TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA MAY 20, 1918 P. 2
After almost two years of silence may I again ask the honor of a space in your valuable paper for a letter to my old friends and acquaintances?
I might add that so far as I am concerned the Democrat has also been silent for almost two years much to my regret.
During all those miserable months in France, no more than half a dozen copies of the Democrat arrived to relieve the monotony and during the last five months of my existence there it completely deserted me leaving me lonely and miserable, indeed.
But now, thanks to my Uncle J. P. Emery of Story I receive the paper regularly and I wish to take this opportunity of expressing to you my appreciation of the paper which to me is the grandest of all I read.
I see that the ownership of the Democrat has changed hands which is news to me though probably ancient history to all of you which goes to show how far behind the times one can get who is six thousand miles away. In fact so many things have happened that I find myself bewildered trying to understand all of them.
But the most important thing that has happened is that good old Uncle Sam is in the war and from all accounts he is in to win. I only wish that I like so many other Montgomery county boys could don that old familiar uniform and fight under Old Glory. For although I am with Canada and proud of the privilege to fighting along with such brave men my heart turns back to the land of my birth and I long to be with my own countrymen again.
Still I have the consoling thought that I have already struck a blow for my country though not under her flag and if I fight again it will be with the knowledge that I am helping to defend Old Glory and that is enough for me or any man. I am proud of the things that Montgomery county is doing Red Cross work, Liberty Bonds, etc. for it shows the spirit that it is going to take to win this war. To those good and industrious women who are so busy knitting sox, gloves, mufflers etc. I can only express admiration and prophesy the heartfelt gratitude of the boys who will wear them. I know, for I have gone in need of them. If you are working for the boys in France and they are the ones that count let me advise you that what they need the most are sox.
They will be standing in mud and water knee deep most of their time in the trenches and although they will be provided with rubber boots that will not be sufficient to keep the damp from their feet. And unless they have plenty of sox so they can change at least every 24 hours they are liable to get trench feet, a terrible disease that has caused so many men to lose their feet entirely. So you see how important sox are. And when you knit them knit big ones. A man with a small foot can wear a big sock lots easier than a man with a big foot can wear a small one. I know from experience for I wear ten. Gloves are useful but they interfere with a man in action as he can’t fire his rifle or machine gun very well with gloves on and for that reason in the trenches where he expects action any moment. I should say that only half as many gloves are needed in winter time as are sox. And mufflers or head wear of any kind –well I wouldn’t knit them. I’ll tell you why. For one reason, most men disdain to wear them. Another reason is the climate in France is seldom severe enough to warrant them and when in the trenches, the very time a man would need them, he cannot wear them, as he is one sentry half the time, and a sentry has to use his ears in order to catch the slightest sound from “No Man’s Land,” and prevent surprise. As a muffler interferes with his hearing he does not therefore, wear them. And since he so seldom has a chance to use them, and his pack is heavy enough already, he gives them to some French kiddie or in case there are none handy throws them away, regretfully.
Cigarettes are always appreciated. Smoking may not be a habit to recommend but your boys are going to smoke, and since it is their comfort send them all the cigarettes their heart desire. In moments of great nervous strain, cigarettes are invaluable. Nothing seems to soothe the nerves more. The first a wounded man asks for is a cigarette. I have smoked no less than fifty cigarettes during a two hour bombardment and I am not a heavy smoker. I know dozens who could say the same.
Insect powder will also be highly appreciated for to be perfectly frank no one who stays a week can escape being lousy and believe me it is a most annoying thing too. I have only known of one instance where a louse was of any use. One of my Canadian friends was one day standing on sentry in the trenches when one of the creatures I have mentioned began violently to extract its dinner from the back of his neck. My friend stooped over and put his hand down the back of his collar and caught Mr. “Itchy-Coo” in the act. But just as he bent over, a sho fad come screaming by, just missing him and exploded behind the paranos had he been standing up straight his head would have undoubtedly been blown away. Carefully laying his late tormentor in the palm of his hand, he address it something like this, “Little fellow you have saved my life. I ain’t give you any ruination and I can’t give you a Victoria Cross, but just to show you I’m a sport little louse, I can put you back where I got you.” And he did too, but I have never known of any other cases where they were appreciated.
To my friends who may like to know something of my own welfare I am just recovering from an attack of pleurisy and am at present in the hospital in a nice little seaside town called Eastbourne.
When I am working I endeavor to instruct recruits in the thing that a machine gunner is supposed to know.
After my last letter to the Democrat in May, 1916, I was in the battle of Ypres, receiving a slight wound, which put me in the hospital for a month. In September I went with my company to Somme battlefield and for a month we took part in that gigantic struggle on the very ground over which the Germans are now making their great effort. I was often in Alberta which is now in German hands. It is a pity, too, for it was a fine little town. Just as we were about to leave the Somme, I was taken ill with appendicitis, which necessitated an operation, and I was sent to England. After a few months in the hospital I was sent to my depot.
In May I was married to Miss Bessie Chandler, of West Ewell, Surrey, and my year of married life has been happy, indeed.
I would be delighted to hear from anyone in Montgomery county who care to write to me. My address is 116069 Corpl. I. A. Emery, No 8 Coty, Can. M.G. Depot, Seaford, Sussex England.
Nothing could please me more than to get a few letters from old school chums or acquaintances. May I also ask that the Story correspondent be a bit more regular with his items? I enjoy them so much and am always disappointed when there is nothing from Story.
Best wishes to the editor, Democrat and its many readers.
Yours faithfull.
I.A. Emery
NOTES: Ivan Avery Emery was writing to the editor of the Montgomery County Democrat. He was born on August 28, 1894 in Story, Montgomery County, Arkansas and died on March 11, 1962 in Concord, Contra Costa County, California. He is buried in the Memory Garden Cemetery, Concord. He was raised in Story, Arkansas. He joined a Canadian military early in the war and traveled to France with that the Canada regiment before the U.S. entered the war.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
After almost two years of silence may I again ask the honor of a space in your valuable paper for a letter to my old friends and acquaintances?
I might add that so far as I am concerned the Democrat has also been silent for almost two years much to my regret.
During all those miserable months in France, no more than half a dozen copies of the Democrat arrived to relieve the monotony and during the last five months of my existence there it completely deserted me leaving me lonely and miserable, indeed.
But now, thanks to my Uncle J. P. Emery of Story I receive the paper regularly and I wish to take this opportunity of expressing to you my appreciation of the paper which to me is the grandest of all I read.
I see that the ownership of the Democrat has changed hands which is news to me though probably ancient history to all of you which goes to show how far behind the times one can get who is six thousand miles away. In fact so many things have happened that I find myself bewildered trying to understand all of them.
But the most important thing that has happened is that good old Uncle Sam is in the war and from all accounts he is in to win. I only wish that I like so many other Montgomery county boys could don that old familiar uniform and fight under Old Glory. For although I am with Canada and proud of the privilege to fighting along with such brave men my heart turns back to the land of my birth and I long to be with my own countrymen again.
Still I have the consoling thought that I have already struck a blow for my country though not under her flag and if I fight again it will be with the knowledge that I am helping to defend Old Glory and that is enough for me or any man. I am proud of the things that Montgomery county is doing Red Cross work, Liberty Bonds, etc. for it shows the spirit that it is going to take to win this war. To those good and industrious women who are so busy knitting sox, gloves, mufflers etc. I can only express admiration and prophesy the heartfelt gratitude of the boys who will wear them. I know, for I have gone in need of them. If you are working for the boys in France and they are the ones that count let me advise you that what they need the most are sox.
