James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - February 16, 1919
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[February 16, 1919] Montierchaume. Dear Mother & Others. Ethels letter no 9. came yesterday of course Iwas glad to get it and to learn that you all have escaped the flu. cause I sure would hate for you to have it. since writing the last letter we have left the Verdun region - and are now back in a big salvage camp - This is a pretty nice camp but I rather
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miss the freedom that we had on the front line. up there we did about as we pleased but down here it is another thing we have to do what the big Colonel wants done, and Colonels sure do get full of crazy notions. We have a good frame house to live in and plenty to eat - guess no one can kick as long as we get those two things Iam rooming with the major and two Lieut
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Major Blaine is an old army man - and I find him very interesting He has been all over the world and has the ability to remember what he has seen and can tell about it in a very interesting manner. Ive just got a good start and now have to stop for a few minutes to go make some inspections of quarters: My few minutes stop lasted a day or two I’ll try to get settled
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down again and go to writing weekly letters. Last night I went to Chateauroux, and got a few much needed things besides. making arrangement for having a suit made - We can get a uniform made here for 225 francs about $40 that would cost us at least 75 in the states. Ihave two suits now - but they are getting a little worse for wear - and I cant see any chance of getting home
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for several months. So I’ll need a uniform alright. Then too most of the medics pay too little attentions to their cloths and as long as we are a part of the army Ithink we Should look as good as the rest of them. and if I should get to come home soon Iwant to drift in looking like a soldier and you got to have good cloths for that - Chateauroux is a town of about 30,000 people - and
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as French towns go is pretty good. all tho it is pretty hard for us to really like the towns as they are so different from any thing we have in the states. Yesterday was market day - and they held forth in the town square you could buy any thing you wanted from soup to nuts - The farmers brought in chickens and cheese - and a lot of stuff Ididnt know what it was - and they’d stand there all day chewing over prices
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They even had dishes there - everything placed on the ground. Then down on the big square they had some tents up and sold stuff - of all kinds - Reminded me of show days back in the states altho I understand that in France every town has it market day once a week and they make a visiting day of it. Shopping a little and talking a lot. We are situated pretty well down here if it wasnt for the mud - but this rain cant
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last always - when we came down we hit the coldest weather we have had - and of course something got wrong with our heater - at that Ididnt suffer any as I took two blankets out of my bedding roll, before we get on the train so was all set for any old weather. This isnt my writing week so Iam going to stop pretty sudden like and start again next week. Iam going to ask you again did my books
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ever show up - Think I’ve asked that question most ever letter I’ve written but you always forget to tell me - makes me think perhaps they got lost someplace. got a nice long letter from Mrs Lankford a few weeks ago, glad they didnt get the flu. We have seen a little of it in this camp tho we have really had very little sickness. all thing considered. also got two letters from silver City and one from Mary - that Iwas glad
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to get. guess Ididnt tell you that we have real electrics lights in this camp - first lights we had had since the first of [November] Now maybe you dont think we enjoy them. Mess is good too as we can buy extra things down here such as eggs and cheese, milk. Eggs tho come high. about 12 francs per doz - a little over two dollars. Thats due tho tothe fact that the Americans have been around here for several months and
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the people soon learn that if they have something we want we’ll pay for it and say nothing - while the rest of the nations of the earth will have it a lone if the price isnt right. We as I said before Iam going to stop writing for two night and nows about as good a time as any - will write in a few days. Hope you are all well and keep well love to all Jim Lt JR Davis M.P. 816 Pioneer Infantry.
Details
| Title | James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - February 16, 1919 |
| Creator | Davis, James Robert |
| Source | Davis, James Robert. Letter to Mother and Others. 16 February 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 February 16, 1919. Davis discussed some of his daily activities while in camp and described a French market he visited. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; World War, 1914-1918--Occupied territories; World War, 1914-1918--Social aspects; Influenza; World War, 1914-1918--Food supply; Weather |
| 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 | February 16, 1919 |
| Language | English |