Add MS 89235/1/3/1

x2 items dated 1914, x1 item dated 1916, the remainder span the first two quarters of 1917, January-June.

1914

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1914.

Letter of 2 folios, written in ink, on paper, with 1 envelope, addressed to Derbyshire.

4.08.1914

• Note from Queen Mary, Buckingham Palace, 1914.

Hand written note, in ink, on note paper headed 'Buckingham Palace'. Inscription reads: 'Gift form Mary R, and the Women of the Empire, 1914.'

1 item, in two fragments.

Item described in Imperial War Museum online catalogue: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30081988

Described by IWM as part of a Christmas package from queen Mary. This was the product of a Gift Fund set up by Princess Mary intended to be received by all active servicemen.

1916

• Leave of absence card 1916.

Dated from 27.4.1916 to 22.9.1916

2nd Artists' Rifles O.T.C. the pass grants leave of absence from quarters to Lieutenant Corporal Johnson, A.F. Registers leave periods and locations on verso.

1917

January -March

• Letter correspondence from Essie to Alfred Forbes Johnson, 1917

24.01.1917

Letter, of 6 folios, written in ink, on paper. Sent from Battersea Park.

• Postcard correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

24.01.1917

Postcard, inscribed in ink, to Essie at Battersea Park, from Southampton.

'We are going over tonight.'

• Postcard correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

25.01.1917

Postcard, inscribed in ink, to Essie at Battersea Park.

Informs of the good crossing in a crowded boat and gives his new temporary address.

Describes new camp on top of a hill, where they 'sleep in little canvas huts, which will be pretty cold.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

25.01.1917 to 26.01.1917

Letter, written in ink., of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. 'Jan 25th' written in pencil, possibly added later.

Addressed from Havre, France.

'It is rather difficult to know what not to write about.' 'I have just heard that we are allowed to put Havre..'

Johnson describes the Mess, and explores the country, which he finds '..very nice, once you get away from the Camp.'

'The first hour this morning we were censoring letters - some of them are very pathetic, some amusing, most of them fed up.'

'Everything here is just like a camp in England, no sign of war. Going to the front is called 'going up the line'. A party of officers went up last night. They were making great preparations to keep out the cold on the journey.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

Letter, written in ink, on 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park, London. Date 'Jan 27th' added in pencil, perhaps subsequently.

'It seems to be a most tedious job getting up to the front and when you are there you have still to be posted to a battery.'

'..not much to do but read all day.'

'The right Stuff', Ian Hay, (1914); and perhaps: 'Waifs and Strays', O. Henry, (1917).

The men in our party 'some of them are playing Bridge, ..permanently talk shop, and the rest read magazines and newspaper.' We are all crowded round a big stove.'

Regarding their infant son: 'It is sad to think that the next time I see Christopher he will be quite a different person and we shan't know eachother.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

28.01.1917 to 29.01.1917

Letter, written in ink, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. Date added in pencil 'Jan 28th', perhaps subsequently.

'This morning we have been censoring letters. It seems a shame to make fun of their letters, but really some of them are amazing.'

Reading [Thomas] Hardy.

'The only difficulty here is getting a bath. We can't get down to the town now as we are awaiting orders.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

30.01.1917 to 01.02.1917

Letter, written in ink, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. Date added in pencil 'Jan 30th', perhaps subsequently.

'I had charge of a section which was not a very difficult job, consisting mostly of taking salutes. the Sgt. who was with me says he much prefers being up at the front to being in a Base Camp.'

The[Thomas] Hardy is 'rather depressing to read in these days...Bought a [George] Meredith instead.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

30.01.1917 to 30.01.1917

Letter, written in ink, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. 'Jan 30th' added in pencil by the date, perhaps subsequently.

'Don't forgot to let me know if Coxe's don't send you the money each month. Whether I save any money depends on what kind of battery I go to. The more comfortable the bty. the more money I shall have to spend.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

01.02.1917 to 02.02.1917 Letter, written in ink, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park.

'Yesterday we went into the town and had a gorgeous hot bath.'

Learning French from colleague Howard and reading a book of French plays, by Alfred Capus, bought from the town.

'We feed most sumptuously in this mess for 4 f. per day. I feel I am getting fat. I expect I have been getting fat ever since I left Romford... I expect it will soon be corrected at the front.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

02.02.1917 to 03.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, and ink address, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. 'Feb 2nd' written in pencil, possibly subsequently.

'We had a very interesting talk this afternoon from a lieutenant who has been at the front sometime. All these men seem to think life at the front in the Artillery is enjoyable, but no one seems to like the pushes.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

03.02.1917 to 04.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. 'Feb 3rd' written in pencil, possibly subsequently.

Reading: 'The Three Musketeers', Alexandre Dumas, (1853); and author Oliver Lodge: possibly: 'Raymond or Life and Death', (1916)

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

04.02.1917 to 05.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Battersea Park. Stated the last he will write to this address, before posting to Bury, Lancashire, or Mill Hill.

Discussing domestic finances.

'It is snowing hard here today and the route march has been abandoned..'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, and Mrs Sprent[?], 1917

05.02.1917 to 06.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios. Two envelopes accompany this letter, one addressed to Battersea Park, and the other to the care of Mrs Sprent. contents of the letter reference sending a letter to the Sprents.'Feb 5th' written in pencil, possibly added later.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

06.02.1917 to 08.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire. 'Feb 6th' written in pencil. Possibly added later. "Bury, Lancashire.

'We have had the usual easy day here, a short march, censoring letters and nothing more.'

Talks about his colleague Howard.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

07.02.1917 to 08.02.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire.

Still anticipates moving on to the next camp.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

08.02.1917 to 09.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire.

'There is a concert to-night in one of the huts and we are going down to it in a few minutes.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

09.02.1917 to 10.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire.

Essie's numbering system: letters 7 & 8 are received by Alfred.

'Some men who were to go tonight have just been told they are not going. And so it goes on.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

11.02.1917 to 12.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. 'Feb 11th' written in pencil, in different hand.

Travelling this afternoon.

Reading: 'Sally Bishop', Temple Thurston, (1910).

Eager to acquire more 'stand-by' reading material.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

13.02.1917 to 14.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios. Addressed from 69th Siege Bty.

'I am writing this in a cottage somewhere near the line, where we spent last night. It is quite a nice village and one can hear the guns in the distance. We are expecting to go on to batteries sometime to-day.'

'I have been in several officer's messes' - dug-outs round here, and and they all have gramaphones. The dugouts looks like wooden huts inside.'

'..I am much happier here that at the base.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

15.02.1917 to 17.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

'I have spent to-day in the battery and for the first time I have been really near a gun firing. I find I can stand that alright. This afternoon I have been out in the car foraging for the Officer's Mess. I have been about 20 miles I should think.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

17.02.1917 to 18.02.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Mrs A. F. Johnson and care of Mrs Jackson, Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

'..at *present* it is a very comfortable war for us.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 19.02.1917 to 22.02.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

Talks about his colleagues at the Mess.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 20.02.1917 to 22.02.19[17] Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

'I am out at the trenches and it is very wet and misty and there is nothing to be seen..'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 22.02.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

Received letters 11-15.

'I am wearing a pair of seaman's boots belonging to the Major. They are rather small for him and he wants me to break them in. They are splendid things.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 23.02.1917 to 25.02.1917 Letter, written in ink, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

'Will you please buy me a pair of Mackintosh trouser legs, the sort of thing used by motor cyclists.'

'You should soon have the first payment from Coxes.'

'Cauliflowers here cost 2 1/2 francs..'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 25.02.1917 to 26.02.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

Reading author, Hudson.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 28.02.1917 to 28.02.1917 Letter, written in ink, of 2 folios, on ruled paper, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

'I forget the days of the week here...one day is much like another.'

'There are lots of rats here. The beastly things have eaten a hole in my kit-bag.'

'I am feeling more at home with the work and think I shal manage the job. Up to the present I have not had a real test.'

'We are just about to have the usual lunch (usual just now) of bully beef and biscuits with tea & marmalade.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 01.03.1917 to 02.03.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

Received 15th and 24th Letter.

'So there is a gap of seven letters somewhere between here and the base.'

'I have had a pass-book form Coxe's and I see that the field allowance has bee paid but no back pay and no allowances from Lydd'.

Chess with the major.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 02.03.1917 to 04.03.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. 69th Siege Bty.

Received letters 26 and 27.

Read Hudson in the trenches 'while I was waiting for the mist to clear.'

'We saw a balloon brought down yesterday by a German areoplane, quite an exciting sight.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 03.03.191 to 05.03.1917 Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Recieved ltrs: and 27 and 28.

'It won't be necessary for me to put the address any more, you will know it by now, and a letter is better without an address for censoring purposes.'

'I have been chopping wood to get warm, then censoring letters.'

'There are plenty of woods, all dead and smashed up, those well up to the front, just short stumps. Villages are just heaps of ruins, and for a very long way back they are fairly battered. All this makes it now difficult to read the map, as one can never say where a wood ends or a village. this must have been quite pretty country in peace time. now it is rather like a [Arthur] Rachkam picture. There are plenty of peasant women in the villages some miles back, but one never sees a French man or woman of comfortable appearance.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

06.03.1917 to 07.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received all missing ltrs and ltr 29.

'It would be a very nice walk the roads were civilised and there were no wagons and horses and troops.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

08.03.1917 to 09.03.1917

Letter, written in ink, of 1 folio with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

'I have learnt how to work a gramaphone. It seems an essential part of an officer's life here'.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917 09.

03.1917 to 11.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

11.03.1917 to 12.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 30-35

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

13.03.1917 to 14.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

15.03.1917 to 16.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil, of 1 folio, with envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Reading: 'Sandra Belloni', George Meredith. (1914)

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

16.03.1917 to 17.03.1917

Letter, on ruled paper, written in pencil with the date and beginning in ink. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltrs 36-39.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

18.03.1917 to 19.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

21.03.1917 to 21.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled note paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Arrive at A.S.C Mess- not receiving post there, and have nothing to read. Expects to receive reading material from a 'well read' man, named Clapham, who visits the Mess.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

22.03.1917 to 23.03.1917

Letter, written in ink, on ruled note paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

[transcript available]

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

24.03.1917 to 24.03.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled note paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Have moved on.

Received ltrs: 40, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47.

'I don't understand how this Russian business will affect the war.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

26.3.1917 to 27.3.1917 Letter, written in ink and pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

'Will you send me some toothpaste, Colinos or Colgate's.'

'..read reviews of Edward Moore's studies in Dante's Fourth series.'

Received ltr 48.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

27.3.1917 to 27.3.1917

Letter, written in ink and pencil on ruled paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 49.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

28.3.1917 to 29.3.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled note paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

31.3.1917 to 01.4.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled note paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltrs 51/52.

Reading Hilaire Belloc. 'He is always interesting & pretty good as an historian, but he has a lot of prejudices which he must drag in. For instance Necker represents to him the modern jew financier. Necker was a protestant, but to Belloc a French protestant is much like a Jew. Party systems is another bugbear to him.'

April - June

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

02.04.1917 to 03.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on paper, with watermark. Of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Mother and May and Essie'really are sending me too much', in the packages.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

04.04.1917 to 04.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 54

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

04.04.1917 to 08.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, Of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 55.

'Reggie is buried rather further north than I thought, so I don’t know whether I shall be able to get there.'

Our dug-out is very near one of our guns, and when she fires, dust comes down, things fly off the shelves, the candles go out, ad altogether we are put out of action till she has finished.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

09.04.1917 to 11.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltrs 57,58,59.

'I have bee talking to German prisoners this afternoon. They were working as stretcher bearers bringing back the wounded. Everyone was on very friendly terms.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

12.04.1917 to 13.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Of 4 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltrs 60, 61.

'Bathing in a bucket out-side in the snow is a joke.'

Talking about army slang.

Reading: Vailima letters, Robert Louis Stevenson, (1908).

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

14.04.1917 to 14.04.1917

Letter, written in ink on ruled paper, of 3 folios. Received ltr (62).

Notified of Wilfred being wounded in the leg.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

17.04.1917 to 18.04.1917

Letter, written in ink on ruled paper. Includes 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 64.

'We are still enjoying the Army's paradise, nothing to do.'

'… the other Johnson, calls me a pro-German. He is an obstinate pig-headed fellow and rather annoys me.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

18.04.1917 to 20.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Includes 6 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. Possible error regarding date. April 19th is not Wednesday on 1917, presumably intended as Wednesday April 18.

Received ltr 65, 66.

'My particular show [in the attacks] was well in rear.'

'Howard and I walked into the village this morning and bought 40 eggs at 3d each. We carried them back in sandbags.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

20.04.1917 to 21.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper. Includes 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. Sat is incorrect for April 20, 1917, yet content correlates with this year.

Received ltr 68, 69.

'I am sending you a German field-post card which I got from a German prisoner on the 9th. If it does not interest you I daresay Sprent would like it for his collection.'

Postcard correspondence from Hilda to Mrs A. J. Johnson 1917

21.04.1917 to 21.04.1917

Stamped postcard, written in ink, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

'W' refers to Wilfred, according to donor information. News of W[ilfred].

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 191723.04.1917 to 23.04.1917 Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 70, 71.

'We are still out of the war, but expecting our orders any minute.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

24.04.1917 to 25.04.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. Wed is not attributed to 24th in 1917. It is attributed to 1918. However, the contents of the letters of him receiving 'Vittoria' by this point, and completing the book on the 12th of this month, 1917 does correspond.

'We have entered the war again, at least we are preparing to enter it.'

'Wilfred was at Havre but may be in England now. If he is lame he may get quite a long leave.'

Reading: Thaïs, Anatole France, (1890).

Envelope addressed to Mrs A.J. Johnson 27.04.1917 Addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

28.04.1917 to 02.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, 1 envelope addressed to Bury Lancashire. Received ltr 73.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

30.04.1917 to 02.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 74.

'We are living in shanties out in the open, and it is very nice in this sunny weather. The worst of it is that half of us are going on still further. These moves are rather sickening.'

'The Hun seem vigourous enough except that some of his men surrender very easily when they get the chance.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

02.05.1917 to 03.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil and ink on ruled paper. Includes 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. Received ltr 75, 77.

Christopher 'is a pleasant little person. I speak of him as a stranger unknown to me.'

Reading: 'Vittoria', George Meredith, (1867).

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

03.05.1917 to 05.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 76.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

05.05.1917 to 07.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

'(I think)' is inscribed in the same hand beneath the date.

Received ltr 78, 79

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

07.05.1917 to 09.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 4 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 80, 81.

'I see another 33% is being put on tabacco in England. What a fancy price it must be now.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

09.05.1917 to 11.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. At the end of the letter there is reference to Johnson enclosing wilfred's letter.

Received ltr 83.

'Been looking at the 'star book' this afternoon,...I have not come acros any stars in it I don't know.'

'Wilfred is apparently worse than first understood and may be discharged'.

'Received cake from Dora, which she made according to the new regulations of using barley meal, but I 'don’t care for it.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

12.05.1917 to 13.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

'We are just getting comfortable and settled here, and so they move us on again.'

'The ration lorry is our connecting link with the outside world.'

Reading: 'Vittoria', George Meredith (1909)

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

12.05.1917 to 14.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltr 84, 85.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

14.05.1917 to 17.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire.

Received ltrs 86, 87.

'..with the present limitation on bread consumption... how do you manage to make so many cakes?.. I am almost ashamed to receive so many parcels when I read about the food question in the paper.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

16.05.1917 to 17.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire. Received ltr 88.

Reading: 'The Old Wives' Tale, Arnold Bennett (1908)., 'is a consolation'.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

18.05.1917 to 23.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, crossed through and a further address added in ink: Whaley Bridge, Cheshire.

Reading: 'The lighter side of school life', Ian Hay, (1914), and Blackwoods Magazines. Appreciated the humour.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

20.05.1917 to 25.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, crossed through and a further address added in ink: Whaley Bridge, Cheshire.

'We have has a person up here today who held a service, therefore we are certain it is Sunday… God and the British Empire was his theme. His text was the passing of the Children of Israel out of Egypt through the Wilderness. We are in the Wilderness. He did not mention the fact that they were forty years in the wilderness. At least I had an argument with a man in the next battery as to whether they were forty or four hundred years.'

Reading: Blackwoods mags- 'no idea they were so violently tory'.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

23.05.1917 to 27.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, and forwarded to: Whaley Bridge, Cheshire.

No letters for a week.

Moving on a couple of days before go on the journey North.

'Everthing is nice and green here with the trees fully out. You can hardly imagine how nice a tree is after a waste of shell holes.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

25.05.1917 to 29.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Nottingham.

'I don’t know if you will have gone to Ringwood when this letter arrives, but I must continue to write to Bury until I get the mail. It will be very nice now in the New Forest and I hope Christopher will appreciate it.'

'..went over to the Siege Park yesterday..'

A.S.C Army Service Corps.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

27.05.1917 to 30.05.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Nottingham.

'We are now on the move' to a town 'whose name you would know.'

'I am going on ahead as billeting officer.'

'I am getting a chance to try my French.'

First time in an inhabited billet.

'I feel as if I were out for a walking tour and can't imagine there is a war on.'

'I am going to look for something to read. One always gets through a lot of money on these trips. A bottle of wine with lunch & dinner if a matter of course.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

30.05.1917 to 05.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 4 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Ringwood, Hampshire.

Had fortnightly post. Received about 16 ltrs.Received a further 11 letters, 89, 99.

'I am sure Ive said many times that your cakes are *very nice and the most popular in the mess. Perhaps you are fishing.'

'..been careering about the countryside on a motor bicycle the last few days'.

Reading: 'Le Médecin de campagne' (The Country Doctor), Honoré de Balzac, (1833)

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

01.06.1917 to 07.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received perhaps ltr 100.

'We have just had tea and have had more of your cake, again complimented by the Major. Does that satisfy you.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

02.06.1917 to 07.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 101, 102.

'Our car is running again …Last night they were sheling on both sides of the road and we tore through at about 60 miles an hour'.'

Reading: 'The Master of Ballantrae', Robert Louis Stevenson, (1889)

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

05.06.1917 to 10.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Bury, Lancashire, forwarded to: Ringwood, Hampshire.

Gloom at the battery as the Major was wounded yesterday.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

07.06.1917 to 07.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received two letters from Essie.

'You will see news in the papers of some happenings to-day. Our canaries are singing away steadily but we have not had ranch news through yet.'

Howard returns from his course.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

10.06.1917 to 11.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

'Last night we slept in the bottom of a trench just like the infantry..'

Envelope addressed to Mrs A.J. Johnson 10.[06].1917 to 10.[06].1917, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

12.06.1917 to 13.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

'A History of The Four Georges, Vol. 1.' Justin McCarthy, (1903). [perhaps this is what he referred to]

'It makes me want to read': Walpole's diary, and Lady Mary Wortley letters, [Montagu];

Reading: 'The Life of Charlotte Brontë', Elizabeth Gaskell, (1858).

'It was a queer age when young ladies are advised not to read the Comedies of Shakespeare, but I dare say they had no enpurgated editions in those days.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

15.06.1917 to 16.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 108, 109, 110.

'I don't like the photographs of Christopher at all, I don't recognise him'.

Recalls Essie and his past holidays subsequent to their recent anniversary.

Expects a salary rise 20th June.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie,

1917 16.06.1917 to 18.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire. Date error, June 16th, 1917 is a Saturday.

Reading: 'John Inglesant', Joseph Henry Shorthouse, (1881).

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

19.06.1917 to 19.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 111.

Night before last travelled all night with the canaries.

'I am afraid Major Lucas will take no further part in the war, as he will be lame. He is at Guy's, still being operated on.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

20.06.1917 to 21.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

'The French people make all they ca out of you, especially officers. Two francs for a simple tea, no cakes, they are a thing of the past now.'

Reading: 'La Vie Parisienne'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

21.06.1917 to 23.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 112, 114.

'Wilfred seems to have had his fair share of the war. I suppose he is lucky to et out of it at all. I should think he would be able to get into an Artillery school, and might get through, but I am sure he would find the exam very worrying...Lets hope he will be on light duty for a long time.'

'I took 25 gunners for a swim this morning in a canal.'

'Burnie is now Major'.

Will leave reading material decisions to Essie. 'Everything you have sent has been right.'

'Howard is the only other officer here who reads anything but rubbish.He has read most of my books and wonders how I get them. He says if he asked his wife to send books, he would get a lot of rot. He seems to have got married in the same casual way he does everything.'

Burnie '..was very much upset about the Major...on top of that came the push, which is a trying time for an O.C. and he came very near to having a break-down...I should not like the job, even if I felt competent.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

23.06.1917 to 25.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 115 Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

24.06.1917 to 25.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 116.

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

26.06.1917 to 27.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 117, 118.

'I am really getting tired of all this gadding about [round the countryside], ..not that I am anxious to get back to the war.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

28.06.1917 to 29.06.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 119.

'Spent yesterday on a cycle tour with Buckley and Mason.'

Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1917

29.06.1917 to 01.07.1917

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to Ringwood, Hampshire.

Received ltr 120.

'You will probably be able to guess near what famous place we are going, as your guess have always been right so far.'