Letter from Harris Heard to Virginia - November 25, 1918
Transcript
[November] 25 1918 Dear Virginia- Your letter of [October] 27 was received a few days ago, and I was very glad to hear from you. I have written you several letters previously, and I hope that you have received all of them. I left Hoboken [April] 30 on board the Finland, an old tub. The were seven ships in our convoy. It took twelve days to cross the ocean. Two days before we landed in France, we were met by a convoy of submarine destroyers The submarines were after us but the destroyers Kept them so far away that they did no damage. In the early morning, just before sunrise and at twilight is the time that the submarines do their mean work. I was in the Chateau Thierry-Reims Soissons sector last summer. Was just behind the heavy Artillery
Transcript
Cringing up horses to the Artillery and transporting them to the rear in the dinky little French trains. You can only get 8 horses in one box car The French box cars remind me of a big dry goods box. I am having a great time with pens. I put my fountain pen in my pocket the other night without placing the cover over it, hence this crumb writing. The country around Paris is as beautiful farming country, as you would want to see. Standing on the hill just north of Chateau Thierry, one sees indeed a most beautiful country also. You look down into a beautiful valley where winds the Marne Rive, among the golden grain fields and wooded places. Just north of Chateau Thierry, the big German Gun Bertha was stationed It was on a concrete base, and was removed by the Germans, when they began their retreat.
Transcript
[page 2] Some of the German long range guns threw shells at us, and also airplanes. We camped near Belleau Woods when the front line was at Soissons-Reims-Chateau Thierry. We had to be careful about the water we drank for it was gassed. I never saw such big green flies in all of my life as one sees up there, and by the thousands. I will write to you again soon Sincerely Yours- Pvt. Harris Heard Am. R.C.M. H. No 5 Paris France American EF
Details
| Title | Letter from Harris Heard to Virginia - November 25, 1918 |
| Creator | Heard, Harris |
| Source | Heard, Harris. Letter to Virginia. 25 November 1918. World War I Collection. A1771. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Letter from Private Harris Heard of the Field Remount Squadron to Virginia of St. Louis, Missouri. Heard described his time in France during the War. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Transportation; World War, 1914-1918--France |
| Subject Local | World War I; WWI |
| Site Accession Number | A1771 |
| 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 25, 1918 |
| Language | English |