TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS OCTOBER 18, 1918 P. 3
Theany, France, Sept. 17, 1918.
My Dear Wife:
Well I will write you a few lines this morning, how are you by this long time? I am feeling fine over my trip, I was dizzy a few days while we were on the rough part of the water but after we got over that I made it O. K.
I sure did see some great things on my way over. We didn't have any attacks at all on our way. There were several Washington County boys on the same ship I was.
Well I guess most of the boys have been called from there haven't they? There sure is a large number across now.
France sure is a fine country there isn't any rocks to bother and it is mostly level, but it doesn't look anything like I expected it to, the people have different ways to what we have nback there. Their principal crop here is grapes, they are good ripe now. Every time I go to the vineyard and see the grapes it makes me think of the basket you sent me when I was at Camp Pike. I thought that was the best treat I ever received.
I am training as a military police, I am on guard now, guarding a large vineyard. I don't have to work very hard, I put in from three to six hours per day so you know about what I do. This place where I am is on the main railroad line and our tent is about thirty yards away from it, so we see lots of new things.
Now don't you be a bit uneasy about me for I am not in any more danger here than I was there for I am a long way from the firing line and won't have to go very soon for we will be trained from four to six months here.
I came through England on my route over here. That sure is a fine country they raise lots of garden truck there they have the finest meadows there and certainly have fine stock to graze in them.
I would like to know what you are all doing back there, I guess the dryers are running big by now. But I guess you are not working at them are you? Well tell all the folks hello for me and I will write to our papas and mamas when I get settled a little better.
We are sure treated fine here and if there is any difference I believe we have more and better things to eat then we did in the States. We have some kind of fresh meat every meal and good water to drink. I think this is a healthy place I could not ask to feel any better than I do.
I will write every chance I get and I sure would like to have a letter from you. Tell the folks to write to me.
With lots of love to you, as ever your husband,
Chas. Bonham,
First Prov. Guard Co. 116 Tr. H.D.Q. SS. and M.P., A.P.O. 727 A. E. F. In France via New York.
NOTES: Bonham was writing to his wife who lived west of Tontitown. He was born on December 12, 1894 in Washington County, Arkansas and he died there on January 8, 1976. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas. He departed for France from New York on August 24, 1918 onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike Replacement Draft in Co. #13. He enlisted on June 23, 1918 and was discharged on April 25, 1919. He enlisted on June 23, 1918 and was discharged on April 25, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Theany, France, Sept. 17, 1918.
My Dear Wife:
Well I will write you a few lines this morning, how are you by this long time? I am feeling fine over my trip, I was dizzy a few days while we were on the rough part of the water but after we got over that I made it O. K.
I sure did see some great things on my way over. We didn't have any attacks at all on our way. There were several Washington County boys on the same ship I was.
Well I guess most of the boys have been called from there haven't they? There sure is a large number across now.
France sure is a fine country there isn't any rocks to bother and it is mostly level, but it doesn't look anything like I expected it to, the people have different ways to what we have nback there. Their principal crop here is grapes, they are good ripe now. Every time I go to the vineyard and see the grapes it makes me think of the basket you sent me when I was at Camp Pike. I thought that was the best treat I ever received.
I am training as a military police, I am on guard now, guarding a large vineyard. I don't have to work very hard, I put in from three to six hours per day so you know about what I do. This place where I am is on the main railroad line and our tent is about thirty yards away from it, so we see lots of new things.
Now don't you be a bit uneasy about me for I am not in any more danger here than I was there for I am a long way from the firing line and won't have to go very soon for we will be trained from four to six months here.
I came through England on my route over here. That sure is a fine country they raise lots of garden truck there they have the finest meadows there and certainly have fine stock to graze in them.
I would like to know what you are all doing back there, I guess the dryers are running big by now. But I guess you are not working at them are you? Well tell all the folks hello for me and I will write to our papas and mamas when I get settled a little better.
We are sure treated fine here and if there is any difference I believe we have more and better things to eat then we did in the States. We have some kind of fresh meat every meal and good water to drink. I think this is a healthy place I could not ask to feel any better than I do.
I will write every chance I get and I sure would like to have a letter from you. Tell the folks to write to me.
With lots of love to you, as ever your husband,
Chas. Bonham,
First Prov. Guard Co. 116 Tr. H.D.Q. SS. and M.P., A.P.O. 727 A. E. F. In France via New York.
NOTES: Bonham was writing to his wife who lived west of Tontitown. He was born on December 12, 1894 in Washington County, Arkansas and he died there on January 8, 1976. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas. He departed for France from New York on August 24, 1918 onboard the Ceramic. He was serving as a Private in the Camp Pike Replacement Draft in Co. #13. He enlisted on June 23, 1918 and was discharged on April 25, 1919. He enlisted on June 23, 1918 and was discharged on April 25, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD