The beginning of the volume contains a section of “essays 1920” by John with comments and marks in a different hand [the book was previously used as a school book]. The essays are “The Themistocles, a newly discovered Dialogue of Plato written in a late and degraded style” (a handwritten dialogue between Eumenes and Critias) and “From the Annals of John Silent” (an essay about Oliver Cromwell). The main body of the volume is a travel-log entitled “John’s Trip to Greece with Mr Cullen, Easter 1923” comprising dated extracts of letters from John to Herbert Pendlebury about the trip (2 Apr – 4 May 1923) [copied out by Herbert Pendlebury], with small photographs [added later]. Extracts from a letter written from Athens (10 Apr) describe the journey through France (Paris), Switzerland (Lausanne), Italy (Dommodosola, Milan including the Cathedral, Lakes Como and Maggiore, plain of Lombardy, Venice), Yugoslavia (Serbia, Belgrade, South Serbia [region of Yugoslavia], Skopje), Guevgueli [Gevgelija] on the border with Greece, Salonika [Thessaloníki], Mount Olympos, the Vale of Tempe, Pelion, Ossa, Thessaly including Larissa [Lárisa], and Thermopylae [Thermopílai] (including seeing Mount Oeta). An extract also mentions a postcard from Zagreb [Croatia]. Further extracts from the letter (10 Apr) also describe arriving in Athens, going to the British School at Athens, meeting [Alan] Wace; visiting the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, Dipylon Gate and Cemetery and the Theseion; a day trip walking from Megara [Mégara] to Minoa and Nisaea, across Salamis [Salamís] and along the coast of Attica to Pireaus; a day trip to Prasias [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Laureion [Lávrion], Thorikos and walking back to Athens over Hymettos [Imittós Óros] (the trip was supposed to include Sounion but their car broke down); and climbing Lycabettos [Mount Lycabettus]. Extracts from further letters describe visiting the National Museum in Athens (including descriptions of rooms and work that Alan Wace was doing in the museum); seeing Lebadea [Levádhia], Delium, Tanagra, Thebae [Thebes], Haliartos and Goulas; travelling on to Livadhia [Levádhia], Mount Helicon, Stiris Monastery (where they ate and stayed the night), Schiste, Arracova [Arákhova], and Delphi (including descriptions of the archaeological site and museum); a boat trip to Patras [Pátrai] then travelling on to Olympia (including description of archaeological site), Anduvtiana, Greka [Graíkas], Andritsana [Andrítsiana], Bassae, Kalamata [Kalámai], Sparta, Langada Gorge, Trypi [Trípi], Mistra [Mistrás], Tripolis [Trípolis], Argos [Árgos], Tiryus, Nauplia [Náfplio], Epidauros [Epídhavros], the Heraion [of Argos], Mycenae (staying at the Belle Helene, [Alan] Wace showing them tombs, describing the archaeological sites), Corinth, Eleusis [Elefsína] and back to Athens; Marousi (climbing Pentelies); the boat journey from Pireaus, stopping in Corfu, then catching the train from Brindisi to Boulogne, and arriving back in London via Dover on the 4 May.

Comprising a travel-log compiled by John Pendlebury containing photographs and details of the journeys and excursions from London to Athens (25 Oct – 11 Nov, via Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade and Constantinople [Istanbul]); Thessaly (22 – 29 Nov, including Chalais [Khalkís], Eretria [Erétria], Volo [Vólos], Kalabaka [Kalambáka], Meteora Monasteries [Metéora], Larissa [Lárisa], Vale of Tempe); Phyle [Filí] (30 Nov); the Argolid (9 – 14 Dec, Mycenae, Tiryns, Nauplia [Náfplio]); walking the boundary wall between Athens and Eleusis [Elefsína] to Daphni [Dhafní] (29 Dec); a 2nd trip to the Argolid (5-12 Jan, Nauplia [Náfplio], Kasarmi [Kazárma], Kato Phanari [Dryópi], Poros [Póros], Kalauria [archaeological site on Póros], Dhamala [Troizín], Hermione [Ermióni], Aegina); the Cave of Euripides (24 Jan); a trip to Mycenea, Argos [Árgos], Nemea [Neméa] and Phlious [Flioús] (30 Jan – 3 Feb); Eleusis [Elefsína] (4 Mar); Prasiae [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Thorikos and Sounion (15 Apr); and Salonika [Thessaloníki], Molyvopyros and Myriophyte (including photographs of archaeological sites, 8 Mar – 13 Apr). Also includes photographs of Athens, plans and hand drawn maps. Additionally includes detailed instructions for walking (by Gell, written out by John Pendlebury) for a trip in the Argolid.

Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of excursions from Athens to Marathon (22 Apr); Korakou and Corinth (24 Apr); Olympia, Kalamata [Kalámai] and Sparta (25 Apr-1 May); Vouliagmeni (19 May); Rhamnous (20 May); Oropo and Amphiareion (21 May); Prasiae [modern Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos], Thorikos, Sunion [Sounion] (23 May). Also contains plans of archaeological sites on tracing paper.

Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury containing photographs and details of trips from London to Athens (16-20 Sep 1928); Mycenae to Xylokastro [Xilókastron] for John and Hilda’s honeymoon (21 Sep -1 Oct 1928); to Salonika [Thessaloníki] (2 – 22 Oct 1928); a cruise around Islands (Cyclades, North Aegean and Saronic islands) (1-13 Apr 1929); to Sounion and Porto Raphti [Porto Rafti, Markopoúlou, Órmos] (16 Apr 1929): Brauron [Vraona] (24 Apr 1929); Rhodes (17-25 May 1929); Athens to London (1-7 June 1929); London to Athens (5-12 Oct 1929) including 4 days in Venice; Mycenae, Nauplia [Náfplio], Tripolis [Trípolis], Andritsaena [Andrítsaina], Kalamata [Kalámai] and Olympia (15-26 Oct 1929); Eleusis [Elefsína] and Daphni [Dhafní] (31 Oct 1929); Monastery of Mendeli in Penteli (23 Nov 1929); Menidi (3 Nov 1929); Sounion (5 Nov 1929); Delphi (9-12 Nov 1929); Rhamnous (15 Nov 1929); Corinth, Mycenae and Perachora (23-28 Nov 1929); Siphnos (4 – 13 Dec 1929); and Athens to Thebes (17 Dec 1929). Also contains photographs of sites around Athens. Additionally includes a contents page at the front of the volume, a hand drawn (traced) map of Siphnos, and a pocket for a “map of travels in the Aegean 1928-29” (empty). The notebook contains a note that the photographs from the 2nd trip to Mycenae (Oct 1929) are in a separate book [this is referring to a photograph album, PEN 7/2/1].

Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of trips in Sicily (27 Dec 1929-25 Jan 1930); to Phyle [Filí] and the Cave of Pan (9 Feb 1930); Vari [Vári] and the Cave of Pan (16 Feb 1930); Athens to Chalcis [Khalkís] and Eretria [Erétria] via Thebes (2-3 Mar 1930); the Argolid (6-11 Feb 1931); Andros [Ándros] (19-26 Feb 1931); Athens, Delphi, Thermopylae [Thermopílai], Chaeroneia [Chaironeia], H. Luke [Monastery of Hosios Loukas, near Steíri], Thebes and Gla [with Hilda Pendlebury, Humfry Payne and Dilys Powell] (2-10 Mar 1931); Thorikos (1939); Kimolos [Kímolos, Nísos] and Syros [Sýros, Nísos], with Gerard Mackworth Young (18-27 Mar 1939); Naxos [Náxos, Nísos] (30 Mar – 8 Apr 1939); and Mycenae and Pylos [Pílos] (15 – 18 Apr 1939). Volume also includes notes by [Hilda Pendlebury] attached by paperclips. One note is about a photograph of Perachora, and another explains that they had not been able to travel west from Delphi on their trip in March 1931 because of the weather. John and Hilda were accompanied on the trip to the Argolid by James Hilary Sheffield Waddington and Mary Chubb. Includes photographs of Ancient Corinth and the Heraion of Perachora which were taken by James Hilary Sheffield Waddington or Mary Chubb (Feb 1931), after their trip to the Argolid with John and Hilda Pendlebury. John and Hilda did not accompany them to Corinth and Perachora.

