TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER MARCH 13, 1919 P. 4
Gironde, France
Feb. 11, 1919.
To the Advance Reporter, and its many readers,
Dear Mr. Cox,
Thought I’d write a few lines as writing and guard duty goes pretty well to-gether providing you do your writing between reliefs. Guess all the people in Scott county are fixing for a bumper crop this year while the boys in France are singing (over there in the good old U.S.A) and every one hoping his time be next to sail for home.
I seen some of the Scott Co. boys while I was near Lemans, France, see all of the boys who left Waldron last July the 5th except George Scroggins, think he was tranfered to another co.
John McLain seemed to be enjoying himself very well, until you would say something about Arkansas. Then John would come to attention right away.
My company was busted up at Lemans into different Regi. and companies and haven’t seen any thing more of the Scott co. boys. Tho there are several Ark. Boys in my company. We have quite a different way of travel here in France from that in the U.S.A. We travel mostly in box cars weich are about one-half the size of the American car. They are large enough to accommodate about forty men. There is just about enough room by all the men standing up. We are always glad to get into one of them, as hiking is our next mood of travel.
From Lemans we went to Noyen where we were when the armistice was signed.
From Noyen we came to Lasuze where again our company was busted which were formed into guard companies. My company come to Gencart, a camp near Bordeaux by the box car system, where we have been doing guard duty near Bordeaux ever since. And having our ups and downs and keeping a keen watchout as guards should and especially for the O. D. (as o d means officer of the day for short).
If you want to see the boys get to-gether here let someone commence to call the mail, as all of us is glad to get a letter from home.
Well as it is getting about time for me to go on duty guess I had better close, with best wishes to all the people in old Scott.
As ever,
Pvt. Harrison M. Cleaver
NOTES: Cleaver was born on November 11, 1896 in Nella, Arkansas and died on March 11, 1976 in Bakersfield, California. He is buried in the Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield. He enlisted on July 5, 1918 and was discharged on July 17, 1919. He departed Bordeaux, France on July 10, 1919 onboard the Canonicus arriving in Newport News, Virginia. He was serving as a Private in the 52 Guard Co., Bordeaux Special Casual Co. 1578.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Gironde, France
Feb. 11, 1919.
To the Advance Reporter, and its many readers,
Dear Mr. Cox,
Thought I’d write a few lines as writing and guard duty goes pretty well to-gether providing you do your writing between reliefs. Guess all the people in Scott county are fixing for a bumper crop this year while the boys in France are singing (over there in the good old U.S.A) and every one hoping his time be next to sail for home.
I seen some of the Scott Co. boys while I was near Lemans, France, see all of the boys who left Waldron last July the 5th except George Scroggins, think he was tranfered to another co.
John McLain seemed to be enjoying himself very well, until you would say something about Arkansas. Then John would come to attention right away.
My company was busted up at Lemans into different Regi. and companies and haven’t seen any thing more of the Scott co. boys. Tho there are several Ark. Boys in my company. We have quite a different way of travel here in France from that in the U.S.A. We travel mostly in box cars weich are about one-half the size of the American car. They are large enough to accommodate about forty men. There is just about enough room by all the men standing up. We are always glad to get into one of them, as hiking is our next mood of travel.
From Lemans we went to Noyen where we were when the armistice was signed.
From Noyen we came to Lasuze where again our company was busted which were formed into guard companies. My company come to Gencart, a camp near Bordeaux by the box car system, where we have been doing guard duty near Bordeaux ever since. And having our ups and downs and keeping a keen watchout as guards should and especially for the O. D. (as o d means officer of the day for short).
If you want to see the boys get to-gether here let someone commence to call the mail, as all of us is glad to get a letter from home.
Well as it is getting about time for me to go on duty guess I had better close, with best wishes to all the people in old Scott.
As ever,
Pvt. Harrison M. Cleaver
NOTES: Cleaver was born on November 11, 1896 in Nella, Arkansas and died on March 11, 1976 in Bakersfield, California. He is buried in the Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield. He enlisted on July 5, 1918 and was discharged on July 17, 1919. He departed Bordeaux, France on July 10, 1919 onboard the Canonicus arriving in Newport News, Virginia. He was serving as a Private in the 52 Guard Co., Bordeaux Special Casual Co. 1578.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD