TRANSCRIBED FROM THE CARLISLE INDEPENDENT DECEMBER 26, 1918 P. 3
Nov. 25, 1918
France.
Dear father and all:
I have been intending to write you for some time but have kept putting it off. Now that censorship has been modified some, will try and write you a short letter telling a few of my experiences in France.
I will have to pass over a great many things as I don't want to write a book. You know I stayed in England for about six months and of course have a long story to tell of my experiences there but think that my life as a soldier in France would be of more interest to you, so will only write a little about myself while here.
On June 29th, late in the evening we crossed the English Channel, the next morning we were at Le Hawe. After going up the river for a short distance, we unloaded and were marched about three miles to a rest camp. We remained at this camp for a day and night, then we rolled our packs and were taken down to the depot and put in a bunch of box cars. It was about midnight when we started on our journey. I didn't have the least idea where we were headed for, and little did I care. On the next morning of July 1st, we were traveling due south. Well I wondered where in the deuce we were going; all day the trains kept a steady pace south; night came and still we were traveling in the same direction. Remember when I speak of riding so long on the train we were not traveling over the Penn. R.R. or the Great Northern, but something like you used to ride over there 30 years ago, although we moved along at a steady speed and after traveling all night of July 1st, the next morning to our surprise, we were in a small city called Issoudam, south of Paris two or three hundred miles. Here our train of cars were switched off on a spur track, which took us to our next resting place, as these camps are called "Rest Camps", but we have a different name for them; we call them "Pick and Shovel" camps because when there, they are our principal tools, so you can easily see that I haven't lost anything at such camps. Of course we we were not at this camp very long. On this trip from Le Hawe to Issoudam we passed through towns and several other fine looking little cities. It was a very nice trip and I enjoyed it, although I was sick all of the way and was taken to the hospital for a few days; after a little rest felt fine and have been well every since.
There were a great many things happened while at the camp near Issoudom, but cannot take time to tell you about them, so will pass on to our next move.
It was about the middle of July, early one morning we were ordered to roll our packs and be ready for the train about six o'clock. The only thing we knew when we piled on the train that we were headed for the battle front. This was a long and tiresome trip; we were on the train for over three days and nights, passing through the cities of Bruges, Nemers, Cheaumont and Neaufchateau, and many small towns. This also was a very interesting trip for me as I saw some of the beautiful country that you often hear of, and I believe beyond a doubt, that the scenery, owing to the nature of the land, is as beautiful as a person will see anywhere.
On about the 19th of July we reached our destination. This was a small town called Amanty; here we were loaded on trucks and started up a big high hill; as we were nearing the top of the hill, all we could see was a large open field, which was a landing place for airplanes; around this field was a slope of woods. I wondered where the hangars were and also didn't see anything that looked like barracks for soldiers. Finally we noticed some trails leading back in the woods and there we found our barracks, camouflaged so they could not be seen from an airplane passing over. This of course looked very good to us. We were there only a few nights when the Hun decided to let us know he was still in the game, so he came over and dropped a few bombs and when a few hit near you no one has to tell you about it as the explosion does its own telling. Fortunate for us all the bombs did was to tear big holes in the earth.
While I was at this camp I visited the historic town of Doremy the birth place of "Joan De Arc" which is a source of interest to all American soldiers. Our stay at this camp was rather short; we were only waiting for our transport, trucks, cars, etc, because now we were in the zone of advance, and no longer could we depend on the railroads to move us around. So far we had not received our planes. On about July 28, our transport outfit came, and the next morning we piled on to move closer to the battle front, and there to get our planes and get busy.
At this next camp which is known as Ourches, we received our planes. If you wonder where this place is, it is about 18 or 20 miles due west of Toul. Now since we had our planes it was up to us to get busy and believe me we did; we put the planes in commission and kept them that way. The first great drive that our aviators took part in was that of St Mihiel of Sept. 12th. Of course they were over the lines on patrol duty whether there was a big drive on or not. We were at this camp about 2 months; while there I had some experiences that will never be forgotten. I will tell you of only one of them. About the third night we were at this camp the Huns paid us another visit. It was about 11 o'clock and all had gone to bed but several who were out watching the flashes of the guns when all at once they heard the hum of a Hun motor, and soon he was over the camp dropping his bombs; he dropped four. The first two woke us up, and when the next one popped I was in the dugout and stayed until he quit dropping bombs. Again the Hun missed his mark and did no damage whatever. The bombs hit in a row about 40 feet apart, not more than 30 yards from our barracks. Out dugouts were down the hill from our barracks and the ground was covered with small rocks, so you can imagine what happened to my feet when I went to the dugout at a speed of about 40 miles per hour. Well of course I could not help but skin them a little and a big little at that. After the first raid I always slept in a pair of heavy socks which would protect my feet some as I went miles and hour down the hill.
This camp I have spoken of is on the Meuse river. This river at one time was the boundary line between Alsace-Lorraine and France. About the first of October we found ourselves on the move again, this time we stopped within a half mile of Toul, and have been here ever since. For the first month and 11 days we were here had to work pretty hard but since the Armistice our work has slackened a little. There are many things that have happened while here but have decided to wait until I will be able to tell you all about it. This is only a short story of some of the places I have been while here. Since the middle of July I have been in what is called the "Zone of Advance." If I should attempt to tell you all that has happened to me or what I have seen happen I would be writing at this time next year.
Well I cannot say for sure but think I can count the time in weeks until I will be homeward bound, or at least it looks that way now. Anyhow tell Fred I intend to be home for next summer's work.
I write you this letter and surely Clarence will do the same because I believe it will be a source of happiness to you and mother during Christmas times, to know something about where we are, and where we have been; also both of us well. I hope that you will not worry about us, but will make this the merriest Xmas and happiest New Year that either of you have ever spent. Please give my love and regards to all, and that I wish them a merry Xmas and a happy New Year.
I remain,
Your Son,
Robert
135 Aero Sqdn. A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by Robert Lilly.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Nov. 25, 1918
France.
Dear father and all:
I have been intending to write you for some time but have kept putting it off. Now that censorship has been modified some, will try and write you a short letter telling a few of my experiences in France.
I will have to pass over a great many things as I don't want to write a book. You know I stayed in England for about six months and of course have a long story to tell of my experiences there but think that my life as a soldier in France would be of more interest to you, so will only write a little about myself while here.
On June 29th, late in the evening we crossed the English Channel, the next morning we were at Le Hawe. After going up the river for a short distance, we unloaded and were marched about three miles to a rest camp. We remained at this camp for a day and night, then we rolled our packs and were taken down to the depot and put in a bunch of box cars. It was about midnight when we started on our journey. I didn't have the least idea where we were headed for, and little did I care. On the next morning of July 1st, we were traveling due south. Well I wondered where in the deuce we were going; all day the trains kept a steady pace south; night came and still we were traveling in the same direction. Remember when I speak of riding so long on the train we were not traveling over the Penn. R.R. or the Great Northern, but something like you used to ride over there 30 years ago, although we moved along at a steady speed and after traveling all night of July 1st, the next morning to our surprise, we were in a small city called Issoudam, south of Paris two or three hundred miles. Here our train of cars were switched off on a spur track, which took us to our next resting place, as these camps are called "Rest Camps", but we have a different name for them; we call them "Pick and Shovel" camps because when there, they are our principal tools, so you can easily see that I haven't lost anything at such camps. Of course we we were not at this camp very long. On this trip from Le Hawe to Issoudam we passed through towns and several other fine looking little cities. It was a very nice trip and I enjoyed it, although I was sick all of the way and was taken to the hospital for a few days; after a little rest felt fine and have been well every since.
There were a great many things happened while at the camp near Issoudom, but cannot take time to tell you about them, so will pass on to our next move.
It was about the middle of July, early one morning we were ordered to roll our packs and be ready for the train about six o'clock. The only thing we knew when we piled on the train that we were headed for the battle front. This was a long and tiresome trip; we were on the train for over three days and nights, passing through the cities of Bruges, Nemers, Cheaumont and Neaufchateau, and many small towns. This also was a very interesting trip for me as I saw some of the beautiful country that you often hear of, and I believe beyond a doubt, that the scenery, owing to the nature of the land, is as beautiful as a person will see anywhere.
On about the 19th of July we reached our destination. This was a small town called Amanty; here we were loaded on trucks and started up a big high hill; as we were nearing the top of the hill, all we could see was a large open field, which was a landing place for airplanes; around this field was a slope of woods. I wondered where the hangars were and also didn't see anything that looked like barracks for soldiers. Finally we noticed some trails leading back in the woods and there we found our barracks, camouflaged so they could not be seen from an airplane passing over. This of course looked very good to us. We were there only a few nights when the Hun decided to let us know he was still in the game, so he came over and dropped a few bombs and when a few hit near you no one has to tell you about it as the explosion does its own telling. Fortunate for us all the bombs did was to tear big holes in the earth.
While I was at this camp I visited the historic town of Doremy the birth place of "Joan De Arc" which is a source of interest to all American soldiers. Our stay at this camp was rather short; we were only waiting for our transport, trucks, cars, etc, because now we were in the zone of advance, and no longer could we depend on the railroads to move us around. So far we had not received our planes. On about July 28, our transport outfit came, and the next morning we piled on to move closer to the battle front, and there to get our planes and get busy.
At this next camp which is known as Ourches, we received our planes. If you wonder where this place is, it is about 18 or 20 miles due west of Toul. Now since we had our planes it was up to us to get busy and believe me we did; we put the planes in commission and kept them that way. The first great drive that our aviators took part in was that of St Mihiel of Sept. 12th. Of course they were over the lines on patrol duty whether there was a big drive on or not. We were at this camp about 2 months; while there I had some experiences that will never be forgotten. I will tell you of only one of them. About the third night we were at this camp the Huns paid us another visit. It was about 11 o'clock and all had gone to bed but several who were out watching the flashes of the guns when all at once they heard the hum of a Hun motor, and soon he was over the camp dropping his bombs; he dropped four. The first two woke us up, and when the next one popped I was in the dugout and stayed until he quit dropping bombs. Again the Hun missed his mark and did no damage whatever. The bombs hit in a row about 40 feet apart, not more than 30 yards from our barracks. Out dugouts were down the hill from our barracks and the ground was covered with small rocks, so you can imagine what happened to my feet when I went to the dugout at a speed of about 40 miles per hour. Well of course I could not help but skin them a little and a big little at that. After the first raid I always slept in a pair of heavy socks which would protect my feet some as I went miles and hour down the hill.
This camp I have spoken of is on the Meuse river. This river at one time was the boundary line between Alsace-Lorraine and France. About the first of October we found ourselves on the move again, this time we stopped within a half mile of Toul, and have been here ever since. For the first month and 11 days we were here had to work pretty hard but since the Armistice our work has slackened a little. There are many things that have happened while here but have decided to wait until I will be able to tell you all about it. This is only a short story of some of the places I have been while here. Since the middle of July I have been in what is called the "Zone of Advance." If I should attempt to tell you all that has happened to me or what I have seen happen I would be writing at this time next year.
Well I cannot say for sure but think I can count the time in weeks until I will be homeward bound, or at least it looks that way now. Anyhow tell Fred I intend to be home for next summer's work.
I write you this letter and surely Clarence will do the same because I believe it will be a source of happiness to you and mother during Christmas times, to know something about where we are, and where we have been; also both of us well. I hope that you will not worry about us, but will make this the merriest Xmas and happiest New Year that either of you have ever spent. Please give my love and regards to all, and that I wish them a merry Xmas and a happy New Year.
I remain,
Your Son,
Robert
135 Aero Sqdn. A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by Robert Lilly.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD