The Daily Calumet - Chicago., IL. - Dec. 26, 1918 p.1 & 3
"JIM" BARROWMAN'S CHRISTMAS LETTER
IT ARRIVED JIST IN TIME AND BROUGHT UNTOLD JOY TO ONE WINDSOR PARK HOME
WOUNDED IN ACTION JULY 1
Although their son, Private "Jo," Barrowman, of the 131st Infantry, wounded in battle July 1, did not come home Christmas, the joy was unbounded in the home of Robert Barrowman, 7724 Saginaw avenue, because their son's 'Christmas Letter' arrived in due time and conveyed the information that he is able to be around again and is apparently doing splendidly.
The letter which caused so much happiness in the Barrowman's home follows:
St. Aignan, France, Sunday, Nov. 24, 1918.
My Dear Dad and Folks: Today is dad's letter day, and the "lid is off" as regards censorship, so I am going to write a ling letter, which may interest you all. You should receive this around Christmas tome, and I hope I am in the best of health, and that this letter will find you the same.
My knee still bothers me, and I wake up during the night, and have to give my leg a few kicks to shake the kink out of it, so I can go to sleep.
I am a good ways off from the old firing line, so I guess I won't get to see it again. When I was up on the front, I was attached to the British army from the 7th of June until the 30th of June. I was around the Albert front with the British. I was just out of the lines a few days for rest when our C.O. called for volunteers to fill the Australians. Well, I volunteered and left for the line about 1:30 p.m. June 30th. I hiked that day and part of the night. We arrived up on the Amiens sector and the 1st of July went to the lines with the Australians. I was just in the trenches thirty-six hours when Fritz started to shell us. By bad luck one of his 5-point 9-in. H.E. lit in our trench and some of it got me and a good many others. This was at Hamel, and the Yanks and Australians were going to make a big push on the Fourth of July, and I was in line for that stunt, but wasn't lucky enough to be shell proof until the 4th.
Well I was hit about 10 p.m. and the Australians carried me out of the lines on a stretcher about 1,000 yards behind the lines to a big dug out, used as a dressing station. They redressed me there, and I was there about an hour, when they came and got me to a big dugout in a town 3000 yards behind the lines, called Corbil, where I was put in a Ford ambulance. I was still under shell fire and he was putting over tear gas, from his 8-point-2 guns. Luck was with me, and we never got hit. I must have gone about 20 miles, because every 5 miles we covered, they would change ambulances.
When I arrived at a casual clearing station about 20 miles from Ameins about 5.30 a.m. on July 3. They operated on me at this C.C.S. and took pieces of shell out of my knee. I stayed at this place nine days and I was sent to the First Australians General Hospital in Rouen. I stayed there until July 18, and was sent to Le Havre, where I was put on a British hospital ship bound for Southampton that night. I arrived at this port on the 18th of July and was put on a hospital train, bound for London. I reached London about 4 p.m. and was put in an ambulance, and they took me to the King George hospital. I stayed the until I was transported to the U.S. Base hospital 37, at Dartford, England, July 21. Well, as luck would have it, the Australians had a hospital in this town, too. I met a lot of the boys I knew that I was in the trenches around Hamel. We sure did have some good times together around England.
We sure did make a hit with them at the front. So when a "Tommie" saw the Yanks and Australians walking down the street together, it would make him look sick, and he would wonder why we were so thick. Well it is because we would fight and could fight and that's what the Australians like and that's how the Yanks made a hit with them. The Australians are good fellows and they would give you the shirt off their back if you wanted it. They certainly did fight and old Fritz didn't like them. I learned this war game from the Australians, or the 'diggers," as they say. Me for the Australians.
I left the hospital and was sent to Winchester, England Sept. 30th and stayed there till the 5th of October, and sailed back for France that night landing in Cherbaurge the next morning and I have been here and there ever since. I am at a labor camp and will be here for another few weeks, so I hope I am out before Xmas.
I met "Hinky" Loving, who is in my company at a big casual camp near here today. He just cane back from the Verdun front. I had a long talk with him. Stewart has been wounded, but is O.K. now.
Well, I haven't had a letter for nearly 2 months, so it seems I am never going to get mail. I think there must be a bag full of my mail by now somewhere in this country.
I guess it won't be long before the boys are back in the good, old U.S.A. I am still in class B on my wounds, and from what I hear the casuals will go home first. I may be lucky enough and get home soon.
I hope Alex didn't get across, if he is still in the states I suppose he will be discharged soon as they don't need all the boys now.
When you get this letter please let Leona read it as she will be over to see the folks Xmas.
Well. I will close for this time with love to all a Merry Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son,
JIM.
Co. M. 131st Infantry.
A.E.F., France.
[Transcribed by Laura J Stewart. The 'Stewart' mention in the letter as being wounded, but O.K. is my father, Homer Harland Stewart. They lived in the same neighborhood in Chicago, about a mile apart.]
"JIM" BARROWMAN'S CHRISTMAS LETTER
IT ARRIVED JIST IN TIME AND BROUGHT UNTOLD JOY TO ONE WINDSOR PARK HOME
WOUNDED IN ACTION JULY 1
Although their son, Private "Jo," Barrowman, of the 131st Infantry, wounded in battle July 1, did not come home Christmas, the joy was unbounded in the home of Robert Barrowman, 7724 Saginaw avenue, because their son's 'Christmas Letter' arrived in due time and conveyed the information that he is able to be around again and is apparently doing splendidly.
The letter which caused so much happiness in the Barrowman's home follows:
St. Aignan, France, Sunday, Nov. 24, 1918.
My Dear Dad and Folks: Today is dad's letter day, and the "lid is off" as regards censorship, so I am going to write a ling letter, which may interest you all. You should receive this around Christmas tome, and I hope I am in the best of health, and that this letter will find you the same.
My knee still bothers me, and I wake up during the night, and have to give my leg a few kicks to shake the kink out of it, so I can go to sleep.
I am a good ways off from the old firing line, so I guess I won't get to see it again. When I was up on the front, I was attached to the British army from the 7th of June until the 30th of June. I was around the Albert front with the British. I was just out of the lines a few days for rest when our C.O. called for volunteers to fill the Australians. Well, I volunteered and left for the line about 1:30 p.m. June 30th. I hiked that day and part of the night. We arrived up on the Amiens sector and the 1st of July went to the lines with the Australians. I was just in the trenches thirty-six hours when Fritz started to shell us. By bad luck one of his 5-point 9-in. H.E. lit in our trench and some of it got me and a good many others. This was at Hamel, and the Yanks and Australians were going to make a big push on the Fourth of July, and I was in line for that stunt, but wasn't lucky enough to be shell proof until the 4th.
Well I was hit about 10 p.m. and the Australians carried me out of the lines on a stretcher about 1,000 yards behind the lines to a big dug out, used as a dressing station. They redressed me there, and I was there about an hour, when they came and got me to a big dugout in a town 3000 yards behind the lines, called Corbil, where I was put in a Ford ambulance. I was still under shell fire and he was putting over tear gas, from his 8-point-2 guns. Luck was with me, and we never got hit. I must have gone about 20 miles, because every 5 miles we covered, they would change ambulances.
When I arrived at a casual clearing station about 20 miles from Ameins about 5.30 a.m. on July 3. They operated on me at this C.C.S. and took pieces of shell out of my knee. I stayed at this place nine days and I was sent to the First Australians General Hospital in Rouen. I stayed there until July 18, and was sent to Le Havre, where I was put on a British hospital ship bound for Southampton that night. I arrived at this port on the 18th of July and was put on a hospital train, bound for London. I reached London about 4 p.m. and was put in an ambulance, and they took me to the King George hospital. I stayed the until I was transported to the U.S. Base hospital 37, at Dartford, England, July 21. Well, as luck would have it, the Australians had a hospital in this town, too. I met a lot of the boys I knew that I was in the trenches around Hamel. We sure did have some good times together around England.
We sure did make a hit with them at the front. So when a "Tommie" saw the Yanks and Australians walking down the street together, it would make him look sick, and he would wonder why we were so thick. Well it is because we would fight and could fight and that's what the Australians like and that's how the Yanks made a hit with them. The Australians are good fellows and they would give you the shirt off their back if you wanted it. They certainly did fight and old Fritz didn't like them. I learned this war game from the Australians, or the 'diggers," as they say. Me for the Australians.
I left the hospital and was sent to Winchester, England Sept. 30th and stayed there till the 5th of October, and sailed back for France that night landing in Cherbaurge the next morning and I have been here and there ever since. I am at a labor camp and will be here for another few weeks, so I hope I am out before Xmas.
I met "Hinky" Loving, who is in my company at a big casual camp near here today. He just cane back from the Verdun front. I had a long talk with him. Stewart has been wounded, but is O.K. now.
Well, I haven't had a letter for nearly 2 months, so it seems I am never going to get mail. I think there must be a bag full of my mail by now somewhere in this country.
I guess it won't be long before the boys are back in the good, old U.S.A. I am still in class B on my wounds, and from what I hear the casuals will go home first. I may be lucky enough and get home soon.
I hope Alex didn't get across, if he is still in the states I suppose he will be discharged soon as they don't need all the boys now.
When you get this letter please let Leona read it as she will be over to see the folks Xmas.
Well. I will close for this time with love to all a Merry Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son,
JIM.
Co. M. 131st Infantry.
A.E.F., France.
[Transcribed by Laura J Stewart. The 'Stewart' mention in the letter as being wounded, but O.K. is my father, Homer Harland Stewart. They lived in the same neighborhood in Chicago, about a mile apart.]
The Daily Calumet - Chicago., IL. - Dec. 26, 1918 p.1 & 3
"JIM" BARROWMAN'S CHRISTMAS LETTER
IT ARRIVED JIST IN TIME AND BROUGHT UNTOLD JOY TO ONE WINDSOR PARK HOME
WOUNDED IN ACTION JULY 1
Although their son, Private "Jo," Barrowman, of the 131st Infantry, wounded in battle July 1, did not come home Christmas, the joy was unbounded in the home of Robert Barrowman, 7724 Saginaw avenue, because their son's 'Christmas Letter' arrived in due time and conveyed the information that he is able to be around again and is apparently doing splendidly.
The letter which caused so much happiness in the Barrowman's home follows:
St. Aignan, France, Sunday, Nov. 24, 1918.
My Dear Dad and Folks: Today is dad's letter day, and the "lid is off" as regards censorship, so I am going to write a ling letter, which may interest you all. You should receive this around Christmas tome, and I hope I am in the best of health, and that this letter will find you the same.
My knee still bothers me, and I wake up during the night, and have to give my leg a few kicks to shake the kink out of it, so I can go to sleep.
I am a good ways off from the old firing line, so I guess I won't get to see it again. When I was up on the front, I was attached to the British army from the 7th of June until the 30th of June. I was around the Albert front with the British. I was just out of the lines a few days for rest when our C.O. called for volunteers to fill the Australians. Well, I volunteered and left for the line about 1:30 p.m. June 30th. I hiked that day and part of the night. We arrived up on the Amiens sector and the 1st of July went to the lines with the Australians. I was just in the trenches thirty-six hours when Fritz started to shell us. By bad luck one of his 5-point 9-in. H.E. lit in our trench and some of it got me and a good many others. This was at Hamel, and the Yanks and Australians were going to make a big push on the Fourth of July, and I was in line for that stunt, but wasn't lucky enough to be shell proof until the 4th.
