Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-09-24


ceived from Sergeant Herbert E.
Blakney of Fairfield:
En- Repos, Aug. 6, 1918.
Hello Ma:
Will drop you few lines.now. dear,
to let you know that l am alive. You
have doubtless noticed that l haven
written for a space of two weeks and
| am sorry, but we have had some
pretty tough times in that space and
have been too much occupied to write
an intelligent letter. We have fig
ured in a very important victory and
furthermore our old outfit, the old End
Maine was the one which started il
off and made an advance of Is to ~
kilometers in two or three days.
had an opportunity as all musicians
did to see the good old boys of our
state and also others make Mr.. Boche
pl,t up his hands and cry "Kamerad.' >
| am not at all sorry that | saw t-lat
cient spectacle. We did our bit also
by truly going over the top and car
ing for the wounded as best we could.
Never you fear, they have an i'm
preston of our boys that will never
leave them. We lost no men but
have three in the hospital who don't
expect to be back with us. although
they will be well again. l can't give
you a description of the affair, dear,
and you don't care about it anyway.
If l say l have seen real war and
have taken my chances among the
infantry and that I owe my life to
One who guides the lives of us all and
who sees all that will suffice. won't
it?
This finds us in a quiet little VI
lage beside the river Marine and we
are resting a bit and getting baths
and new clothing preparatory, | be-
lieve to returning to our former sec
tor. Am also hoping and there is a
possibility that go back to the
little French village" 1 hear often
from there and the people are aching
to have US return home" We are
all happy at present and the future is
bright.
Hack has been to the hospital
and is to be made lieutenant. Also
he heard that bands are to be re-
cruited 20 so men and are never to
carry stretchers again. Our General
says he intends to have better hands
on our return than when we left an
that is sure encouraging.
The people here are nice to US as
always and every U. S. Soldier is !.
Joan of Arc" Can you beat it? l
spend a good deal of time with fam
lily and do as l wou l owned t ;
place. There are a grandma and sd
and their daughter and they are very
nice people. They cook eggs, steak
and salads and talk about F'ranch
fried potatoes. | have had a spell of
collie as had about everyone else a
was in the hospital two days, bat
came back and these people watch
and care for me as you, dear-alrlost.
Ha, Ha, you didn't catch me? Don't
you worry. Can you wonder that I
am so pleased at a chance to resume
music again. Just think, we haven
played more than two weeks a.to-
gether in six months.
got some mail lately, letters ON
you and V and also one from my
old friend Pitman; one from Ike Or
cult who is over her and says he / |
been near me few times but couldn' /.
seem to hit me; letter from Sis I; q
one from Margaret Totman. ! can't
he 49,
here goes for a few: do get the Sell
tinel and have received two packages
from Harold and thanks. dear. l will
send you one of my photos tout
suite" Got your four Ieaved clover
and it sure looked good. Don't mind
if anybody around home gets more
letters than you for some of those
boys stay back and don't see what we
have been through l am glad Rave
seen it though and | wouldn't take a
good deal for my experience. Wait
till I get home and I'll tell You all
about it. 1t looks now as if Mr..
Boche was getting a little of his own
medicine. What do you say?
| was glad to hear Sis is getting
along so well and also Bub. Hope he
isn't taken from you.
John Barnes, Hack and | are sleep
ing in boat house near the river md
are sleeping in n boat with another
boat turned up over US. Talk about
Diogenes, he had nothing on us. John
is fine and so is Hack: George Dole
the same. George Thompson and Ar
tie Lambert are sitting beside me,
anything but sick. Bill Cobb and all
the boys are well and happy.
Well. dear, YOU shall have your
photo next time and can have me
back in that room which you guard so
carefully before long. Be cheerful
and don't worry about me for l will
be all right. I will write more often
in the future. Will try writing less
and more often. All the love in the
world to YOU all.
Your son HERBEPr