TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT MARCH 19, 1918 P. 5
After a couple of days of rather hard travel we have halted at an American camp, and with due respect to the British and the generous and hospitable treatment they have shown us, it’s sure good to be back with one’s own people and see Old Glory and U.S.A. at every turn. We will no doubt remain here for several weeks, re-equipping our men, and at the same time going through the few weeks intensive training before going to France.
This camp is a wonder, complete in every detail for training of every branch of the service. Everything is on the rush. Machines in the air all hours of the day. At one time I counted ten up at one time; motor trucks one after another on the move, going and coming, heavy artillery, tanks, troops, troops, troops, gee, but it is great; and our little old ragged, ship-wrecked battalion bring up the rear. We are getting into good shape though, and the submarine incident will be a thing of the past before many days. We lost some mighty fine fellows, yet have learned to accept it as only an incident and to be thankful that we got out as well as we did.
There is a great volume of work re-establishing our companies, which are quite short of the quotas, but when making records all over again they seem like battalions.
This camp is in one of the oldest parts of England and some points of interest near at hand, which we will soon be able to visit; wish I could write you fully of our movements as I know you are very much interested but censor is much particular in forbidding the mention of places, dates, troop action, etc.
I had lots of swell stuff and trinkets I valued very highly, but I reckon I shouldn’t grumble. Sister’s fruitcake went with the rest. Responsibility of human life, of which my boat consisted of 56, did not permit thought of personal belongings. I hope you are well and still proud and happy I’m over here, you would be doubly so if you knew how absolutely necessary the United States army was to the success of the war, and the rest of the fellows had better hurry, up.
Let me say a word for ______Y.M.C.A. It’s all they claim and a great deal more. Its wonderful for the men and hard to imagine what they’d do without it.
Tell the folks back there not to grumble at meatless, wheatless, etc., days. It may seem a bit unreasonable, but in reality it’s very essential conservation, if you see what England is up against. Yes, we get plenty, but there is not a particle wasted, and just so much, or rather so little, sugar. American people don’t know they are “at war” until they get over here. I didn’t, I’ll confess.
Well, today finds me very, very happy and comfortable, and in love with the game we play.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by 1st Lieut. Shelby McCall Saunders to his sister Mrs. Fred W. Hamilton of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on August 7, 1884 at Austin, Texas and died on April 29, 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried in the Metarie Cemetery in New Orleans. He enlisted in the military at DeQueen, Arkansas and was assigned to Co. D, 20th Engineers. He departed New York on January 24, 1918 on the ill-fated liner Tuscania.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
After a couple of days of rather hard travel we have halted at an American camp, and with due respect to the British and the generous and hospitable treatment they have shown us, it’s sure good to be back with one’s own people and see Old Glory and U.S.A. at every turn. We will no doubt remain here for several weeks, re-equipping our men, and at the same time going through the few weeks intensive training before going to France.
This camp is a wonder, complete in every detail for training of every branch of the service. Everything is on the rush. Machines in the air all hours of the day. At one time I counted ten up at one time; motor trucks one after another on the move, going and coming, heavy artillery, tanks, troops, troops, troops, gee, but it is great; and our little old ragged, ship-wrecked battalion bring up the rear. We are getting into good shape though, and the submarine incident will be a thing of the past before many days. We lost some mighty fine fellows, yet have learned to accept it as only an incident and to be thankful that we got out as well as we did.
There is a great volume of work re-establishing our companies, which are quite short of the quotas, but when making records all over again they seem like battalions.
This camp is in one of the oldest parts of England and some points of interest near at hand, which we will soon be able to visit; wish I could write you fully of our movements as I know you are very much interested but censor is much particular in forbidding the mention of places, dates, troop action, etc.
I had lots of swell stuff and trinkets I valued very highly, but I reckon I shouldn’t grumble. Sister’s fruitcake went with the rest. Responsibility of human life, of which my boat consisted of 56, did not permit thought of personal belongings. I hope you are well and still proud and happy I’m over here, you would be doubly so if you knew how absolutely necessary the United States army was to the success of the war, and the rest of the fellows had better hurry, up.
Let me say a word for ______Y.M.C.A. It’s all they claim and a great deal more. Its wonderful for the men and hard to imagine what they’d do without it.
Tell the folks back there not to grumble at meatless, wheatless, etc., days. It may seem a bit unreasonable, but in reality it’s very essential conservation, if you see what England is up against. Yes, we get plenty, but there is not a particle wasted, and just so much, or rather so little, sugar. American people don’t know they are “at war” until they get over here. I didn’t, I’ll confess.
Well, today finds me very, very happy and comfortable, and in love with the game we play.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by 1st Lieut. Shelby McCall Saunders to his sister Mrs. Fred W. Hamilton of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on August 7, 1884 at Austin, Texas and died on April 29, 1965 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is buried in the Metarie Cemetery in New Orleans. He enlisted in the military at DeQueen, Arkansas and was assigned to Co. D, 20th Engineers. He departed New York on January 24, 1918 on the ill-fated liner Tuscania.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT