; he was writing a report on his activities for the BSA; and he had heard from “the Egyptian Folk” [Egyptian Exploration Society] who “hold out great hopes” and he should learn Arabic. Additionally mentions that he’ll be going to Crete in about 3 weeks, sends sympathy to Vera [?] and asks Herbert to get Isobel [?] a wedding present from him (enclosing a card – not present).

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Telling Herbert about his work [on Egyptian finds in Greece], exploring Athens with Hilda White, a dance at the [British] Legation that he went to with Bob [Dixon], and plans for trips to Salamis [Salamís] (to see the Cave of Euripides) and Crete. John and Hilda had been exploring the Dipylon [Gate], Roman remains, the Sacred Way and the Pnyx in Athens, and the Tatoi Palace (with a taxi driver was an ex-colonel in the White Army of Russia). At the same time Bob [Dixon] had been to Olympia and Delphi. John describes seeing the Turkish Minister (Djavid Bey) and Madame Kapodistrias do a Turkish dance, and a Russian Prince dance the waltz, at the Legation. Also asks Herbert to send John’s notes on vases, coins and Prehistoric Greece (Seltman); thanks him for sending other notes; mentions that he and Hilda were doing a course on vases and coins; tells him that [Winifred] Lamb had sent him information on a bronze vase and [Charles] Seltman had organised an introduction for John to Arvanitopoulos [the curator at Vólos museum], and that he was going to write to the [British Museum] and Jock [?] [for his work]. John additionally tells Herbert that he had given the part of a Minyan bowl which he and Hilda found at Aegina to the BSA collection of sherds, that he had good photographs [of his last trip to the Argolid] and Athens, and that it was good he was reading Latin and Greek as he was in danger of “adopting the modern pronunciation”. Includes a story about a member of the BSA misusing a Greek phrase.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Describing a trip to Mycenae with Hilda [White] during which they stayed at the Belle Hélene guesthouse and spent time with Helen and Spiro [Dassis], from the guesthouse]. On one of the days John, Hilda, Helen and Spiro went to Argos [Árgos]. John describes a dance in the village, and says that at the end of the trip he really thought he knew something about Mycenae and had plans of all the tholos tombs and notes on the tombs and the finds. Also thanking Herbert for sending notes, and asking him to get books about Homer and the Iliad; telling him that he hadn’t managed to meet Arvanitopoulos [the curator at Vólos museum] as planned, that he had returned to Athens on Friday afternoon and would go to Crete the next Friday, that they would go to the Acropolis that evening if it was clear to see the full moon, and that [Richard] Dawkins [former Director of BSA] had arrived and Bob [Dixon] was going to Cyprus and possibly [Mount] Athos with Dawkins. Additionally asking Herbert to tell Dickie that he had turned into a “tea fiend”.

Sent from Hotel Minos, Candia [Iráklion]. Telling Herbert that he had arrived in Crete after a rough sea journey, giving his first impressions of Knossos and [Arthur] Evans’ restorations, and outlining plans for an expedition in Eastern Crete, doing work in the museum at [Iráklion] and trips to sites close to Iráklion. During the expedition to Eastern Crete they [John, Hilda White, Vivien Whitfield and Margaret Rodger] planned to visit Neapolis [Neápolis], Hagios Nikolaos [Áyios Nikólaos], Pachyammos [Pacheía Ámmos] (staying at [Richard] Seager’s house), Gournia [Gourniá], Vasiliki [Vasilikí], Hierapetra [Ierápetra], Sitia [Sitía], Palaikastro, Petsula and Zakro. John also planned to visit sites [near Iráklion] including Tylissos [Tilíssos] and Nirou Chani, and Phaestos [Faistós] and Hagia Triadha [Agía Triáda]. John mentions that as well as [his own work on Egyptian finds in Greece] he would be photographing and organising the publication of some vases for [Richard] Dawkins [former Director of BSA] from an excavation at Plati [in the Lasithi Plain]; and that he had discovered scarabs in the numismatic museum which had been the property of [Heinrich Schliemann]. Also sending a photograph (not present) of [Walter] Heurtley at the cave of Euripides on Salamis [Salamís] entitled “the end of a Stone Age Feud” [see PEN 2/2/1/181]. John additionally writes that he had received ‘The Unity of Homer’ [by John Adams Scott] but not an invitation to Isabels’ [?] wedding. John labelled the letter as written on “Sunday 12th”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as February.

