NEGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On-Line Library
any one place. I wish I knew how many of the letters I've sent home have reached there, but I suppose I'll not know for some time.My general impression of England was of a world turned inside out. Don't let anyone tell you that England isn't doing her part in this war. Of course France and Belgium are harder bit, but England is giving up everything.
We spent one day in Liverpool, and I sent a lot of mail from there. We wandered all over town and saw Marguerite Clark in "Snow White." Conductorettes are the regular thing, there are no young men at all. All the jackies were walking around with a girl under each arm.
At Winchester we visited the cathedral, college, and castle, and the old Westgate, where they have a lot of old relics. Here we saw a girl lamplighter wearing a long coat and breeches and spiral puttees. The girls seem to have taken over all the jobs there are. Wish you would look up Winchester. I think you would find it the seat of King Arthur's activities.
In Southampton I ran across Captain Albert, whom I went to school with at Nebraska U., and a Harry Carpenter, who was at Monroe with us, but came across later. Guess he was about the only one of the later bunch whom I knew to get across anywhere near on time. Our bunch is still all together. Hope we aren't scattered soon. In (---) we went thru a gun hospital and saw girls, the night shift, by the way, machining guns which had been sent back from the front. These girls handled their tools just as if they had always done that kind of work. I had forty men handling our baggage, when some dozen of these girls came out to watch us. Didn't have time to talk to them tho.
The trip across the Channel was a dandy. All night and no sleep, but I've sure made up for it. This writing may be bad, but may hands are cold. Very little heat here you know. I might say that at LaHavre you would scarcely know that there was a big war on not far away. It's just a matter of business and everyday here, you know.
KIRK.
Amer. Ex. Forces, France.
CHANCELLOR AVERY,
University of Nebraska.
Dear Chancellor:
I am sending under separate cover a plant of ivy gathered on the fields of France by Lieutenant Poteet and myself, We never forget our alma mater and our short stay there has developed a great spirit of loyalty and pride. We are proud of our alma mater for the good work she is doing, for the advancement and progress she has made, and for the wonderful spirit she has instilled--a spirit of loyalty and love for one's school and country. That this spirit is far-reaching and everlasting is evidenced by the wonderful sacrifice she has made and the splendid record of her men in the present great task. So we take great pleasure in sending this plant of ivy as a remembrance to the University that her sons may never forget her wherever or under whatever circumstances they may be.With kind regards and best wishes, we remain,
Very sincerely,
Lieut. H. S. REESE, '16.
Lieut. M. C. POTEET, '16.111
LIEUT. HARRY GRAINGER, Ex-'17
December 22, 1917, 7 a. m. Dear Joe: It is Saturday morning and nothing to do until 9 a. m., when I am holding government inspection. Our reveille is at 6 a. m., and I have had my breakfast and am waiting for the inspection, so will take this time to answer your letter.
Life here is strenuous, but interesting. I am busy nearly fourteen hours of each day, so do not have much time to myself. We are getting ready to go to the front, and believe me it means the straining of every nerve on the part of all of us. I am an instructor and consequently make out all the time schedules for the time to come. It means an awful lot of work if this outfit expects to know what it is supposed to by the time it goes to the front. However they are taking hold in very good shope, and I am well satisfied with the progress. In addition to the regular schedule I hold officers' school for the battalion three nights a week and non-commissioned officers' school for the company the other three nights; so you can see just what I have to do.
These companies are composed of 250 men and six officers. They are made up of bombers, auto riflemen, rifle bombers, riflemen, runners, mechanics, etc. I mean those are the different specialties which must be trained. It is not easy by a long shot.
This brigade is entirely a national guard organization from the general down, with the exception of a few reserve officers--lieutenants. They will give a good account of themselves when they get "up there," for these volunteer organizations have the spirit.
We are getting very good grub. I think as a rule the American soldiers live better than the French civilian population. On Thanksgiving we had turkey. I have a stove in my room now and the captain has issued me an overcoat, shoes, heavy socks, underwear, etc., so I am fixed for the cold weather, which has already set in. For about three days it has been very cold with about three inches of snow, but our work keeps on just the same. Next week we expect to start working on Sunday. There is a great rush, believe me, for the critical day is not far distant.
Last night an American aeroplane from the Lafayette outfit got stranded here, and my company had to put a guard around it to prevent tampering. By the way, I am in command now as the captain is acting major. I inspected my guard at three a. m., and they were right on the job. They had three-hour stretches, and as it was rather cold, the cooks kept hot coffee and bread and butter for them.
HARRY GRAINGER.
* * * * * Did not have an opportunity to write my customary letter on Sunday and this is the first chance I have had to let you know of my change. I am down here at Tour in school--can you beat that? All I do evidently is go to school, you will say. Well, that is about the truth--since I have been in France I have only been with troops two months and then only as an instructor. However, I am not sorry, for I like the change and the opportunity to learn new things.
What do you suppose I am doing this time? You could never guess--I am learning how to be an aerial observer. That perhaps means not a great deal to you. You see in this war there has been a great development of reconnaissance by aeroplane and the men who do that work must be especially trained. I do not pilot the machine, but I do the intelligence work--that is notice the terrain, movement of troops, photographs, etc.--also operate the
112
113
 |
 |
 |
 |
