including letters written to his wife Marion and some other correspondence
8 April,1940
Monday
Dearest Mog,
I was glad to hear Julian’s present arrived safely. Yes, they did rather appeal to me. I am perfectly certain he will be all right and you should not worry about him. And although it is natural, it is silly to worry until something happens and I am sure it won’t.
I think that it is pretty certain that I will come and see you again next month. I want to get my picture going well and also there are one or two things in the air, just at the moment, that may come to something.
I saw Whitworth yesterday – he has been having a bad time and told me that poor Mabel had been pinched for some debt or another and was in gaol. He was trying to raise the money to get her out. He didn’t ask me for any, however, I suppose he guessed it would be hopeless, but I was able to buy him a drink which cheered him a little.
* Mr Whitworth was the proprietor of the Kings Galleries in the Kings Road, Chelsea. Mabel Frederick was his business partner, and she was imprisoned for non-payment of rates in 1940. Editor
Mother said that she was going to try to write to you this week but she is really worn out with everything and has not much energy for such things. I told her you would understand and not to worry about it. Father is a lot weaker and I cannot imagine that he can go on very long, nor do I think he wants to, from what he said.
I am looking forward to seeing you again and I promise you I will in May.
Let me know about Julian and don’t worry yourself about him. Also, if the letter with the notes got to you.
Love
Clifford
3 May, 1940
Chelsea, Friday
Dearest Mog,
Here is the £2. I am waiting to hear from you how much more you will want for the train fare. I hope everything is going well and that nothing can stop you coming here on the 11th, as we hope. I have just phoned the Coach Station and they tell me that there is a coach leaving Dorchester on the 11th at 12.45, arriving Victoria at 8 o’clock – return fare 17/6. As all train fares have gone up, I should imagine that the return fare will be about 25 shillings. If that is the case I should still come by train as it would be a far easier journey for you.
Looking forward to hearing from you next week. All my love to you and Julian,
Clifford
PS Saturday morning,
Your last letter has just arrived. I will do my best to send you the next lot of money before you leave – certainly I will send some of it. Trouble is I do know when they will pay me for the picture but I will have to raise a loan on the strength of the sale. Would you be able to manage if I send you another pound to reach you not later than Friday next? I am terribly sorry to bother you with all this money business but don’t let it worry you. I will arrange it I promise. Don’t forget to say where the train arrives. I am looking forward so much to having you.
PPS Later.
I have re-examined the financial position and find it is possible to send £2.10 now, which I am doing. Let me know, by return, how much more will be needed and I will send it.
8 May, 1940
Wednesday morning
Dearest,
I have just had your letter and the cheque. I hope the dentist put things right yesterday. You must have a good rest whilst you are here. I think you need it. I will be at Victoria coach station at 8 o’clock on Saturday; that is the time they said the 12.45 from Dorchester would arrive. I think you have to change at Bournemouth. As there is nearly nine bob difference it does seem best to come this way. Better spend the money on something useful, or just waste and enjoy it, and stay with me an extra day more than you intended to make up for the time lost in travelling. Here is the other ten shillings.
It’s only three days to Saturday and I am longing to see you. If I do not hear from you, I will be at Victoria – eight o’clock.
All my love
Clifford
20 May, 1940
Chelsea. Monday
Dearest Mog,
I have just got your card. Glad you had a good journey. I wish you could have stayed longer, the time went too quickly. Everything looks bad but let’s hope we will see each other again before long. Write again soon and tell me how Julian is and don’t forget to tell him that I mean what I say about the white rat!
Funny about Peter – did he get your card in time?
I saw the Kersleys last night and Ted talked for about 2 hours without stopping and sound sense. They were both very sorry we had not been able to see them last week and they both send you their love. Also saw father yesterday. He seemed much worse. I will write again soon. I want to get this off quickly in case you want the money.
Love to you both
Clifford
PS I have taken old Fishface’s cupboard. It fits into the kitchen nicely. It was a good idea of yours and I am sure you will find it useful when you come back. I saw Mrs Hart and told her we wanted it and she said she would only have had it broken up. I don’t think there is anything else worth grabbing.
22 May, 1940
Chelsea, Wednesday
Dearest,
Thanks for your letter. Of course I have missed you. I have been miserable since you left. The news too has been shockingly bad and I cannot settle to anything.
I did make some enquiries from Michael. The training, he says, lasts for nine months and one is only paid 30 shillings a week, and of course one has to work factory hours. Honestly, I feel I would sooner be in the army. The thing has got so big now that I would sooner wait until my turn comes. I know I will loathe every second of it but I would feel a bit of a rat if I avoided it. After all I am of no more importance than anyone else. I expect I will be able to get a commission after a few months of training here and that would mean more training here so cheer up the war might be over by then.
I spent last night at Hampstead and Bill and I consulted the planchette. It started to write quite clearly after a few minutes and again gave November for the end of the war and was very emphatic that we would win. What does yours say?
As things appear at present the situation could hardly be much worse, yet it was as bad for a while during the last war and we won and we will again this time. But on the face of it the mistakes already made on our side are hardly credible.
Can you remember where you put the photo? I cannot see it about. I remember that I asked you to put it away somewhere last Friday.
I am very thankful that you came when you did. It was a happy week and I only wish it could have lasted longer and that I could have done more for you. It seems utterly impossible to make any plans at present; we can only wait and hope things will turn in our direction.
I enclose a letter from Hunter which you might like to read. Send it back when you write next.
Peter Jones called for the cot yesterday. Tell me again about the harness you want for Julian, it seems to have gone out of my head, and I will get it next week when I will have some money.
I hope you got the 10 bob. All my love to you both.
Clifford
PS I don’t see why Julian should not be heavier than the book says if he wants to be. Such books only concern themselves with the average and that has nothing to do with us or him.
In happier times – Clifford and Marion on holiday. Probably taken while they were in France.
25 May, 1940
Chelsea, Saturday
Dearest Mog,
I had both your letters. Stanley took the picture and I will send you the harness early next week. Of course I will see you before I have to join up, if I do, it may yet be over before we think. If one looks at a map of the relative positions it is at once evident that the Germans are very dangerously placed. It is too soon yet to say what will happen. All the same things do look grim. I am glad now that you are both in such a safe place. Poor Dumps and Lizzie were in the thick of it a night or so ago, awakened at 3am by alarms and bombs. Only one pony and a few chickens killed but all the kids in the house terrified and huge holes in the fields where the bombs had fallen. This was in Sussex.
Mother came about 9 this morning to tell me that she had been told that father might go any day. She is in a bad way and it is a good thing I am here to do what I can. It is a miserable end for him and not knowing if we have won or not – although he would have that unshakable faith that England could not be beaten. Sometimes I wonder. If they were all like him and Brian it would be true but we have men fighting who have been brought up on anti-war teaching and it must have had its effect. We must hold out until that effect has worn off, if we can, then we will have them.
I have begun to work again. By fits and starts. I feel for you and I wish you were here with Julian and that you could be just left alone. But in our time this little thing is too much to ask. Still I am sure it will all come right one day so try to be brave, as you have been up till now.
A bit late our Government is doing something – even in Belfast it appears, which is interesting after Hunter’s letter.
I will do my best about the cot when you feel you need it.
All my love to you both. Write soon,
Clifford
27 May, 1940
Chelsea, Monday morning
Dearest Mog,
I had your letter this morning. Have just been to Peter Jones. They only had one cot – the design you wanted but a horrible green. They phoned John Lewis and they have one in blue and it will be sent off today.
The hair mattress is also being sent today from Peter Jones. They have credited you for the full amount originally paid for the first cot and mattress and the new one will only be less than 10 shillings more including the mattress. That is all right and I will let you have a couple of pounds to send them on account at the end of the week, or pay it myself whichever you prefer. I hope the one sent will be right. Have done the best I could.
Love to you both
Clifford
28 May, 1940
Chelsea, Tuesday
Dearest Mog,
I have just readdressed the credit note from Peter Jones to you and here is a card for the show at Bournemouth in case you are able to go there some time.
I saw Leo yesterday and he is working hard at our ballet and hopes to get it produced but I expect the latest news will just ruin it. No one is particularly cheerful as you may guess and certainly things do look bad enough now, particularly with Albert giving up.
I have started to work again. My poor father hangs on but he was hardly conscious when I saw him on Sunday and could not even remember that he had seen mother the same morning.
I hope the cot will be all right when it reaches you. I should think you should get it about the end of the week. I hope to get the harness and send it off to you tomorrow.
Love to you and Julian,
Clifford
31 May, 1940
Chelsea, Friday
Dearest Mog,
Your letter came yesterday. I am anxious to hear that the cot and other things got to you safely and that the cot is the sort you wanted – although one has to take whatever they have now. You must try not to be miserable although I know how difficult it all is. I am very thankful you are both somewhere safe, as we look like getting it hot pretty soon. I do not think, however, that London will be touched yet, and don’t think we will be beaten because it is impossible. I have thought of joining the parachute spotters but I dare not have my time taken up at the moment as things are at Putney. It is a difficult position but I feel I am right in waiting as I may be wanted there at any moment. Dismal Fred and Charles are really more trouble than they are worth and their advice is most unbusinesslike and is giving mother more worry than she need have. She has enough already. They mean to be helpful of course, but that is the way most harm is done.
I do not think I am particularly afraid of what may happen but I loved my world and it makes me infinitely sad to think that it may all be taken away from me. That’s a selfish way of looking at things I know but I just give up trying to understand anything else. I know a fine picture when I see one but beyond that everything baffles me completely. There is so much good in what we call evil and evil in what is generally accepted as good. I can make neither head nor tail of it. You know, I wish I were ten or fifteen years younger or as much older, as it is so difficult to adjust one’s viewpoint and one must have a viewpoint. Nothing can be done without it.
I am very happy that Julian means so much to you. When I see him again he will probably say: “Who’s that guy?” and I shall have to get to know him. We will all be together again I am perfectly sure of that, but who can say when.
Will you send me Peter Joneses bill when you get it and I will send then the £2 on account, or would you sooner I sent the cheque to you? But that seems unnecessary, sending it backwards and forwards.
I have worked hard all this week but it is difficult to get going – to really lose myself. The horror that is going on daily so close to us becomes like a solid form and gets everywhere and it is almost impossible to keep it out. I expect you are feeling the same about it.
Tell me what the show at Bournemouth is like if you do happen to go. It could hardly be worse than the RA although John did save the latter.
I have been thinking that when the time comes and I am called up I will have to store everything, possibly with Bill, because it would be best for you and Julian to stay where you are. Or, maybe, as he will be easier to manage by September you could go to East Meon which would be nicer for you. I am so far not required to register until December but I rather think it will be some months sooner than that if things continue at their present rate. Anyway, I will be able to come and see you before then. And it won’t be anything for you to worry about because I will be back to paint a lot more pictures for years and years. I am not rushing into this before I have to but I could not try to get out of it because as I told you not long ago the war has got so big now that everyone must do their best to stop it, and there seems only one way.
Before it has finished I think they will all be in, Russia, Turkey, Japan, America, and Italy and the Balkans. All that could happen quite soon now and it could be over soon too.
You have got to be brave and stay very beautiful for me because I am going to paint a full length of you in your last velvet dress and we are going to France and Venice to paint beautiful things. I will paint you there too and you will be happy again.
Later –
Good night dear, I have done a good sketch this evening. I love you – write soon.
Clifford
PS Saturday.
Got your letter. I will send the blanket early next week. So glad the harness was all right. I hope the cot arrives soon.
Love to you both,
Clifford
This magazine cover for Wife and Home magazine is an example of the kind of commercial art Marion produced during the 1930s.
It is evident that Marion worked as a commercial artist for a number of years before the war, producing drawings and paintings for Women’s magazines and some illustrations, rhymes and short stories for children which were published in various publications. She does not appear to have done much work of this nature either during or after the war. She did, however, continue to draw and paint in the 1950s and 60s but apparently did not produce a great deal of work. Throughout her career as an artist she used a number of different names, including the pseudonym, ‘Mirelle’, as well as Marion Zass and Marion Hall, and sometimes she only initialed her work or didn’t sign it all. Consequently, she now really lacks any sort of a profile as an artist. Editor