Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - December 24, 1917
Transcript
3 Christmas Eve [December 24,] 1917 Dearest Mother, How I wish I could be home for the holidays but I can't so that ends it. I won't have a bad Christmas though we will have some party here but it won't be home. I am mighty thankful that we aren't in action for it's real winter now. We aren't at all likely to see action until spring and that suits me to a T because there is a big difference between going into action in warm and cold weather. Last night was bright moonlight and the Bosche came over and dropped numerous bombs but only three were even in the vicinity of the village.
Transcript
Today I collected a few shell fragments as souvenirs of Christmas Eve 1917. Hope my souvenirs of Christmas Eve 1918 will be of a different nature. Being unattached to any division now he have no general to give us the fourragere but a local commandant decorated the section flag with it's 2nd palm and as the order has been issued (some weeks ago) we can wear the fourragere though there will probably be no ceremony. Last night we were given copies of the citation of the order of the army given the section for the last action. I will copy it and send it to you enclosed in this letter. One of the men decorated the other day is only seventeen years old. He (Gordon Kitchen) has served in this for nearly a year and
Transcript
before that took two sea voyages shipping as a common seaman. Needless to say he is some boy and he hasn't been spoiled by his experiences. He is one of the finest fellows I ever met. It's getting too dark to write now. Lots of love Towner From S.T. Phelan U.S.A.A.S. 146 S.U.5 Par B.C.M. Paris P.S. Christmas morning The mail just came in and in it was that peach of a pocket chess set. Thank you just lots for it you couldn't have sent anything I would enjoy more. Love, Towner
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - December 24, 1917 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to mother. 24 December 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. In this letter, Phelan described his plans for Christmas. He explained that his unit was not on duty and probably wouldn’t be until spring. Phelan also mentioned the citation for a fourragere that his unit received. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; World War, 1914-1918--Medals |
| 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 | December 24, 1917 |
| Language | English |