[Education of Sir Harry Luke] – [Lukach, Harry Charles / Sir Harry Luke] / [Pirie-Gordon, Harry].

Wonderful Manuscript Letter signed by Harry Charles Lukach (later Sir Harry Luke) to his Father, written during a holiday which Luke spent in the Western Isles on Iona, together with his friend Harry Pirie-Gordon: “My dear Father, many thanks for your letter. I sent you the Oban Times yesterday with an account of our Swim. We are getting quite notorious….The other day a parson & his wife arrived here & when I was introduced, said: “Are you the Mr. L. I read about in the papers….” I am so glad you are getting the Cleveland Row business finally settled. When will you actually begin to build ? How long is Westinghouse staying in England. Best love, H.” [″Pirie-Gordon had his “Viva” last week. He got a 3rd, & is rather disappointed.”] / Also enclosed is another letter, related to the holiday which Luke and Pirie-Gordon spent together because it proofs Luke extended his holiday to stay with Pirie-Gordon longer. This letter, regarding a payment Luke made, was unsuccessfully sent on September 13th, 1905 to two addresses where Luke was supposed to be until he Luke is found at the Country House of the Pirie-Gordon-Family at Gwernvale, Crickhowell near Abergavenny in South Wales. The letter places Luke with the Pirire-Gordon-Family just a few months before Baron Corvo will be a guest there and start collaborating with Pirie-Gordon on “The Rule of the Order of SS. Sophia”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Iona, August 7th, 1905. Octavo. One manuscript letter, accompanied by two an original section from the Oban Times in which the adventures of Luke and Pirie-Gordon were discussed in the issue of Saturday, August 5, 1905. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

The Oban Times – Saturday, August 5, 1905: “A Correspondent writes from Iona: – Iona was on Wednesday of last week the scene of some excitement. Two young gentlemen, Mr. H.C.Lukach, of Trinity, and Mr.Pirie-Gordon, of Magdalen, on a reading party from Oxford, whose pranks have of late kept their good landlady in a state of suspended animationand the island in some consdierable ferment, decided to emulate the legendary monk of old time by swimming the Sound of Iona. The day was propitious and with unusual precaution they persuaded the postmaster, Mr. Angus MacPhail, and some few friends staying on the island to accompany them in a boat, carrying besides their clothes the necessary Highland means of sustaining life. Just as the tide was about to turn shortly after 6 pm they dived off from the rocks above the viallge, swimming in a straight course without extraneous or internal assistance to the rocks immediately opposite, where they landed – the one after 35, the other after 45 minutes swimming in distinctly cold water. The successful attempt was memorable, because the feat has never been attempted before, either by the islanders or by strangers, at least within living memory, and the accomplishment was all the more creditable as a fairly strong wind made the water choppy and continually buffeted the faces of the two swimmers. Half way across a Sheffield doctor, who was staying on the Island, also took to the water, and was first to land on the Ross. The feat was watched by many with interest and telescopes.″

[Many years later (in 1930) Luke would make another long-distance swim between Malta and Gozo, just after taking office as Lieutenant-Governor of Malta].

• Keywords: British Colonial Administration · British Colonial History · British Foreign Office · British Foreign Policy · Education / Luke · Education of Sir Harry Luke · Harry Luke – Education Chapter · Harry Luke – Letter to Father · Luke on Iona [Luke and Pirie-Gordon] · Luke, Sir Harry · Sir Harry Luke · Sir Harry Luke – Personal Archive of Books and Correspondence · Sir Harry Luke Collection
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 31734AB

EUR 128.000,--