The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-07

Hero Writes Back
70 ~Godmothee~ kaara.

came one OF the first letters to Mis-.
scula sponsors who have adopted SOL
diers "over there" from Sheriff. c.
Crockett. field expert with one OF the
engineering forces.
Crockett Is already a veteran OF
three years Of the world war and the
first American to be repatriated after
| congress passed a law early In Oc-
tober, allowing United States citizens
to regain their citizenship after serv.
ing with the armies Of the other allies.
| Your ever SO interesting letter OF
| November from way out in Montana
has just been handed to me-" writes
Crockett in letter to his god mother,
dated December IL. "and you can
imagine my pleasure and surprise
upon reading it, for I had completely
forgotten all about my visit to the Red
Cross in Washington, d. c., so en-
crossed have been in what is hap
pening Immediately around me-
Speaking of golf, which Crockett
modestly says he 'tries' to play, he
writes. I'm far away Alabama where I
live we are supposed to have the best
links in the south, but none Of the
courses in the States can compare with
| the ones we have in England and Scot.
land.
Thanks for the sweater. and will
be delighted to have it and the color
you have knitted will be the one that
| I like best. Yes, do detest French
tobacco and with as much zest as any,
one you know" is his answer to the
query from his god mother.
Enlisted in British
Army in 1914.
To quote from the Washington
Times for October II, 1917. In which
an interview with Crockett appeared,
when the war broke out in Europe,
Crockett went abroad to fight for the
allies. After Germany's ruthless in
vasion of Belgium the youth left his
home in Montgomery, Ala, for New
Orleans. There he took q mule ship
for England.
He landed in Liverpool three weeks
later, and proceeded at once to London.
where he Immediately enlisted as q
cavalryman in Queen Alexandrla's
Itussars.
Before being accepted as a volun-
teer in the English. army he was COM
PEELED to swear allegiance to the king
of England. thereby FORGETTING his
American citizenship rights.
after undergoing several months
intensive training at mobilization
camp near Bristol he was transferred
to the infantry Of the Gloucestershire
regiment when he volunteered for
overseas service in the Dardanelles
campaign.
while being transported across the
Mediterranean sea, transport of the
same contingent, the King Edward
VII, was torpedoed by a German sub
marine without warning and 1900
English soldiers were drowned when
the craft went down. The transport
on which Crockett and his comrades
had embarked narrowly escaped de-
struction from the same source
Saw Bitter Service
in Dardanelies.
J 1.-THE hottest period Of the Darda-
nelles campaign was during the
months of July, August and Septem-
her. 1916. according to Crockett. who
during these months, stripped to the
waist. and with only thin linen under
clothing protecting him from the
fusilade of bullets, saw hundreds OF
his comrades moved down by the
made in Germany machine guns.
which spitted death from the impreg-
nable Turkish fortresses. which were
stormed time after time by lines OF
, Englishmen without success.
FINALLY. on September rs. at mid
; day. when the sun was hottest. and
the fighting as fierce. Crockett, with
the surviving members Of his original
company joined in concentrated at
: tack with other depleted units OF the
: Gloucestershire regiment in final ef-
, fort to surmount the barricades OF She
7 heather Turk.
Late that night. long after s''n-
{ down, Crockett was picked up on the
battlefield, within the shadows OF the
I Turkish, citadels, riddled with shrap-
I mel.
For two months he gazed into the
! blue skies of tropical southern Europe
1 from his cot on the veranda Of the
military hospital located on the beau
g tiful island of Malta.
I "Convalescent, he returned to Lon
don, received an honorable discharge
n for valorous service. and an offer Of a
commission should he re-enlist. But
n desiring to visit his father. Stephen
;. Crockett, he returned to America, De-
4 cember 1916.