101. [Private Materials Sir Harry Luke] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry].

Five letters to Sir Harry Luke by his doctor from Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and also included some smaller notes from other doctors he consulted during the years. The letters are lengthy, often personal due to the friendly relationship to his doctor. The gourmet and food loving writer, Sir Harry, receives already in 1952 the order: ‘In the interim you must go carefully with food and drink’. Included is also some ephemera like a photograph of a procession to church in Aldeburgh and some original prescriptions.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Aldeburgh (Suffolk) / Tempsford Hall (Bedfordshire), Deben House, 1952-1957. Octavo. 5 letters and ephemera. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

102. [Private Materials Sir Harry Luke] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry].

Drawing by stonemason Hans Koebel (Steinbildhauermeister) for Sir Harry Luke’s personal Headstone for his grave.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Alt-Aussee (Austria), 1957. Octavo. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

103. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry / Edward, Prince of Wales / Edward VIII].

Important Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) / Autographed Letter Signed from Sir Harry Luke to his Father, Mother & Sister Lily during his second posting in Sierra Leone, this time as Colonial Secretary of Sierra Leone. Sir Harry describes at length the visit of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) to the Colony in 1925: “My dear Father & Mother & Lily, To-day being Easter Monday I am spending in bed in an endeavour to recover from the fatigues of a trying but successful week. The Prince’s visit …..may be said to have been an unqualified success; & I hope you will look out for photos of it in the daily & weekly press”. Luke describes how he was sitting next to the Prince at lunch and later he had a ‘chance of telling him two stories which seemed to amuse him’. In his four-page-letter, Sir Harry continues: ‘I also talked to him at the Garden Party [the photograph of Sir Harry Luke next to the Prince of Wales at the Garden Party is a famous image of the Prince’s visit to Sierra Leone and the original is part of the collection]”. “He is very pleasant, but frightfully nervous & fidgety & leads an impossible life. After the very streanous profanities…..he insisted on playing Squash, despite the great heat, before the Dinner party, then after the ball went motoring to the beach with some of the more attractive of the Ladies, then went to some of their houses & danced & drank cold beer until 5 in the morning. When he went to bed for 2 hours. Apparently he seldom sleeps for more than that. At Dinner, when he was sitting between 2 very dark & matriarchical women (one of the Lady S.) he looked across at me with a smile & a wink. After he left I went for a day’s cruise in ‘HMS Endeavour’, the Survey Ship now working here, for a bit of rest…[..]”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. [Freetown] Sierra Leone, 1925. Octavo. 4 page letter (on two sheets). From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

104. [Private Materials Sir Harry Luke] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Ashbee, Charles Robert.

Manuscript letter Signed (MLS) by english architect and designer Charles Robert Ashbee to Sir Harry Luke, condoling him on the death of Luke’s father H.C.Luke. Ashbee reminisces: ‘I recall a charming hour I once spent with your father when on leave from Palestine – during your first year in Palestine [1921] – I brought him some message or other – the message is forgotten….the memory of the pleasant personality abides. Come to us again some day – Yours always, C.R.Ashbee – Godden Green – Near Sevenoaks).’

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Godden Green, 1930. Octavo. 1 page in original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

105. [Private Materials Sir Harry Luke] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Buckle, George Earle (1854 – 1935).

Manuscript Letter Signed (MLS) by english editor and biographer George Earle Buckle to Sir Harry Luke, condoling him on the death of his father, H.C.Luke. Buckle also mentions a referral Sir Harry obviously seeked to a Col. Murray an asked Buckle to broker the meeting. But Buckle reassures Luke that he met Col. Murray and Murray mentioned to him that Luke and himself went to Eton together: ’….i saw Murray later in the day + mentioned the matter + found him fully aware that he + you were together at Eton. So you can go to him without further introduction – 50 Albemarle Street – Yours with renewed sympathy G.E.Buckle.’

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Chelsea, 1930. Octavo. 1 page letter (both sides with text) including the original envelope. Tear to margins of the letter (1 inch missing). From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

106. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Larken, Vice-Admiral Sir Frank [KCB CMG / Naval Secretary].

