May 10, 1919 -- Corporal Pay and No Work At All

APO Brest-France

May 10^th, 1919

Dear Ones at Home:

            This letter has no special word to bring

Except the world old theme of Love and Spring.

But I thot I’d take the time to say hello

So it wouldn’t seem so long before we meet

For we’re getting out of here so very slow

Twill be in early June ere have that treat  

!?! -- !?!!??? XX - !??

             If the censor reads the above spasm I’ll be indefinitely detained for insanity or given a “cuckoo discharge.”  This is a beautiful sunshiny day.  It scarcely seems possible that a week ago we were suffering from cold and snow in our sidedoor Pullmans bound for Brest via “the longest way round.”

            I just had a bath “by the numbers.”  Explanations when I get home if you don’t “get it.”  I wonder how many phrases I’ve used in my letters have rather mystified you.  We sure will have to learn American when we get back, or teach you A. E. F. which really is expressive but probably will not improve the literary purity or beauty of the American language.  I used to call it English – but never again. Ahunderstand the bally Tommies about as well as Ich verstehen Deutsch or Compree French, don’t cher know.  Well I can’t complain right now.  Awhile back I said I drew the pay of a private and did the work of a corporal.  Now I draw the pay of and don’t do anything you might say.

            I haven’t take a trip down to the town of Brest yet.  Perhaps if there isn’t much to do tomorrow I may try for a pass, as I might get some interesting pictures. Now I’ll ring off and see what I can pick up about camp, sew on a few chevron’s buttons, etc. 
            Keep well and prepare to have a few good times in June -“This Means You” as  Uncle Sam’s enlisted posters used to say.

            Love to all.  Sent a letter to Aunt Nellie day before yesterday.  Goodbye and God keep us all still we meet again.

                                                            George

 

January 20, 1918 -- Photos of Echternach, Luxembourg; Letter from Other Sherwood Branch

These are photo postcards that George Sherwood brought home from Europe after WWI.   Since there is no immediate letter and since George brought these home for his family to see what he had seen, I thought this was a good time to share a bit more of where he was living. 

 Apparently Echternach has a spring processional every year.  And those who play instruments can hear the musical theme first hand thanks to this postcard.  It appears that this is still an annual event in conjunction with the Abbey of Echternach seen below.  Wikipedia says that Echternach's is the last traditional dancing procession in Europe.

 George didn't say whether or not he spent time staying at the Grand Hotel du Cerf or eating in the restaurant but it was likely nearby.

 There is no explanation on this postcard either but on the other side there is the beginning of a note to his cousin Grace. My supposition is that the two windows in the center building which have black X's drawn over the windows are to mark either where he worked during the day or where his lodgings,  previously discussed in the last blog post, were situated.  

 This is the Abbey of  Echternach, a Benedictine Monastery founded in the 7th century.

 Another Luxembourg post card I'm assuming from Echternach.  If so this is likely the Sauer River.

 Dining Room at the Grand Hotel du Cerf

Local scenery and bridge

 

These photos were contributed by Diane, George's Grand-daughter for which we are very appreciative.

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1919-0119  -- Letters from   Nellie and Hattie Grant to George Sherwood

 

Home Glendale

Dear nephew,

                                    Your mother left the letter so I could add a few lines.  Glad you are well and hope before many months to “see our boy” home again.  You surely have a sad time with the numerous inhabitants.  I have had experience enough with the “dirty bastas” as the Scotch women called them.  Used kerosene and it soon cooked them sure

Put it the water to boil clothing in Washington Wis a great place for them as well or South Dakota  George used to say you couldn’t meet a stranger on the street without getting them

Mrs Wilds on the farm last week Vin & family in her house till he could find a place has some in view but undecided as yet  Mrs Leopoldt sold her farm and is having a sale today  Mr Broad(?) moves to Glendale for the present Mrs L says she is very proud of the letter you wrote

We sure are having a beautiful winter, snow nearly gone.

Must stop as it is dinner time so good bye which is short for “God be with you”

Lots of love from the girls and

                                                            Aunt Nellie

 

Elroy, Wis. Jan. 19-1919

Dear Cousin George, I sure have been a long time answering your nice xmas card you sent us.  But that always was one of my failings so please excuse me.  Your mother called me up yesterday and talked quite a while said everyone was well up there.  The boys aren’t either one home yet.  Pardon is up to Sparta Camp R. and yes at Camp Grant they think it won’t be long now.  It is so dark and cloudy today.  Win had to take his car and go to a funeral.  This is Sun. and we are going to have Memorial Services at the Cong. Church for T. Roosevelt, lots of singing and three addresses. Wish you were here to go with us.  I see by the paper old Mr. Spooner died at Wonewoc dropped dead in front of the millinery store so see it was very sudden.  Didn’t hear if Daisy came or not.

Pardon thinks he can come home next Sat. just to spend Sun. with us.  I hope so.  He has been in Penniman Virginia quite a while and he will have lots to tell us.  Say but I pity your tongue when you get home, I’m afraid it never get any rest, but I bet you will be only to glad to get back and tell us everything about your experience.  I hope you stay well and that the time will be short when we will see you.  I haven’t been up to the farm for so long am getting homesick to go up.

Well I must start my supper Win will be getting hungry when he gets back from that funeral they had to go out to Millards P. about 4 miles out in the country.  Hope you can read this awful writing this pen is horrid.  Would love to hear from you if you get time to write.  I should have written you long ago.  Lots of love and take good care of yourself, as careful as you can in wartime.

            Be good to yourself.  Your cousin Hattie Grant

August 31, 1918 -- George Post Script Hints That Things Have Been Moving Along

Aunt Nellie was George's youngest great aunt and he was related to her then as he is to me now. Nellie (born Evalina Irene Richardson) was the youngest sister of his grandmother Rosina Jane Richardson Stevens. Nellie had been married twice. First to Alfred Thomas whom she divorced apparently due to domestic violence and later to widower and Yankee Civil War veteran George Thompson. After his death in Palouse country of Washington Territory where they lived for many years she moved to Wisconsin where her sister and extended family lived. She is buried with her extended family in the cemetery at Kendall, Wisconsin. Many current family members have had no idea who Nellie was or why she was buried in the same plot as the Stevens and the Sherwoods families. She was born in Topsham, Vermont on June 26,1847 and passed away in Glendale, Wisconsin on December 8, 1926. The full scans of the letter is at the end.

I love this letter from George. While it tells "nothing" due to censorship, his wording does hint to the speed and conditions in which the 108th engineers have been traveling!

Somewhere in France

“Droppin Dugout”

8-17-‘18

Mrs. Nellie Thompson

            Glendale, Wisconsin

Dear Aunt and All:

            As I now owe you two letters and Dura one, I think it high time to let work and other correspondence wait a few minutes while I try to show my appreciation of your messages with a few lines from France.

            As it is against censorship rules to name places & locations in France I have never tried in any way to let you know where we are, but I often wonder where you imagine we are and how close you come to the truth.  We are in no doubt of where we want to be as soon as “Bill” admits he is properly licked.

            We are getting better eats and clothes than you folks back in the states, if the reports from over there are correct.  So you see, life in a hole in France has its compensations.  Catch me ever buying a house or bungalow when I get back.  All I’ve got to do is get a spade, pick and a few sandbags and I can get along fine.

*Two weeks later

            Well, this has traveled a long way on my back Auntie, and now my pen has been lost so we will have to scribble just an additional line in pencil to let you know I am still well.
                                    With love to all
                                                George