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Malky – Malco
ca. 1924 – 1934

Malcolm was likely taught at home before being put in school in England.

NOTE: Malcolm did not do well in school nor at university. We believe he may have been dyslexic.  He read very slowly but remembered clearly. (ca.1966: We both read the book “Kon-Tiki” by Thor Heyerdahl.  Discussing it later, he corrected me, showing me the relevant text in the book.)

1920’s:

Per his passport (see below), Malcolm arrived in England in late 1924 or early 1925, leaving 18 months later, in May, 1926.  He was 8 and 9 years old when he attended Misses Bradnacks school in Canford Cliffs (Poole), west of Bournmouth, Dorset.  Uncle Alfred, during his trip to England in 1925, visited Malcolm there:

June 19:  ...Saw Malkie at his school Misses Bradnacks....

June 20:  ...In afternoon took Miss Garrett & Corina & Malkie for a drive about 30 miles in a car supplied by hotel to Lynhurst where we had tea, & around thro New Forest. Saw lots of the Forest ponies - miserable things...

June 22:  ...Bought & sent a small microscope to Malkie, Canford Cliffs.

  When about ten, Malcolm was put in Oats College, a boarding school in Hurlingham / Moron, Buenos Aires (1927?-1928).  He is mentioned (along with Rodney Sympson) in the school’s magazine “THE OATESIAN” No.1:

• SCHOOL NOTES (pg.3)
    “To Benitz and Sympson belongs the honour of being the first Oatesians to be enrolled.  Some day they may be proud of the distinction; hence we place it on record.”
• OLD OATESIANS (pg.9)
    “We have heard good reports of Benitz.  He is at a school in Hindhead in Surrey and expects to enter Stowe next September.  It will be no surprise to his old friends here to learn that he is very popular at school.
   “Sympson has gone to a Preparatory school in England.  We hear that he is very happy there.”
• ORGANISED HOBBIES - Nature Study (pg.12)
    “... Races (handicapped) were held between representatives of various species (only Benitz’s lizard would not run straight).
• NOTES ON RUGBY MATCHES (6 matches, pg.22-23)
  (1) Against San Isidro played at Oats in August 1928 - When the two teams lined up the difference in size was very noticeable, our boys being much smaller... Oats Team: Knight, ... Rea (Capt.), ... Benitz.  Result: Loss 5-0.

  When Mr. Cuff, the headmaster, closed the school to take a position at St. George’s College (Quilmes, Bs.As. prov.), most of Malcolm’s friends followed.  However, and to Malcolm’s disgust, his parents took him back to England and put him in schools there.  He first attended Amesbury Prep. School in Hindhead, Surrey (1929-1931, ages 12-14 years), then Stowe in Buckinghamshire (Chatham House, 1931-1934, ages 14-16 years).  He enjoyed exploring the fields around his schools, poking in hedges, collecting animals.  He did not do well academically and returned to Argentina without finishing his secondary education.

While in England, Malcolm was taken care of by Mol (Frend) Hale, sister of his step-mother, Eileen (Frend) Benitz.  Malcolm adored Mol.  (During WW-II, Mol’s flat in London became his home away from home.)  Per Corina’s post-card and his passport, he visited France on holiday on more than one occassion.  He told us (his sons) of having taken a tree between the legs when skiing.

—— !930’s follows below the photos. ——

1930’s:

Malcolm’s sister Corina asks in her postcard of 21 Sept., 1931 (see above): “Have you had any beatings lately?!”  Her punctuation suggests she found the possibility amusing – here is probably why:  Malcolm had a master (teacher) who mispronounced his R’s as W’s.  This master had a habit, when writing on the blackboard, of reaching back while seated and, without looking, take a blackboard rubber (eraser) from his desk drawer.  One day Malcolm put a ferret in that drawer, which duly bit the master.  The horrified master danced about the class-room with the ferret dangling from his hand, crying out: “A wat! A wat!”  Malcolm told us (my brother & I) the story with relish – with no mention of the inevitable caning.

Malcolm returned to the Argentine during April, 1933 (per Rita Traill’s letter below).  Once back at “La California”, his father (Willie) put him to work in the fields.  However, Willie’s Uncle Alfred took pity on Malcolm and in September invited him on a visit to “Campo Winter” - Alfred’s estancia in the northern Chaco (the estancia was on the south coast of the Rio Bermejo, north of the town of Zapallar (the town has been renamed: General San Martin).  Malcolm thoroughly enjoyed the trip for the camp was partly forested and filled with tropical wildlife.

NOTE: The original letters are hand written.  The transcriptions are in print.

Dad (Willie Benitz), 22 February, 1931; Bournemouth, Dorset, England   (combined pdf: transcribed & original)

Explains that due to injury he could not visit him on the weekend and organised it for the next.  Corina, Charles, & Moyra's health (respectively: injured, well, & recovering).  Other names mentioned: Miss Bradnack, Molly (Mol Frend ?)

Dad (Willie Benitz), 25 February, 1932; “La California”, F.C.C.A.   (combined pdf: transcribed & original)

Glad they had a good holiday (France?), arranging for Corina’s return to Argentina, & Malcolm’s Easter holidays.  Second page is all about 2 quite enjoyable weeks in the Cordoba hills escapting the locusts & heat.  Names mentioned: Mlle Dupriex (Paris), Mrs Frend, Mrs Rita Traill, Douglas family, Eric Davis (of Las Bandurias), Mr & Mrs Young; Hattie, Al, May, Frankie, & Jimmy Watt; Bernice, Jim, Jean & Frankie Bell; Marion, George, Jimmy, & Billy Roberts; Clarita Bell.

Mum (Eileen Benitz), 28 March, 1932; “Greystone”, Los Cocos   (transcribed   &   original)

Account of camping trip at Pintos Arriba (Cordoba hills); packing up at Greystone; suggests he ask Johnny Traill for golf tips.  Many people mentioned.

Mum (Eileen Benitz), 7 April, 1932; “La California”, F.C.C.A.  (transcribed   &   original)

Birthday wishes, he could buy himself a cricket-bat but not a gramaphone; doing well in school; dificulties with the trains from La Cumbre to Rosario; the bushes are in flower at the Cali; possibility of his returning next year.

Corina Benitz, 17 April, 1932; RMS “Arlanza”, Bay of Biscay, next port: Coruna, Spain.   (transcribed   &   original)

Departed England the day before; sad to leave him behind, cheering him up, he would be going home next year.

Rita Traill, 24 January, 1933; 71 Roehampton Lane, S.W. 15, London   (transcribed   &   original)

Boots, skates, breeches, slippers, guns, ammunition, & don't catch a cold by falling in lakes; arranging for his passage on about April 15^th.

*** NEXT: Malcolm at University ***