Comprising a notebook travel log, compiled by John Pendlebury, containing photographs and details of trips to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine [including some places now in Israel] (8 Feb – 8 Mar 1933); Cumberland (United Kingdom, 2-9 Oct 1933); from “England to Egypt” via Gibraltar and Italy (11-22 Nov 1933); Cambridge (United Kingdom, Oct 1934); Palestine [including some places now in Israel] (6-12 Apr 1935); Hadrian’s Wall (United Kingdom, 18-20 Aug 1937); and “East Africa etc.” [Sudan, Yemen, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Egypt] (15 Jan – 23 Mar 1938).

Photograph album compiled by John Pendlebury, containing plans and photographs of Tholos tombs in Mycenae and some other archaeological sites in the Peloponnese, with notes on the sites. Also contains other photographs and plans of Mycenae. The first page has the title of the album written on it as “The Tholos Tombs of Mycenae & elsewhere with The Citadel of Mycenae & its Environs.” Also includes loose photographs of Knossos [possibly prints of photographs from Arthur Evans], and a temple in Egypt.

Photograph album containing itineraries and photographs from John and Hilda Pendlebury’s journeys in Crete: 10 Feb-1 Mar 1928; 4-17 May 1928; 26 Apr-13 May 1929; 14 Mar-8 Jul 1930; 8-14 Apr 1932 (with C. C. Cremin); 10-23 May 1932 (with S. R. Sherman); and 26-31 May 1932 (with C. J. Jekyll). Also contains plans of archaeological sites in Crete. Some photographs are missing: 1. One with the caption “Miss Rodger” [taken by Miss Rodger, probably of King Minos fresco, Knossos], c. 85mm x 60mm 2. One captioned “Proprietor, HWW, VW, MR in Vrakhasi Gorge”, c. 85mm x 60mm

Photograph album containing: photographs of people, landscapes, Knossos and other archaeological sites in Crete; an itinerary of John Pendlebury’s travels in Crete in 1933 with Hilda Pendlebury and others; and loose photographs of sites in Corfu and photographs taken in the Savoy Hotel in Luxor, Egypt. Note that some photographs are missing: 1. With the caption “The West Court from the West, Excavations of 1930. North West Acropolis Houses and Koulouras”, c. 170mm x 230mm 2. With the caption “J.D.S.P. and Yanni Markakis”, c. 60mm x 85mm 3. 2 photographs from the last page, both approximately 75mm x 105mm

