Letter from Robert H. Chilson to his sister - September 29, 1918
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Pons France Sunday [September] 29-1918 Dearest Sister. Well here I am Over here In France and will give you an little dope on our trip since I left the states. We left Camp Dix on the
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[page 2] After being on the ship for 12 long days and it was cold we were on deck most of the time and we sure got tired of seeing water when we sighted land we were a happy bunch but even at that we were 1 day from shore. Well we landed at x sometime during the night & got off the boat the next morning about 10 o clock, we went immediately to the R.R. Station and road accross the entire country of England, here we went to a rest Camp. Eng. is sure a beautifull place. The R.R. cars in England are sure funny you enter
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[page 3] from the side instead of the end. The sure make good time. At this rest camp we walked up a Hill it was about 3 miles from the station, we had our packs on and we were all in when we got there. Well we were in this rest camp about 48 hours & moved to another rest camp we were here about 24 hours, we crossed the English channel and we didn
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[page 4] were made out of Strop Iron about 8 inches square some rough sleeping. Here we got on box cars shipped like horses the box cars are about 7 ft wide and 15 feet long and there was 30 of us in a car and you talk about a time the way we tried to sleep oh it was bad when I come home I will tell you all about it but this will give you an Idea we are not riding in Pullman cars or eating in a diner. We were on this trip 36 hours and we were a happy bunch when we got off this train.
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[page 5] Our billets here in this town is fine we are in a old stone house and we are well satisfied here. Untill we got here I had my clothes off just 3 times since I left the States. I have eaten so much Salmon I never want to see another can of salmon. Now I will tell you about real War & that is we are out of tobacco and we have been smoking corn silk cant buy tobacco here or candy and say how I would like to have some sweets to eat but it wont last long.
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[page 6] well I will tell you more when I come home write often Your Brother Bob Sgt. Robt. H. Chilson San. Squad #2 A.P.O.-906.-American.E.7 Via N.Y.
Details
| Title | Letter from Robert H. Chilson to his sister - September 29, 1918 |
| Creator | Chilson, Robert H. |
| Source | Chilson, Robert H. Letter to Sister. 29 September 1918. Clyde C. Chilson Collection, 1917-1919. 1977.13. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Letter from Sergeant Robert H. Chilson to his sister Lottie Hewitt explaining his trip overseas to France. Robert Chilson served with the Sanitary Squad #2, 89th Division. Robert Chilson was also the brother of Clyde Chilson who died on October 16, 1918 during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He served with Battery B, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; World War, 1914-1918--Transportation; Soldiers--Billeting |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | 1977.13 |
| 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 | September 29, 1918 |
| Language | English |