World War I Collection

France Oct. 3rd 1917

Dear Ma:

I have neglected writing for about a week, and it was pure neglect because I have time most any evening. Every night we go wandering around the country taking in the different sights. We found a place about two miles from here where we can get pastry and chocolate. We have been going there nearly every night since we found it. I guess I will have to miss it for a while now because I am practicing to play football. We played E company of our regiment last night and

Oct 13, 1917

neither side scored. There will be a game between the different companys nearly every night. We are scheduled to play company D next Sunday. I think we will pick out the best men from the different companys and have a regimental team. We expect to play teams from other regiments that are here and that will be here later on. There is one thing that I would like to have you send and that is safety razor blades. I can’t get any blades here that will fit my razor. We have a new address now

Cpl. W.S. Lingard Co. B. 18th Eng. Ry. U.S. Army Post Office No 705 Via New York A.E.F. France

Love to all

Tee

Censor: Lt. D E Rhivers

Imprint: American Y.M.C.A. logo On Active Service WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

France Oct. 11th 1917

Dear Ma & Pa:

Received your letter written on the 9th of Sept and also the one the night the bunch were at the house. It certainly was good to hear from everybody. I guess they were a tired bunch after the party the night before. There are four of us fellows that have parties of our own about twice a week. The party consists of pastry, chocolate, candy, and teaching the girl waiting on us how to speak English. We will have to find a new place to hold our parties now because we have moved about three miles from our old camp.

I am on guard now and I have plenty of time to write, but there is so little to write about it keeps me busy thinking up something to write. There is some mail coming

Imprint: American Y.M.C.A. logo On Active Service WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

France Oct, 14th 1917

Everybody:

Everything is fine but the weather and that sure is bad. I think it has rained about two inches in the last hour. The ground around here is soft loam and when it rains it sure gets slushy. We have been issued rubber boots and they certainly come in handy. I have been on guard for about two weeks with prospects of being on for several more. It isn’t hard because I am off during the day to do as I please.

I went to church this morning and it certainly was an old church I went to. From our camp it looks like some picture in a dream. It is on top of a hill

Imprint: American Y.M.C.A. logo On Active Service WITH THE AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

2

surrounded by vineyards and and quaint old houses. Some of the homes look like castles of bygone days. This part of France is one of the most historical parts of France. I guess some of these old places could tell some interesting stories if they could only talk. Our camp itself is situated in a vineyard and is surrounded on three sides by vineyards. We received mail twice last week but I wasn’t one of the lucky ones, but I am in hopes of receiving a dozen in the next mail.

Love to all

W. Lingard

Censor stamp: D. E. Rhivers 1st. Lieut. 18th Engrs.