Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian that his Meccano had arrived and they were making armoured trains, and that it was very windy and the patrol boats were struggling because of the waves; asking for her to send his “75” [air rifle], more nuts and bolts, and his stamp tweezers and magnifying glass to detect forgeries; and asking after the birds and for her to “give Daddy a thick ear” and tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that Winchester scholarship papers had arrived.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian that he was looking forward to her visit [with Herbert Pendlebury]; about a German Smack [Q-ship] being captured near Broadstairs and taken to Ramsgate Harbour, an aeroplane crash-landing into the sea, and field guns being placed nearby; about Jumbo getting a telescope from his mother and John receiving foreign stamps. John also asks her to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] “that the mathematics are awful” and to bring some stamps as he needed them for stamp approval sheets.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent, shortly after Lilian [and Herbert] had visited. Mainly discussing naval engagements and action that he had seen or been aware of. Also telling her about a lecture on Rome, an auction they had at the school, that exams started the next day and Ponty was nervous, that Douglas had called him a cow, that they finished a cake she had made, that they were going to chapel and he had received [something to read] in Greek. John also asks Lilian to send his love to [Herbert].

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian about exams, his guns [air rifles?], and that Douglas was having his gun mended. Also asking Lilian if she knew anyone who saw a Taube [German aeroplane] over London, and how Daddy and Nanny were. Includes drawings by John of a monitor [warship], his redoubt [gun], the boys’ game of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift’, and a cat scratching someone [John as an Imperial Cat].

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Apologising for not writing sooner, and answering that he wanted “one with no tunnel at all if not one with two”. [It is not clear what he is referring to here].

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Giving Lilian news of his friends at school (Tubby, Ponty and Douglas); telling her that he had been tidying up his Meccano and they had just finished [reading] ‘A Boyscout in the Balkans’; and asking how Nanny was, and to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that he had been learning Greek. Also includes a small map of Europe drawn from memory, and a press cutting of an advertisement for a toy tank.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian about a concert at the school in which he had recited ‘The Battle of Naseby’ by Lord Macaulay, and had helped make the programmes for (an example of which he was bringing home). Also mentions that he wouldn’t bring his Meccano home for the holidays because it was too heavy.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian four short stories, and about the cold weather, that there was a new boy called Roderick, and that Hamilton [another boy at the school] couldn’t return to the school as he may have an infectious disease. John also asks Lilian to send him stamps. The letter includes drawings of a submarine and [cats].

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. About [a prank], that there had been snow, his friends and their activities at the school including that Hamilton had returned and Douglas had a “4.7 gun and is very dangerous”. John asked Lilian to send his love to everyone, and what she thought about America and new food regulations.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Saying that he was sorry to hear of Granny’s death and that he would send a wreath. Also telling Lilian that they had been tobogganing, he had hit Douglas, and that stamp collecting was becoming popular at the school. John asked Lilian to send him some stamps and whether she would be visiting or that was an “extravagance in war time”.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Sending a postal order and thanking her for a book of stamps.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian about a lecture on the artic regions (with a drawing of a polar bear), thanking her for sending the chain for his watch, telling her that he had bought some stamps and that it seemed as if she hadn’t visited. John signed his name in Greek.

Sent from the Foley Arms Hotel in Malvern [during a holiday]. Addressed “Wot cher Dad!!!”. John tells Herbert that there were two men there who spat on their hands when playing croquet, that it had been quiet as “her myrmidons” were not there, and that he was glad that someone else was “undergoing the torments of the “lingua Greecorum”.” John signs the letter “yours till death from your very most affectionate son with a lot of filial love etc.”

[Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent] over 2 days (Sunday and Monday). Thanking her for a card, sending love to “the children” and telling her they had been picking hops.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Asking [Lilian Pendlebury] to send ink for his fountain pen, and to ask “nurse” [Alice Comber] to send him a little wooden submarine that he had made, telling her he had cut his lip and had a nose bleed whilst playing football, and complaining about Mr Bickersteith (a teacher).

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Asking for more stamps and writing paper, and listing the Christmas presents he wanted. John also tells his father that he and Basil were lending each other books for the holiday, how Tubby had translated “that night” into Latin, about his activities at the school, and that it was his turn to read in Chapel. John mentions a walk that Herbert and Lilian Pendlebury went on with him when they visited Broadstairs, and that Herbert had played football during that visit. John asks after “Dickie and the love birds” and Nannie, and says that Mummy must be excited about the holidays.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Wishing his father [a happy birthday], apologising for not having written sooner but he had been helping to make an aeroplane out of a knitting frame. Also telling Herbert that he had made a boy called Lawrence angry at lunch; that someone gives John a “hack” every time they play football; and that they see warships (monitors and destroyers) with a drawing of a destroyer.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Telling Lilian that they had heard a German aeroplane and that there had been a “Zeplin scare”. John also says that there are 2 new boys at the school (Greenall and Barron) and a flag sticker at the top of the letter was given to him by “Bossie (Jumbo)”.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Two letters to Lilian ask her to send items for a pretend war, and gives details of which boys are on each side. The questionnaire from Herbert (filled in by John) asks details about the school and Lilian had written “Daddy’s Jest!!! Please excuse him!” across the top.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Saying that he was at last allowed to write, and had only had the chicken pox “very slightly”. John asks Lilian not to send items for the war [between dormitories] as they wouldn’t be having it that term, and that Basil [a boy from the opposing dormitory] had spent £1 and 10 shillings on items for the “war” (and was calling it “war economy!”). John asked for Lilian to send him nuts and bolts for an unarmoured car he was making.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Comprises the first page of a letter (the second page was for “Nanny”). Telling Lilian that there was a Taube [German aeroplane] near the school, and they had seen British and French aeroplanes chasing it; that there had been bad weather but it had improved enough to play football; that he had dressed up in his Indian outfit; that “Little Bob” and Malcolm had been to visit but Pat [had been ill]. Also asking for some prayer book markers to give to Basil [who was ill]; to please only send letters twice a week; and to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that exams start on Monday.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Comprises a letter started on Saturday evening, and finished on Sunday. Telling Lilian that they went to the “dug out” on the previous Sunday and heard guns and the [Air Raid Siren]. John also tells Lilian about building armoured cars and Tubby and Gerald having a disagreement, seeing [photographic] slides of Portugal, that Basil was ill and asking Lilian for bible markers [for Basil]. Also sending love to Nanny and hoping she will be better soon, and asking after “Dicky and the love birds”.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Thanking Lilian for letters; and telling her that he had marks back [from exams] but he would explain them when he was home, that Malcolm and “Little Bob” were going home tomorrow, he was planning what to do in the holidays, that Basil liked the bible markers, and that they were “called up” on Friday night. John also asks how Nanny is.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Telling Lilian about his garden [at St George’s School] and that they had played cricket, and asking her for a peacock or pheasant book marker and to get “Scout”.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Telling Lilian that: he had received a bathing suit, Ponti had come back [to the school], they were going to put up a tennis net, there was a Zeppelin over [the school] on Friday night, and they were looking for Viscount French [Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces of the British Army] on Thursday but didn’t find him. John also asks Lilian to send a paint box.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Sending information about the Navy League (enclosed) and saying that he has been asked to join, thanking Lilian for ink and asking her to send a badge of the Royal Engineers and the address of a shop, and asking her to thank [Herbert Pendlebury] for a letter.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent . Thanking Lilian for letters, sending crosses for his parents’ bible, telling her about his garden and that they had seen some destroyers [warships] firing at a submarine.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Thanking Lilian for letters; asking for a butterfly net, 2 Royal Flying Corps badges, and a bad egg to throw at Mr Martin’s white waistcoat “Basil’s idea”; telling her they saw several submarines escorted by a destroyer [warship], that he had hit “old Martin” with a bat, that Basil had received a telegram to say his parents had arrived safely in Plymouth, that Mrs Meyrick was “hung up at the Ritz”, and about his garden.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian about his garden, a good game of tennis and that he had hit Mr Martin’s cap off with a ball. Asking for a different kind of Royal Flying Corps badge to the one she had sent, and for her to send a letter on to his grandfather. John also tells Lilian his exam dates and for her to send something for Tubby.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Thanking Lilian for a “the crimson lake” [book?]; telling her about boats, including destroyer warships, that he could see from the school, and that the air raid sirens had sounded but it turned out to be a fire; discussing visits by the other boys’ mothers, a possible tea party at Miss Whitwick’s, and asking her not to come too often as the other boys would be jealous; asking her to take him to see aeroplanes at Westgate, and to ask Basil to tea when she visits; telling her about exams, his garden, meeting the Barrons on a walk, that Basil had caught a butterfly, and that he was looking forward to getting model ships at the beginning of the holidays. John also asks Lilian to tell Nanny that he was looking forward to her visit tomorrow.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Sending a letter for Lilian to forward to Basil; telling her about new students, how the dormitories were arranged and that he was captain, that Mr Martin had left, that it had been too hot for football and they were going to the coast that afternoon; asking her not to send too many books as there wasn’t room; and thanking her for stamps, a letter and [toy] soldiers. John also mentioned that Tubby had thrown a chair at his head in anger, and asks if Lilian had had champagne.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Asking for pistols and caps, a whistle and a torch.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Telling Lilian about the boats that had been passing, and a wreck that they could see on the Goodwin [Sands]; commenting that the kitchen maid had caught a spy; asking for two boxes of [toy] Zulus, plasticine and cotton wool (to make headdresses) for his birthday, and for her to send a bib for Tubby and a lanyard for his whistle; telling Lilian that he had taken photographs of ship, aeroplanes, the lighthouse and house and planned to take one of the “dug out” [air raid shelter]; discussing a lecture on flying and asking her to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that there was a picture of Rammeses II trying to fly and Icarus flaying into the sea; telling Lilian that a new boy (Hamilton Kerr) was very nice and he and other boys were playing and “making war” on the small dormitory, and that there was a nice new teacher called Mr Simon, and he had lent ‘Child of Storm’ [book] to Bunny. John also asked after Nanny, Dicky [dog?] was a whether he had a bath yet, and if the lovebirds had escaped again.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Comprises a letter that John tried to make a long as possible [as he knew his mother liked long letters]. Includes news about the weather, activities at the school (including that they had seen a “dug out” at the lighthouse where valuable papers were kept), that they had seen a lot of gunboats (with drawings of the boats) and Orient boats [passenger boats], and asking her not to write too often and saying that “the Imperial Kitten has turned into a cat”. John asks Lilian not to send toy Zulus as they might get broken, to tell [Herbert Pendlebury] that he would rather go to Ramsgate or Margate than play football when they visit, and to seal her next letter with gold wax to “create a sensation!” John also says he is glad that Granny liked her postcard and asks Lilian to give her his love, and asks after Nanny, Dickie [a dog?] and the love birds.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Thanking Herbert for a book about Chaldea [birthday present], describing his other birthday presents and that they had not finished the cake yet. Also tells Herbert about a lecture on Russia, that they had danced, and the boats that they could see.

Written from St George’s School, Broadstairs, Kent. Thanking Lilian for a cake and sweets [birthday present], describing his other birthday presents including a photograph from Aunt Violet of “High Jinks” with “all of them” grouped around it. Asks her to send him a postal order for the Navy League, and says that Pontie’s mother and Malcolm (who had a tutor in Broadstairs) had visited.

Written from the British School at Athens, wishing Herbert a happy Christmas and New Year and a belated happy birthday. Telling him about a visit to Siphnos with [Hilda] and [Humfry] Payne to look at sites for possible excavations; stating that they may spend Christmas in Icaria [Ikaría] and Keos [Kéa] as Payne wanted to visit possible excavation sites there; and asking him to pass on information about Crete to Mr [Dyson] Perrins [for a planned visit]. Also mentioning: they were sending 2 books for Christmas; thanking Herbert for a book and stating he had not received “the Gardiner, Green” and photos; thanking Herbert for writing to [Cambridge University Press] and stating he had no acknowledgement for proofs he had sent; he had not heard from [Stephen] Glanville about an article on Egypt and the Aegean; and asking Herbert to get ‘Great Ones of Ancient Egypt’ by [Winifred] Brunton. Additionally mentioning that he had heard from Hans [Frankfort] who was on his way to Iraq [Tell Asmar] to excavate, and thanking Herbert for writing about a Pothouse fellowship [?] which was not suitable.

Sent from the British School at Athens. Asking Herbert to send him a copy of a report in the ‘Morning Post’ newspaper on John’s paper given [at the Open Meeting of the BSA] and telling him that [William] Miller had sent him a precis congratulating him on the paper. Also mentioning that they had a good time at Chalcis [Khalkís], over Cithaeron, Thebes and Euboea.

Sent from the British School at Athens. Telling Herbert that his lecture [based on his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] had gone very well, with a copied out letter of praise and encouragement from [Thomas] Peet (part of item). Also thanking Herbert for sending a copy of ‘The Cambridge Review’, saying he had had lots of nice letters [about ‘Aegyptiaca’], telling him that Hilda’s work on Mycenaean pottery was going well and was very useful, that he would start some new work (probably on the Middle Bronze Age), that he hoped [Arthur] Evans wouldn’t start excavating at Komo [Kommos] for 5 years, and that they were leaving for Crete on Friday.

Sent from Knossos [where John had just started his Curatorship]. About their journey from Athens, the Palace [of Minos] being choked up with weeds, that [Duncan] Mackenzie had developed arteriosclerosis so could not be moved, and thanking Herbert for sending copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ and asking him to send other books as John wanted to start an archaeological library at Knossos. Also telling Herbert that he had met Karo at the [BSA] tea party who wanted to be remembered to Herbert, that they had just missed [Charles and Isabel] Seltman and Winifred Lamb, and that Helen of Mycenae [Helen Dassis] had married a restaurant keeper from New York “with octagonal horn rimmed spectacles, a grim thought”.

Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about organising the house [Villa Ariadne], grounds and palace [of Minos], learning Greek business vocabulary and discouraging people from allowing their animals to go into the palace; also about a 3-day trip to Eastern Crete [with Humfry Payne and Miss Hartley]. Also telling Herbert that he had a “very mild” letter from [Henry] Hall [about John’s article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] and suspected [Thomas] Peet had written to Hall; asking if a bill had arrived from [Cambridge University Press]; reminding Herbert to send a cutting from ‘The Morning Post’ newspaper and asking if he finds anyone with spare copies of archaeological, topographical or classical books to get them to send them for the Knossos library; and mentioning that the weather was hot and [Arthur] Evans was to arrive on the 10th [of April].

Sent from Knossos. Mainly telling Herbert about an incident involving the BSA being accused (by [Spyridon] Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum) of trying to buy vases which John, [Humfry] Payne and [Dorothy] Hartley had been to see and photograph in a house in Candia [Iráklion]. Their driver and the owners of the vases were arrested. John had sent correspondence to [Humfry] Payne to take to the Ministry of Archaeology and British Legation in Athens, expected Marinatos was “about done for the high jump”, and was going to demand a full apology be published in all the newspapers. Also telling Herbert about reports on John’s paper [given at the BSA and based on his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’]; that the 2 copies of ‘Aegyptiaca’ he had sent had not yet arrived; that they were giving lunch to some Hellenic travellers on Friday; the Villa [Ariadne] and Taverna were looking good; and [Arthur] Evans was to arrive around the 12th [of April].

Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about a lunch they hosted for “The Hellenic Travellers” including [Arthur] Evans’ stepmother, Anthony Hope, Gilbert Murray, H. A. L. Fisher, [B. H.] Liddell Hart, Ernest Gardner, Ronald Knox, [Alfred Cort] Haddon of Christ’s [College, Cambridge], [William David] Ross of Oriel [College, Oxford], McElroy and Saleeby (“the health expert”); and that they had also had a visit from 100 Polish people from Warsaw. Additionally thanking Herbert for a copy of ‘Punch’ and “Ur and Budge”, and mentioning that he had written to congratulation Dickie and Robin [Mabel Dickson and her son].

