TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PINE BLUFF DAILY GRAPHIC SEPTEMBER 25, 1918 P. 1
Somewhere in France
August 27th, 1918
Dear Mother:
And now we have left the place, I last wrote from, and have moved further into the interior of France. Of course , we rode the French trains, and it was interesting—not as fast as our trains and not as well fixed up, but we rode first class and it was comfortable riding. The coaches are divided into compartments and so we had private rooms, so to speak for each of us. The entire train crew, except the fireman, were American soldiers, so we had the utmost confidence that we would get there. We came to this place by motor from the place we disentrained and so now, we are billeted in a small town several hundred miles from the front.
The men are billeted in barns, stables, garages, etc., and all the officers are billeted in the homes of the citizens of the town. Lieut. Chambers and myself are staying at Mme. Forets, and a fine room we have.
It is a luxurious, hand paintings, wood carvings, tapestry, etc., and she is treating us royally. She has a son who is an aviator but will return today from Paris, where he had been in the hospital. He was wounded in a fight with a Boche plane. There is the largest Aviation Camp in France near us and we see planes in the air all the time. Have seen as many as fifty planes in the air all at the same time.
Mother, as to the French people, I adore them. Quiet, Peaceful loving people. They are simply foolish about the American soldiers and do everything to make us a good time, but practically all the business houses are closed, as well as the parks, movies, etc., owing to the war.
The natives line up like there was a circus in town when the American soldiers pass and they all wave their hats and cross their hearts, etc. It is sad, I think—poor people, they are war worn and weary but are determined to fight to the last end, even if it takes everything they have. Practically everyone are wearing wooden shoes, and there are no young men, except cripples who have just returned from the front.
All business are carried on by women and children. Only this morning I saw a women blacksmith and young and pretty girls can be seen everywhere working in the fields, factories, etc., and they do hard work, heavy lifting, etc. War has wrought its havoc in every hamlet and village and black is the predominant color.
There are many young widows, but the good old U.S. Army is doing the work. The Yanks are everywhere and they are the big, broad-shouldered fellows as are in the States, and who “Wear the Smile” that won’t come off.
It does the French people good to see our men singing, joking, etc., while carrying the big heavy packs and walking for miles and miles over these rough roads.
Mother, I had the pleasure of visiting an old Chateau the other day which was started by Julius Caesar and finished by Louis the 14th, and occupied by Napolean and his men during the Franco-Prussian war, and the 100 Years War. It was certainly interesting. There was a Guillotine in it, and we visited the dungeon where spies, and prisoners were dropped through a hole—(sort of a trap door) and fell sixty feet, where they landed on knives and spears.
There was a contraption by which water was let in through a hole in the wall and the bodies were washed down into the sea. There we also saw many other interesting things. The Kings room in the Castle, and the Queens and Princess’ room in the dungeon where she was condemned for life and was saved by the rPince who worked 17 months removing the rocks in the wall so she could get out.
There were two cannon balls lodged in the walls of the Castle that were fired by the English, but the place was so well fortified that the cannon had no effect but only lodged in the well constructed wall. I wished for you mother, when the guide was showing us through, because you are so fond of historic things, and this was certainly one.
The guide was a Frenchman but spoke English. We had to carry candles with us through the dungeon it was dark and it was musty and damp.
There are hundreds of thousands of American products over here—American locomotives, motor trucks, harvesters, threshing machines, etc.---(and they are coming in every day.) I was on the unloading detail at the wharves one day and had the pleasure of seeing American airplanes, machine guns, etc., unloaded on the docks.
Please excuse stationery, and poor writing. Circumstances alter cases, you know.
Write soon.