Started from Hotel Minos, Candia [Iráklion], and finished when just arrived back to Athens. Describing an expedition to Eastern Crete [with Hilda White, Vivien Whitfield and Margaret Rodger], giving his impressions of Crete, telling Herbert that he had had some success in the museum [in his work on Egyptian finds in Greece], that Duncan Mackenzie had just arrived in Crete and he hoped to leave on Wednesday as he needed to leave Athens for Macedonia [Greece, Chalkidiki] on 7 Mar. The letter includes a drawing of a map of John’s travels around Eastern Crete and a poem about being bitten by insects. During the expedition to Eastern Crete John, [Hilda White, Vivien Whitfield and Margaret Rodger] visited Chersonesos [Khersónisos], French excavations at Mallia, Neapolis [Neápolis], Kalo Chorio, Pachyammos [Pacheía Ámmos] (staying at the house of the late [Richard] Seager), Gournia [Gourniá], Hierapetra [Ierápetra], Vasiliki [Vasilikí], Sphaka, Sitia [Sitía], Palaikastro, Pseira and Mochlos islands, Psychro [Psychron] and Kasteli Pedhiadha [Kastelli Pediados]. John describes the hospitality shown to him by local patriarch in Sphaka, and by a German household in Psychro [Psychron]. John also mentions the roads were too bad to go to Phaestos [Faistós] and Hagia Triadha [Agía Triáda], that he had been to Tylissos [Tilíssos] but it was under snow, had seen [an excavation of] a palace at Nirou Chani, and wanted to return to Crete in spring.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). About: plans and preparations for archaeological excavations on the sea coast of Chalcidice [Chalkidiki] with [Walter] Heurtley, [Sylvia] Benton and Radford, which they would be travelling to on Thursday; the recent trip to Crete; plans to return to Crete in May to go to Hagia Triada [Agía Triáda] and Phaestos [Faistós], see [Arthur] Evans and see some items in museums; an unsuccessful trip to Eleusis [Elefsína] where John attempted to see Egyptian items but they were in the storehouse of the museum; the vase that [Richard] Dawkins had wanted John to publish from Crete having been broken in an earthquake and muddled with other items; and the fragments of Minyan bowl [which John and Hilda White “picked up” on Aegina] not being suitable for publication. John states that the Minyan bowl from Aegina was not suitable for publication partly because it was found in a “dump of sherds”, where they had probably been discarded by a German archaeological team during their excavations at the temple of Aphrodite [Apollo], so the actually site of discovery was not known. John also mentions that he is taking a course in surveying for the excavations in [Chalkidiki] as [Winifred] Lamb was not able to go; discusses his photographs from Crete (some of which he enclosed – not present); thanks Herbert for “Maurice Hewlett’s despatch”, newspaper cuttings, and ‘Unity of Homer’ by [John Adams] Scott; and says he had heard from [Hans] Frankfort who wanted to meet him about possibly working in Egypt, and there was to be a dig in Knossos the next year but he would rather work in Egypt. Undated, but annotated by [a later hand] as “Sun 4 Mar 1928”.

Written from Salonika [Thessaloníki] where they were getting excavation supplies, describing the excavation that John was working on (around 1.5 miles from an American excavation at Olynathos at a place called Meciberna/Molyvopyrgos) and Salonika [Thessaloníki]. John also mentions that he had been feeling unwell because the weather was so hot; he had decided not to publish his catalogue of Egyptian finds in Greece [‘Aegyptiaca’] that year because there were more currently unpublished items which he could include; that he had managed to get a copy of ‘Tanagra Figures’ by Wilfrane Hubbard in Athens; and that their diggers [for the excavation at Meciberna/Molyvopyrgos] were likely to talk in a dialect that John didn’t know because they were refugees. Additionally asks Herbert if he had received enlargements of his best photos [of objects for ‘Aegyptiaca’] and mentions that it had been too snowy to visit the Dictaean cave (near Psychro [Psychron]) in Crete.

Written at Molyvopyrgos, and posted in Salonika [Thessaloníki]. About progress on the excavation [at Meciberna/Molyvopyrgos in Chalkidiki], archaeological finds, cold weather (asking Herbert to “tell Dicky I haven’t undressed for four days!”), that the journey there was difficult as they had to push the car up every hill, and that he would be sorry to leave as the men were “delightful” including one who had adopted John. Also criticising an excavation by [David] Robinson [under the American School of Classical Studies] in Olynthus, which John describes as “probably the worst dig in history”. John labelled the letter as written on “Sunday 18th”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as March.

Written at Molyvopyrgos. About progress on the excavation at Molyvopyrgos [in Chalkidiki], that they had found a new stratum of Early Helladic pottery, the bad weather, and plans to move to Hagios Mamas (about 3 miles away, near Olynthos) the next day. John also describes “the most extraordinary characters”: a landowner called Palamides who was known as “fur neck” because of his coat collars who tried to sell a coin to [Charles] Seltman; “the Comic Bethren” who lived in a house that the excavation used a room of, and spent most of their time in bed; “The Kaiser” who also lived in the house and took his mule, fowls, pig, goat and a couple of oxen for walks; and the old gentleman who had adopted John and now had been named “the Colonel”. Additionally asking Herbert to pay the entrance fee and enter John into [Amateur Athletics Association] high jump competitions in June and July, and thanking him for sending details of [Cambridge University Athletics Club] competitions. John labelled the letter as written on “Monday 26th”, and it is annotated by [a later hand] as March.

Written at Myriophyto, Chalkidiki. About progress on digging trial pits at Myriophyto (Hagios Mamas near Olynthos) including finding vases “which succeed in giving a lot of evidence for the Anatolian origin of the Greek race”, the journey through floods from Molyvopyrgos to get there, their accommodation in a house belonging to “Professor Ridgeway”, plans to either excavate another mound on the way or Salonika [Thessaloníki] or go straight to Salonika [Thessaloníki] when they finished. John also mentions that he waded into the Olynthos river to photograph “Refugees or the Tribal Migration” [see PEN 2/2/1/272 for the photograph], that Radford [part of excavating party for the BSA] talked too much, and the weather had improved.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Outlining plans for trips in the Peloponnese and Crete, and his plans when he arrives in the United Kingdom. John’s planned journey in the Peloponnese comprised visits to Olympia, Andhristseana [Andritsaina], Bassae, Megalopolis, Karytaena [Karytaina], Kalamata [Kalámai], Ithome, Sparta and Tripolis [Trípolis]. He then planned to return to Athens briefly before going to Crete to see [Arthur] Evans and help him on an excavation [at Knossos], visit Hagia Triadha [Agía Triáda] and Phaestos [Faistós], and do some museum work [to finish off his notes for ‘Aegyptiaca’]. He was then to return to Athens and travel back to the United Kingdom, staying in London for the [Amateur Athletics Association] Middlesex championships before going to Malvern. John mentions that if Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] couldn’t come [to the Amateur Athletics Championships] then [Charles] Seltman would probably come. John was having lunch with the Seltman’s that day, going to Marathon with them on Saturday, and they were also going to watch him do the high-jump [in Athens]. John states that his notes [on archaeological finds of Egyptian origin in Greece] were complete except for items he would see in Crete and some work to be done in the [British Museum] and in Cambridge. John also mentions: he had just received a letter from Herbert and was sorry to hear about Mrs Dickinson [Mabel Dickinson’s mother?] and he doesn’t think something could be true about Maude [?]; he hopes the cats in Malvern don’t scratch like the ones in Athens; that if Herbert sees Nokie [?] he should pretend that John had sent Herbert a copy of his letter by accident as it was “very vulgar”; and he hopes that Herbert had a good weekend in [London], asks what he thought of ‘The Vagabond King’ [operetta] and says he’ll compare notes on Vine street and Bow street [in London] with Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son] when they meet. John labelled the letter as written on “Thursday”.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Thanking Herbert and Dickie for letters, stating that he had just returned [to Athens] from Olympia and Sparta [Peloponnese trip] and was going to Crete on Friday, outlining his plans for the return journey to the United Kingdom (on the Simplon Orient [boat]) and saying that he had “fixed up with the Seltmans for May week” [in Cambridge]. Also requesting copies of archaeological books by [Arthur] Evans, [Hans] Frankfort and [Carl] Blegen and some ‘Occasional Papers of the Royal Anthropological Institute’.

Sent from the British School at Athens (BSA). Informing Herbert that he would arrive back to London on the 29th [of May] and hoped to stay at [the Oxford and Cambridge] club; and telling him that the trip to Crete was an “immense success” and Arthur Evans had suggested excavating below the central court at Knossos or at Komó [was port to the Libyan sea] on the south coast. He says of Knossos that “Evans seems to be rebuilding the palace completely in the most splendid style!” Also asking Herbert to bring clothes to London and arrange for shoes to be made, and saying he would love to be in a pageant but might not be able to rehearse as we was running [the high-jump] at Oxford [for the Amateur Athletics Association] on the 23rd [of June].

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club (London). Telling Herbert about his engagement to Hilda, saying that Hebert would probably like to meet her and to tell Dicky [Mabel Dickinson] that though Hilda was an “archaeologist who took a first, she wears neither blue stockings nor horn-rimmed spectacles!” Also asks Herbert to send him the ‘A catalogue of the Cyprus Museum’ by [John N] Myers. Undated, but annotated [in a later hand] as “June 1928”.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Asking Herbert if he could come [to Malvern] on the weekend of the 14th [of Jul] and to send catalogues to John in London. Also discussing his work at the British Museum and that he would have to get [‘Tell el Amarna’] by Petrie, saying everyone at George’s asked about Herbert, and asking Herbert if he would come [to London] for the Varsity match and society dinner.

Asking if he and Hilda [White] could come to visit tomorrow for Herbert and Dickie to meet Hilda, and telling Herbert about their plans to get married in March [1929] and to spend their honeymoon looking at possibly excavation sites in the South of Crete; discussing athletics and how he felt old in comparison to young high jumpers, but that he was very happy; asking if any post had arrived from Greece; discussing his work on [‘Aegyptiaca’]; telling Herbert he had a nice letter from [Walter] Heurtley who was concerned about David Robinson who was excavating at Olynthos, and [Sylvia] Benton and Radford who had gone to the Mountains of Epiros.

Sent from Hawks Club, Cambridge. Asking Herbert to send 3 books of photographs; discussing that he had not done well [in the high jump] the previous day but that he and Van Geyzel were going to train together; and telling Herbert that the Seltmans [Charles and Isabel] were keen to go to Komó [Kommos] with John [and Hilda] and wanted to share expenses.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Thanking Herbert for a letter, discussing his and Hilda [White’s] decision to get married, that they had enjoyed visiting [Herbert and Dickie in] Malvern and that he wouldn’t travel to [to Caldy] until a week on Monday, to give Hilda time with her mother; also telling Herbert that they met Mr Wilcock who gave them tickets for [cricket] at Lords, and that he tried to see Sir Frederick Kenyon but he was away.

Sent from New University Club, London. Telling Herbert that he had met Uncle Stanley in London who would give John a large camera; that he had seen the bank manager and arranged accounts in Athens and Cairo and a joint letter of credit for John and Hilda; that he would have lunch with Pat [Shackleton] at the hospital, and Aunt Helen would have lunch with John at Jules [restaurant]; recommending a book (‘The Broken Cup’ by E O Brown) and telling Herbert that he had written thank you letters for 2 presents.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Thanking Herbert for a letter, and saying he would go to [Malvern] on Friday evening; telling Herbert that he had heard from [Hans] Frankfort who was keen that Hilda should go to Egypt with John, about his and Hilda’s plans to go straight to Komó [Kommos] instead of to Mycenae, about frustrations with getting material for [‘Aegyptiaca’], and that [Winifred] Lamb had been to dinner with John, Hilda and the Seltman’s and they had helped her with classifying Cretan pottery in the Fitzwilliam [Museum, Cambridge]. Also mentioning that he was about to go to a feast, and that [a holiday in] Swanage would be excellent.

Written from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Enclosing (not present) a letter from Uncle Howson (and John says he doesn’t think it ? is worth it). Also telling Herbert that Bob [Dixon] had secretly married Ismene Melas; and that he had been to the [British Museum] and saw [Frederic G.] Kenyon who was in a rush because the King of Spain was visiting. John also states that it was a “great show at the Bridge yesterday” and that he would be at 39 Barton Road [Cambridge] until Tuesday.

Sent from 39 Barton Road, Cambridge. Telling Herbert that he and Hilda [White] had decided to get married in September [1928, rather than Mar 1929] as it would fit in better with their plans; also telling Herbert that he had been to see the “Old Man” [Henry Comber] who was worried about Bob [Dixon’s] marriage, that the Seltman’s were very kind and trying to encourage John and Hilda to live in Cambridge for part of the year, and that Hilda had bought him a Cretan seal stone. Also mentioning that he hoped Herbert and Dickie got the letter before going to Caldy for a gathering of Hilda and John’s families, that he may not be able to come to Swanage because of the change in date of the wedding, that S. C. Roberts and [Henry Comber] sent their love, and sending his love to Dickie.

Sent from 39 Barton Road, Cambridge. Asking Herbert to send his Middlesex zephyr as well as letters, and answer an invitation on his behalf. Also mentions that John had seen Jim [?].

Sent from Broughshane, Caldy. Thanking Herbert for letters, and telling him that he and Hilda had fixed the date of the wedding for the 15 Sep and discussing travel plans after the wedding; telling Herbert that he was having a good time in Caldy and had been able to find references easily in a library in Liverpool, that he and Hilda were to see [Hans] Frankfort and [Alan] Wace in [London], and that they had been doing work on Amarna and Egyptian art. Also asking if Hilda could go to [Malvern] to work on sherds with John.

Sent from the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London. Telling Herbert about his plans to go to [Malvern] and that he had just received a letter from [Arthur] Evans who had “put a damper” on possible excavations at Komó [Kommos], and that John had replied to the letter and was going to see Evans on his way back from Malvern. Also discussing progress with his work [on ‘Aegyptiaca’], that Hilda had left the day before [for Caldy], that he and Hilda had tea with [Hans] Frankfort to make arrangements for Egypt (there would not be room for Hilda at Erment, but she would go to El Amarnah [Amarna]), and mentioning he was going to Cambridge the next day.

Written from the Goring Hotel [London] and [the Orient Express train to Greece], just after John and Hilda’s wedding. About their luggage, giving their addresses (Hotel Majestic, Athens and Hotel Majestic, Salonika [Thessaloníki]), hoping everyone had enjoyed the wedding and that they got home safely, and saying how nice he thought it was. Also telling Herbert that they had dined at Claridges (and were the only ones there); asking him to write to Pat [Shackleton] at George’s and find out how much John owed him, to let him know how “the old man” was, to give Dickie [Mabel Dickinson] his love and “tell her to be good”, and to give Will his love and a golf club. Undated, but annotated [in a later hand] as “September 1928”.

Sent from the Hotel Majestic, Athens. Letting Herbert know that he and Hilda had arrived and telling him about the journey, payments to customs, the hotel, that there was dengue fever in Athens and some of the maid at the [BSA] had had it but didn’t seem worried, the weather, and their plans to travel to Mycenae the next day.