The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-12-27
Letter From Bill Dickinson.
st. Jean des Monts, Nov "a, 10

hetIcT Lay here cues. Will ctoi Ia
from the time / left Camp Merritt.
We left there about ii 80 at night and
| walked about six miles to the Hudson.
We went down to what is called the
Palisades and no doubt is wonderful
scenery, but the condition We were IN
and being dark we failed to appreciate
the beauty We got on ferry about
four O'Clock and started up the river
to New York We got there about 8
o'clock and unloaded at the docks.
There we were given rolls, coffee and
cigarettes by the Red Cross and l can
just taste them now. We got on our
boat, the Derbyshire, land by the name
you know what kind of a boat it was)
little before noon. The day was nice
and warm and some of Us laid out on
the deck all afternoon. That waa Aug.
81. We left the docks about three
o'clock and pulled for the harbor where
we laid all night until two o'clock Sum
day p. m. waiting for all of our convoy.
Seventeen boats started out but some
only went out as far as the danger zone
and turned back. We also had some
airplanes, Zeppelins and observation
balloons with us for some time.
There were sixteen of us at a table
and each took his turn at K. P. unless
he was too sick. We had canvas ham,
mocks to hang up at night and used
our overcoats to cover up with. slept
in the hold only three nights on the
whole trip. The first four or five days
were fine and then we had some fun.
The weather got cooler and cloudy and
the ocean started it's rough stuff but
the Lord was on my side and didn't get
sick. We had sent some of the boats
back and all there was left was our
lucky thirteen that weathered the
storm. Owing to the submarines we
had to take zig gag route. We sure
went all directions under the sun and
believe me it commenced to get rather
monotonous after eight or ten days.
We sighted floating mines and subma-
rines, but we got away from them for
which we are very thankful. Well, we
were supposed to land at Liverpool, but
owing to a nest of submarines and
trouble at the docks, we changed our
course and started for Glasgow.
The twelfth day we saw land, which
when we got closer proved to be Ireland
and what we saw of it was some seem
cry. We saw some famous rocks call
ed Elsacraig, something historical, but
dJnt remember what for. We fioated
down the Clyde river and stayed in the
harbor ali night. The next morning
they woke us up about three O'Clock
and we were at the navy yards at
Glasgow. We had breakfast and at
about five we reached the docks. While
there we had music by some Scottish
Highlanders. About nine we unlOaded
and marched over to our train to carry
us on our journey. 1t surely did seem
good to get our feet on ground again.
We had very interesting trip through
Scotland and down to Winchester,
England, where we got about two a. m.
We were only there few days, but
while there had the pleasure of going
through the Winchester cathedral and
that was wonderful. 1t was built by
the Catholics and taken over by the
Church of England at the time of the
Reformation. We left there Sept. II,
took train to South Hampton, where
we got boat bound for LIE Havre,
France. Got there some time during
the night and got off the boat about 8
a. m. We hung around an hour or so
and then startrd for hike to camp,
which was about three miles from the
docks, and believe me was some tired
when | got there and could hardly walk.
My arches went down on me and sure
did hurt some but are much better
now. At the camp, which was sort
of a rest camp, there were soldiers
from ali of the waring nations and it
was some sight Twelve of us slept in
one tent and sure was great dope. We
left there Sept. 10Th at six p. m. | was
on the ration detail so was lucky to get
ride down town to the store house on
a truck for which was very thankful.
We were loaded on cars and were sent
out about two O'Clock. We, | mean
Frank / buckled in and went to sleep in
about two minutes For eats we had
bread, jam, corn and canned tomatoes.
We travelled all day and sure did see
some great country near Paris, but
was not lucky enough to see it.. We
got to Mehun about 1920 that night
where we stayed in great big ware
house. This place is great repair
camp. | mean repair shops of all kinds,
fire arms and that dope. Willard
Wileman Zone of Henry Wileman's
boys) was in charge OF one shop. He
is 1st lieutenant. We did fatigue
work of all kind while here.
We left Mehun about noon on Oct. 3
for st. Jean des Mouts, where I have
been ever since and hope to stay here
until they get ready to send me home.
We got to Tours about Ii 80 that night
where we had coffee and some other
dope and went to bed in some big
French building and slept on the floor.
We got up at 4:30 and had breakfast,
them marched to the depot about two
miles away. Travelled all day and
landed about $50. The station was
some distance from the depot so we
marched up there to see the town and
got back to the car and rolled in. Our
car was common every day box car.
We just got to sleep when we heard all
out and of course had to pile out. We
got our packs on and loaded on trucks
and set out for here 1t sure was cold
and we had q thirty-five mile ride
and were all about froze We got here
about three, went to bed and got up at
6. One of the fellows broke out with
the measles so the rest of our bunch
was quarantined. During this time ali
we did was fatigue work and believe