Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
June 18, 1917
I have a few minuits to write before I go to supper. It is cooling off tonight for we had a few showers this P.M.
These letters are organized in chronological order beginning at the start of the year.
June 18, 1917
I have a few minuits to write before I go to supper. It is cooling off tonight for we had a few showers this P.M.
June 20, 1917
My lucky day wednesday. Well first I got a part of my mail yesterday just a paper and two small parcels, today I received 17 letters and a card, my pay of 20 frank and good chuck our supper was bully beef, bread, jam, sweet pickles, tea, bulk dates
June 20, 1917
To say Otto don’t seem enough as I think of how my heart feels to ward Otto I would like to be able to say just one word that would in any way draw him to a saving knowledge of Jesus
June 22, 1917
I spent a good day out with a bombing Sergt. who has spent 21 months in France and who enlisted to see if there was any bottom or true manhood among men and he says since he has lived and fought among men in the trenches he has changed his opinion of man and now he feels that there is men as true as steel,
June 23, 1917
Well Mother we have enjoyed our stay at this camp but we are soon going on we do not carry our packs from here up so that will be a treat they use use fine. we carried them in here and for ten days at the bull ring so we could carry them and quite forget we had them.
June 24, 1917
We had a march to day of about 12 ½ miles which hit use quite stiff in a way we had to easy a time for a cupple of weeks but tomorrow we will be all right again,
June 25, 1917
I am in this Y.M.C.A. for my first time a nice breezy tent it is about 2.30 P.M. we had about 7 mile march today which only done use good. we carried our packs the last 2 miles.
June 29, 1917
I havent written any for two days but after that I should write. last night four of use Christian men Rattan of my batt and two boys of each of two other batt’s got together in under the high trees and talk over our Christian experiences and then I prayed and read the 15- of John
July 1, 1917
I have got to send out more of my money to charities I don't need it, I know I am eating it when often I don't feel like eating and know I would be better if I dident eat.
July 1, 1917
To day would remind me of a fourth of July in Dak only the nose is mutiplied a good many times there a something shot so I jumped and spoiled the s someone is target practicing near me.
July 2, 1917
We got off drill all after noon so I come down in the trees with a can of candies some paper and oil sheet my testament I have had a good time slept some read some eaten some and now I am going to write you a few lines
July 3, 1917
We moved our rest billets to day and I have a fine chicken net bed to sleep on in a hut.
July 6, 1917
The service is over we had a good talk by our chaplain and a good many of the old hymns were sung it surely does us so much good.
July 6, 1917
I am sitting on the side of a big hill dense shade to the right and open fields to the left. I have my back against a big shade tree, I am about 1 ½ miles out of rest billets.
July 8, 1917
I have spent most of the P.M. in lying around and reading and sleeping. it is muddy. it rained several hours thru the night and A.M.
July 10, 1917
I am sitting in the grass out beside a big bath house. we were just paraded for bath about a mile walk thru a town just carrying a towel and gass helmet.
July 10, 1917
I received you letter tonight and was glad to get it, allso five others and some enclosed so I spent a long time reading them
July 12, 1917
We had a sport day yesterday and and other today. this may sound strange but it wouldent if I could explain.
July 12, 1917
Five of use just got in from prayer and reading of Gods word we do get such good out of these meetings.
July 13, 1917
we are lying out in the shade of some nice trees waiting untill it is time to starte our little service. 5 of use are here tonight.
July 15, 1917
I wrote quite a letter to Mrs R.D. English today, just to tell her that army life an’t as bad as she might feel it is.
July 16, 1917
I received four letters tonight, I an’t sure whether you get all my letters or not but it don’t make any difference for it can’t be helped if they don’t go there in war times
July 17, 1917
It is just 12.30 noon we were going to pull off our m.gun competition this P.M. but some one shot over the top of range hill and hit a civilian so the range is condemned and we are just waiting in the hut for further orders.
July 18, 1917
The mail just came in I got a letter from Annie but have not read it yet so will stop and do so now.
July 19, 1917
I am sitting under a tree where I can watch the sports, the sports consist of a meeting of the cream of the athletes of the entire Brigade so they should be real good