Mother Superior of a Girls' School Describes Living through the Blitzkrieg "We have had some bombs unpleasantly near..." 1940

Girls School Surviving WW II Blitzkrieg

Manuscripts & Autographs

Edith, Mary’s H[ead] T[eacher] and Mother Superior of a Girls' School Describes Living through the Blitzkrieg. Autograph letter signed, Dec. 22, 1940. Letterhead of Ascot Priory, Ascot, Berks. [Berkshire, England] To Mr. William Nourse. The Mother Superior writes this missive on living through the Blitz with a school of girls under her care.

“…I appreciate the kindness of our friends more than ever this year, for I know how much financially hit everyone is. I do hope you will have as happy a Christmas is possible, Xmas 1941 bring us peace! We have had some bombs unpleasantly near, but lately I am glad to say the nights have been much quieter…” The Blitzkrieg lasted from September 1940 to May 1941, during which time bombs flown in by the Luftwaffe rained down on London and its environs. Ascot Priory, in the pristine Berkshires 60 miles from London, was apparently not immune from the devastation. However, Sister Edith responds with monastic calm. The Congregation of Religious of the Society of the Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1856 as a sisterhood of nuns dedicated primarily to nursing the sick who could not find treatment in London. They also cared for orphans. In 1933, a girls secondary school was added to the priory and named St Augustine’s School. There were about 136 boarders and day girls until it closed operations in 1965. Sister Edith, who wrote this letter, was fondly remembered by pupils as a PE teacher and by the time of the Blitz, as Reverend Mother.

Item #16088

Price: $225.00