Harold B. Willis Letter to John Franklin Hardesty - November 27, 1918
Transcript
[AERO CLUB OF AMERICA AVIATION OFFICERS CLUB letterhead] PARIS LE 27 [November] 1918 Dear Hardesty, - Well, old man. You and your team did the street for us like clockwork –and my hat is permanently off to you. I know what it is to do a mean stunt like that with everything to lose and nothing to gain – and you were up against a hard crowd. To the everlasting shame of a lot of the others that we were obliged to go to the non-combatants when we wanted some helpers on whom we could depend. Am keen to know what happened to the others – the noise in the camp and the more recent events. You won’t believe that I have not had a real party in Paris yet.
Transcript
[AERO CLUB OF AMERICA AVIATION OFFICERS CLUB letterhead] are the all crowd and killed on home or at the front and you want someone you have played with before – Am seeking the 2nd Rec for American address this Boston – or [New York] Harvard Club. Returning last of January –Paris address call Mme Audenreid. Af rue Galilee Paris. For God sake let me know if there is a chance for we to get together. Should you be in [New York City] will we and I will come down from Boston Not for long I hope Yours Harold B Willis
Details
| Title | Harold B. Willis Letter to John Franklin Hardesty - November 27, 1918 |
| Creator | Willis, Harold B. |
| Source | Willis, Harold B. Letter to John Franklin Hardesty. 27 November 1918. John Franklin Hardesty Papers, 1867-2007. A2293. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | John Franklin Hardesty entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps and volunteered to serve as a surgeon with the British Army during WWI. Hardesty corresponded with the men he was imprisoned with for many years after their release from prison. In March of 1918, he was captured by Germans in Amiens, France. Hardesty was imprisoned at Ratstatt and Villingen Prisoner of War Camps for eight months. In this letter, Harold B. Willis wrote about what his life had been like since his escape from Villingen Prisoner of War Camp. Willis also mentioned Hardesty's role in the escape and his desire for them to meet in Boston or New York. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Germany; World War, 1914-1918--Prisoners; Escaped prisoners; Great Britain. Army. Seaforth Highlanders |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A2239 |
| 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 | November 27, 1918 |
| Language | English |