Well I was hit about 10 p.m. and the Australians carried me out of the lines on a stretcher about 1,000 yards behind the lines to a big dug out, used as a dressing station. They redressed me there, and I was there about an hour, when they came and got me to a big dugout in a town 3000 yards behind the lines, called Corbil, where I was put in a Ford ambulance. I was still under shell fire and he was putting over tear gas, from his 8-point-2 guns. Luck was with me, and we never got hit. I must have gone about 20 miles, because every 5 miles we covered, they would change ambulances.
When I arrived at a casual clearing station about 20 miles from Ameins about 5.30 a.m. on July 3. They operated on me at this C.C.S. and took pieces of shell out of my knee. I stayed at this place nine days and I was sent to the First Australians General Hospital in Rouen. I stayed there until July 18, and was sent to Le Havre, where I was put on a British hospital ship bound for Southampton that night. I arrived at this port on the 18th of July and was put on a hospital train, bound for London. I reached London about 4 p.m. and was put in an ambulance, and they took me to the King George hospital. I stayed the until I was transported to the U.S. Base hospital 37, at Dartford, England, July 21. Well, as luck would have it, the Australians had a hospital in this town, too. I met a lot of the boys I knew that I was in the trenches around Hamel. We sure did have some good times together around England.
We sure did make a hit with them at the front. So when a "Tommie" saw the Yanks and Australians walking down the street together, it would make him look sick, and he would wonder why we were so thick. Well it is because we would fight and could fight and that's what the Australians like and that's how the Yanks made a hit with them. The Australians are good fellows and they would give you the shirt off their back if you wanted it. They certainly did fight and old Fritz didn't like them. I learned this war game from the Australians, or the 'diggers," as they say. Me for the Australians.
I left the hospital and was sent to Winchester, England Sept. 30th and stayed there till the 5th of October, and sailed back for France that night landing in Cherbaurge the next morning and I have been here and there ever since. I am at a labor camp and will be here for another few weeks, so I hope I am out before Xmas.
I met "Hinky" Loving, who is in my company at a big casual camp near here today. He just cane back from the Verdun front. I had a long talk with him. Stewart has been wounded, but is O.K. now.
Well, I haven't had a letter for nearly 2 months, so it seems I am never going to get mail. I think there must be a bag full of my mail by now somewhere in this country.
I guess it won't be long before the boys are back in the good, old U.S.A. I am still in class B on my wounds, and from what I hear the casuals will go home first. I may be lucky enough and get home soon.
I hope Alex didn't get across, if he is still in the states I suppose he will be discharged soon as they don't need all the boys now.
When you get this letter please let Leona read it as she will be over to see the folks Xmas.
Well. I will close for this time with love to all a Merry Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son,
JIM.
Co. M. 131st Infantry.
A.E.F., France.
[Transcribed by Laura J Stewart. The 'Stewart' mention in the letter as being wounded, but O.K. is my father, Homer Harland Stewart. They lived in the same neighborhood in Chicago, about a mile apart.]
"JIM" BARROWMAN'S CHRISTMAS LETTER
IT ARRIVED JIST IN TIME AND BROUGHT UNTOLD JOY TO ONE WINDSOR PARK HOME
WOUNDED IN ACTION JULY 1
Although their son, Private "Jo," Barrowman, of the 131st Infantry, wounded in battle July 1, did not come home Christmas, the joy was unbounded in the home of Robert Barrowman, 7724 Saginaw avenue, because their son's 'Christmas Letter' arrived in due time and conveyed the information that he is able to be around again and is apparently doing splendidly.
The letter which caused so much happiness in the Barrowman's home follows:
St. Aignan, France, Sunday, Nov. 24, 1918.
My Dear Dad and Folks: Today is dad's letter day, and the "lid is off" as regards censorship, so I am going to write a ling letter, which may interest you all. You should receive this around Christmas tome, and I hope I am in the best of health, and that this letter will find you the same.
My knee still bothers me, and I wake up during the night, and have to give my leg a few kicks to shake the kink out of it, so I can go to sleep.
I am a good ways off from the old firing line, so I guess I won't get to see it again. When I was up on the front, I was attached to the British army from the 7th of June until the 30th of June. I was around the Albert front with the British. I was just out of the lines a few days for rest when our C.O. called for volunteers to fill the Australians. Well, I volunteered and left for the line about 1:30 p.m. June 30th. I hiked that day and part of the night. We arrived up on the Amiens sector and the 1st of July went to the lines with the Australians. I was just in the trenches thirty-six hours when Fritz started to shell us. By bad luck one of his 5-point 9-in. H.E. lit in our trench and some of it got me and a good many others. This was at Hamel, and the Yanks and Australians were going to make a big push on the Fourth of July, and I was in line for that stunt, but wasn't lucky enough to be shell proof until the 4th.
Well I was hit about 10 p.m. and the Australians carried me out of the lines on a stretcher about 1,000 yards behind the lines to a big dug out, used as a dressing station. They redressed me there, and I was there about an hour, when they came and got me to a big dugout in a town 3000 yards behind the lines, called Corbil, where I was put in a Ford ambulance. I was still under shell fire and he was putting over tear gas, from his 8-point-2 guns. Luck was with me, and we never got hit. I must have gone about 20 miles, because every 5 miles we covered, they would change ambulances.
When I arrived at a casual clearing station about 20 miles from Ameins about 5.30 a.m. on July 3. They operated on me at this C.C.S. and took pieces of shell out of my knee. I stayed at this place nine days and I was sent to the First Australians General Hospital in Rouen. I stayed there until July 18, and was sent to Le Havre, where I was put on a British hospital ship bound for Southampton that night. I arrived at this port on the 18th of July and was put on a hospital train, bound for London. I reached London about 4 p.m. and was put in an ambulance, and they took me to the King George hospital. I stayed the until I was transported to the U.S. Base hospital 37, at Dartford, England, July 21. Well, as luck would have it, the Australians had a hospital in this town, too. I met a lot of the boys I knew that I was in the trenches around Hamel. We sure did have some good times together around England.
We sure did make a hit with them at the front. So when a "Tommie" saw the Yanks and Australians walking down the street together, it would make him look sick, and he would wonder why we were so thick. Well it is because we would fight and could fight and that's what the Australians like and that's how the Yanks made a hit with them. The Australians are good fellows and they would give you the shirt off their back if you wanted it. They certainly did fight and old Fritz didn't like them. I learned this war game from the Australians, or the 'diggers," as they say. Me for the Australians.
I left the hospital and was sent to Winchester, England Sept. 30th and stayed there till the 5th of October, and sailed back for France that night landing in Cherbaurge the next morning and I have been here and there ever since. I am at a labor camp and will be here for another few weeks, so I hope I am out before Xmas.
I met "Hinky" Loving, who is in my company at a big casual camp near here today. He just cane back from the Verdun front. I had a long talk with him. Stewart has been wounded, but is O.K. now.
Well, I haven't had a letter for nearly 2 months, so it seems I am never going to get mail. I think there must be a bag full of my mail by now somewhere in this country.
I guess it won't be long before the boys are back in the good, old U.S.A. I am still in class B on my wounds, and from what I hear the casuals will go home first. I may be lucky enough and get home soon.
I hope Alex didn't get across, if he is still in the states I suppose he will be discharged soon as they don't need all the boys now.
When you get this letter please let Leona read it as she will be over to see the folks Xmas.
Well. I will close for this time with love to all a Merry Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son,
JIM.
Co. M. 131st Infantry.
A.E.F., France.
[Transcribed by Laura J Stewart. The 'Stewart' mention in the letter as being wounded, but O.K. is my father, Homer Harland Stewart. They lived in the same neighborhood in Chicago, about a mile apart.]
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