They will be standing in mud and water knee deep most of their time in the trenches and although they will be provided with rubber boots that will not be sufficient to keep the damp from their feet. And unless they have plenty of sox so they can change at least every 24 hours they are liable to get trench feet, a terrible disease that has caused so many men to lose their feet entirely. So you see how important sox are. And when you knit them knit big ones. A man with a small foot can wear a big sock lots easier than a man with a big foot can wear a small one. I know from experience for I wear ten. Gloves are useful but they interfere with a man in action as he can’t fire his rifle or machine gun very well with gloves on and for that reason in the trenches where he expects action any moment. I should say that only half as many gloves are needed in winter time as are sox. And mufflers or head wear of any kind –well I wouldn’t knit them. I’ll tell you why. For one reason, most men disdain to wear them. Another reason is the climate in France is seldom severe enough to warrant them and when in the trenches, the very time a man would need them, he cannot wear them, as he is one sentry half the time, and a sentry has to use his ears in order to catch the slightest sound from “No Man’s Land,” and prevent surprise. As a muffler interferes with his hearing he does not therefore, wear them. And since he so seldom has a chance to use them, and his pack is heavy enough already, he gives them to some French kiddie or in case there are none handy throws them away, regretfully.
Cigarettes are always appreciated. Smoking may not be a habit to recommend but your boys are going to smoke, and since it is their comfort send them all the cigarettes their heart desire. In moments of great nervous strain, cigarettes are invaluable. Nothing seems to soothe the nerves more. The first a wounded man asks for is a cigarette. I have smoked no less than fifty cigarettes during a two hour bombardment and I am not a heavy smoker. I know dozens who could say the same.
Insect powder will also be highly appreciated for to be perfectly frank no one who stays a week can escape being lousy and believe me it is a most annoying thing too. I have only known of one instance where a louse was of any use. One of my Canadian friends was one day standing on sentry in the trenches when one of the creatures I have mentioned began violently to extract its dinner from the back of his neck. My friend stooped over and put his hand down the back of his collar and caught Mr. “Itchy-Coo” in the act. But just as he bent over, a sho fad come screaming by, just missing him and exploded behind the paranos had he been standing up straight his head would have undoubtedly been blown away. Carefully laying his late tormentor in the palm of his hand, he address it something like this, “Little fellow you have saved my life. I ain’t give you any ruination and I can’t give you a Victoria Cross, but just to show you I’m a sport little louse, I can put you back where I got you.” And he did too, but I have never known of any other cases where they were appreciated.
To my friends who may like to know something of my own welfare I am just recovering from an attack of pleurisy and am at present in the hospital in a nice little seaside town called Eastbourne.
When I am working I endeavor to instruct recruits in the thing that a machine gunner is supposed to know.
After my last letter to the Democrat in May, 1916, I was in the battle of Ypres, receiving a slight wound, which put me in the hospital for a month. In September I went with my company to Somme battlefield and for a month we took part in that gigantic struggle on the very ground over which the Germans are now making their great effort. I was often in Alberta which is now in German hands. It is a pity, too, for it was a fine little town. Just as we were about to leave the Somme, I was taken ill with appendicitis, which necessitated an operation, and I was sent to England. After a few months in the hospital I was sent to my depot.
In May I was married to Miss Bessie Chandler, of West Ewell, Surrey, and my year of married life has been happy, indeed.
I would be delighted to hear from anyone in Montgomery county who care to write to me. My address is 116069 Corpl. I. A. Emery, No 8 Coty, Can. M.G. Depot, Seaford, Sussex England.
Nothing could please me more than to get a few letters from old school chums or acquaintances. May I also ask that the Story correspondent be a bit more regular with his items? I enjoy them so much and am always disappointed when there is nothing from Story.
Best wishes to the editor, Democrat and its many readers.
Yours faithfull.
I.A. Emery
NOTES: Ivan Avery Emery was writing to the editor of the Montgomery County Democrat. He was born on August 28, 1894 in Story, Montgomery County, Arkansas and died on March 11, 1962 in Concord, Contra Costa County, California. He is buried in the Memory Garden Cemetery, Concord. He was raised in Story, Arkansas. He joined a Canadian military early in the war and traveled to France with that the Canada regiment before the U.S. entered the war.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT