Monday, January 14, 2008

Elmer Pence Writes from Old Country (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, July 11, 1917

Is in a Canadian Regiment and is out on a pass - Is Seeing Many Sights - Visits London and Scotland.

Mrs. J. W. Pence, who is visiting her son, W. L. Pence, of this city received the following letter from her son, Saturday morning. Mr. Pence was formerly employed in Detroit and went to Canada where he enlisted in the English army. He has been across the ocean for several months and has earned a few days' pass. The letter follows:

Dear Mother:

As I have not received any answer to any of my letters I will try again. I am on my 8 day pass now, I stopped two days in London, one day in Edinburg, Scotland, and arrived here in Aberdeen this morning (June 18). It has been a great trip and I will hate to go back the 21st. We eat at the railroad restaurant and sleep in the Y. M. C. A. Everything is absolutely free to returned soldiers. This town has lost nearly all her available men. One battalion --- (censored) --- as the men are all gone up. Boys from the front have it all our own way, free meat, free beds, free cigarettes and plenty of girls. Guess I will get married. If we didn't want to talk to the girls we have to dodge around the corners or go down the alley. All the buildings and fences in England and Scotland are built out of brick or stone - mostly stone. It is certainly a lot different than in the states, and there are not many left in France. Am sending some more flags as curios. The boys are waiting to go down town so I will close for this time. Please write soon.

Your son,
E. E. Pence
12 Draft, C. A. S. C.,
London, England.

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