James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - December 21, 1918
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Rec in [Kansas City] [January] 30 [1919] Oregon [March] 4 Verdun France [December 21, 1918] Dear Mother & all the Rest This letter writing is about the hardest thing Ihave to do yet I try to get one started to you every week. got your no 2 letter a few days ago and hope that 3-4-5 and six will be drifting in before long. The last time Iwrote we were at [Bouzy]. since then we have moved and now we are north of Verdun at a town called Charny. The name of the town tho is about all that’s left of it. We spent a few days living in dugouts That were fairly comfortable - if you didnt mine rats and these trench rats are regular rats too about the size of a half grown kitten. Iwasnt sorry at all when we left that place. Now we are living in box cars in the car. Iam in there all 3 of us and we are very comfortablely fixt. We have our cots - some chairs a table and a good stove a real looking glass - two rugs on the floor and the rest of the floor covered with roofing paper which keeps out the wind over the windows we have oiled paper - that lets in the light and for lamps we use candles most of the stuff we have has been salvaged. salvaged I suppose means saved - but to us it
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[page 2] is taking any thing we see and can get that we think we might use - and to you it would be just plain stealing. guess a lot of us in the army will have to get over this salvaging idea when we get back to the states. Now this box car is comfortable so you dont have to worry about me sleeping in the cold or on the damp ground - and saddest of all Iam getting too fat my cloths are all to small - especially around the waist - guess I’d better stop a few minutes will finish later - stopped here and went to Verdun - we got hold of a hand car - put 4 privates on the handles and started out Hand cars arent nearly so nice as Pullman’s yet they beat walking - We thought we might be able to get some Xmas stuff for the boys from the Y.M.C.A. but didnt have any luck. Verdun - is just one mass of ruined houses at one time it must have been a very pretty city. not in the way american city are pretty - for they do not build big building over here - But there is a river running thru the town and the houses are built with little sun parlors over the river. going to town we saw the same old trenches and barbed wire and shell holes - But those things are so common we hardly notice them any more.
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[page 3] That thanksgiving goose sounds good to me. Lets see for dinner we had - bacon and beans. coffee and bread. For supper - all the officers in the battalion were invited to the majors head quarters - in a French house - once used by Germans as their head quarters - so it wasnt torn up - very much - each of us - took our knife, fork, spoon and cups - but the boys had salvaged enough dishes in the town so that we could eat off of plates. Let see - I think we - had tomatoes - salmon - bread and coffee - French fried potatoes. Ican eat salmon - now if Iam careful tho Idont like too - now that doesnt sound like much of a dinner but I really enjoyed it and was glad to get such a variety for about that time rations were low and hard to get. Do not have any idea that I’ll run across any of the boys from Marshall in fact Iwouldnt know any of them except Frank Manning if Idid. This is one fine country for that kid to go to the devil in and in spite of his mothers & Dad. good opinion Ill bet he is taking advantage of his opportunities Ishould not say that about anyone - belonging to Dr Manning but for some cause of other I just cant care for him any more. Had a long letter from Prigmore a few days ago - I sent him the letters I got from amy and the kids. Ofcourse he wanted me to come to Paris but Idont see any chance of getting there, anyway I am not very keen on
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[page 4] going to Paris - as I wouldnt have time enough to see much of any thing - I’d rather get back to the states and make enough money to come over when things are settled and when Ican do as I please. It takes nearly as long to get a reply from Prigmore as it does to get an answer from the states - 4 to 6 weeks! Ihad an awful time getting started on this letter but Ihave done pretty well - after Idid get to writing Tell amy not to forget to see about getting Bill a wheel. I want him to have it by spring - I’d get Eliza something if I knew what to get but Icant think of anything to buy a girl. Thats out of my line. To day is Sunday so there wasnt much to do - I finished my work and took a long walk with a man from [St. Joseph] Missouri Dident seem much of interest, except some quail sure would like to have some of them for Xmas dinner at present it looks as tho Xmas dinner will consist of the same old beans - and bully beef - and yet as Isay tiresome tho that stuff is yet we are actually getting fat on it. It is raining tonight - Rains nearly every day
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[page 5] in this country - it rains awhile then stops for an hour or two and starts in again and about 3 30 every day it begins to get dark and I’ll tell the world that makes the evenings most awfully long - guess Ive told you about all the news for this time Ill try to write oftener than Ihave been - and yet you should have gotten several letters from me since Ilanded as I have only missed one or two week that Ididnt write to you - Dont forget Bills wheels and dont forget to let me know about the allotment. Hope you all keep well and I see you before long, altho dont expet me until you see me Love to all and a Merry Xmas to all Jim Lt James R Davis. 816 Pioneer Inf. A.E.F. Medical Detachment
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[page 6] your letter no 3 got into night. Hope 4-5-6-7 get in soon too bad Lucile husband had to die. The flu wasnt very bad over here in fact it was so light we didnt pay any attention to it. It is remarkable how well the men keep when they are living as we live - and even when they are going thru real hardship - they arent bothered much by sickness. You never have said whether you got the allotment from Uncle Sam please let me know about that without fail as soon as you can. I have nearly 3 months pay coming to me - Hope Ican get some place soon where Ican collect it soon - Tho Idont know what Iwould do with money if Ihad it. This is the first place Iwas ever in where you couldnt spend money and I guess I’ll never get to a place where it is as easy to save money as it is here again. Did I tell you to get William a pair of skates if there is any ice this winter - Iam glad the kids are feeling fine and hope they continue to do so It doesnt seem possible that Eliza is 7 years old. Time certainly does pass rapidly - before we know it she will be having boys coming to see her. glas Mrs Mohard is better.
Details
| Title | James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - December 21, 1918 |
| Creator | Davis, James Robert |
| Source | Davis, James Robert. Letter to Mother and Others. 21 December 1918. 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 on December 21, 1918. Davis described his living conditions near Verdun, France and discussed various daily activities including eating Thanksgiving dinner. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; Rats; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Y.M.C.A.; World War, 1914-1918--Food supply; Operational rations (Military supplies); World War, 1914-1918--Medical care--United States; Influenza; World War, 1914-1 |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| 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 | December 21, 1918 |
| Language | English |