Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-26
Stories of the War
A Soldiers Letter.

To his mother in Hallowell Me-,
Lance Corporal Frank Goodrich, writes
a most interesting letter concerning
the affairs of the European disagree
ment and relates at length his partic-
ipation in the battle of Ypres. The
letter:
Military Hospital, France.
April IS. 10.
my dear Mother:
Now do not be alarmed for while
l am wounded Gas the letter head will
indicated it doesn't amount to any
thing and will not keep me away from
the Germans very long. In my last
letter told you We were going into
the trenches, but could not tell you
where. You will probably know now
from the papers, that it was Ypres
where the Germans have made such
desperate attempts to break through
the allies line, 1 am proud to say
that they have failed in this attempt
and it was the Canadian Division who
stopped them, although the cost was
heavy.
I'VE put up a grand fight against
superior numbers and in spite of the
fact that they used asphyxiating de-
vices on our men, contrary to all
rules of civilized warfare. This
know to be true because 1 saw it and
its effect on a company of our men
who We're holding the. trenches to our
right. Those VINO were not overcome
by it (and they were few were COM
PEELED to retire for two miles which
laid bare our flank on that side.
THE other flank held by the
French was driven back in the same
way and my trench was exposed to
fire from three sides, but we hung on
until of $50 men We had II left, when
the Germans rushed US from the three
sides.
THE captain had given me three
n Sl- nd To o1z ,IDo
so feet to try and get a cross fire on
the enemy, but we were hopelessly
out numbered at that point. Two of
my men were killed beside me and one
severely wounded and 1 was hit in the
thigh and head myself, when the Ger
mans rushed the trench.
Our captain and the pitifully few
men left surrended but 1 thought 1
would prefer to try to escape them
rather than to be taken prisoner by
beasts, who are known to bayonet our
wounded, and so I dragged myself to
the hell of shell fire and rifle bullet is
more than I will ever be able to un-
derstand.
mo one shall ever tell me that I
am not lucky. While crawling on my
hands and knees l was knocked fiat
by exploding shells and my coat was
torn to ribbons. But the marvel of
it is that | am alive. After this can
go through anything.
I'VE have won great praise over
here for the way we held them until
the reserves came up, but there are
not many left of our regiment.
+ Don't you forget, however, that we
gave them as good as we got. We
moved them down like corn, but still
they came on. Where they get all
| the men I can't understand. Our
| losses are heavy, but theirs must be
double ours. They were piled up in
front of us like cordwood, one on top
of the other and still they would come
There seemed to be no limit to their
numbers.
IT was hit on Friday in the morning
| and was unable to have my wound
dressed until the next day, excepting
| for field bandage, which had in my
pocket and put on myself.
But the next day was taken to the
| hospital just back of the firing line
| and while was waiting my turn they
started to shell the hospital with long
range guns. OF course we had to be
| moved out in a hurry and my heart
went out to some of the men whose
| wounds were far worse than mine
| Many died from the effects of being
| moved again. I saw three old ladies
| one of them a nun, killed by one shell
and little children who were playing
| in the road few minutes before were
| blown to eternity.
Now, mother, don't yoC worry
about me, for ! am 0. K. The M. D
says ! will be- In Tho game again