| Description | Letters sent from Lockhart to his parents, whilst on home-based duties in Edinburgh, and on active service in the Mediterranean, November 1918 - September 1919.
The earliest letter in this group is written from Lockhart's depot ship, berthed at Edinburgh [Leith], 22 November 1918. It contains descriptions of British and German naval ships observed in the Forth estuary area, reference to influenza vaccinations and personal hygiene lectures delivered to naval servicemen, leisure pursuits, weather and general.
From 16 February - 23 March 1919, a group of 17 letters describe his journey south-wards from Boulonge, through Paris, Marseilles, Malta and Salonica, en route for the hospital ship, H.M.S. Europa, berthed in Mudros. These letters contain detailed descriptions of the places, people and customs observed during the journey as well as reference to Naval duties, personnel and living conditions on board the Europa.
From 31 March - 5 September 1919, Lockhart numbered his letters in a running sequence from 1 - 40. Numbers 16, 19, 33, 34 and 36 are missing from this sequence, which is otherwise complete. Letters 28 and 29 contain a description of a short sight-seeing trip to Constantinople, taken by Lockhart and six of his colleagues from the Europa, 5 - 7 July 1919; and letters 32 - 40 were written on his return journey to Britain, 29 July - 5 September 1919.
All of the letters are written with great affection, especially towards his mother, with frequent references to the activities of friends and family referred to in his parents' letters. He keenly observed and recorded all that he saw and did, and his letters provide an accessible and 'newsy' account both of his life as a Naval medical officer and of the places and people that he encountered. |