James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - April 27, 1919
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Somewhere in Sunny France Montierchaume France April 27 - 1919 Dear Mother & all others For a change it is raining even at that we call ourselves lucky for we have seen the sun 3 days this week. Not at all bad for this section of France. Today for dinner we had turkey and dressing radishes salad potatoes asparagus olives cake chocolate pie biscuits fruits gravy and I’ve forgotten what else - for breakfast ham and eggs toast and coffee. I’ve left out a few things but Im telling you this so you’ll know I’am not suffering any for eats Ithink Ican say that we have the best mess in the Post. Fortunately
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[page 2] we have a real mess officer. We pay the government about 50 c a day for mess and so we can draw a lot of stuff from the Q.M. besides that we each put in 20 francs a month extra - about $10. We are feeding now but I dont mind saying that there have been times when we didnt have much at [Bouzy] we lived for a week on German turnips and gold fish (Salmon). Wally May left for Sedalia a few days ago and will call you up and send you a letter and a package I gave him beside a check for 65\00 dollars that Iwant you to cash - I also got a letter from Turner saying books had been shipped - however if Turner send in his bill and it isnt
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[page 3] over 50 dollars pay it Iwant it settled and now that he didnt have to come to France he may have sense enough to send out a few bills. Unless the world breaks loose again. I am still counting on landing in the states in June or July - merely a guess however as Ive told you be fore. It doesnt make a great deal of difference tho as long as Iam left with this out fit as I like Maj. Blaine and I am getting plenty to eat and a good place to sleep. We have the cleanest place in the Post and when we came in it was the dirtest camp I ever saw. Blaine is a master at handling the nigger and cleaning up camps our sick call is practically [ms illegible: 1 wd] but thats because
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[page 4] the burden of our song is keep clean. ever so often they get slack. Then we turn out less men and make them work extra hours cleaning camp picking up paper cigaretes stump etc when we got these birds they couldnt wash there faces and do it right. Alll day last week the Maj had to go to [Saint-Gaultier] about a 25 mile ride and Iwent along. Saw a beautiful valley several Roman Castles - and road over an old Roman road - then for about an hour drove thru a real french forest Most of the stuff they call a forest is what we would call under brush a few fair sized trees in it but darn few - ever so often they go thru and cut wood. They take this under brush and waste nothing the larger pieces a cut in certain length and piled like we do our
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cord wood. Then they take the brush and make bundles out of it and sell that for wood or kindling. The pictures we used to see of the old woman with her bundle of fagots was no mith They still do it in France and when the world come to an end we’ll sell see some old french woman coming thru the gates with fagots But to see them travel is the best - you have to see that to get it dour expression everything even the bird cage doesnt ex press it and nothing else can - and long after a car is filled they still pack in more. Well pretty some the start - start to warning and then Engine gives a toot like a peanut washer and we off. No conductor - no nothing youve got to know where you want to go and watch for the station if you dont no one is going to tell you where to get off. Well you pile off and have to go then a gate to get into the station at the gate they take your ticket - If they dont forget it.
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Idont know of anything more to write about except that Iknow why Mrs Candle raise some much fuss about the rain. cause it sure is raining yet and the wind is blowing altho yester a good time to stay in the house. I finished our tennis court last week got the men basket ball court nearly finished and a place a play ball besides a few other game ground fixed up. we officers got out and played indoor base ball out doors one evening last week. Didnt go out tho the next day did well to get out of bed. Well still it rains - so I’ll stop and write a few more letters love to all - Jim Lt James R Davis 816 Pion. Inf. A.E.F. A.P.O. 738.
Details
| Title | James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - April 27, 1919 |
| Creator | Davis, James Robert |
| Source | Davis, James Robert. Letter to Mother and Others. 27 April 1919. James Robert Davis Collection, 1918-1919. 1994.41. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | James Robert Davis wrote this letter to his mother and other relatives from Montierchaume, France on April 27, 1919. Davis discussed his meal rations, described a trip he took to Saint-Gaultier, and mentioned various topics concerning camp life. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; World War, 1914-1918--Occupied territories; World War, 1914-1918--Food supply; United States. Army--Sports; World War, 1914-1918--African Americans |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; 816th Pioneer Infantry |
| Site Accession Number | 1994.41 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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. |
| Date Original | April 27, 1919 |
| Language | English |