Hubert Ward Letter to Joseph Boyce - August 9, 1917
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[Page 1] April 9th 1917. Written in the Open Somewhere in France during a big battle My dear Joseph I confess it is with a feeling of doubt I address you by your Christian name. To me it seems that a veteran of the American Civil War who was such a dear friend of my parents and grandparents, should be addressed by me with the utmost respect. I assure you when we meet I shall salute you as a superior officer in our allied army. Meatime I shall call you Joseph as I feel any other address would be too cold and formal. I was delighted to receive your splendid letter, and
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[Page 2] read every word of it with pleasure. It was with the greatest interest I read of your assisting in the production of - The Crisis. Long before this war began I read that splendid book, and it laid the foundation of my admiration for one of the best and greatest of men - Abraham Lincoln. If this letter is short is because I write under difficulties. Times are exciting just now, and events change with great rapidity. One thing however is certain - the Hun is even now suffering defeat. The tide of victory I told you about in my last letter is now flowing strongly in our favour. The enemy is retreating because he must go. His behaviour as he retires is typical. I assure you I write facts when I say
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[Page 3] he has poisoned wells with arsenic, and he has brought up the French Civilians - yes the old & infirm and the very young children - to points of vantage in order to screen his retirement. Such conduct is beyond comment. I congratulate you again and again and I congratulate your country on boldly declaring war against the greatest enemy the world has seen. With your aid our victory is assured. If there is the same fighting stuff in the states now, as there was 50 years ago the Hun will have good cause to regret the day, he sank the ships and murdered the citizens of a great and free people. I can imagine the enthusiasm and joy that filled your heart when President Wilson
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[Page 4] decided America should fight shoulder to bonder with the allies in this world war for liberty. It was the great wish of my dear dear Father to live to see the Kaiser humiliated. Unfortunately he died before his wish was fulfilled - I hope to live to see the Germans crushed - if I don't I care little as I have devoted the last three years of my life assisting the allies, and if I fall it will be in a noble cause. Now I believe it must be your wish to see a great allied victory. I hope we may both see that victory and that we may then meet to discuss the different battles. With best love to all believe me Your affectionate cousin Hubert Ward
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[Page 5] P.S I have been promoted to command a cavalry Field Ambulance now my address is Capt J H Ward RAMC O.C 1st Cavalry Field Ambulance 1st Cavalry Division British Exped. Force France I have a very good unit - & altho' by far the youngest I have 5 officers & over 100 men with many horses transport under my command. I guessed you would like to know how I was getting on JHW
Details
| Title | Hubert Ward Letter to Joseph Boyce - August 9, 1917 |
| Creator | Ward, Hubert |
| Source | Ward, Hubert. Hubert Ward Letter to Joseph Boyce. 9 August 1917. Boyce, Joseph Collection, 1844-1913. A0161. The Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | In this letter, dated August 9, 1917, Hubert Ward wrote his cousin Joseph Boyce of St. Louis expressing his excitement and appreciation of the United States' declaration of war on Germany. |
| Subject LCSH | Great Britain. Army. British Expeditionary Force; Great Britain. Army--Cavalry; Great Britain. Army. Royal Army Medical Corps; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.; Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.; War, Declaration of; Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924. |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A0161 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | August 9, 1917 |
| Language | English |