To his mother, describes first days at the War Office, says staff are friendly and helpful. Describes Leslie Hore-Belisha [Secretary of State for War 1937-40] as a "driver" and totally dedicated to his work, de Guingand "couldn't be nicer" [Sir Francis "Freddie" de Guingand, 1900-1979, then Hore-Belisha's military assistant, later became Director of Military Intelligence, Middle East, and Brigadier, General Staff, the 8th Army, under General Bernard Montgomery, later promoted to Major General and knighted. de Guingand is mentioned several times in Ridgway's letters].
Dated at: Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge, London