The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-10-28
EIGHT MONTHS ON FIRING LINE
Former Kenosha Railway Manager
Writes of Experiences With the
English Army Fighting the Ger
Inans-Going Back to Trenches.

Debonaire Sidney Loughridge, form
er general manager of the Kenosha
Electric Railway company, under the
old English ownership on the lines, has
felt the sitting Of the battle front and
he is now in the Royal Field Artillery,
Maryhill Barracks, at Glasgow, Scot
land, recovering from wrecked nerves
and defective eye sight. Mr. Tough
ridge is recovering from his illness and
with the real instincts of a soldier is
planning to leave his retreat soon to
returning to the firing line. He was
first ordered to the Use of Wight for
recuperation, but later sent to the bar
racks at Glasgow and letters received
from him by friends in Kenosha were
sent from this point.
In his letters Mr.. Loughridge speaks
of having had eight months of service
on the firing line and ON account of his
nervous breakdown and the consequent
defects of his eye sight he has been
off duty for nearly two months.
His description of the effect Of shell
shock to the. nervous system is rather
appalling and his experiences at the
front, as described in his letters, make
one realize that warfare as it is con-
Quoted at the present time is about as
horrible a thing as one can imagine
No one can have any idea of what
it means to be shelled," says Mr..
Loughridge, "until he has actually
been there and feeling absolutely help
less and waiting for the shells to
land" Incidentally he remarks, "You
can only wait until they burst and there
is no use lodging. 'rf~
It is declared by others that while
many who have escaped physical in
jury from being about the bursting
shells are suffering from incurable
mania as result of the Smelling on the
nervous system.
Mr.. Loughridge says that another
man writing to his home, feeling that
death is sure, expressed the hope that
he may go before the winter on ac-
count of his dread of the cold and the
privations Of the trenches.
The letters of Mr.. Loughridge con
tain no word of complaint against the
service he has seen in the army of the
Allies. He declares his belief that the
war will be long war and as he has
enlisted as soldier for the entire
struggle he believes that he will be in
the service for a long time.
In his letter Mr.. Loughridge voices
the appreciation of himself and all
other, soldiers of thoughtful friends who
may send letters or papers to the men
who are on the firing line. A word
from home means much to these fell
lows he declares and he suggests that
it might be we'll to enclose a little ex-
ira postage to make certain the for
warding of papers and magazines to the
men in the field.
Kenosha friends of Mr.. Loughridoe
have followed his career in the army
of the Allies with a lot of interest.
He was one of the first Americans in
England to volunteer for service in the
army. He had gone to England as an
employee of the Investment Register
company, which had at one time owned
the lines of the Kenosha Electric Rail
way company of which he was the
manager. For a short time he had
commercial relations with the army.
but when one of the first general calls
We're sent out for recruits he enlisted
under the English flag and word sent
from the front from time to time gives
evidence that he has distinguished him.
self in the service.
His letters indicate that he will be
able to leave the barracks at Glasgow
within short time and return to the
firing line.