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RALPH [LORDY] E.C. LORD, CAPTAIN ROYAL CANADIAN ENGINEERS : 1940s ARCHIVE OF ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN AND TYPED WORLD WAR II CORRESPONDENCE DETAILING A SOLDIER SERVING OVERSEAS IS TRYING TO MAINTAIN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN WHILE HIS MARRIAGE TO A CONNIVING WIFE IS ENDING

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is an archive of forty-nine [49] handwritten letters and airgrammes [one typed] written by Ralph C.E. Lord known as 'Lordy' a man who is for the most part a captain in the Royal Canadian Engineers. The letters cover the period of late 1943 through to the end of 1945 and one dated 1946. On the one hand the letters show a joviality especially for his two children Patricia and William but in other communications there is the terrible sadness of a marriage in hell and on the cusp of divorce which in one of the letters near the end deals with precisely that. Ralph seems to be barely keeping things together - he is stoically allowing his wife to claim the divorce is his fault for the sake of appearances with the children even though the opposite appears to be true. Ralph in other letters complained how his wife's inappropriate actions leading to a penalty fine and Ralph's temporary loss of his captaincy. He has covered up for her for the sake of the children. In another heartbreaking letter Ralph who, now that the war has ended, is trying to start a business in the UK apologizes profusely to the children for his inability to send presents for Christmas. This archive is a rare peak into a man's heartbreaking situation which most likely was more common an occurence in the war years than one imagines. Also rare to see a man to be so emotive yet still maintain his self esteem. Remarkable set of letters.. Book Condition: Very Good

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