TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MALVERN TIMES JOURNAL DECEMBER 5, 1918 P. 5
Coast Artillery School, Barracks, 5 B.
Fortress Monroe, Va.
Mrs. J. E. Chamberlain,
My dear mother:
The news looks good nowadays, doesn’t it? I was just thinking of dear old Maurice, and what rejoicing there will be at home, upon his return. Of course, a large army will be needed in France for guard duty, etc., and as he has not seen active duty long, he may be retained there a long time. By the way demobilization is taking place, it may not be long until I may be coming back home. When honorable discharges are given to the Master Gunners, those desiring, can re-enlist and finish the course, but as the war is over, I think it would be best for me to come back to school. The Master Gunners course includes orientation, surveying, mechanical drawing, algebra, plane geometry, plane trigonometry, drafting, drill with colt automatic (the only weapon the M. G. carries) construction work and all about telephones, also the training with the different types of big guns, such as mortars, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, twelve inch and smaller guns. One is supposed to already know the school of the soldier. The training received in this course would equip one pretty well to be a civil engineer. For the past few afternoons, instead of drilling, we were taken on hikes way up the beach, where we had never been before, and were shown the big guns, and allowed to go up close and look all over them. They surely are complex mechanisms. They are kept heavily greased to prevent rust. It is wonderful how easily they can be elevated and depressed and turned around. The big shells are about three feet long and ten inches in diameter. The other day, I heard, that the Atlantic fleet was in the harbor, so I went down with Evans Harrell and Warner to the dock. Yes, there was a lot of big battleships out there. We found out one to be the __________. Another spectacle we enjoyed was a hydroplane race on the water. Three planes and a launch took part in the race. The launch was given a big start, but soon the planes passed it like the Sunshine Special passes Donaldson. The exciting part was when the three planes were “neck and neck” my, but they were traveling and spray was thrown up several feet high by the small pantoone underneath them, but the wings were not wet. Finally, one plane got ahead of the others, and after they had gone about a mile or so they stopped. I also saw a dirigible balloon too. It was far away, but traveling pretty fast. We heard that there was going to be an Arkansas celebration and reunion at the Hospitality House in Newport News, so we went up there, but couldn’t find out anything definite. On a table in one of the rooms were books labeled with the names of the states, so that visitors might register, and find out the whereabouts of their acquaintances. I looked thru the Arkansas book and found only one I know, Andy Yates, of Magnet Cove. As it was late, and would have taken a good while to find him, had he been at his barracks, we came back to the Fort without seeing him. We have been moved from our tents on the ramparts into brick barracks. I am on the third floor, in clean well ventilated quarters. We Arkansas boys managed to get bunks alongside each other. In the mess hall, we are served good food on clean tables and dishes. This morning for breakfast we had an orange, cornflakes with real sweet milk, sugar, two eggs each and good coffee.
I know Maurice will enjoy his Christmas box from home. Was glad Joe Cooper had arrived safe in France. That cablegram of his was the best worded and most concise I ever heard of “Safe, well, happy, love.”
I am sure glad to get the news from home, and enjoy the town papers, too. We Henderson-Brown boys, have received a telegram from Dr. Workman, desiring our return to college, as soon as we get our discharge from this place. So, it may not be long before we come home.
Your devoted son,
Warren.
NOTES: Warren Chamberlain is writing to his mother Mr. J. E. Chamberlain. Warren is stationed at the Coast Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN
Coast Artillery School, Barracks, 5 B.
Fortress Monroe, Va.
Mrs. J. E. Chamberlain,
My dear mother:
The news looks good nowadays, doesn’t it? I was just thinking of dear old Maurice, and what rejoicing there will be at home, upon his return. Of course, a large army will be needed in France for guard duty, etc., and as he has not seen active duty long, he may be retained there a long time. By the way demobilization is taking place, it may not be long until I may be coming back home. When honorable discharges are given to the Master Gunners, those desiring, can re-enlist and finish the course, but as the war is over, I think it would be best for me to come back to school. The Master Gunners course includes orientation, surveying, mechanical drawing, algebra, plane geometry, plane trigonometry, drafting, drill with colt automatic (the only weapon the M. G. carries) construction work and all about telephones, also the training with the different types of big guns, such as mortars, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, twelve inch and smaller guns. One is supposed to already know the school of the soldier. The training received in this course would equip one pretty well to be a civil engineer. For the past few afternoons, instead of drilling, we were taken on hikes way up the beach, where we had never been before, and were shown the big guns, and allowed to go up close and look all over them. They surely are complex mechanisms. They are kept heavily greased to prevent rust. It is wonderful how easily they can be elevated and depressed and turned around. The big shells are about three feet long and ten inches in diameter. The other day, I heard, that the Atlantic fleet was in the harbor, so I went down with Evans Harrell and Warner to the dock. Yes, there was a lot of big battleships out there. We found out one to be the __________. Another spectacle we enjoyed was a hydroplane race on the water. Three planes and a launch took part in the race. The launch was given a big start, but soon the planes passed it like the Sunshine Special passes Donaldson. The exciting part was when the three planes were “neck and neck” my, but they were traveling and spray was thrown up several feet high by the small pantoone underneath them, but the wings were not wet. Finally, one plane got ahead of the others, and after they had gone about a mile or so they stopped. I also saw a dirigible balloon too. It was far away, but traveling pretty fast. We heard that there was going to be an Arkansas celebration and reunion at the Hospitality House in Newport News, so we went up there, but couldn’t find out anything definite. On a table in one of the rooms were books labeled with the names of the states, so that visitors might register, and find out the whereabouts of their acquaintances. I looked thru the Arkansas book and found only one I know, Andy Yates, of Magnet Cove. As it was late, and would have taken a good while to find him, had he been at his barracks, we came back to the Fort without seeing him. We have been moved from our tents on the ramparts into brick barracks. I am on the third floor, in clean well ventilated quarters. We Arkansas boys managed to get bunks alongside each other. In the mess hall, we are served good food on clean tables and dishes. This morning for breakfast we had an orange, cornflakes with real sweet milk, sugar, two eggs each and good coffee.
I know Maurice will enjoy his Christmas box from home. Was glad Joe Cooper had arrived safe in France. That cablegram of his was the best worded and most concise I ever heard of “Safe, well, happy, love.”
I am sure glad to get the news from home, and enjoy the town papers, too. We Henderson-Brown boys, have received a telegram from Dr. Workman, desiring our return to college, as soon as we get our discharge from this place. So, it may not be long before we come home.
Your devoted son,
Warren.
NOTES: Warren Chamberlain is writing to his mother Mr. J. E. Chamberlain. Warren is stationed at the Coast Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Virginia.
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN