Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 31 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 Wilfrid Bliss Spender

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Letter from Sir Wilfrid Bliss Spender (1876-1960) to his wife, Lady Lillian Spender, née Dean, (1880-1968). In this letter, Spender discusses the progress of the war (making reference to the Russian Brusilov Offensive), asks Lillian to send him toothpaste and shaving soap, and thanks her for her kindness in sending packages to Spender's brother Rex.Sir Wilfrid Spender was a member of the British Army until 1913 when controversy surrounding his signature of the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant resulted in his resignation. Spender was called up for military service in 1914 and from 1915 served in the 36th (Ulster) Division. Throughout the war, Spender wrote a collection of letters to his wife Lady Lillian Spender. The letters date mainly from 1915 to 1918, when Sir Wilfrid was serving in France. The letters concern politics, the Irish question, personal life, and Wilfrid's experience of the Great War. Lady Lillian served in the Ulster Volunteer Nursing Corps during the war, and was an organiser of the Ulster Division Comforts Fund.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Lady Spender's Correspondence, D1633/1/1/369 https://letters1916.ie/item/781 English Wilfrid Bliss Spender 1916-07-31 Lillian Spender Male World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 31 July My Pr No letter I expect owing to your weekend. Perhaps 2 are accumulating? Anyhow I have been spoilt lately. I enclose nice letters from Sir George & Jessie which I must answer. Things did not progress very well yesterday but luckily the Russian news is a good backup. What we are doing here no doubt helps on that side, but I do not change my views that no decision can be looked for on this front unless the Germans are forced to withdraw large numbers to the other & that tho' we may advance a little & very painfully we must exert all the economic pressure we can & continue to work at munitious munitions at the greatest speed possible & without holidays & relaxation. We have not yet felt the full pressure of the appaling wastage yet, but after the war then will be great distress at first I'm afraid. By the way can you send me soon some shaving soap Boots Salvisan is quite good and another tube of toothpaste about which latter there is no hurry. I'm afraid with my & Rex's commissions you may be a bit harried but I know you will look upon his requirements as a labour of love. It does make a difference to him to know he has someone who is glad to attend to his wants. Why I said 2 a week parcels is because in the trenches one has to rely on post for everything except rations, & you know what that means. I should think Fish flake powder might be a pleasant change for him. I have a letter waiting for Sir Ralph so don't forget his address - no I will let you forward it. 2 letters just come ! I must try & send you another page but have such a lot of letters to answer. I send you some. Your b w WB Spender Wilfrid Bliss Spender Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 17 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 24 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 30 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 3 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 9 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 18 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 21 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 21 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 22 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 22 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 23 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 24 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 27 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 29 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 28 July 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 30 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 31 July 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 31 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 1 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 4 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 6 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 7 August 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 8 August 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 9 August 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 9 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 10 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 14 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 20 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 22 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 24 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 25 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 August 1916Note from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 28 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 18 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 20 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his family, 21 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 22 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 23 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife, Lady Lillian Spender, 2 January 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to his wife, Lillian Spender, 9 January 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, [January 1916]Letter from Wilfrid Spender to his family, 3 November 1915Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 12 November 1915