TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT MAY 24, 1919 P. 1
St. Andre, De Cubzac, May 1, 1919.
Mr. J. M. Ivy
Dear Father:
I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am getting along very well. Well, I cannot say when we are going to get home, for it looks like we are not going to get started at all. A lot of soldiers are going home from Bordeaux, and I have heard that there was one more division coming through here and that after it passed through there was no more coming into this base section. If it be true, I may be coming home about the 15th of June.
I have my name in for a pass to Paris and may get it about the 3rd of May. There is certainly a lot to see over here. I was in Bordeaux Tuesday and visited some of the oldest places in the city. The Y.M.C.A. have sight-seeing trips every day. We first went to what is known as the Grand theatre, which is closed now–ever since the war. It was built in 1773. Our next place to visit was the French police headquarters, where we saw some hand-made locks that were made in the 18th century. The next thing we saw was the remains of the old walls of Bordeaux and also the old gates. One of the gates, known as the Porte Cailhau, was built in 1495. From there we went to the Palace of Fine Arts. I saw pictures there that were painted in the 14th century, some guns that were used in those days, etc. We visited St. Andre’s Cathedral, which was built from the 11th to the 16th century. In this church is buried two of France’s most noted priests. There are many places of interest I did not get to visit, but will probably get to see them before coming home. When I get back to Paris will write and tell you all about my trip up there. In one of my letters I stated I had been in Paris, but I did not get to see any of the sights, for I was in the hospital. Last October I was within five miles of where Joan of Arc was born, and have been several places where she, by her leadership, caused the English to be driven out. Well, I could mention several other places I have been but will wait until I get home to tell you. Guess I had better close for this time. Write soon.
Your son,
Private Sim Ivy,
238 Co. M.P.C. A.B.O., 705, A.E.F. France.
NOTES: Fitzsimmons Ivy was writing to his father Jacob M. Ivy, Jackson County Sheriff. He was born in Newport, Arkansas on August 22, 1895 and died on June 29, 1945. He is buried in the Roselawn Cemetery in Lakeland, Florida. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private First Class serving in 238 Military Police Co. He departed Hoboken, NJ on June 7, 1918 onboard the Manchuria. He was serving as a Private First Class Co. 5 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry. He departed Bordeaux, France on June 5, 1919 onboard the South Bend and arrived in Hoboken on June 19, 1919. He was serving as a Private First Class 238 Co. MP.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
St. Andre, De Cubzac, May 1, 1919.
Mr. J. M. Ivy
Dear Father:
I will write you a few lines to let you know that I am getting along very well. Well, I cannot say when we are going to get home, for it looks like we are not going to get started at all. A lot of soldiers are going home from Bordeaux, and I have heard that there was one more division coming through here and that after it passed through there was no more coming into this base section. If it be true, I may be coming home about the 15th of June.
I have my name in for a pass to Paris and may get it about the 3rd of May. There is certainly a lot to see over here. I was in Bordeaux Tuesday and visited some of the oldest places in the city. The Y.M.C.A. have sight-seeing trips every day. We first went to what is known as the Grand theatre, which is closed now–ever since the war. It was built in 1773. Our next place to visit was the French police headquarters, where we saw some hand-made locks that were made in the 18th century. The next thing we saw was the remains of the old walls of Bordeaux and also the old gates. One of the gates, known as the Porte Cailhau, was built in 1495. From there we went to the Palace of Fine Arts. I saw pictures there that were painted in the 14th century, some guns that were used in those days, etc. We visited St. Andre’s Cathedral, which was built from the 11th to the 16th century. In this church is buried two of France’s most noted priests. There are many places of interest I did not get to visit, but will probably get to see them before coming home. When I get back to Paris will write and tell you all about my trip up there. In one of my letters I stated I had been in Paris, but I did not get to see any of the sights, for I was in the hospital. Last October I was within five miles of where Joan of Arc was born, and have been several places where she, by her leadership, caused the English to be driven out. Well, I could mention several other places I have been but will wait until I get home to tell you. Guess I had better close for this time. Write soon.
Your son,
Private Sim Ivy,
238 Co. M.P.C. A.B.O., 705, A.E.F. France.
NOTES: Fitzsimmons Ivy was writing to his father Jacob M. Ivy, Jackson County Sheriff. He was born in Newport, Arkansas on August 22, 1895 and died on June 29, 1945. He is buried in the Roselawn Cemetery in Lakeland, Florida. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private First Class serving in 238 Military Police Co. He departed Hoboken, NJ on June 7, 1918 onboard the Manchuria. He was serving as a Private First Class Co. 5 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry. He departed Bordeaux, France on June 5, 1919 onboard the South Bend and arrived in Hoboken on June 19, 1919. He was serving as a Private First Class 238 Co. MP.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD