| Description | This material consists of correspondence from several members of the Manners family of Clovelly Court, Devon and Avon Tyrell, Hants mainly to Cynthia, although some are addressed to her sister Irene. Correspondents include John Nevile Manners, Francis Henry Manners, Betty Constance Manners and Angela Margaret Manners, the children of John Thomas, 3rd Baron Manners. There are also several letters from their aunt, Christina Louisa Gostling (nee Hamlyn Fane), their mother's sister, who signs herself 'Aunt Chris'.
John Manners was a lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards, and was killed in action in Flanders in September 1914. Letters from his brother, sisters and aunt to Cynthia and Irene during the last months of 1914 and the beginning of 1915 contain information about this. Letters from all correspondents also include details about social activities. Letters from Angela, Betty and 'Aunt Chris' also discuss Angela's war work with the English Ambulance in Belgium in 1914.
/1-/7 are letters from John Manners. These are undated, but the content suggests that they were written in the years immediately prior to the outbreak of war in 1914. Several refer to visits by the Curzon sisters to Avon Tyrell or Clovelly, and contain news about John's sporting and leisure activities, particularly his interest in playing cricket. /1 is written to Irene, but the rest are addressed to Cynthia.
/6 is written from Palfau in Austria, where he is staying with his father and sister, Angela.
/7 is a printed Christmas card issued by the Grenadier Guards, featuring a photograph of the 'Review of the Brigade of Guards in Hyde Park, April 1913, by H.M. King George V'
/8 is a letter to Cynthia from Francis Manners, written from Eton shortly after his brother's death. He mentions that the news was made worse for the family because 'we had more or less made up our minds that he had been taken prisoner
/9-/12 are letters from Angela Manners.
/9 gives details of a course in hospital nursing at the London Hospital which she has recently completed. It also contains details about the education of her brothers Francis, who is at Eton, and John, who is at university
/10 is addressed to Irene and Cynthia and concerns the death of her brother John, but also gives details of her recent ambulance work in Belgium, and mentions that the Curzons are currently looking after 'the little Belgian princes'
/11 expresses her disappointment that Cynthia cannot come to help with her hospital work, and alludes to the disapproval of Cynthia's father, Lord Curzon
/12 thanks Cynthia for her letter of condolence on the death of her mother, Constance Edwina Adeline Manners (nee Hamlyn Fane) in March 1920
/13-/21 are letters from Betty Manners, dated roughly between 1912 and 1918. Several are addressed to both Irene and Cynthia, and most letters contain details about social and leisure activities
/15 is a photograph of an unidentified adolescent boy and a child
/16 gives news of the illness of her brother John and urges Irene and Cynthia to write to him
/17 is written from Austria and contains news about the family's social engagements and sightseeing there
/18 mentions that John is missing in action, and expresses her anxiety about him. She also gives detailed news about Angela's ambulance work in Mons, which she has heard from 'Mrs Bridges' who has just returned from Belgium.
/19 gives news of the expected return of Angela and the English Ambulance, via Bergen by ship at the end of 1914
/22-/33 are letters from Christina Gostling; 'Aunt Chris', dating between 1910 and 1916. Most are written to Cynthia, but some are addressed to Irene, and others to Cynthia and both of her sisters. They include:
/23 referring to an operation which John Manners has recently undergone
/26 giving an account of the departure of John Manners, with his regiment, for Flanders in August 1914, and of the departure of Angela Manners with the Belgian Legation with 'Nellie Hozier' to do ambulance work. She expresses her sadness that the usual summer activities at Clovelly cannot take place, and mentions that the house seems very quiet
/27 expressing her concerns about Angela and John
/28 expressing her grief at the death of John Manners. This letter also contains details of tributes to John from his old masters at Eton
/30 containing details of Angela's experiences with the English Ambulance in Belgium
/31 mentioning Irene's engagement to 'Mr Guy' [Benson] in 1916 |