Description
Object description
A photo album (41pp) containing photographs of, among others, her service with the Trade and Industry Division, British Element, Control Commission for Germany in Minden, with photographs of herself and colleagues, her future husband, Captain Murdoch McLean of the Pay Corps, skiing trips, and accommodation. Together with: a ms postcard to her parents in Edinburgh from Minden with a scene of where she stayed; a Control Commission for Germany British Element Christmas Card (1945); two portrait photographs of Houston; two photocopies of portrait photographs; an autographed photograph of Geoffrey Parkes CMG, Deputy Chief Executive of the Trade and industry Division CCG (12 August 1946); and three ms letters (12pp) written to Miss Robina ('Robin') Houston by Harry Tyers, a Civil Servant with the Ministry of Town and Country Planning based in St James' Square, London, discussing office gossip, a mutual female acquaintance claiming exemption from fire watching duties on the grounds of age, taking a unit of the Army Cadet Force camping (July 1943), discussing Houston's work with the CCG, his own experiences of soldiers in the First World War, the continuing lack of food despite the end of the war being nigh, the changes with returning soldiers to the city (April 1945), the New Towns Bill creating more work for him, preparations for the Victory Day Celebrations, his view of the Germans, and time as a trooper in the 21st Lancers (June 1946). Each letter is beautifully illustrated with pen and watercolour / pencil drawings relating to the content of the letters, with scenes of London, men in uniform, and glamorous women, often humorous in nature.
Content description
A photo album (41pp) containing photographs of, among others, her service with the Trade and Industry Division, British Element, Control Commission for Germany in Minden, with photographs of herself and colleagues, her future husband, Captain Murdoch McLean of the Pay Corps, skiing trips, and accommodation. Together with: a ms postcard to her parents in Edinburgh from Minden with a scene of where she stayed; a Control Commission for Germany British Element Christmas Card (1945); two portrait photographs of Houston; two photocopies of portrait photographs; an autographed photograph of Geoffrey Parkes CMG, Deputy Chief Executive of the Trade and industry Division CCG (12 August 1946); and three ms letters (12pp) written to Miss Robina ('Robin') Houston by Harry Tyers, a Civil Servant with the Ministry of Town and Country Planning based in St James' Square, London, discussing office gossip, a mutual female acquaintance claiming exemption from fire watching duties on the grounds of age, taking a unit of the Army Cadet Force camping (July 1943), discussing Houston's work with the CCG, his own experiences of soldiers in the First World War, the continuing lack of food despite the end of the war being nigh, the changes with returning soldiers to the city (April 1945), the New Towns Bill creating more work for him, preparations for the Victory Day Celebrations, his view of the Germans, and time as a trooper in the 21st Lancers (June 1946). Each letter is beautifully illustrated with pen and watercolour / pencil drawings relating to the content of the letters, with scenes of London, men in uniform, and glamorous women, often humorous in nature.
History note
Cataloguer SJO