Encoded for for the Veterans History Project, November 12, 2020.
All letters in the Forbes Allan collection were digitized.
The following letters were transcribed from the handwritten originals by Veterans History Project staff. No alterations to this transcription has been made, although spelling errors are indicated with [sic]. Any special emphasis (i.e. underlining) is presented *between asterisks*.
Letter # 3
write 7 8 5 6 0 6
A.8.2
Gieres, France
June 26, 1918
Dear Father:
I am now located [?] beautiful that I have ever seen. As far as you can look you can see waving fields of rye. We left the camp that we landed at afew days ago and travelled over four hundred miles. The travelling was abit tiresome as there was forty of us fellows, to a cattle car, these card only make about half of one of the freight card that we have at home. During the day we enjoyed our ride very much on account of the fine scenery. When night came,however, it became so cold and damp that we had to close both doors in
order to keep warm. We huddled around one another in order to keep warm, such as a [droody?] chickens might do. We were glad when morning came, as the sun came up and warmed things up abit. Arriving at this camp we were surprized to find some of the fellows that we met down in Florida.
We had to fill out a new card for the personal board and them we were given a place to sleep. It sure felt good to get back on a bed of straw after sleeping on slats for a week or so. My first night fixed me up in fine condition, so that I now feel like a new man.
There are some men in this camp who have been up to the front, and they say that our
troops are far superior to the huns. Then again one only has to look at the way America is driving things in comparison to the French methods of carrying on this war. I am not casting any reflection as to what France has done but merely telling you of America’s efficiently as things stand.
This is the last letter from this place as our company has been split up and we are going to the winds. I have asked for work up near the lines [?] to see Andrew. I hope my wish comes true; but if I am shifted to place quite a bit back of the line, I will take my medicine like a good soldier, and smile. Hoping this kinds all the family enjoying life [?].
Your loving son
Forbes