Photograph album containing handwritten itineraries and photographs of John Pendlebury’s trips around Crete including: around the Messara [Mesarás, Pedhiás] 1934; East Crete (with Seton Lloyd, Joan Lloyd, Tristram Hillier and Richard Wyndham) 1934; West Crete (with Hilda Pendlebury and Khronis [Bardakis/Vardhakes]) 1935; Lasithi [Lasíthi] area (with R W Hutchinson) 1935; Dia [Día, Nísos] (with Manolaki and Kosti) 1935; Mount Ida and Central Crete (with Manolaki, Kosta Kounalis, R W Hutchinson and Mercy Money-Coutts) 1935; Lasithi [Lasíthi] and Hierapetra [Ierápetra] Isthmus (with Mercy Money-Coutts) 1935; the South Coast of Crete (with Hilda Pendlebury) 1936; Agios Nikolaos [Áyios Nikólaos] to Lasithi [Lasíthi] (with Hilda Pendlebury and Mercy Money-Coutts) 1936; Mount Ida (with Hilda Pendlebury and Mercy-Money Coutts) 1936; Messara and Kophinos [Mesarás, Pedhiás and Kófinas, Óros] (with Mercy Money-Coutts and R W Hutchinson) 1937; “Milatos, Spina Longa, Pakhyammos, Kalamafka, Lasithi” [Mílatos, Spinalónga, Pacheía Ámmos…Lasíthi] 1937; “Dikte, Psykhro, Mathia, Lyttos, Knossos” [Mount Dickte, Psikhrón, Mathiá] (with Mercy Money-Coutts), 1937; “Anogeia, Axos, Nidha, Psiloriti, Zaros, Melabes, Kavo Melissa” [Anógeia, Axós, Nida Plateau, Mount Ida, Zarós, Mélambes] (with Mercy Money-Coutts and Kosta Kounalis) 1937; East Crete, 1938; “To Lasithi…Phrati, Emparos, Limnarkanos, Tzermiadho” [Lasíthi…Afrátion, Émbaros…Tzermiádhes] (with Hilda Pendlebury, Frank Thompson, Mercy Money-Coutts, Vincent Desborough and Marion Pascoe) 1938: another trip to East Crete (with Martin Hammond, Molly Hammond and Hilda Pendlebury) 1938; West Crete (with R W Hutchinson) 1939; East Crete, 1939; Central Crete, 1939; and Lasithi [Lasíthi] (including a glendi on Karphi), 1939.

Sent from Culver House [D], Winchester College. Thanking Herbert for sending £1; sending a poem in Greek entitled ‘πιθηκοs’ [‘The apes’] (not included); telling Herbert about sporting and academic achievements of men in his house at Winchester, John’s achievements in Greek, mathematics and French, that he was 6th [place in “cuse”], and they had had a natural history lecture on beast eating plants; and also about plans for [Herbert and Lilian to visit on the 28th of Feb]. The reverse of the letter has notes of Greek words translated into English [Herbert notes on the poem that John sent].

These notes were written by John from the contents of PEN 2/5/1, and could have been preparation for his own trip to Mount Ida with R. W. Hutchinson, Hilda Pendlebury and Mercy Money-Coutts (Jun 1936).

Includes a note of introduction about the practicalities of travelling around Crete, and details of one possible route. It seems that John intended to include other routes as well [perhaps this was the beginnings of a travel guide].

With drawings [by John Pendlebury], written whilst he was a student at Winchester College (the notebook has a “D” on the front which was John’s house in Winchester).

With drawings, general notes and a bibliography. At the reverse of the book there is another piece of writing entitled Royal Egyptian Sculpture, with references.

The notes are divided into places and are unfinished (in some sections John had just written the title of the site but nothing else). The notes reference books and articles by other authors.

The text is mainly about Knossos [the first lecture], and includes lists of images relating to Knossos and Amarna [shown at the lectures].

Also contains notes of references; a list of people and publications [to send a copy of ‘The Archaeology of Crete’ to]; notes about Daedalic sculpture; a list of [Illustrated London News] articles about Amarna; and a copy of [David Pendlebury’s] school timetable (Autumn 1938). Additionally contains (in Hilda Pendlebury’s writing) a list of Punches (magazine) missing and a small hand drawn map.

Comprises copies of walking routes from [‘The Itinerary of Greece: Containing One Hundred Routes in Attica, Boeotia, Phocis, Locris, and Thessaly’ by William] Gell, [‘Pausania’s Description of Greece’ by James George] Frazer and an Admiralty Handbook. Contains routes (with timings) for “Hieron to Damalá [Troizín]”, “Epidauros [Epídhavros] to Potamia”, “Dhamala [Troizín] to Poros [Póros]”, “Hieron to Epidauros [Epídhavros]” and “Old Epidauros [Epídhavros] to Poros [Póros] along the Coast”.

With photographs and postcards of the items stuck onto pages.

Comprises a love and adventure story based in Egypt. The main character was an archaeologist who couldn’t marry the woman he loved because she was a member of the Greek royal family. The story makes reference to stone bust of Nefertiti which was discovered in 1933.

In John Pendlebury’s handwriting.

On headed paper from the School of Oriental Studies Union Society, University of London. Sending Hilda a document (relating to their forthcoming marriage), telling her he had bought camp beds [for their honeymoon] and asking her to get sleeping bags and a torch, asking her to decipher [hieroglyphs] and promising to "behave in and/or on the sea".

With additional annotations [in Hilda’s writing]. Subjects include: thanking Hilda for a telegram and letter; recounting walks in Eastern Crete whilst staying at, Tsermiada [Tzermiado], Neapolis [Neápolis] and Psychro [Psychron] (walks around [Mount] Oxa, Vrakhas [Vrakhásion], Trapeza Cave, Erganos, Viano [Archavianos], Amira, Arvi, Embaros); tales of John’s companions (Old George, Manoli, Mercy [Money-Coutts], the Squire [R W Hutchinson], Mrs Hutchinson, the Wolf, "the witch of Endor", Kosti and [Sylvia] Benton); Khronis [Bardakis’] mule; asking Hilda to get a review of the Tell el-Amarna [Amarna, Egypt] excavation translated from Dutch, and to run errands including getting glass eyes; John damaging his ankle; a trip to Dhia [Día, Nísos]; forwarding letters from Mohammed Awad and Hussein [at Amarna?]; plans to go to Mount Ida; pleasure that "the brats" [David and Joan Pendlebury] were well; a letter that John had received from "Little Arthur"; and asking if Miss Jones had plans back from Lovat Dickson and if arrangements were going well for an exhibition in September.

Thanking Hilda for a letter, newspaper clippings and notes; sending a report on “Stubbing’s treatise”, a job application “for Minn’s job” [Disney Professorship of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge] and a letter to the Master of Emmanuel [College, Cambridge], asking Hilda to get these items typed and sent; saying “Old Will” had asked after her and that John was going to see the Hills and Blegens [Carl], and that he hoped to go to Kimolos [Kímolos] and Melos [Mílos] with [Gerard Mackworth] Young [Director, British School at Athens].

Thanking Hilda for notes, letters and papers; informing her that he was going to Kimolos [Kímolos, Nísos] and Syros [Sýros, Nísos] for a week from the following day, and that he had been to Thorikos and Markopoulo where he was “embraced by a tight Agrophylax”; news of people he had seen in Athens (Hill, [Carl] Blegen, Marinatos, Karousos, Miller, “Peche Melba”, Emile); sending the Heurtley’s address near Stroud (United Kingdom); informing Hilda he was going to play hockey and that one of the [British School] students (Vronwy Fisher) knew her nephew Jim; checking that Hilda was sending out a publication proof that [John] Forsdyke had returned and asking that she let him know when she received his report on an essay by Stubbings and his job application for the Disney [Professorship of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge].

Thanking Hilda for news and forwarded items, wishing that her exam went well and updating Hilda on his activities: trip to Kimolos [Kímolos, Nísos] and Syros [Sýros, Nísos] with [Gerard Mackworth] Young including sites that they had found; that he was about to go to Naxos and Paros with Vincent [Desborough] and Mercy [Money-Coutts]; John’s lecture at the British School which the Royal Family attended; dining with the Squire [R W Hutchinson], the de Jongs and Horsfields after John’s lecture; that he had seen Mrs Hill, Mrs Blegen, Miss Swindler, “old Petrococchino” and Mrs Atchly at the lecture; seeing [Oscar] Broneer’s excavations on the north slope of the Acropolis; looking at [Christos] Tsountas’ library which was for sale; and playing tennis. John also states he is glad to hear about the school for Joan, that he hopes David enjoys Malvern and that she enjoys Hunstanton, not to worry about “the Island envelope”, that he had lost Hans’ [Frankfort] address to thank him for a book and that he had sent cards to [David and Joan]. John also asked Hilda to tell Keith [?] that Calder is looking for Christian inscriptions.

Thanking Hilda for letters and a telegram, hoping David is better and asking Hilda to give David his love, and updating Hilda on his activities and news: details of a trip to Naxos with Mercy [Money-Coutts] and Vincent [Desborough]; comments that Vincent was better when away from the British School on a trip; [Carl] Blegen finding a Mycenaean palace at Pylos [Pílos]; Mrs Hill and Mrs Blegen sending their best wishes to Hilda; Piet de Jong having had an abscess in his throat; Edith Eccles having her appendix out; John having been to the top of Hymettos mountain range [Imittós Óros]; hearing from Walter Heurtley [that he had got £25 from the BSA?]; John having been asked to contribute a festschrift [for Johnny Myers]; having seen Helen Negroponti; [David] Iliffe [head of Jerusalem Museum] having been shot in Jerusalem; and details of finances from [Herbert] Pendlebury.

Thanking Hilda for a letter and enclosures, expressing pleasure that David is better, and updating Hilda on his activities: looking at Perakhora scarabs in a museum and plans for Mercy [Money-Coutts] to photograph and draw sides of the scarabs; plans to go to Mycenae, Kalamata [Kalámai], Pylos [Pílos] then Crete; and that he had managed to get £25 more from the school [British School at Athens, for excavations in Crete]. The letter also includes: details of how John was dealing with enclosures that Hilda had sent him (sending letters and asking Hilda to forward money to Stokes and a note saying he would “join them at Colwell on August 15th”); news that the British School was quite empty (just John, Vincent [Desborough], Vronwy Fisher and Austen), that [Edith] Eccles was getting better after having her appendix out, and that Mrs Swindler sent her regards.

Hoping that Hilda had received a telegram announcing that John had arrived in Knossos and that [David and Joan] had cards from him, and updating Hilda on his activities and news: having received a mysterious letter from the French School [in Athens] containing a carol service programme from Pembroke College and a letter from a bank manager to Mr Bayley; his trip to Pylos [Pílos] and Mycenae; news about [friends at Mycenae] Helen, Agamemnon, Costa, and asking Hilda if she got a “party spirit post card” signed by old Gianoula; a trip to Kalamata [Kalámai] and Pylos [Pílos] with Vincent [Desborough] which included seeing [Carl] Blegen’s excavation of a palace at Pylos [Pílos]; details of Blegen’s excavations; travelling back to Athens from Kalamata [Kalámai] then on to Knossos; work done in the museum at Knossos; hoping to go to Grabusa with Mercy [Money-Coutts] and the Squire [R W Hutchinson], then on to Lasithi [Lasíthi] in a month; and seeing the tholos [at Knossos] and doubting the dating. John also asks Hilda for her original pottery notes and sends love from “everyone, particularly Manoli”.

Telling Hilda he had just got her letter from Hunstanton and she shouldn’t worry because if war did start then John would be in the best place, and if it didn’t then the excavation would continue as normal; informing her that he had answered Fairman [?] and that he would be “inclined to strangle the Sheikh’s wife over the nurse question”; sending Hilda an extract of a conversation at Mycenae which had taken place between the Italian ambassador, Helen and Orestes about an apple; updating her on archaeological work (sorting out finds from Karphi, Mercy [Money-Coutts] finishing drawing the corpus, Zakhary working at the museum); apologising for a “Caldy-Malvern misunderstanding” and mentioning that Robin [Mabel Dickinson’s son] was accommodating refugees and the house at Malvern was going to be closed up because of [Herbert] Pendlebury’s work in London; mentioning that he was writing a “rather good article” on Cretan topography for the Johnny Myers Festschrift; and saying that it was nice to have a letter from David “but don’t force it”. Also includes news that Little Sphakianakes (the school master) had left [Knossos], that George [Markogiannakis] had pneumonia, that John had arranged for an inscription on a pentelic marble slab for the fountain at Vitsilovrysi, that Kosta Kourales (who had been to Mount Ida with them) had died, and that [the excavations in Crete] had been given £25 more funding from the British School and £10 from London University.