Sent from Knossos. About publications (‘Aegyptiaca’ had arrived, a notice about the Ceylon Archaeological Post, asking for a copy of ‘Crete: the forerunner of Greece’ by Charles Henry Hawes, and for Herbert to send out offprints [of an article by John]); John’s work on the pottery of Knossos; tourists who had been visiting; disagreement with [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum]; and that they had been to Kanli Kasteli (Bloody Castle) that day and “our man” [driver] had spread out lunch for them. Also mentions that [Arthur] Evans would arrive on Wednesday [16 Apr].

Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about visitors and arrivals to Knossos: [Gustav] Krupp of Essen (Germany) with a large family on Easter Monday [14 Apr]; [Arthur] Evans [16 Apr]; [Eleftherios] Venizelos, Sir Arthur and Lady Crossfield [17 Apr]; and [Robert Carr] Bonsanquet with others [19 Apr]. Also telling Herbert about progress on housing the pottery [finds at Knossos] and the Throne Room, that Arthur [Evans] was busy working on proofs of [‘The Palace of Minos III’], and that John was to receive an apology from [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum, for an accusation of trying to buy vases].

Sent from Knossos. Telling Herbert about progress on re-roofing the Throne Room, a small excavation by the Theatral area, building up the library collection (including that Arthur Evans had given £50 for the library), buying carpet and decorating the house [Villa Ariadne]. Also telling Herbert about a second party of “Hellenic Travellers” including [George William] Lyttelton and [Cyril] Allington of Eton [College], [John Fergusson] Roxburgh of Stowe [School], [Eric] Whitworth of Bradfield [College], Sir J. [John Herbert] Parsons and Professor [Robert] Newstead. Additionally listing cheques [for Herbert to deposit for John] and writing that Hilda’s bank book was in Athens.

Sent from Knossos. Updating Herbert on progress on the reconstruction of the Throne Room, and an excavation by the Theatral area which had revealed a new complex of pavements and walls and a lot of Geometric pottery. Also discussing that he had heard from [Humfry] Payne that [Spyridon] Marinatos [Director of the Candia Museum] had been sent a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Additionally mentioning that he had sent out advertisements for ‘Aegyptiaca’ just before leaving Athens, asking Herbert to send offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’] to [Thomas] Peet rather than [Gerald] Wainwright and to send books for the library at Knossos, telling him they had a lull in visitors, and listing cheques [to be paid into John’s bank account].

Written from the British School at Athens, wishing Herbert a happy Christmas and New Year and telling him about plans [for Hilda and John] to travel to Sicily (just after Christmas), Andros [Ándros] and Keos [Kéa] (when they get back from Sicily) and Ikaria later. They had planned to spend Christmas on Icaria [Ikaría] and Keos [Kéa] with Payne, but Payne could not go. Also telling Herbert that he, [Walter] Heurtley, [Theodore] Skeat and [Nicholas] Hammond had walked to Thebes from Athens setting off at 3am. Additionally mentioning that he was happy [Cambridge University Press] had proofs [that he had sent], Egyptian books and photographs [that Herbert had sent] had not arrived, and he had not heard from [Stephen] Glanville about [an article on Egypt and the Aegean that John had written].

Sent from Knossos. About progress on excavations, and telling Herbert that Kosti [Chronakis] had been ill, Arthur [Evans] had been buying a lot of furnishings for the Taverna, and that [Spyridon Marinatos, Director of the Candia Museum] had resigned after a stern letter from the Ministry of Archaeology in Athens (related to accusing the BSA of trying to buy vases). Also mentioning offprints from the [Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’], and that he would be back in the United Kingdom from the beginning or middle of July.

Sent from Knossos. Discussing a review by [Thomas] Peet (in the Liverpool Annuals) of ‘Aegyptiaca’, including criticisms of the book. Also updating Herbert on work at Knossos: that the work on the Palace was going well, they had found two more huge Koulouras (wall refuse pits) and a series of MMII polychrome (Kamarais) pottery. Also mentioning: [Humfry] Payne had found “great things” at Perachora (a town besides the temples, and “masses of excellent pottery”); he had received £15 worth of books from Salby [for the Knossos library]; the weather was too cool and rainy to have dinner outside; that Hilda was well but he had a cold; and reminding Herbert to organise cricket for July when John there and asking if there was news of offprints [from the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, of his article ‘Egypt and the Aegean in the Late Bronze Age’].