TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS MAY 17, 1918 P. 3
My Darling Mother:
Tonight, after a very bad and disagreeable day of cold and mud all alone in my tent 4000 miles away from my darling mother, and I can hear the men singing good American songs my thoughts wander back to The States, and many pleasant memories are brought back. It's wonder of what changes can take place within such a short time.
Out tents or camp is situated on a grassy piece of sloping ground and bordering quite a bit of wood. It was formerly the estate of some Lord, but all except the woods have been confiscated by the English Government. It must be a wonderful place in the summer, and during the dry and warm season of the year. You see this is the worst part of the year here. It is rainy and cold; at least it is very penetrating. Everything can't be pleasant so I suppose that some of the fellows are enjoying themselves.
I received your letter yesterday, and it was certainly enjoyed. I censor the mail of my flight, and if you knew how the men beg for letters you would know how much we enjoy them. We get no news from America at all you might say. Of course we get the latest from the Western Front relative to the Drive. It was almost two months before I received a word. It takes about a month before your letter can reach me, but anything you write about is news to us. Send me any clipping of bills that Congress passes that have anything to do with the Army. I don't care for French war news as we get that by telegraph long before you do.
Of course, all the British Isles are on rations. You can hardly buy matches or sugar, and no American tobacco at all. The ration is as follows: meat, 16 oz., bread 14 oz., tea 1 1/2 oz., sugar 1 1-7 oz., bacon 2 oz., salt 1/4 oz. This per man, per day for the British and American Army while in England. It is less to the civilians. The bread is war bread. No wheat, but potatoes, etc. It is dark but rather good when toasted. You can get no meat at all when away from camp in town without a meat card which they give you if you are going to be gone for several days. You can get tyo eggs and toast and tea, but what's the use of eating your head off it is especially hard to get water to drink at this camp. We send the men every Friday in lorries (heavy trucks) to a camp nearby to take their baths.
The country is very interesting to me. Places you read about even in the Bible are to be seen here. One place near here is where the Sun Worshippers gathered 2770 years ago. I could mention one place, and you would be sure to know where we are if you just refreshed your memory. The people are very nice, but of course nearly all the men are in the army. Men up to 50 years old will have to go now, and nearly all the women are doing something. It's pitiful to see them plowing, driving wagons, in flour mills, and everything. The ones in the army are called "wax" for W.A.A.C. meaning Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. They wear khaki skirts and coats with the same color hats, and look rather neat. Most of the women in the stores, etc., wear trousers That time will never come in America, but if it did some would certainly kick.
All our supplies have been shipped to France. We have a wonderful lot of stuff, and draw lots more when we get there, which will be some time yet, maybe. Just received an invoice for a $400 shoe repairing outfit. Have trucks, both light and heavy, motorcycles, touring cars, etc., twelve typewriters which I drew at Graden City--10 No. 14 Underwoods and two Coronas, one of which I am writing on now, also machine guns and aeroplanes.
We had a nice trip across. I wasn't sea sick at all, but I guarded against it by sucking lemons and eating lemon drop candy. The meals were fine, and I had a very nice cabin. It was rather funny to see nothing but mountains of water. It was rather rough at times, and a big bunch were sea sick. We were in the Gulf Stream almost all the way across, and it was fairly warm.
Well, darling mother I must quit as the men can not sleep as long as I am writing. I could write of many interesting things, but so much I must not tell in a letter, but will not forget many daring and interesting things. Much love and many kisses, and a world of love. Am going to write Pelham a long long letted in the morning as soon as I can altho I wrote her yesterday. Send this letter around to all the folks.
Your son,
Belmont.
NOTES: Lieut. A. B. Sammons wrote this letter to his mother Mrs. A. B. Sammons. He was serving in an aero squadron in England.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
My Darling Mother:
Tonight, after a very bad and disagreeable day of cold and mud all alone in my tent 4000 miles away from my darling mother, and I can hear the men singing good American songs my thoughts wander back to The States, and many pleasant memories are brought back. It's wonder of what changes can take place within such a short time.
Out tents or camp is situated on a grassy piece of sloping ground and bordering quite a bit of wood. It was formerly the estate of some Lord, but all except the woods have been confiscated by the English Government. It must be a wonderful place in the summer, and during the dry and warm season of the year. You see this is the worst part of the year here. It is rainy and cold; at least it is very penetrating. Everything can't be pleasant so I suppose that some of the fellows are enjoying themselves.
I received your letter yesterday, and it was certainly enjoyed. I censor the mail of my flight, and if you knew how the men beg for letters you would know how much we enjoy them. We get no news from America at all you might say. Of course we get the latest from the Western Front relative to the Drive. It was almost two months before I received a word. It takes about a month before your letter can reach me, but anything you write about is news to us. Send me any clipping of bills that Congress passes that have anything to do with the Army. I don't care for French war news as we get that by telegraph long before you do.
Of course, all the British Isles are on rations. You can hardly buy matches or sugar, and no American tobacco at all. The ration is as follows: meat, 16 oz., bread 14 oz., tea 1 1/2 oz., sugar 1 1-7 oz., bacon 2 oz., salt 1/4 oz. This per man, per day for the British and American Army while in England. It is less to the civilians. The bread is war bread. No wheat, but potatoes, etc. It is dark but rather good when toasted. You can get no meat at all when away from camp in town without a meat card which they give you if you are going to be gone for several days. You can get tyo eggs and toast and tea, but what's the use of eating your head off it is especially hard to get water to drink at this camp. We send the men every Friday in lorries (heavy trucks) to a camp nearby to take their baths.
The country is very interesting to me. Places you read about even in the Bible are to be seen here. One place near here is where the Sun Worshippers gathered 2770 years ago. I could mention one place, and you would be sure to know where we are if you just refreshed your memory. The people are very nice, but of course nearly all the men are in the army. Men up to 50 years old will have to go now, and nearly all the women are doing something. It's pitiful to see them plowing, driving wagons, in flour mills, and everything. The ones in the army are called "wax" for W.A.A.C. meaning Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. They wear khaki skirts and coats with the same color hats, and look rather neat. Most of the women in the stores, etc., wear trousers That time will never come in America, but if it did some would certainly kick.
All our supplies have been shipped to France. We have a wonderful lot of stuff, and draw lots more when we get there, which will be some time yet, maybe. Just received an invoice for a $400 shoe repairing outfit. Have trucks, both light and heavy, motorcycles, touring cars, etc., twelve typewriters which I drew at Graden City--10 No. 14 Underwoods and two Coronas, one of which I am writing on now, also machine guns and aeroplanes.
We had a nice trip across. I wasn't sea sick at all, but I guarded against it by sucking lemons and eating lemon drop candy. The meals were fine, and I had a very nice cabin. It was rather funny to see nothing but mountains of water. It was rather rough at times, and a big bunch were sea sick. We were in the Gulf Stream almost all the way across, and it was fairly warm.
Well, darling mother I must quit as the men can not sleep as long as I am writing. I could write of many interesting things, but so much I must not tell in a letter, but will not forget many daring and interesting things. Much love and many kisses, and a world of love. Am going to write Pelham a long long letted in the morning as soon as I can altho I wrote her yesterday. Send this letter around to all the folks.
Your son,
Belmont.
NOTES: Lieut. A. B. Sammons wrote this letter to his mother Mrs. A. B. Sammons. He was serving in an aero squadron in England.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD