Add MS 89235/1/3/3

First to quarters 1918, January to June, 1918.

January - March:

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[07].01.1918 to 07.01.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bury, Lancashire.

[Monday]

'I send you my new address. From what I can make out I shall be sent as reinforcements just I was last year and posted to a battery from the base.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.01.1918 to 09.01.1918

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

[Wednesday]

' I am in what is called the Pool of officers doing a refresher course. After a week or two officers are generally sent over seas.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[11.01.1918]

Letter written in ink on headed paper, of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 2 folios.

[Friday, yet could be another Friday from this period]

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[13.01.1918]

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Cranston's Ivanhoe Hotel, London, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bury, Lancashire.

[Sunday, Letter matched with dated envelope. Possible it could be another Sunday from this period.]

Went to London on weekend leave.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

14.01.1918 to 14.01.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bury, Lancashire. [Monday]

Reading: 'Tom Cringle's Log', Michael Scott, (1915); 'The Life of Wilkes', Horace Bleackley, (1917)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.01.1918 to 16.01.1918

Letter written in pencil, on ruled paper, of 1 folio. [Wednesday]

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

17.01.1918 to 17.01.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bury, Lancashire. [Thursday]

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

18.01.1918 to 18.01.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Highgate Road, London. [Friday]

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

20.01.1918 to 20.01.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Highgate Road, London.

[Sunday]

Unable to get up on leave for the week.

'The Sunday papers seem full of food troubles. The army here at least officers, over eat in my opinion.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.01.1918 to 22.01.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of Oudenarde Barracks, Aldershot, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Highgate Road, London.

[Tuesday]

Major Lucas remains at hospital at Brighton.

Reading: 'Life of Johnson', James Boswell, (1965)

LEAVE

• Postcard from A. J. Johnson to Essie, Care Of Mrs Sprent, 1918

09.02.1918 to 09.02.1918 Postcard inscribed in pencil, from Southampton, addressed to Mill Hill, London.

Returns from leave at the new home.

' I hope you will have got on alright today with the furniture and not be too tired. I should have liked to have seen it arrive before I went.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

10.02.1918 to 11.02.1918

Letter written in ink on ruled paper, [from Havre?] of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Reading: 'Anna Karenina', Leo Tolstoy, (1877)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.02.1918 to 13.02.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of E.F.C Officers Rest House and Mess, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Arrived to Rouen, France, 'a place one is allowed to mention.'

'This club is quite a cosy place. I had breakfast here this morning. There seems no lack of food here. I had butter both at Havre and here, and the butcher's shops are full of meat.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

14.02.1918t to 14.02.1918

Letter written in pencil from 69 Siege Battery, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Note to say back to the 69 Seige Battery.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.02.1918 to 18.02.1918

Letter written in pencil from 69 Siege Battery, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

The Major is off back to England for a special course.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

20.02.1918 to 20.02.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.02.1918 to 23.02.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Christopher has measles

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

24.02.1918 to 25.02.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 6, 7

'I am very glad to hear you are taking the raids so well.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

25.02.1918 to 26.02.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 8.

'It is Father's birthday and I have not written.. They have not written to me at all yet.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.02.1918 to 27.02.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 9, 10

Domestic finances.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

28.02.1918 to 01.03.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 11.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.03.1918 to 03.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 12.

'I have been out digging most of the day to keep warm.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

05.03.1918 to 05.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

06.03.1918 to 07.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 14

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

08.03.1918 to 08.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios.

Received ltr 15.

'The table would not come out of the old mess, so it had to be knocked to bits and then put together again.'

'One of our new officers…is a very curious man.. He has live in Russia a long time and is rather like a Russian, at least a DostoyevskyRussian.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

10.03.1918 to 12.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.03.1918 to 14.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 16, 17.

'This is a dirty little hole where I am writing...There is a continued squeaking and scurrying of rats in the walls.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.03.1918 to 17.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 18

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

18.03.1918 to 19.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 19.

'I hope the raid you were expecting did not come off.'

'I am going on a course for a month to an artillery school... in the district where we were on rest last summer. I ought to have quite a good time.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

21.03.1918 to 22.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.03.1918 to 23.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 20.

Busy straightening the mess accounts before going on the course.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

24.03.1918 to 24.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 1 leaf, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

'Returned to the battery, the course has been postponed.'

'.. I found Reggie's grave. I expect the authorities will have told you it is a plain cross with the number name and regiment , and 'died of wounds.'

'Howard's mother has just died and he is trying to get special leave. I am afraid he does not stand much chance in this crisis.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.03.1918 to 27.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 22, 23

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

31.03.1918 to 31.03.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

'We have had a pretty thick time.. I am left in charge of the battery, both the Major and Howard are casualties.'

April - June:

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.04.1918 to 03.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 26.

Relieved of responsibility 'as we have had a major posted to us..'

'Howard is severely wounded, but we are told he will probably be alright. He had a very bad time. I will not give you the gruesome details.'

'This is a dull letter but I can't write about what has been happening.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.04.1918 to 04.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios.

Received ltr 28.

'The new major is quite nice. I am very glad he has come. I don't like the responsibility of a large battery on my hands.'

'I hope Howard is back in England by this time.'

'The mess is much more cheerful to-night. We have even had the gramophone on.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

04.04.1918 to 04.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 29.

'I read part of the first tale [May Sinclair] and found it very depressing.'

'I will write to Coxes about the £2 for Christopher. We shall be quite well off when that has been paid.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

08.04.1918 to 08.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 30.

Reading: May Sinclair

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.04.1918 to 12 [April 1918]

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope addressed to Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 31

Reading: ['39 Steps'], John Buchan, (1915)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.04.1918 to 12.04.1918

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 32

Reading some 'Gibbon'.

'I should like to hear Christopher holding a conversation. It seems a very long time since I left home..'

'Howard has both legs broken…The Major was killed in the same dug-out.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.04.1918 to 14.04.1918

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 33.

Howard is at the base, all 'trussed up'.

'He seems to have had brain fever for a few days.'

'I am no longer second in command as the authorities have sent along a full Lieut to be captain. I don't mind as I really don't like these responsible jobs in the army.'

Reading: 'The Loot of Cities', Arnold Bennett, (1903)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

15.04.1918 to 16.04.1918

Letter, written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 34, 35.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

17.04.1918 to 18.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 36.

Reading: 'The Stucco House', Gilbert Cannan, (1917)

'I have been thinking that Christopher will soon be old enough to have a small sister to look after. But what is one to do with this dammed silly war going on interminably.'

Reading: 'Land & Water', magazine.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

19.04.1918 to 20.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 37.

'We are a bigger unit altogether now.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

21.04.1918 to 23.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 39

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

23.04.1918 to 24.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 40, 41.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.04.1918 to 27.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 42.

'Winnie speaks of your getting some coaching through Bedford College.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

28.04.1918 to 29.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 44

'I wonder what they would do in this war without telephones. I have answered the blessed thing about 10 times in the last hour. It is very annoying to be rung up by H.Q to know why you have only fired 30 rounds, which they then discover to be the correct amount. They think nothing of calling you up in the middle of the night to ask you when you were last inoculated.'

Reading: E. V. Lucas, [Collection of letters].

'I hope you will manage to get that nurse for C. and have more time for your own pursuits. I don't think it is fair on the women to expect them to have families with their husbands away.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

29.04.1918 to 30.04.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 leaf, 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 45.

Reading: 'Martin Chuzzlewit', Charles Dickens, (1842)

[On the reverse of the letter: 'My Darling Wife.' and the date: '9.4.18.']

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.05.1918 to 02.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

'I must say the pot of honey is one of the nicest things you have ever sent.'

'I quite enjoyed reading [the Westminster] - It has since been used to light the fire at Gregson's suggestion. That was because I made some remarks about the dullness of his engineering paper.'

'Frank C. does seem to be rather self complacent if he thinks nobody feels the strain when the Hun is attacking, he is jolly well mistaken. It is about as bad as anyone can imagine.'

'The Major, whose name is Hire, is a splendid fellow and I like him very much. I have not yet seen him under heavy shell fire but imagine he would be alright, much better than I am. He is quite a simple soul who likes reviews and books by W. F. Locke etc. He is very cheery and takes things calmly. I wonder what he thinks of me.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.05.1918 to 04.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 47

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

06.05.1918 to 06.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 48

'I am afraid [Howard] is still very bad and it will be many months before he is better, perhaps he will never be quite right.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

07.05.1918 to 08.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 49, 50

'..this is a dull life if it isnt a bloody life..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.05.1918 to 10.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 51

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.05.1918 to 12.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 52.

'I should think you would like the work in a Boys' School. I expect they would amuse, possibly aggravate you.'

' The Morning Post' is quite entertaining now with its attacks on the government. However I suppose I must not talk politics.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

14.05.1918 to 15.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 54.

'I see you have given up expecting a halftime job.'

'Financial reasons seem to be the best for getting special leave. I have known several people to get it to settles Wills… Ordinary leave will open about October with luck..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

17.05.1918 to 18.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 3 folios, on official note paper, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 55

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

19.05.1918 to 20.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 56.

