TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MELBOURNE TIMES FEBRUARY 21, 1919 P. 3
Jan. 18. 1919.
Dear Tennie:
How are you? Well I hope. I am well except a sore hand—can’t hardly write, thougn I’ll try to give a sketch of my trip.
We left Beauregard August 13, arrived at Camp Mills the 17 where we got our equipment and went to ——— and boarded the boat the 21 and sailed for France about noon the 26. After five days sailing I got sea sick, and it lasted several days. Sept. 7, at 2:55 the boat Orcous was torpedoed, causing much excitement. It was finally landed off Sicilly Island on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 o’clock p. m.
We left our convoy crossing the English Channel, landed at Le Havre, France, at 8:30 a. m. Was docked, had dinner on the boat, then unloaded and marched to the rest camp where we stayed for 24 hours. We next boarded the train for St. Florent, arrived the 12th. Here we were billeted; with nothing to do and no place to go, we rested until October 25, when orders came to report to the first army for duty. we were sent to Ligney where we reported and was assigned to the 3rd Division, regulars. The division having been relieved from duty on the Argonne front on the 11th, we with three other divisions and five French divisions were ordered to Metz for attack. The armistice being signed the same date the order was changed and on the 14th we started on a long hike and passed through the following places north and east from Tronville to: the St. Mihiel sector, west of Metz; crossed the Von Hindenberg line, which was very desolate and practically indescribable. The ground torn up, stone buildings leveled and miles of barbed wire entanglements in this area, trees uprooted and shot off and nothing living anywhere except soldiers. Next we passed through Chamblay, Marle-Town to Jamey, resting here for five days; then to Briey, Viddenhaallen, Knacking, Oberbovegndr-Zey and Allenback. This is a very mountainous country, fine timber and beautiful scenery. Next to Kosenrath, Simmeron, Rhinenballen and to barracks on the Rine. The most wonderful trip was coming down the mountain slope on a winding trail.
We remained in barracks 3 days and found it to be a fine German town. There were old historic castles and vineyards on the mountain slopes with little walks around each small plot to hold the soil in place, the soil having been carried up the hill in baskets by the women for pass time, ha! ha! From there we passed down the river to Bappard and on to Goblenz, which is a very fine city. From there we continued our journey to Andernach. This is a very beautiful surrounding with mountains and valleys.
We had good weather for our trip except a few foggy days. I slept in old buildings and on the ground, but fared all right and enjoyed my trip as much as possible.
Hoping this will find you well and happy.
Farrier Robt. H. Clark,
Supply Co. 7th Inft., A.E.F., A.P.O. 740.
NOTES; Robert Harry Clark was born on April 26, 1893 in Bakersfield, Missouri and died on May 14, 1972 in Izard County, Arkansas. He is buried in the Melbourne Cemetery in Melbourne, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on September 4, 1919. He departed from Brest, France on August 14, 1919 and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 25, 1919. He returned onboard the El. Sol. He was serving in the Hq. Det. 5th Brigade as a Far. Vet.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Jan. 18. 1919.
Dear Tennie:
How are you? Well I hope. I am well except a sore hand—can’t hardly write, thougn I’ll try to give a sketch of my trip.
We left Beauregard August 13, arrived at Camp Mills the 17 where we got our equipment and went to ——— and boarded the boat the 21 and sailed for France about noon the 26. After five days sailing I got sea sick, and it lasted several days. Sept. 7, at 2:55 the boat Orcous was torpedoed, causing much excitement. It was finally landed off Sicilly Island on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 o’clock p. m.
We left our convoy crossing the English Channel, landed at Le Havre, France, at 8:30 a. m. Was docked, had dinner on the boat, then unloaded and marched to the rest camp where we stayed for 24 hours. We next boarded the train for St. Florent, arrived the 12th. Here we were billeted; with nothing to do and no place to go, we rested until October 25, when orders came to report to the first army for duty. we were sent to Ligney where we reported and was assigned to the 3rd Division, regulars. The division having been relieved from duty on the Argonne front on the 11th, we with three other divisions and five French divisions were ordered to Metz for attack. The armistice being signed the same date the order was changed and on the 14th we started on a long hike and passed through the following places north and east from Tronville to: the St. Mihiel sector, west of Metz; crossed the Von Hindenberg line, which was very desolate and practically indescribable. The ground torn up, stone buildings leveled and miles of barbed wire entanglements in this area, trees uprooted and shot off and nothing living anywhere except soldiers. Next we passed through Chamblay, Marle-Town to Jamey, resting here for five days; then to Briey, Viddenhaallen, Knacking, Oberbovegndr-Zey and Allenback. This is a very mountainous country, fine timber and beautiful scenery. Next to Kosenrath, Simmeron, Rhinenballen and to barracks on the Rine. The most wonderful trip was coming down the mountain slope on a winding trail.
We remained in barracks 3 days and found it to be a fine German town. There were old historic castles and vineyards on the mountain slopes with little walks around each small plot to hold the soil in place, the soil having been carried up the hill in baskets by the women for pass time, ha! ha! From there we passed down the river to Bappard and on to Goblenz, which is a very fine city. From there we continued our journey to Andernach. This is a very beautiful surrounding with mountains and valleys.
We had good weather for our trip except a few foggy days. I slept in old buildings and on the ground, but fared all right and enjoyed my trip as much as possible.
Hoping this will find you well and happy.
Farrier Robt. H. Clark,
Supply Co. 7th Inft., A.E.F., A.P.O. 740.
NOTES; Robert Harry Clark was born on April 26, 1893 in Bakersfield, Missouri and died on May 14, 1972 in Izard County, Arkansas. He is buried in the Melbourne Cemetery in Melbourne, Arkansas. He enlisted on September 18, 1917 and was discharged on September 4, 1919. He departed from Brest, France on August 14, 1919 and arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 25, 1919. He returned onboard the El. Sol. He was serving in the Hq. Det. 5th Brigade as a Far. Vet.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS