Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-01-02
Letter from James McIntosh
Thellot, France.
Nov. 26, 1918

xuSuOI, rance
Nov. Is, 1913
Dear Mother:
We are at Thellot, France, il you
know where that is. It isn't 80 very
far from the city Of Verdun. never
thought when I used to read about
that city, and about the Kaiser watch
ing his men die on Mt. La Homme,
that l would go over the top from
that hill. That name in English means
Dead Man." About 100000 Boche
and 100000 French gave their all for
their countries. The hill is covered
with bones and ruined equipment.
We made the first advance there that
had been made on that front. This
was the morning Of Sept. 26.
We left New York. May 22, on the
Leviathan, formerly the "vateriand, =
and landed in France at Brest, May
80. From there we went to the British
sector facing Albert. Spent sometime
there in the trenches. While there q
part Of the company went over with
the Australians. at Hamil, July 4th.
We also got our first taste Of air
raids, but the British air service Is
80 efficient that they never were able
to do US great deal Of damage.
Albert was the worst shot town I ever
saw. Lots Of dead still lying there
from the big German drive Of last
spring.
From Albert we went and took the
village and hill Of Chippili. I was
there and saw the first U. IS. soldiers
give their lives for their country and
liberty. We were there some time
and had the Australians on our right
and the British on our left. I want to
say here that the British are good
fighters, the Australians still better
and believe the Yanks are the best
of all. No country, though, can beat
the British artillery We have been
backed by all and I believe their sup
port was the best, by far, Of any.
We were also at Bray. In fact was
holding outpost. when the order
came sending us to the American Sec
tor. I was glad to come, but have often
wished ] was back with the Tommies.
While with them we could buy all the
candy and cookies ETC., we could eat,
something we have hardly seen down
here. They sure had wonderful can
teen system.
We took the train at Amiens, came
by the way Of gay old Paris, but
didn't see much Of it as it was dark.
We also came throguh the Cbateau
Thierry sector. # you ever get an
east wind at home, you will know it
is Marine blowing about what they
did at Chateau Thiefry.
Well we landed at Dead Mans hill
and have been going ever since. The
company, / believe, was in the line
on that sector 45 days. can't say 9or
sure, - I was in the hospital 22 days
Of that time. We then came to this
place and again started a r,,mpus the.
afternoon Of Nov. 10. This was the
worst place, twice over. I was ever
in we went over an open field in broad
daylight against a woods lousy with
machine guns, with no barrage what
ever and just four of US from our
company are the only ones who got
clear over, so far as know. We four
took 9 big concrete pit with ten men
and . couple Of machine guns and we
never got scratch. had piece Of
shrapnel 60 through my belt, got my
bayonet shot off my rifle, but they
couldn't get crazy rube like me.
We made it back safe from that woods
under the heaviest shell fire Jerry was
able to put over, he didn't waste any
little stuff on us either, all big boys
that made hole ten feet deep, when,
they hit. The next morning It, the
11th ct 10-59-50, be called the war II
bad job and has stuck to It 90 far.
Yes, ! got ell the pictures, includ.
ing the calves, mules, etc, fine too,
I'm telling you. Wish was baek
there where they were taken. Sorry
to hear Have Faith has been 10 bad
but glad to know he is able to pull
through. Tell Tyler johnson not te
worry, III Be home to run his tractor
next spring cr summer, 40 that will
be about al III have to do the first