Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - March 4, 1918
Transcript
March 4, 1918 [censor’s stamp] Dearest Mother, Yesterday didn’t seem like my birthday at home but then I didn’t have such a bad time. In the afternoon a bunch of us went to a poilu show. The soldier actors were real actors in civil life and good ones. They had no costumes of scenery but managed to give an entertaining performance. One song was typical of the feeling toward the infantry men. It tells of the march of the Allies down the Champs Elysees after the war is over---as each body of soldiers comes into sight the people go mad but when the infantry comes there is no cheering, no sound---the people are kneeling. I have been given a new job. I am in charge of all the gas, oil, petrol, tires, etc. for the section. I have to give it out and keep books on it. I am still an aid on the same car as before and during an attack I will serve as an aid. That arrangement suits me---it makes more work but I now feel that
Transcript
I am doing my share---something I didn’t feel before owing to my rotten driving. My only fear is that during an action I would be kept busy in the rear. I have been told that there is little chance of that. Needless to say, if I found I was in for a rear work job I wouldn’t stay in it any longer than possible. Murray Oliphant, the driver on my car, has been transferred to another section and Mort Tiley has been made driver of the car with me as aid. I am awfully sorry that Murray has lift the section. He is a peach and a good friend of mine. Mort Tiley is a fine fellow though and I am sure we will get along well together. The last few days we have had rotten weather---snow, rain, cold and slush. We are still in a comfortable cantonment and en repos so let it stay cold. As long as we aren’t in action the weather doesn’t matter much. Lots of love, Towner S.S.U. 646 Convois Automobile Par B.C.M. Paris A.E.F.
Details
| Title | Sidney Towner Phelan letter to mother - March 4, 1918 |
| Creator | Phelan, Sidney Towner |
| Source | Phelan, Sidney Towner. Letter to mother. 4 March 1918. 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 . In this letter, Phelan described how he spent his birthday. Phelan also explained that he had a new job and was in charge of distributing oil, gas, etc. for the section. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--France; World War, 1914-1918--Equipment and supplies |
| 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 | March 4, 1918 |
| Language | English |