With love,
DEWOODY
NOTES: Lawrence Dewoody Lyle was writing to his mother, Mrs. T. B. Lyle. He was born on May 2, 1895 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and died on July 18, 1961 in Pine Bluff. He graduated from the Student Training Camp at Fort Logan Roots in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was described as being tall and of medium build with brown eyes and auburn hair. He is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Somewhere in France
August 27th, 1918
Dear Mother:
And now we have left the place, I last wrote from, and have moved further into the interior of France. Of course , we rode the French trains, and it was interesting—not as fast as our trains and not as well fixed up, but we rode first class and it was comfortable riding. The coaches are divided into compartments and so we had private rooms, so to speak for each of us. The entire train crew, except the fireman, were American soldiers, so we had the utmost confidence that we would get there. We came to this place by motor from the place we disentrained and so now, we are billeted in a small town several hundred miles from the front.
The men are billeted in barns, stables, garages, etc., and all the officers are billeted in the homes of the citizens of the town. Lieut. Chambers and myself are staying at Mme. Forets, and a fine room we have.
It is a luxurious, hand paintings, wood carvings, tapestry, etc., and she is treating us royally. She has a son who is an aviator but will return today from Paris, where he had been in the hospital. He was wounded in a fight with a Boche plane. There is the largest Aviation Camp in France near us and we see planes in the air all the time. Have seen as many as fifty planes in the air all at the same time.
Mother, as to the French people, I adore them. Quiet, Peaceful loving people. They are simply foolish about the American soldiers and do everything to make us a good time, but practically all the business houses are closed, as well as the parks, movies, etc., owing to the war.
The natives line up like there was a circus in town when the American soldiers pass and they all wave their hats and cross their hearts, etc. It is sad, I think—poor people, they are war worn and weary but are determined to fight to the last end, even if it takes everything they have. Practically everyone are wearing wooden shoes, and there are no young men, except cripples who have just returned from the front.
All business are carried on by women and children. Only this morning I saw a women blacksmith and young and pretty girls can be seen everywhere working in the fields, factories, etc., and they do hard work, heavy lifting, etc. War has wrought its havoc in every hamlet and village and black is the predominant color.
There are many young widows, but the good old U.S. Army is doing the work. The Yanks are everywhere and they are the big, broad-shouldered fellows as are in the States, and who “Wear the Smile” that won’t come off.
It does the French people good to see our men singing, joking, etc., while carrying the big heavy packs and walking for miles and miles over these rough roads.
Mother, I had the pleasure of visiting an old Chateau the other day which was started by Julius Caesar and finished by Louis the 14th, and occupied by Napolean and his men during the Franco-Prussian war, and the 100 Years War. It was certainly interesting. There was a Guillotine in it, and we visited the dungeon where spies, and prisoners were dropped through a hole—(sort of a trap door) and fell sixty feet, where they landed on knives and spears.
There was a contraption by which water was let in through a hole in the wall and the bodies were washed down into the sea. There we also saw many other interesting things. The Kings room in the Castle, and the Queens and Princess’ room in the dungeon where she was condemned for life and was saved by the rPince who worked 17 months removing the rocks in the wall so she could get out.
There were two cannon balls lodged in the walls of the Castle that were fired by the English, but the place was so well fortified that the cannon had no effect but only lodged in the well constructed wall. I wished for you mother, when the guide was showing us through, because you are so fond of historic things, and this was certainly one.
The guide was a Frenchman but spoke English. We had to carry candles with us through the dungeon it was dark and it was musty and damp.
There are hundreds of thousands of American products over here—American locomotives, motor trucks, harvesters, threshing machines, etc.---(and they are coming in every day.) I was on the unloading detail at the wharves one day and had the pleasure of seeing American airplanes, machine guns, etc., unloaded on the docks.
Please excuse stationery, and poor writing. Circumstances alter cases, you know.
Write soon.
With love,
DEWOODY
NOTES: Lawrence Dewoody Lyle was writing to his mother, Mrs. T. B. Lyle. He was born on May 2, 1895 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and died on July 18, 1961 in Pine Bluff. He graduated from the Student Training Camp at Fort Logan Roots in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was described as being tall and of medium build with brown eyes and auburn hair. He is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT