Captain
J.W. Keyes, trainmaster, Norfolk and Southern, received an interesting letter
from his son in France.
France, August 9, 1918
Dear Mother, Father and All:
At
last I have reached a point at which I have been assigned to duty. We arrived
here last night after travelling two days and two nights on the railroad, from
the port at which we landed in France. It was certainly a tiresome trip, and we
had only corned beef and hard tack to eat. But not that it is over, we can look
back on the trip as another adventure in our trip overseas. The place at which
I am located is very pretty, the architecture being very quaint and the streets
winding in and out in all directions. There are a number of U.S. Troops located
here and the town has become quite Americanized. Up to this time I cannot say
how the work will be, but I believe it is going to be very agreeable. There are
a number of Field Clerks here and we should get along very well.
We
landed in an English port on August 1st and after eight days of
intermittent traveling through England and France we were quite worn out and
you can believe me that I slept very well last night. The country through which
we passed was beautiful, very rich in cultivations and pleasing in scenery. The
farms appear to be cultivated with a view to scenery and beauty; remuneration
apparently being a secondary consideration. But it appears that the farmers
will be well repaid this year, as it seems they have a bumper crop. The land is
cultivated in a variety of crops, each plot being about 200 feet wide by about
1,000 feet long. When the wheat has turned golden—which it now has—and
adjoining it is a green crop, which in turn is adjoined by a crop of red
clover, you can readily understand the beauty of the landscape, especially when
the land is rolling. As we passed along we could look over to the low lying
hills and see the farms in their varied cultivation and at the foot of the
hills a small stream of water, and in the background dense forests.
Apparently
the people over here are unmindful of the war. They seem to take it as a matter
of course and assume the burden without complaint. They are however, right
behind the government and are backing up the men at the front with
determination. The opinion of the French, however, is that the war will be over
by July of next year, and this opinion is shared by all the men with whom I
have talked. From the success of the Allies during the past two weeks it seems
that his optimistic view is based on sound principles and that we will be home
sooner than we expected.
In
order to relieve your mind I want to tell you that I am located at a post
situated outside of the fighting zone. I will admit that I am somewhat
disappointed in not being assigned to some post nearer the front as I had
looked forward eagerly to such an assignment, but I guess it is for the best
and I am compensated by the relief it will afford you. There is no danger from
this point, but the work I was doing in the revenue office was just as
essential as that I am doing here, but I am not complaining and am satisfied,
and when I get on to the work, I believe I will e very well contented. There is
an immense amount of work to be done and I can work long hours to pass away the
time.
And
the meals—they are wonderful. The field clerks have a mess of their own which
is supervised by the cook hired by the Secretary of the Mess Hall. The cost is
about 150 francs per month, or about $30. We live in barracks and have a bed,
mattress and three blankets. Altogether I am suffering none of the hardships of
war except being deprived of home. And of course that is nothing compared with
the suffering and deprivation and strife of the men in battle. You may rest
easy in knowing that I am faring every so much better than I was while at camp
in New Jersey.
Last
night I was down at the Y.M.C.A. and there was a military band concert. The
music was a good as any I have ever heard and reminded me of Victor Herbert’s.
You can nearly understand therefore that there are numbers of things for which
I can be thankful. The war has been good to me and I could never complain. I
will be lonesome of course but when I remember that I cam e over here to stay
three years and am advised that I will be back home in one year, I can look
forward happily.
While
I was in England I met Pope (?) Denmark of Raleigh. I also met him after I
landed in France, and at the first place we stopped in France I met Seth Baughn
of Washington and one of the Checks of Raleigh. I expect to meet more of the
fellows I know later on.
How
are all of you? I dreamed that Mother was sick and the dream was very vivid—far
too vivid—and it is the only time in my life I have ever had a dream to stick
in my mind. Pease write me immediately on receipt of this letter and let me
know how you are.
I
am sending a copy of this letter to Anna and Grandma and Uncle Tom. I hope you
have sent me Pa White’s address so I can write to him. I do not know aunt
Margaret’s or aunt Ded’s address. Let me know them.
Address
me, Army Field Clerk, Army Post Office 706, Personnel Bureau, American
Expeditionary Force, France.
With love,
Will
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