Manuscript Letter signed (MLS) from Naval Secretary Sir Frank Larken to Sir Harry Luke. The letter addressed to Luke’s posting in Freetown, Sierra Leone [Envelope reads: ‘Harry C Luke Esq. CMG – The Colonial Secreatry – Sierra Leone’ – stamped: ‘Naval Secretary to First Lord’]. Sir Frank Larken congratulates Harry Luke on receiving the CMG [‘Companion’– Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George]. Larken writes: ‘My dear Luke – I send my best congratulations to you and Mrs. Luke on the CMG: it gave me great pleasure to see your name in the honours list. I see you are recurring your acquaintance with Sierra Leone. I can imagine that with your interaction + talent there are many more congenial spots you would have chosen – which your wife would prefer. Does the engaging native still talk the language the amusing sample of which you used to amuse us by giving: ‘I am in a bureau – s Secretary – To a Cabinet Minister’ – You will smile. Nasmith [that is Admiral Sir Martin Eric Dunbar-Nasmith VC, KCB, KCMG (1 April 1883 – 29 June 1965)] has just gone to command the College at Dartmouth [Britannia Royal Naval College Commander from 1926 – 1929] – a very good appt. + [?] the man for it. What a nipping time you gave Martin Nasmith + myself in Jerusalem. Kind regards to Mrs. Luke. Yours Frank Larken’.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Whitehall, On Whitehall Admiralty Stationery, 1926. Octavo. 2 pages (1 sheet with writing on both sides) and envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

107. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Russell, Sir Alison (Chief Justice of Tanganyika).

Manuscript letter signed (MLS) from Chief Justice of Tanganyika (1924-1929), Sir William Alison Russell to Sir Harry Luke on the occasion of Luke receiving the CMG. Russel, then stationed in Dar Es Salaam for the Colonial office send him a lengthy letter with very interesting detail: ‘Dear Luke, my wife and I am delighted to see an announcement…of this high honour bestowed on you….In these days an honour of that kind is indeed an honour. Have sent your book on Mosul to Sir D. Cameron [Sir Donald Charles Cameron, GCMG KBE (3 June 1872 – 8 January 1948)] ……I am going down the Congo, I hope + out at Matadi. Leaving Kigoma at the beginning of May – it takes about six weeks from Kigoma to Antwerp….I have never been to Haarlem. I am looking forward to sailing this summer. Only my friends picked up this ‘Winnie’ last summer in a pitch night ….+ she went to pieces. But I dare say I shall get another berth in a boat. I want to go ‘foreign’ – perhaps to Spain again. I wonder if there could be a chance of seeing you next summer in England. How goes it in Sierra Leone [?]…I thought your Mosul book very interesting + so fresh……Yours sincerely A. Russell.’

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Dar Es Salaam, 24.2.1926. Octavo. 10 pages. with original envelope [Tanganyika 15 cents stamp]. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

108. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Fiddian, Alexander (Alex) [Colonial Office].

Typed Letter signed (TLS) on Colonial Office Stationery from Establishment Officer for the Colonial Office and the Dominians Office, Alexander (Alex) Fiddian) to Harry Luke, congratulating him on the CMG: ‘My dear Luke, hearty congratulations on this altogether overdue decoration. You will at any rate bring to the Order a certain literary éclat which hitherto has been very very rare indeed. I really think that for once the C.M.G. has been well deserved. I hope you are flourishing and find things all to the good. With best new year wishes Yours ever Alex Fiddian.’

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, Downing Street, January 1926. Octavo. 1 page with envelope and newspaper clipping with an obituary on Captain Edward Oliver Gladstone. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

109. [Private Materials – Sir Harry Luke] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Earle, Sir Lionel (1866-1948).

Manuscript letter signed (MLS) from Sir Lionel Earle to his colleague, Sir Harry Luke, condoling on the death of Luke’s father: “….He was a very old friend of mine & had the best heart of any friend that I can claim. I shall miss him much..”

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. London, 14, Sloane Gardens, 1930. Octavo. One leaf, with writing on both sides, including original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.

110. [Sierra Leone Content] – [Luke, Sir Harry / Lukach, Harry] Storrs, Sir Ronald Henry Amherst [ KCMG CBE ].

Typed Letter signed (TLS) from Sir Ronald Storrs to Sir Harry Luke. The letter was written during Storrs’ time as Governor in Jerusalem and is on British Colonial Office stationery: ‘My dear Harry – Thank you for yours of exactly one month ago. But no protestations will avail to wipe out from my family the imperishable memory of your behaviour at the wedding feast. I forward you King Pausolus and for earnest favour of return the intermittant Satyr from which I derived great benefit. Pirie-Gordon stayed with us three or four days of the pilgrimage and told me (greatly to my pleasure) that you had before leaving London something like definite personal encouragement for Ubr. Alas I fear Billy G’s visit will be too late to help; but if the worst has not happened by then your subcutaneous and intra-muscular propulsion will be infinitely esteemed by yours, with homage to the Princess Patricia, threys R S”.

[This item is part of the Sir Harry Luke – Archive / Collection]. Jerusalem, The Governorate, March 17th, 1926. Octavo. One page with original envelope. From the private collection / library of colonial governor, diplomat and historian, Sir Harry Luke.