Telling Hilda about a trip around Western Crete with Mercy [Money-Coutts] and the Squire [R W Hutchinson] (to Khania [Chania], Kiramos, Trakhila/Selli, Agios Sostes, Gravousa, Phalasarna, Platanos, Polysslenia, Rokka, Kolympari and Khomia). That Naxakes had joined them for part of the journey and had been “an extremely pleasant companion”, and that Mercy and John had been mistaken for spies. John also thanked Hilda for a review from [the Illustrated London News] and told her where a stub for a check for Rex was, informed her that “poor old George” [Markogiannakis] had died, and that he had enjoyed getting David’s letter.

Apologising for not writing sooner but the weather had been bad, containing news about the excavation at Karphi (and Koprana) including details of finds, that “two old masons out of Chaucer” were building a hut, and that the hut and the fountain at Vitsilovrysi would have been finished [if the weather had not been so bad]. Telling Hilda that the Squire [R W Hutchinson] and Miss Benton had arrived (the Squire looking unwell) and had been to Toplou and Krista; Eleutheria was cooking very well; everything was quiet apart from “the usual casual rows”; they had 2 Albanian criminals (that had escaped during the Italian invasion, the police had “wished” onto them) and a sheep stealer from Arogeia working on the excavation; Petrou was visiting the excavation and John hoped for a visit from Lord Lloyd; John had gone to a dance evening of a the Youth Movement which started very late; that it was predicted that there would be earthquakes and volcanoes would erupt on the 16th; and comments on the village of Kera (Crete). John also asked Hilda tell Alan [?] that [Hugh] Last would like to go to Mycenae, and for her to send him a list of recipients for offprints of an article on Trapeza [‘Excavations in the Plain of Lasithi. I: The Cave of Trapeza’, Annual of BSA 36].

Thanking Hilda for letters and news; giving her news of the excavation including details of finds, that the weather had been very poor and volcanoes were predicted for the 17th [of June]; describing the house that had been built [at Tzermiado] including the furnishing and that they had held a dance on the roof; telling Hilda about his walk to Knossos to fill in/send an income-tax form and “old Louka” accompanying him on the return journey; and discussing a review of [‘The Archaeology of Crete’] by Theophanidus, John’s criticisms of an article about Tell el-Amarna, and receiving an article by James Strachey who John had met at “the Exhibition” [British School or Egypt Exploration Society Exhbition].

Thanking Hilda for letters, photos and forwarded items; giving her news of the excavation including details of finds; telling Hilda about an enjoyable lunch he had at Psykhro [Psychron] with Kasapes and 2 engineers that were staying at Psykhro [Psychron], where he told stories in Greek; asking her if she had heard Kasapes’ story about a Swedish archaeologist; informing Hilda that Dikaios was arriving at Tzermiado, “Portly Petrou” was there and that Zakhary was also there working on pithos; and telling Hilda that he had a letter from Frank [Thompson] saying that being in Tzermiado had been the happiest time of his life and he wanted to be an archaeologist.

Thanking Hilda for letters and a list of offprints sent; discussing reviews [of ‘The Archaeology of Crete’]; telling Hilda about Dikaios’ visit, a glendi they had on John’s name day, that they had been to the school prize giving ceremony, that Zakhary had to leave the excavation to go to another excavation at Agia Triadha [Agía Triáda] but John hoped he would be back; giving her news of the excavation including details of finds and that he thought they would finish Karphi that year; telling Hilda he had heard from Alan [Wace?] that there was to be an excavation at Knossos in 1940 that John would be asked to be part of, and that Schaeffer would be digging at Isopata; and John’s plans for finishing work and returning to [Cambridge] by the end of [June], and mentioning the tennis lawn and cat [in Cambridge].

Expressing concern that Hilda wasn’t getting his letters, hope that she wasn’t “overdoing it” and asking about her show [a play]; news of the excavation at Karphi including finds and that the site was looking excellent from Mikre Koprana; telling Hilda about the Kasapides going to lunch at Karphi and the men dancing afterwards, and plans for visiting the Kasapides’ [when the group leave Karphi] and to travel via Gerontomouri, Kastamonitza, Mokhos [Mokhós] and Khersonesus [Khersónisos]; asking Hilda to find copies of photographs used in [‘The Archaeology of Crete’] for Hans [Frankfort] to use in his lectures to be given in Chicago, and to send a note to George Sadly asking for Wroth’s catalogue of Cretan and Aegean coins; discussing a positive review [of ‘The Archaeology of Crete’] in Nature (journal) by Johnny Myers, and a book that John had ordered the previous autumn; telling Hilda that a branch of the Anglo Hellenic league had been founded in Candia [Iráklion], that John had been made a member of the committee and had been called to a meeting on the day of the meeting. Also thanking Hilda for sending notes by Stephen Glanville about Tell el-Amarna [Amarna], asking if Ron Jenkins was planning on going to Crete that year, sending love from Sphakianakes [?] who had returned, and including 2 poems [written by John] about an old wolf [possibly referring to Ron Jenkins] and Manolake [foreman at Knossos].

Describing life in the training unit and the other cadets and officers training with John (particularly those sharing a room); telling Hilda that they were to start their training the next day and that the course was around 3 months with breaks at weekends and Easter; mentioning a possible course in Intelligence in Cambridge and that after that he had been promised an “action job”; asking Hilda to send him items forgotten, order trousers, meet him in London at the weekend and book a hotel and a theatre show, and not to “forget your marriage lines”.

Thanking Hilda for sending items, describing training, mentioning that there was now hot water, and that he was looking forward to [seeing her] on Saturday.

Comprises a letter, written whilst on guard duty, describing John’s training on horses, that he was feeling better and that it had been a good party at the weekend, and asking Hilda to send a shaving mirror and boots. Also includes mention that John was glad to get Hilda’s telegram, and asking her to let him know about train times to Cambridge and if she heard from Northampton.

Comprises a handwritten letter headed “G.B. Sunday” describing a journey via the New Forest, Bordeaux, Cette, [Marseille], Ajaccio (Corsica), [Bizerte, Tunisia], Malta, Corfu and Phaleron (near Athens); mentioning people that John had seen in Athens ([George] Young, Helen Thomas, Frank Stubbings, Mrs Hasluck, Alan [Wace], “old blasted Will”) and that Vronwy Fisher had gone home; mentioning that it was strange being somewhere that was not blacked out, the weather, and that he hoped she had told [his father and step-mother] of his arrival; sending things for the R. G. S. [Royal Geographic Society] and asking Hilda to send a cheque book and stamps. Also includes a note (headed “Tuesday”) telling Hilda that he was going to be Vice Consul to Crete.

Describing a short trip to Western Crete, and that Elliadi was instructing John how to be Vice Consul; telling Hilda he hoped to go to Lasithi [Lasíthi] with the Squire [R W Hutchinson]; stating that they didn’t get much news [about the war] but that “if England was overrun we’d fight from the colonies”.

Telling Hilda he had been on a trip and that’s why he hadn’t sent a telegram, and asking her to tell Mercy [Money-Coutts] “about thirty if allowed” [?].