WW1 Era Letter Written by U.S. Soldier In France. He mentions exploring Sancerre, seeing an old castle, dungeons, enjoying a Christmas feast and more interesting content. Details in comments.
WW1 Era Letter Written by U.S. Soldier In France. He mentions exploring Sancerre, seeing an old castle, dungeons, enjoying a Christmas feast and more interesting content. Details in comments.
This letter was written by John Charles Dudley. He was born on February 16th 1879 in Northbridge, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 109th Engineers, part of the 34th Infantry Division. The letter reads:
>“ Dec 22, 1918
>Dear Carrie,
Just got your letter this evening, and it was a fine letter and mighty welcome. By the same mail I got a letter from Flora with some clippings from the telegram.
>Everything is going along about the same, and we have this camp about finished. We expect to move before very long, and we don’t know whether we move towards the coast or up into Germany.
>I have an idea it will be to the coast.
>Saturday another Lieutenant and I got off at noon and struck off into the country, and had a very interesting trip. Among other place we visited was Sancerre, an old feudal place where the remains of an old castle still stand.
>You can see the towers in the picture where I made the little cross.
>There are the old dungeons and so on, and there is a hole, a sort of well where the old Baron used to drop each of his enemies as came into his power. He had a lot of knives stuck in the well and when a body was thrown in, it was cut up by falling against the knives and the pieces were washed away by a stream that ran through the bottom of the hole.
>A pleasant sort of neighbor that old bird must have been.
>We walked for quite a distance along the canal from a place called Cosne and saw some of the canal boats in which the donkey and some chickens and geese occupied the same quarters as the men and women.
>Today is Christmas, your letter was interrupted and I am finishing it up. It is raining and we are recuperating from about the biggest dinner I ever ate.
>Here is the list from the menu so you can see how the soldiers in France are being starved.
>Celery Consomme, Bread Sticks, Biscuits, Olives, Radishes, Salted Almonds, Fillet of Beef with Mushrooms, Roast Turkey, Giblet gravy, Creamed Potatoes, French Peas, Grape Salad, Cigarettes, Sherry Sauce, English Plum Pudding, Grapes, almond Cakes, Fudge, Mixed Nuts, Cream Swiss Cheese and coffee. I ate everything that came in sight, and think I will be able to worry through until tomorrow.
>Case of eggs are 10 cents apiece, fresh eggs are 15 cents each, Turkey 38 cents per lb. War time prices sure enough.
>Remember me to all the folks,
John. “
John eventually returned home to his family in Massachusetts, where he lived out the remainder of his life. Tragically, he lived long enough to see his only son, John Holbrook Dudley, killed in action in Italy in 1943 while serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. He was 23. John Sr. would follow his son in death not long after, passing away on December 23rd 1951 aged 72.
Alastairthetorturer on
Oh this is the kind of stuff I’m subbed for. Excellent post and the history and follow up is phenomenal! Thank you!
2 Comments
This letter was written by John Charles Dudley. He was born on February 16th 1879 in Northbridge, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 109th Engineers, part of the 34th Infantry Division. The letter reads:
>“ Dec 22, 1918
>Dear Carrie,
Just got your letter this evening, and it was a fine letter and mighty welcome. By the same mail I got a letter from Flora with some clippings from the telegram.
>Everything is going along about the same, and we have this camp about finished. We expect to move before very long, and we don’t know whether we move towards the coast or up into Germany.
>I have an idea it will be to the coast.
>Saturday another Lieutenant and I got off at noon and struck off into the country, and had a very interesting trip. Among other place we visited was Sancerre, an old feudal place where the remains of an old castle still stand.
>You can see the towers in the picture where I made the little cross.
>There are the old dungeons and so on, and there is a hole, a sort of well where the old Baron used to drop each of his enemies as came into his power. He had a lot of knives stuck in the well and when a body was thrown in, it was cut up by falling against the knives and the pieces were washed away by a stream that ran through the bottom of the hole.
>A pleasant sort of neighbor that old bird must have been.
>We walked for quite a distance along the canal from a place called Cosne and saw some of the canal boats in which the donkey and some chickens and geese occupied the same quarters as the men and women.
>Today is Christmas, your letter was interrupted and I am finishing it up. It is raining and we are recuperating from about the biggest dinner I ever ate.
>Here is the list from the menu so you can see how the soldiers in France are being starved.
>Celery Consomme, Bread Sticks, Biscuits, Olives, Radishes, Salted Almonds, Fillet of Beef with Mushrooms, Roast Turkey, Giblet gravy, Creamed Potatoes, French Peas, Grape Salad, Cigarettes, Sherry Sauce, English Plum Pudding, Grapes, almond Cakes, Fudge, Mixed Nuts, Cream Swiss Cheese and coffee. I ate everything that came in sight, and think I will be able to worry through until tomorrow.
>Case of eggs are 10 cents apiece, fresh eggs are 15 cents each, Turkey 38 cents per lb. War time prices sure enough.
>Remember me to all the folks,
John. “
John eventually returned home to his family in Massachusetts, where he lived out the remainder of his life. Tragically, he lived long enough to see his only son, John Holbrook Dudley, killed in action in Italy in 1943 while serving as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress. He was 23. John Sr. would follow his son in death not long after, passing away on December 23rd 1951 aged 72.
Oh this is the kind of stuff I’m subbed for. Excellent post and the history and follow up is phenomenal! Thank you!