Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - August 9, 1917
Transcript
August 9, 1917 My dearest Mother, I have been so busy in the last two days that I haven't had time to breathe. Now I am already to go and we leave at 8:00 A.M. tomorrow. I have my baggage packed and it was some job as all I could take was a bed roll, bed and a duffle bag. My bed folds up in a little case and looks like big jointed fishing pole in its case. The Red Cross gave us blankets beds, overcoats and other equipment. I got a pair of ten dollar shoes from them among other things.
Transcript
I guess we will need them all. We were issued canteens and mess kits today and later we will get our helmets and gas masks. I wish I could tell you where we are going but I can't. It's a fine place though and one where history had been made before now. Night before last I went on a regular party. I took May Birkhead to dinner at the Ambassadeurs (the gayest cafe in Paris). The food was wonderful and we saw a pretty good show. I got my pictures yesterday and I left them with Cupps Scudder to mail to you.
Transcript
You should see me today and you would never love me again. I got my hair cut so short that it stands on end. It's looks bad but is very practical. Is Val coming over soon? If he is remember to have him enlist in the American Red Cross and not with the American Field Service. Write me and tell me if my letters get to you without your paying postage on them. They ought to as we have a franking privilege through the courtesy of the British Government. But I got a letter from Mary Howell asking me why I didn't stamp my letters. She must have had to pay for them. Lots of love Towner
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - August 9, 1917 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to mother. 9 August 1917. Sidney Towner Phelan Papers, 1899-1960. A1209. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Sidney Towner Phelan, a St. Louis, Missouri native, wrote this letter to his Mother while serving as a volunteer ambulance driver in France during World War I. He wrote numerous letters to his mother while overseas. In this letter, Phelan described his preparations for going to the frontlines which included packing and getting a hair cut. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; American Red Cross. Field Service; World War, 1914-1918--Equipment and supplies; 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 | August 9, 1917 |
| Language | English |