Add MS 89235/1/3/4

Last 2 quarters, 1918, July to December.

July - September:

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.07.1918 to 02.07.1918

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

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

04.07.1918 to 05.07.1918

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

'We have finished our new mess and it looks very nice. We have invited the Major up to dinner and he will get a surprise as we have kept it secret from him.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

06.07.1918 to 07.07.1918

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

Received ltr 84.

'..the land is covered in poppies andcorn flowers and all sorts of wild flowers. It is very different from what it was like in the winter.'

'I went down to some sports yesturday. They tried to get me to run an officers obstacle race but when I saw the first obstacle, climbing up a 20ft rope to get over a pole, I decided my running days were over.'

'Yes we still have the same old colonel. I like him better than I used to. Everybody is more or less afraid of him.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

08.07.1918 to 10.07.1918

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

Received ltr 86

'I wish I could have as many baths as I liked in a day. All our water has to be carried in petrol tins about a mile, so there is little to spare for baths.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

10.07.1918 to 11.07.1918

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

Received ltr 87

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

12.07.1918 to 13.07.1918

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

Received ltr 89.

Reading: 'Vanity Fair', William Makepeace Thackeray, (1901)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.07.1918 to 15.07.1918

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

Received ltr 90.

Reading: [Sir] Martin Conway] , perhaps: 'No Man's Land', (1906)

'I see something in the papers about a larger bonus to Civil Servants..'

'We got three military medals and a D.C.M [Distinguished Conduct Medal] as well. The 'boys' are always bouncing me about my second pip, they pretend that my head is swollen since I had it.'

• French currency note, 1918

15.07.1918 to 15.07.1918

Ville de Namur, 50 Centimes note, no. 16559

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.07.1918 to 17.07.1918

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

Received ltr 91.

'About leave I am about 30 on the list and if the present rate keeps up I should get it in about 12 weeks..'

Reading: 'The Ivory Tower', Henry James, (1917)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

17.07.1918 to 18.07.1918

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

Received ltr 92, 93

Reading: 'Parallel Lives', Plutarch (2ndC)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

19.07.1918 to [20].07.1918

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

Received ltr 94

'Our rumour of rest is off. We are doing a move of a few miles instead and shall be more in the district where Reggie was at the end.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.07.1918 to 23.07.1918

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

Received ltr 90 something.

Reading: Edward Frederic Benson

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

25.07.1918 to 26.07.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Whaley Bridge, Cheshire.

Received ltr 97

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

30.07.1918 to 31.07.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 100.

Reading: 'Daisy Miller', Henry James, (1880)

'..we are moving to an unknown destination. .. We may be going somewhere where there is no leave.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

31.07.1918 to 01.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 101

'We are all collected together in a nice village, sleeping in tents.. We are not anxious to go on, our destination is quite unknown.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.08.1918 to 03.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

'..we were rushed off the same evening. We are now approaching the area where I originally started more or less..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

04.08.1918 to 06.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 102

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.08.1918 to 12.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 104

'You will know by now where we are from the news in the papers. We have been taking part in a very succesful affair. As far as we are concerned it has been an affair of very hard work to get ready in time and nothing else… at present we are in a captured Hun battery with some idea of using his own guns. We are miles from our supplies and it is difficult to get any rations.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.08.1918 to 12.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 105

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.08.1918 to 15.08.1918

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

Received ltr 107.

Reading: 'Emma', Jane Austen, (1815)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

15.08.1918 to 16.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

'There has been an acceleration of leave and it is now in sight.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.08.1918 to 18.08.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Bolton By Bowland, Clitheroe, Lancashire.

Received ltr 108, 109.

On 'Emma': 'It was a queer sort of society of those days, but I suppose it is not much different now in quiet parts of the country.'

'This is a weird state of affairs here. The Hun is shelling something about a quarter of a mile on the left, and on the right there is a band playing.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

19.08.1918 to 20.08.1918

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

Received ltr 111.

'I'm 2nd [in line for leave] if the present rate keeps up and the Hun does nothing desparate.'

'I have had a days work translating German papers relating to their guns.'

• Postcard from Christopher to A.J. Johnson, 1918

[19].08.1918 [19].08.1918

Tuck & Sons Postcard, addressed to 69th Siege Battery, France.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.08.1918 to 23.08.1918

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

Received ltr 113.

Reading: 'The Vicar of Wakefield', subtitled A Tale, Oliver Goldsmith, (1766)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

25.08.1918 to 28.08.1918

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

Received ltr 116

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

27.08.1918 to 28.08.1918

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

Received ltr 117

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

29.08.1918 to 30.08.1918

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

Received ltr 115

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.09.1917 to 03.09.1018

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

Received ltr 119

'We have moved on again and are miles and miles from civilisation.'

• Telegram from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

06.09.1018

From Folkstone Pier, addressed to Haverstock Hill, London. 'Due Victoria 2/32. Second train, Alfred', with 1 envelope.

LEAVE

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[22.09].1918 to 23.09.1918

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

Reading: 'Chance', Joseph Conrad, (1913)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

24.09.1918 to 25.09.1918

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

'..we are still living the same kind of life under tarpaulins and any holes we can find.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.09.1918 to 27.09.1918

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

Dated 'Thursday'.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

27.09.1918 to 29.09.1918

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

Possibly two letter fragments, with 27th Sept uncharacteristically no signature, and Sept 28th uncharacteristically no opening salutation. Or alternatively the two form one letter with the 28th folio being the start of a 'new writing pad'.

Reading: 'Joan and Peter', H. G. Wells, (1918)

'It is getting rather late in the year for this open air life, but perhaps it won't last much longer.'

October - December:

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

01.10.1918 to 02.10.1918

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

Received ltr 1

'The news continues to be splendid from all fronts. We have been doing another push and are now hoping it will last for a bit, so keen are we on the war.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.10.1918 to 04.10.1918

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

Received ltrs 3, 4, 5.

'I am very pleased to hear you go that coaching. The work sounds very interesting, especially the Herodotus. I should like to read Herodotus again.'

'Today I have been out with Simpson to a town where I was when I first came out. ..It is all in ruins now.'

'I am writing this is a crowded mess with the table covered with the latest papers and everyone discussing the news. It continues to be splendid.'

Reading: 'Mansfield Park', Jane Austen (from 1816)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

05.10.1918 to 05.10.1918

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

'Yesterday I walked about 10 miles with the Major to see the war.'

'I divide my days into a walk, reading and playing bridge in the evening.'

Reading: 'The Adventures of Roderick Random', Tobias Smollett (1824)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

07.10.1918 to 10.10.1918

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

Received ltrs 6.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.10.1918 to 14.10.1918

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

'We have been pushing the Hun back again, but still there is a general air of fedupness about due to lack of all the comforts of life..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.10.1918 to 14.10.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 3 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London, redirected to Mill Hill. Writing from hospital. Having ankle massaged and expect to be here about three weeks.

Received ltr 8.

Subsequent to telegrams, writing from hospital with an ankle injury.

'I have finished Roderick Random and shall soon have to search the hospital for literature.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

13.10.1918 to 14.10.1918

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

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

15.10.1918 to 19.10.1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios.

'What do you think of the news now? I really think the end is not far off.'

'I see the Daily Mail tries to make out that these negotiations won't come to anything chiefly because they don’t wish it.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

18.10.1918 to 19.10.1918

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

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

20.10.1918 to 21.10.1918

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

'I was pleased to see a paper other than the Daily Mail which is more objectionable than usual just now.'

• Letter correspondence from [Dannrey?] to Johnson, 1918

21.10.1918 Letter written in pencil on paper, of 1 folio.

A battery colleague sends updates to Johnson.

'We pushed off straight into action the day after you left - had another ""do"" and are now in delightful billets in beds & and untouched houses with glass in the windows - all the furniture and ornaments intact - the liberated inhabitants weeping on our necks - gardens filled wth vegetables of all kinds - in fact in the words of the poet we are ""quids in"". The only trouble is trying to keep Lee & Gregson in order where the two Mademoiselles of the house are concerned.'

'Tonight we & 135 are giving another concert in a concert hall here in the town.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[22.10].1918 to 23.10.1918

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

Tuesday

Received ltr 16

• Child's ration book

22.10.1918

Ministry of Food ration book of Hampstead issue office, with guardian 'S.E. Johnson', and child 'C. L Johnson' names inscribed on the front.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

24.10.1918 to 25.10.1918

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

Received ltr 18.

Reading: 'Doctor Thorne', Anthony Trollope (1858)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.10.1918 to 27.10.1918

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

'What do you think of the news now? I am still inclined to think that an Armistice will be signed in a few weeks time, which I take it will mena the end of the fighting.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

27.10.1918 to 29.10.1918

Letter written in ink on headed paper of 74th General Hospital, B.E,F France, of 1 folio, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 20.

Reading: 'A Change in the Cabinet', Hillaire Belloc, (1909)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[29].10.1918 to 30.10.1918

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

Tuesday

Received ltr 21

'I am glad to see the M. G. after a spell of the Daily Mail. I don't think one need be despondent about peace. There is a strong rumour here that Austria has given in. I don't know what it is worth.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[01].11.1918 to 03.11.1918

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

Friday

Received ltr 23

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.11.1918 to 03.11.1918

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

Received ltr 8-13, 22, 23

'I have been marked as fit and shall be probably leaving here on Monday.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

[04.11].1918 to 05.11.1918

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

Received ltr 24.

'I crossed over from Trouville by boat today..'

'About houses, if there is a shortage of small houses I think it would be much better to take a maisonette if possible than to stop at Haverstock Hill. It may be many months before the shortage is righted.'

Reading: 'Pride and Predjudice', Jane Austen, (1813)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

07.11.1918 to 07.11.1918

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

'Yesterday I was Orderly Officer in all the rain starting with a parade at 5.30 A.M.'

Reading: 'Lord Jim', Joseph Conrad, (1900)

'What do you think of the news now? The Germans must realise the hopelessness of their position and I should not think will go on long however stiff the terms are. They have absolutely nothing to gain by continuing.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

08.11.1918 to 10.11.1918

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

'I am going on to the battery to-night..'

'..I think the war is as good as over.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.11.1918 to 11.11.1918

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

'I believe the war is over. You will now for certain by the time you get this.'

'I don’t think I shall see any more shelling and I am not at all sorry.'

• Notification letter from the war office to Mrs Johnson, 1918

13.11.1918 to 13.11.1918

Notification letter to inform of A.F. Johnson's war duty discharge effective of Nov 4th. Of 1 folio, with 1 envelope.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

14.11.1918 to 15.11.1918

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

Thursday

'We are in a village where there are liberated French civilians. I was talking to one of them yesterday. They have certainly had a difficult time.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

15.11.1918 to 16.11.1918

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

Received ltr 30

'..we are going on to Germany with the army of occupation and I am looking forward to an interesting time.'

'I found the battery billeted in a village and all very comfortable. I am glad we have finished the tarpaullin life.'

'We have been drilling this morning. I think the men are rather fed up with it and you hear some of them say they would rather be in action. I suppose we ought to look as smart as possible in Germany ..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

18.11.1918 to 20.11.1918

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

Received ltr 31, 32.

'..we shall be in this village for a week or two yet as we are to go on by train. The village is Catillon near Le Cateau. We are allowed to mention places now.'

Reading: 'The Wrecker', [perhaps: coauthored by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott. (1907)]

'There is a sort of a piano in this room and we had a sing song last night. We are having quite a jolly time here.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

20.11.1918 to 22.11.1918

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

Received ltr 32.

'I can't imagine how long we shall be there when we shall be demobilised...some people are pretenting to get bored already. I suppose I have got lazy and so far I am not tired of this idle life. We only get a little drilling and are having quite a jolly time.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.11.1918 to 23.11.1918

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

Received ltr 34.

'I knew about the Armistice on Sunday night but I was not lettng myself until absolutely certain.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.11.1918 to 28.11.1918

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

Received ltr 35.

'Cambrai is a good deal knocked about, must have been a nice place once.'

'I am afraid they are going to take a long time gassing at the Peace Conference. It looks as though there may be a long argument among the Allies about the Freedom of the Seas.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

28.11.1918 to 30.11.1918

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

Reading: Review of 'Keeling Letters & Recollections'. Edited by E. Townshend, introduction by H. G. Wells. Frederic Hillersdon Keeling, (1918), 'I like some of the extracts. For one he said that he had learnt to do without intellectual society and thought that people who could not be satisfied with the society of average men were out of touch with human things. I imagine the army had changed him a good deal.'

'We are still at Catillon wondering when we are going on to Germany or if at all.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

30.11.1918 to 2.[12].1918

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 4 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Haverstock Hill, London.

Received ltr 36.

'I know you are very lonely and I am sure the war has given you a much worse time than it has on me. I have really had a good time on the whole except for moments and there is only one day that remains as a nightmare. As to my not saying anything of the future it is because it is sofar ahead and we are not feeling that we shall be home soon now.'

'I see the delegates at the peace conference seem to be making comfortable perparations for a lengthy stay. Meanwhile parliament is disolved so that no awkward questions can be asked, and as far as I can see nobody here is likely to get a vote.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

02.12.1918 to 03.12.1918

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

'We are allowed to say almost anything in letters now.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Christopher, 1918

04.12.1918 to 05.12.1918

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

Wishing Christopher a happy birthday, who is living with his grandmother.

'Before your next birthday comes I shall be living at home with you and mother.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

05.12.1918 to 07.12.1918

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

'To-morrow we are moving on and I shal have a long day with the caterpillars. The opinion seems to be that we are not going on to Germany at all but are going to fetch up somewhere in Belgium.'

'Have you secured a vote and do you intend to use it? The bill giving a vote to the Army seems a complete farce.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

06.12.1918 to 08.12.1918

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

Received ltr 38, 39.

'We are going on Sunday and trek for five days about 20 miles a day… We expect to have a more interesting time in Belgium as we shall be in civilisation once more..'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

09.12.1918 to 10.12.1918

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

Received ltr 41.

'We have started our trek now and have spent the nght in a place called Bavai [Bavay], I am with the guns going in a different way to the rest of the battery.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

11.12.1918 to 14.12.1918

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

Received ltr 40, 42.

'I am writing in a place called Philippeville.'

'We had quite an exciting time getting the guns through old gateways and over bridges. You very nearly had me back a gunner as I should certainly have been courtmartialed if we had dropped one of the caterpillars in the moat. We are in civilised country now the fields cultivated, cattle grazing and no ruined houses.'

Refers to: General Election 14 December 1918: Hampstead. Labour: Benjamin Skene MacKay; National Party: John Harris Wrentmore. 'I have had various election papers but no authority for voting. I expect I should have voted for that Labour man. One has only to read Wrentmore's address to see what a fool he is.'

'There are rumours that we are to go on to Germany later.'

'We have spent the night at Dinant on the [River] Meuse - The Germans shot a lot of civilians here in 1914 and there are notices on the walls about it..'

'The last three or four nights I have slept in bed with sheets.'

Friday: 'We have reached out detination, a place called Ardennes, on the Meuse' [River]. Namur.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

14.12.1918 to 16.12.1918

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

'We are trying to form plans of study for the next few months. Have you any suggestions to make?.. We really shall have to do something if we are not to be utterly degenerate by the time we got home.'

Reading: 'Joseph Vance', William De Morgan, (1906)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

16.12.1918 to 18.12.1918

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

Received ltr 43, 44, 45.

'There civilians here are very greived at our departure. Last night there was the devil of a row in the street among the gunners who had had too much cognac. There were several fights and te chief offender finished up in the guard room. The civilians seemed rather ammused.'

'Peace will hardly be signed before then[March], and I shall probably be a month or two after that. I am thinking of writing to Kenyon about my position. I beleve one has to be registered on some list ready for general demobilisation.'

'We have at length received voting papers, so after all the government seems to be making an effort to give us a vote. From what Lloyd George [PM 1916-1922] says it seems that the Gov't is going to get all it can out of Germany and go back on what they have asserted in the past. Perhaps Wilson will be strong enough to stop them. I expect he will be very disgusted with the whole lot.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

19.12.1918 to 21.12.1918

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

Received ltr 46.

'I am really very fond of the B.M. and as I have been paid there is an obligation on me to go back.'

'We are in a small village called Sorée..the civilians consider us a damn nuisance.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

22.12.1918 to 23.12.1918

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

Reading: 'Beyond', John Galsworthy, (1917)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

23.12.1918 to 25.12.1918

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

Received ltr 48, 49, 50.

'I could make quite a long list of books I should like to read or reread after the war from the advertisements.'

'I am thinking of learnig Spanish in these idyle times.'

'The pig has been killed and is alright. At one time it was feared he would die a natural death from too much lorry travelling but has survived all the moving and met his end yesturday morning.'

Reading: 'Beyond', John Galsworthy, (1917)

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

26.12.1918 to 28.12.1918

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

Received ltr 47, 51.

'I seem to remember that you did not get a vote. How was that? I voted for the Labour man but I don't know if my vote will arrive in time.'

• Printed Christmas greetings card 1918-1919 Dec-18 Addressed from '69th Seige-Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, B.E.F, France and Belgium, March 1916 to December 1918.' On the front printed in gold: 'UBIQUE, QUO FAS & GLORIA DUCUNT, XMAS 1918-1919, including a svastika symbol depicted in its original sanskrit symbolism popular in the early 20th Century revived, adopted and intended a good luck motif.

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

28.12.1918 to 05.01.1919

• Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, forwarded to: Peveril Drive, Nottingham.

Received ltr 52.

Reading: 'Twixt Land and Sea', Joseph Conrad, (1914)

'I feel quite a stranger to him[Christopher] and expect I shall little use as a father. That is the fault of the war. I am sure the war has been bad for us in many ways, unfitted us fr civil life.'

• Letter correspondence from Alfred Forbes Johnson to Essie, 1918

30.12.1918 to 01.01.1919

Letter written in pencil on paper, of 2 folios, with 1 envelope, addressed to: Peveril Drive, Nottingham.

Received ltr 53, 54

'We are rather expecting to go on to Germany in a week or two, to relieve troops there now. Anything for a change.'