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David Douglas-Withers - Letters 1940
Mostly between his father and his housemaster at Eton
FROM H.K. MARDSEN, ETON COLLEGE, WINDSOR. TEL. WINDSOR 20
May 9 1940
Dear Col. Douglas-Withers
Thanks for your letter and cheque for the boat.
David passed on Monday and the next day he was out on the river, first in a heavy boat, and then it in a whiff; and has been out several times since: he tells me that he reached a place about a mile off and now appears to be able to look after himself. He has not swamped, as they often do in their first attempts.
So far as safety is concerned we have watermen with punts every quarter mile or so, and no one is allowed on the river till he has passed; and though it is rash to counts chickens, we have not had a a boy drowned for 60 years.
David seems quite on top of things, and has found his feet pretty quickly: I cannot tell you much at this stage, except that he appears to get on all right with the others, and he has not needed any spoon feeding, nor has he put his foot in it so far as I know. He seems perfectly happy, but you will tell better from what he writes.
Yours sincerely
Marsden
I assume this Lymm address is reliable: the only one that I have had is Peninsular Brracks, Warrington, apart from Fairfax House, Farnborough.
ETON COLLEGE
July 1940
Dear Sir
Rumours have been prevalent that it is our intention to transfer the School overseas, and these have now become so persistent and are resulting in so many inquiries that I write to you to inform you that they are entirely without foundation. A policy, which has been unanimously agreed to by the Provost and Fellows, is to remain at Eton. The arguments against moving Eton to Canada or elsewhere are so weighty that we have never had any intention of taking such a step, and we have in fact done all in our power to discourage individual parents from removing their sons either overseas or to places supposedly it safer in these Islands.
I would point out that -
(a) Eton is no more likely to suffer from bombing than any district in the greater part of England and Wales and is very well provided with Air Raid Shelters and A.R.P. Services.(b) Eton is a Reception Area. A number of children was sent here from London last September and more were sent here last month. It would be disastrous if the impression gained ground that a district considered suitable for the children of the poorer classes is considered unsuitable for the children of the well to do.(c) It is difficult to conceive anything more damaging to civilian morale in this country than the removal of Eton overseas. Large sections of the community would undoubtedly feel that their children were being abandoned to the stress of bombardment and possible invasion while the classes which ought to set an example of courage and leadership were sending their children abroad in what would certainly be interpreted as fear of disaster in England.(d) As has been announced the Government is fundamentally opposed to the removal of Public Schools to the Dominions.
Yours sincerely
C.A. Elliott
FROM H.K. MARDSEN, ETON COLLEGE, WINDSOR. TEL. WINDSOR 20
July 28 1940
Dear Col. Douglas-Withers
Here is shall first set of Eton reports, and I don't think you will be displeased with them. David has made a thoroughly good start here, and has proved himself well up to the standard of the place that he took, though he was not worth trying anything higher; he has done well in all his subjects and there is unanimity in giving credit for industry; his Mathematics were a weak spot in the Entrance, but he seems to have made good headway here too, to judge by his Trials. He comes out third in Trials of those who took Upper IV; not a very good third, but it is quite a creditable place, and his effort in winning the Prose prize is equally so, though it must be admitted that the competition was reduced by measles.
You had qualms early in the half about his efforts on the river; but although he was (not unnaturally) much in demand as a cox, he has been out sculling quite a lot, and is a perfectly good waterman; he has been 4 or 5 miles upstream several times, and has some idea of how to scull; but as with football and other games, his size and weight are a serious handicap; he is, however, a good cox anti quite well with our " baby four", and even if he does grow, he can have a career as a cox for the asking.
He seems very well enabled to look off to himself; he makes little fuss and requires no spoon feeding, and he is sensible enough to avoid trouble either from incompetence or from mischief.
So far as one can judge, he gets on well enough with the other small fry, and he gives the impression of being happy and contented with his lot. I think he is on the road to make a success of his time here, though it is early yet speak with any confidence.
You have probably got him home all right by now: I received your letter about possible interruption, and was prepared to act as seemed best in the circumstances.
Yours sincerely
Marsden
FROM H.K. MARDSEN, ETON COLLEGE, WINDSOR. TEL. WINDSOR 20
Aug 21 1940
Dear Col. Douglas-Withers
Thanks for your letter of Aug. 18.
Our annual service for Confirmation is in the Winter and while it is possible for David to be confirmed next half, he would seem to be a little young, and that is why I never raised the question: however, this is a matter for you and him, and if you wish it this can easily be arranged: the natural time, however, from our point of view would be next year.
As regards his education, he has begun doing a little Greek and is good enough to profit from it, while the alternative programme of English is intended for the less intelligent of his contemporaries and with his performance last half, he would seem well equal to Greek until he gets his Certificate: the chief advantage here is that he will be working in divisions of a higher intellectual calibre than if he abandoned it, and he will otherwise be resting on his oars for a large part the time.
Yours sincerely
Marsden
Dec 18 1940
Dear Douglas-Withers
David's reports are on the whole quite reasonable, taking into account various factors which may not be evident to everyone: it is his first half in the block, with a standard appreciably higher than in the Fourth Form; his French report must be read in the light of his being in the top French division, while his Mathematical position and record is not bad for one who started in the ?? set when he came.
However, there is an undercurrent of criticism of his written work all round, and this is attributable, I think two rather fussy and unmethodical and slipshod habits, which makes him dash off his written work at too great speed; it is all in keeping with his hasty speech and lack of method in arranging his time.
I think that he puts some vigour into his work, and he has never been accused of slacking: and the same is evident in his games. Had he been rather more solid, and better able to stand up against larger bodies than his own, he would have found a place in two rather successful teams; he was playing for a month or so, and was never lacking in spirit or dash, nor did he mind hurting himself, but inevitably he could not serve much purpose against a fellow of 5'9" or so.
So he has been to some extent sidetracked, and this may have put him a little out of the swim in the house; but it has not been noticeable, and he has seemed perfectly happy and contented, and to be taking his part in the general life inside the house. He seems keen about all that he does, and he seldom appears to be wasting his time.
In case you notice that his place inside his remove is a long way further from the top than it was, the explanation lies in the fact that nearly all the new boys who took Remove this half have beaten him, as well as some of those were ill as the end of the Summer.
Yours sincerely
Marsden
I heard from Group Capt. Drake this morning from Warrington (Houghton Green): in case you come across him, his boy was Captain of the house in the Summer. I don't know what he does up there, probably something to do with balloons.
| Owner of original | Myles |
| Date | 1940 |
| Linked to | David Bethell Everett Douglas-Withers |
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