TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE JANUARY 20, 1919 P. 3
I left New York August 26 on a British ship. We were joined by five other transports, one gun boat, one destroyer and three sub chasers. On August 30 we picked up six transports and tankers 100 miles from Newfoundland and began a zigzag course across the Atlantic. All our convoy left us at Newfoundland, except a converted British cruiser and an American destroyer.
On August 31 I saw my first iceberg. The sun was shining bright, there was a calm sea, and all the colors of the rainbow were radiated from the berg. That night I had a peep at the “Northern light,” and it was wonderful.
September 6 we picked up a British convoy of eight destroyers 400 miles off the coast of Ireland. They sure looked good to us, for we had been a week on the high seas with only one destroyer and a cruiser for protection.
September 7 I noticed one ship lagging behind. It was the British Puric. All of a sudden I saw a column of water shoot up from the port side and felt a jar. The Puric had been hit by a torpedo. The danger signal was blown and it was great fun to see the little destroyers cutting the water.
One destroyers began dropping depth bombs a half mile off the port side of the stricken vessel. Finally the destroyer’s whistle signaled that it had got Mr. Sub.
The ship that got hit was struck on the bow where some cotton was stored. The force of the explosion blew one bale through a bulkhead out on deck. No one was injured. The ship began to list, but was able to make port eight hours later.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Harvey Alexander Nickell Jr. to his father, H. A. Nickell of Ozark, Arkansas. He served as a first sergeant with a machine gun company in the Mexican Border troubles in 1916. After the U.S. entered the Great War he attended the officers’ training camp at Fort Roots, Arkansas. He was born on May 2, 1892 in Ozark and died on August 5, 1948 in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military gravestone application identifies him as Ark, 1st Lt, Machine Gun Co. 2nd Inf. He is buried in the Pine Crest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas. He was described as being of medium height and build with brown eyes and light brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
I left New York August 26 on a British ship. We were joined by five other transports, one gun boat, one destroyer and three sub chasers. On August 30 we picked up six transports and tankers 100 miles from Newfoundland and began a zigzag course across the Atlantic. All our convoy left us at Newfoundland, except a converted British cruiser and an American destroyer.
On August 31 I saw my first iceberg. The sun was shining bright, there was a calm sea, and all the colors of the rainbow were radiated from the berg. That night I had a peep at the “Northern light,” and it was wonderful.
September 6 we picked up a British convoy of eight destroyers 400 miles off the coast of Ireland. They sure looked good to us, for we had been a week on the high seas with only one destroyer and a cruiser for protection.
September 7 I noticed one ship lagging behind. It was the British Puric. All of a sudden I saw a column of water shoot up from the port side and felt a jar. The Puric had been hit by a torpedo. The danger signal was blown and it was great fun to see the little destroyers cutting the water.
One destroyers began dropping depth bombs a half mile off the port side of the stricken vessel. Finally the destroyer’s whistle signaled that it had got Mr. Sub.
The ship that got hit was struck on the bow where some cotton was stored. The force of the explosion blew one bale through a bulkhead out on deck. No one was injured. The ship began to list, but was able to make port eight hours later.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Harvey Alexander Nickell Jr. to his father, H. A. Nickell of Ozark, Arkansas. He served as a first sergeant with a machine gun company in the Mexican Border troubles in 1916. After the U.S. entered the Great War he attended the officers’ training camp at Fort Roots, Arkansas. He was born on May 2, 1892 in Ozark and died on August 5, 1948 in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military gravestone application identifies him as Ark, 1st Lt, Machine Gun Co. 2nd Inf. He is buried in the Pine Crest Memorial Park in Alexander, Arkansas. He was described as being of medium height and build with brown eyes and light brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT