World War II interest - H.R.H. Mary, Princess Royal and Cou...

Estimate

£100 - £150

World War II interest -
H.R.H. Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood (1897-1965, only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary): Letter to her son Gerald Lascelles dated December 11th 1940 including '...we had a noisy time Friday night when the warning came at 9.10 and from 10.30 onwards we heard gunfire and explosions and machines. They dropped incendiary and I believe about 50 bombs on Leeds but I cannot make out that the damage or casualties are serious...'. Also an envelope stamped 'GROW MORE FOOD / DIG FOR VICTORY' and dated March 1941 addressed to Gerald Lascelles, containing letter from Princess Mary regarding WWII related visits, inspections of Ordnance Depots and the ATS, 'lunching in the Mess' as well as a luncheon with the Duchess of Devonshire and Duchess of Northumberland. Also letters sent to Gerald Lascelles at Eton College dated October 23rd 1940 includes '...I heard 27 evacuees are coming to the village on Friday from London!', dated November 6th 1940 includes '...and visited evacuee families from London' as well as describing inspections of Royal Signals and ATS, and one dated 1941 '...Next Sunday Feb 2nd, I am to broadcast at the end of 6 O'clock news, about blood-transfuion. They want 100,000 blood donors in the East and West Ridings'.
(5)

FOOTNOTE:
During the Second World War, Princess Mary was controller and then controller commandant of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). The ATS was the women’s branch of the British Army from 1938 to 1949. By the end of the war, approximately 200,000 members of the ATS from across the British Empire had served in the United Kingdom and overseas.

PROVENANCE:
Private collection of Angela Lascelles (wife of The Hon. Gerald Lascelles, First Cousin of Queen Elizabeth II) and thence by descent.