Enclosure – Letter from David Graves

POULK PRESS . BOAR'S HEAD . OXFORD
Oxford 85321
David Sept 29[RG]
..as you yourself say
'nothing serious will happen'.
As to 'filters,' the English are merely taking the necessary precautions. They are not at all panicky.
As to what I am going to do, I received a circular from Cambridge telling me not to go up until I was told. If war should break out, I should
almost certainly enlist. In which case, Brittany1 is not at present feasible. When things have blown over, I should love to come.
Meanwhile, I am digging a 12' x 4'6" x 7' deep trench in the garden. After that, I shall volunteer for A.R.P.2 work.
I am fully convinced of the necessity and justice of Britain's stand against Hitler and will be v. [very] willing to fight! (P.T.O [Please Turn Over])
Ben & Barbara & nurse & maid & triplets are all staying here. We all have ××××-masks. Sam & Catherine will stay at school, Catherine being invaluable as head girl. About Jenny I don't know. Presumabl[DG] Presumably she will stay where she is. She is v. happy there.
So.
Love from
David
P.S. I'd like to see a copy of your book[DG] poems when they are out.

Editorial Notes

1i.e. La Chevrie eds.
2"Air Raid Precautions." eds.

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: ink correction
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black
    • Annotation: ink correction of letter enclosure
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black

Places Mentioned

  • Cambridge [University]

    Cambridge, England
    University attended by RG's son David. eds.

  • Château de la Chevrie

    Montauban-de-la-Bretagne, Brittany, France
    translating as "Venison Castle," La Chevrie was manor of an estate that RG & LR rented with Alan Hodge and Beryl Pritchard during their stay in France in 1938

People Mentioned

  • David

    Graves, David
    R.G.'s second child [by Nancy Nicholson]. W.G. In RAF; killed in the war. The only one of Graves' children who might have become a poet had he lived. K.G., eds.

  • Hitler

    Hitler, Adolf
    (1889-1945)

  • Ben

    Ben
    artist; brother of Nancy Nicholson eds.

  • Sam

    Graves, Samuel
    R.G.'s youngest child by Nancy Nicholson. C.P.& WG

  • Catherine

    Nicholson, Catherine
    Catherine Nicholson: (1922- ) third of four children of Robert Graves and Nancy Nicholson. eds.

  • Jenny

    Nicholson, Jenny
    Jenny Nicholson: oldest daughter of Robert by Nancy Nicholson.

Organizations Mentioned

  • Editors

    Editors of the Graves Diary Project.