Rex letter to Mrs. Phelan - n.d.
Transcript
In camp at____ Dear Mrs. Phelan: Please forgive my actions and feel that I have not forgotten you for one moment. Things have moved along with such rapidity that I have been engulfed in the swirl and almost completely lost, but now that Tommy and I are out here at the front, I feel that we are safe now and for that reason I am writing (with this stub of a pencil because I broke my fountain pen.) I can't tell you how much I have missed you all because I can't express it in words and even if I did it wouldn't do me justice Well shell fire is great and I haven't tumbled into a terrible "bullet hole" yet, but I came mighty near it the other day when I was up in the woods, on the way to one of our "poste de secours" The Germans were shelling the batteries in the woods and there were several new craters in the road and our car came mighty near falling in head first. Very exciting. Oh yes I got "gased" the other morning in the woods also. We were returning to our camp when a gas shell
Transcript
struck near the ambulance in which we were riding. The section chef, Mr. Northover and Stewart Sutherland and myself were on the front seat of the car, and as soon as it had exploded, (throwing great gobs of mud all over us) Mr. Northover shouted gas!! and there was no time lost in putting on our masks and leaving the place. Unfortunately my mask leaked under the chin, and by time we got home I felt sick with a headache. But it was fun. Tommy is looking fine. I think he has gained weight and he seems to be enjoying the work. We are going to stick together no matter what happens, so we will come back together perhaps soon, too. My best love to everyone in the house. Hope they are all well and happy and not worrying a bit about us, because we are well and feel that we are doing our duty. My love to the family if you chance to see them. Always your boy Rex
Details
| Title | Rex letter to Mrs. Phelan - n.d. |
| Creator | Rex |
| Source | Rex. Letter to Mrs. Phelan. n.d. Sidney Towner Phelan Papers, 1899-1960. A1209. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Rex wrote a letter to Mrs.Phelan while serving in France. In this letter, Rex wrote from the front lines, describing his experiences of being shelled and gassed. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; Gas; World War, 1914-1918--Chemical warfare; Ambulance driving |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | A1209 |
| 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 | n.d. |
| Language | English |