These letters describe Benson’s life at Chillon College during 1928-30 and include details of climbing expeditions. They recount his experiences as a student at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, during 1930-33, and reflect his passion for rowing. Benson includes a series of sketches of fellow members of the rowing team. This section then discusses his recruitment, preparation and participation in the Oxford University Expedition to the Arctic in 1933. The expedition carried out a topographical and geological survey of an unknown district of North Spitsbergen. Benson served as Assistant Geologist and Surveyor on B Sledge Party. The letters describe his travel, colleagues, living conditions and work, which included the collection of meteorological data. The remainder of this section covers Benson’s study at the Camborne School of Mines in 1934, which involved working in a mine as a driller’s assistant. The file includes nine sketches, three maps, one plan and two photographs (circa 200 sheets).