Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - December 31, 1917
Transcript
4. [December] 31, 1917 Dearest Mother, I am sending you the menu of our Christmas dinner though it was so good I am almost ashamed to. In a day or so I go on permission for which I am very glad. Since Christmas my stomach has been a little upset (quite natural isn't it). A change of climate and living conditions for about a week will put me right. Nearly everyone in the section is wearing sabots now. They are rather funny looking but very warm and comfortable. I am going to get some today. Our address has changed again and we are now known as S.S.U. 646
Transcript
our American number. We drop the 5 from our address. In the future address your letters as follows Sidney Towner Phelan S.S.U. 646 Convois Automobiles Par B.C.M. Paris A.E.F. There is absolutely nothing happening here the only important event of the day is mail. Keeping warm is the only occupation. I will have my picture taken while on permission and will have May Birkhead send you some as it's against regulations for me to do it myself. It's going to cost me about 600 francs on permission as I have to pay for a new uniform and buy various things which cost about 5 times peace prices
Transcript
as well as my living expenses for ten days. However that will still leave me some money and as I will miss payday it means two month's pay next time. I am hoping that somehow I will be able to save up enough to have about 800 fr. to come home on after the war. If the war lasts long enough I may do it but that doesn't make me favor a long war. Don't worry about my not having enough money because in my case I have enough for all mu expenses and an occasional permission. Sorry I haven't any news to write but there is none in the dead little village. Lots of love, Towner S.S. U. 646 Corvois Automobile Par B.C.M. Paris A.E.F.
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - December 31, 1917 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to mother. 31 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 wrote that he had a new address and unit name, S.S.U. 646. He also enclosed a menu from his Christmas dinner. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; 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 | December 31, 1917 |
| Language | English |