Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-07-17
THINKS OF PARENTS AND home
WOMEN GOOD FARMERS IN ENGLAN


WOMEN GOOD FARMERS IN ENGLAND
IBy Bert Christensen, Headquarters Company,
5sth Reg. Somewhere in England, June 1871
DEAR FOLKS Just got here about an hour
two ago. and am taking the first opportun-
Ny TO write to you as j presume you are rather
anxious TO hear if we got across safely.
wrote a card before left the u. $. which was
TO be sent soon word was received that
We had arrived IN safety. We get into port
yesterday afternoon and were certainly glad to
land again, seeing nothing but water
day after day was getting to be rather monot-
onOus. We had a pleasant voyage, nice wealth
almost every day. no stOrms-snd. certain
~ enjoyed IL. We wore our life belts eontin-
uOusly from almost the first day cut until we
got into port, and came pretty close TO giving
them trying out too. Would like TO tell you
about it. but guess it would be against the rules
of the censorship 10 do so. Anyhow, there
sure was excitement for little while
We came within sight of land about 10 o.
clock yesterday, and l stood and watched it
all day. 1t gave me rather honesick feeling
il looked a great deal like old Wisconsin
rather relliug and a lot of trees. 1t sure makes
fellow think Of home pretty often when he
gets this far away from, it, although ! miss
father and mother more than anything else.
II seems rather strange to TANK that 1t As only
q little better than three months since LETT
home, and that L am now over three thousand
miles from it-sure have been going some. "a
/ wish you could see this country; it certain
iy is pretty; everything looks SO neat. and so
many trees have p planted sO nicely, we casle
on train from port TO this PLACE so have seen
quite . bit of the ceuntryr,fA All along the line
! could see tie women working in the fields,
up 10 half dozen in one field, and generally
an old fellow or two with them. Suppose all
the young fellows are at the front, but from
the locks Ofthe crops saw, guess women
folks make pretty good farmers They are in
almost every branch Of occupation here-sireet
car conductors, motor truck and taxa drivers.
q in fact most everything we men folks used
TO have all by our lonesome.
! hear the boys saying that they can see
buildings here. which have been hit by the
Germans in their air raids The house in
which / am is said TO have belonged 10 Ger
man citizen and was eOnhscated at the be-
ginning of the war. Well, am getting pretty
close to where the lead is flying new, and can't
say that feel more quams about il than
did when left home. Have talked with sew
eTal fellows who are just back from the trench
es. and il surely must be exciting. Wen,
have experienced some of il already as We were
attacked by German submarines on the way
over. ! was life boat guard al the time
on the upper deck and had good view Of it
all. One stuck her nose up just little ways
from the flag ship (the one / ON and had
it not been for the quick work OF our fes-
troyers We would have had a chance TO take
q swim in the Atlantic. We know for GER
tain that we sank two subs, and think we got
another. They got of our ships. See
by the papers here that nine small ships were
sunk New York. That's getting rather
close to home.
] always wanted to see the world. and sure
am seeing a part of IL Have seen a
good bit of the SOUTH a bit of the eastern
states and some of Canada and Nova Scotia
since l left home. Have walked among the
ruins Of the buildingss destroyed by the explor
sion which took place at Halifax. hut believe
me that old Wisconsin is good enough for me.
l suppose will be getting letters from home
pretty soon. Haven't had one for about a
month so you can imagine i am anxious TO
get them. / will write home to you as often
as possible, but if you should not get one for
quite while, don't worry, as you know it's a
LONG ways and besides the mail is liable to be
sunk before il reaches there. i Am eBelOs-
ing a letter written and signed by King George
5th, and want you to keep it as il viii make
a nice Gouvenir. Well / guess ! will have to
close for this time. and don't worry about me
as am in good health and behaving and TAX
ing good care of myself. so love TO you all
and God bless you.