This collection of correspondence of his youngest sister May (later Mrs Lionel Armitage), consists substantially of letters from Lionel Dunsterville, covering schooldays with Kipling at the United Services College, Westward Ho!, and extending up to the time of his marriage in 1897. Many letters include plans or amusing sketches, and some from Dunsterville as a schoolboy are written in blood or secret inks. Kipling features intermittently - in the schoolboy series there is one certain reference when Kipling, on his departure for India in 1882, presented Dunsterville with a much appreciated pair of tennis shoes. Other incidents carry echoes of 'Stalky' episodes, notably Dunsterville's preference for acting, references to the natural history society, and the letter of 1881 in which Dunsterville admits he is losing his study. In later life his friendship with Kipling was maintained.



Unless stated otherwise, letters are from Lional Dunsterville to May. The correspondence has been calendared to provide short summaries of the contents, including some direct quotation. The catalogue has retained original historic language that may be offensive, inaccurate or inappropriate. In order to reflect the original context of creation, such historic language has not been edited or replaced.