Letters of Antony Lytton: Chapter I

 

Antony as a page

Knebworth House Archives

The first four years of Antony’s life were spent in London, at 32 Queen Anne’s Gate, the house where he was born.  His sister Hermione ( the present Lord Cobbold’s mother) was born in the same house in 1905.  In 1906 they moved to the Manor House at Knebworth, and to Knebworth House in 1908.  In 1911, at the coronation of King George, Antony was Page to Prince Arthur of Connaught and announced the news in a letter

“Isn’t it jolly?  I am going to be a page and to Prince Arthur.  My first historical event June the 22nd 1911.  Do tell me what I have to do and what I shall have to wear?”

 After going to Clarence House to be photographed, he returned in the royal carriage.  A royal footman opened the door and little Antony stepped out, very calm and erect, with a beaming rosy face, beautifully dressed in smartest scarlet livery, with sword and plumed hat (now on display at Knebworth House). 

In 1913, Antony left home to start school, West Downs in Winchester.  One of his first postcards home, he wrote

“I am just going out to play footer.  I am getting on very well I have not made many enimes, much love”

He wrote frequently, not only the regulation Sunday letter but several times during the week, telling of his friendships and his activities.  Here is an example of his descriptive power

“What do you think happened on Thursday?  Just at the beginning of the first brake we saw an aeroplane flying very close, and it went round and round in a circle getting nearer the ground every time.  At last in descended out of sight down the bank, and the whole school ran after it, over the fence, over the road, down to the valleys of the golf course, till we same in sight of it, a big yellow thing looking like a boat upside down.  When we came up with it we found it smashed up.  It was an army one, and the man had come down to look at his map and was running along on the ground when he saw a bunker and pulled the leaver to send it into the air, it did not act and he was wrecked.  His wheels were smashed and the screw broke in two, he had a narrow escape with his life, but I touched it for the first time”

During 1913, Antony first had chicken pox, then had an operation for appendicitis.  As Knebworth House was being rented out  to the Grand Duke Michael, brother of the Czar of Russia, Antony spent his convalescence in London, before returning to school in 1914.  The Grand Duke returned to Russia at the outbreak of the First World War.  His mother organised a hospital for wounded soldiers in London and Antony wrote to her saying

“How is the hospital?  Can I be of any use as messenger or anything connected  with the hospital as scout in the holidays?”

 “It has been snowing most of today and we have only been able to get out once to have a little game of chivy.  Captain Rowland Phillips has been here today giving us some lovely tips.  He is a Commissioner for all school troops.  He is telling us some lovely yarns about the front now.  It is awfully exciting.  He has been telling us some glorious indoor games.  He is talking all about bombing, glorious!  We have got a God in the room, it is great fun.  He is talking so well that he makes you think you are in the trenches.  Good-bye.”

On the 18th March 1916 he came to London for the day, and his letter describing his return journey was characteristically vivid:

“… Directly the train started I tried to do that puzzle and did not even look up to say good-bye because I did not want to feel miserabler than I could help.  Then I just opened the parcels, so as I could see what was inside them – there was jam sandwiches, cake, 2 plums, a bottle of milt, 4 caramels and lots of toffee.  Then I started off and fairly well gorged, looking at the Illustrated War News in between the bites…..”