Reading: 'Leonora', Five towns Tales, Arnold Bennett (1903/ 1905).

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

21.05.1918 to 22.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 57.

'Your remark about mutton chops for supper makes one think you are half starved. I don’t want you to use up your small allowance of dripping in order to make cakes for me.'

'I am glad you have got a little coaching. It will be a change for you inspite of the Roman history lessons. I am sorry you did not get the Boys School.'

'We are having gorgeous weather and are walking about without tunics. I expect some superior officer will shortly object and we shall have an order. "It has been brought to notice that officers are going about without tunics. This practice must cease forthwith.'

Reading: 'Elizabeth and Her German Garden', Elizabeth von Arnim, (1898).

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

23.05.1918 to 24.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

'I am on the telephone to-night, which is a job I don't like… One feels afraid to go really sound asleep.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

25.05.1918 to 26.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 58, 59.

'About this insurance business do you think we ought to do anything about C's education? It won't be very easy as the B.M. will deduct the allowance.'

'This country is an absolutely bare waste but in the last month quite a lot of wild flowers have come up, so that it is not so bad as it was in winter. There are lots of poppies and cornflowers & many small things I don't recognise. We had some lilac in the mess which was brought back from the OP.'

Reading: 'Barnaby Rudge', Charles Dickens, (1850).

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

27.05.1918 to 27.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 60.

'I am glad to hear you survived that raid fairly comfortably and that C. has not been bothered yet. I should not like him to realise the danger at his age.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

28.05.1918 to 28.05.1918

Letter, written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 61.

Domestic financial matters.

'I am due for a rise the next 20th and if we can persuade Cooke to stop deducting the 1f a day you ought to have a good £20 a month.'

'Our Colonel is a holy terror'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

29.05.1918 to 31.05.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

'I am sorry to say that the bombing of Hospitals was near Howard, but he is alright..I don't suppose it was deliberately meant for hospitals. There are lots of camps there and it must be almost impossible to pick out the hospitals even on a moonlit night.'

'There are rumours of Leave on a small scale opening again, something like one man per army per month I expect.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.06.1918 to 02.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 63, 64 ['163', '164' error - see 05.06.1918 letter]

'The Major has gone on leave… I have had to move to another section and take charge.'

'I am number 49 on the list', [for leave]

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

04.06.1918 to 05.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 64

'I don't think the army is feeling particularly downhearted, at least not just here. The opinion seems to be that we can hang on somehow & hope for better times next year.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

05.06.1918 to 06.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltrs: 'I think I have had two 64s and 65s now'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

07.06.1918 to 08.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltr 67

'We have been much entertained by the Pemberton Billings. His sparring with the judge is quite good reading. I must say I don't agree with the verdict at all. It seems jolly hard lines on Maud Allen. I can't understand why the public seemed so elated at the result.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.06.1918 to 10.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

'Don't you think Pemberton Billing is an awful ass?'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

12.06.1918 to 13.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

15.06.1918 to 16.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltr 70.

'I have also had a letter from Pollard to say that I have been promoted to the First Class, which means I get £300 a year, or £24 per month… I have already written to Coxes about the insurance for C. We should be able to afford that now.'

'There will be another alteration soon as I am now I believe a full Lieut..'

Reading: 'The Egoist', George Meredith (1879).

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

18.06.1918 to 19.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltr 72

'Why do you consider it a good rumour that the use of saccharine is to be stopped? Are you troubled about the population? I expect what you really mean is it is a story that appeals to you.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

20.06.1918 to 21.06.1918

Letter written in ink on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Reading: 'The Amateur Gentleman', John Jeffery Farnol, (1916)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.06.1918 to 23.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltr 76

'The Major has a way of getting rid of anyone he does not want. It is very flattering to those of us who are left, but we get all the work to do..'

'...If you are not for O.P you are on night duty or taking the early morning parade at 7. O'Clock, or starting an aeroplane shoot at 5 A.M. I seem to get about one full night a week in bed.'

'I almost feel I would rather stop in the army than go back there' [to the British Museum].

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

24.06.1918 to 25.06.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltr 77.

'As to the books.. I know I should not look a gift horse in the mouth, but really - are you trying to get rid of the rubbish off the shelves?'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

30.06.1918 to 01.07.1918

Letter written in pencil on ruled paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Doughty Street, London.

Received ltrs 81, 82

Reading: Edmond de Goncourt

'I generally manage to read a book every time I am at the O.P. as there are generally many hours in the early part of the day when it is too hazy to see anything.'