TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE JANUARY 24, 1919 P. 2
Bouix, France, Dec. 5, ’18.
Dear Mother:
I will answer your most enjoyable letter that I received this week. I sure was glad to hear from you all. This leaves me well and hope these few lines will find you all the same and enjoying life as usual. I received Doy’s letter last night, of Nov. 19, which was the last news from home. I never have written anything about where I was or what I was doing. I was on the water 13 days; landed in Liverpool, England. Spent one week at Winchester, and then crossed the English Channel for France. Was on the boat one night. I have walked over the largest part of this country. I have changed my writing place, and this one is not much better. You may read this but I will try to finish. I was in the trenches eleven days in October, and that was my first experience of war. But since then have been over the top. Was in the big drive on the Verdun front Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Nov. 8, 9 and 10, before the war ended on Monday and it was a hot place, too, in the way of bullets from machine guns, rifles and artillery, for those shells would come playing “home, sweet home,” and that was the longest prayer meeting I was ever in. But I pulled through and am alright, wishing for the day to come when I will start home. Would like to spend Christmas on the way, as I can not be there, I wish you all a happy time during the holidays. I will not write any more, for I hope to see you soon.
Your son,
Benjamin H. Zachry
NOTES: Benjamin Harrie Zachry was born on January 22, 1890 in Ben Lomond, Arkansas and died don January 17, 1932. He is buried in the McHorse Cemetery in Sevier County, Arkansas. He was writing to his mother Jeanette Zachry. He served as a Private in Co M 322nd Infantry 81st Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD
Bouix, France, Dec. 5, ’18.
Dear Mother:
I will answer your most enjoyable letter that I received this week. I sure was glad to hear from you all. This leaves me well and hope these few lines will find you all the same and enjoying life as usual. I received Doy’s letter last night, of Nov. 19, which was the last news from home. I never have written anything about where I was or what I was doing. I was on the water 13 days; landed in Liverpool, England. Spent one week at Winchester, and then crossed the English Channel for France. Was on the boat one night. I have walked over the largest part of this country. I have changed my writing place, and this one is not much better. You may read this but I will try to finish. I was in the trenches eleven days in October, and that was my first experience of war. But since then have been over the top. Was in the big drive on the Verdun front Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Nov. 8, 9 and 10, before the war ended on Monday and it was a hot place, too, in the way of bullets from machine guns, rifles and artillery, for those shells would come playing “home, sweet home,” and that was the longest prayer meeting I was ever in. But I pulled through and am alright, wishing for the day to come when I will start home. Would like to spend Christmas on the way, as I can not be there, I wish you all a happy time during the holidays. I will not write any more, for I hope to see you soon.
Your son,
Benjamin H. Zachry
NOTES: Benjamin Harrie Zachry was born on January 22, 1890 in Ben Lomond, Arkansas and died don January 17, 1932. He is buried in the McHorse Cemetery in Sevier County, Arkansas. He was writing to his mother Jeanette Zachry. He served as a Private in Co M 322nd Infantry 81st Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY SHANNON SOUTHARD