The letters of Julian Grenfell, July 1914

Audio footage of extracts from Julian's diary

Read by Nick Blatchley

To listen to the audio clip, click play on the bar below the image on the right.

2 July 1914 – Potchefstroom

Darling Mother

I loved your letter, and I’m thrilled by the scandals in high life.  What a far far better thing it is not to get married!  Marriage is such a short odds gamble; and the funny thing is that the real gamblers and chancers have the sense to leave it alone, knowing that it is a bad bet; while the careful ones, who know neither the form nor the odds, plunge and go down.  That doesn’t apply to Bend Or, does it?  But no rules or exceptions apply to him.  And I think it’s right as a general rule?  Poor little Migs – I am sorry for her.  I wonder what will happen about it?  Will they get a separation?  Jezebel in the witness-box trying to prove O.W. on Anglesey would be the end of the British aristocracy.

The Horse Show must have been good fun.  I’m frightfully keen to have a cut there next year, if all goes well.  The Buck is going to the West African Rifles, so he won’t be able to go; which is a pity, because he’s about the best show-jumper we’ve got, I should think.  I’ve never seen the criss-cross jumping.  I’m glad you like Scatters;  he’s great fun, isn’t he?

Not much on here; we came in on Sunday from our week’s camp, and we start regimental drill tomorrow; in the middle of the month the foot-sloggers come down from Pretoria, and we play about with them for a bit.  At the end of the month I am going off with Kid Charrington to British East [Africa], with Billy Miles’ brother, who farms up there.  I think it will be great fun.  Kid and little Miles are both absolutely wild in the ed, beneath a gentle and almost stolid outward appearance & demeanour.  We’re takiing the greyhounds up to hunt the wily lion, and some hog-spears and Ghurka knives for close quarters.  Kid said the other day “We’ve forgotten something”. “What?”  “Pocket pistols for the husbands”. No.

I’m not allowed to go to Johannesburg city now, nor to have any friends visiting at Potchesfstroom.  This is a great mistake.
Mrs Steele has just got a very fine boy, and both are doing well.
Please give my very very best love to Dad & Bill-boy & Casie & Vovo and Mog.  Hurrah for the hols - I mean next Christmas.

Have you been working any big ramps lately, Mummy?  You never tell me about your secret doings, while I am always most open to you about what I do.  This isn’t fair. Bless you. J.

This page was added on 07/04/2011.

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