The Earl Campbell Story - Life In The Army

Jan 4, 1917 is the first letter written by Earl that was sent from "Somewhere in France." He writes to his sister Mereleda "Last night I received your 22 page letter. I was sure glad to get it, no my eyes never got sore reading it. I had 9 letters last night what do you think of that. They were all brought in to me together. We were being payed at 8 o'clock last night and the letters came in just a little before 8. I felt like letting the pay go and reaing my letters. But I thought the 15 Francs looked as good as the letters so I went and lined up for it." " I am keeping quite well France is a very healthy country lots of fresh air. This winter has been the coldest for 16 years they say, put me in mind of the few days up north with Colin. Well this is Sunday and I have the day off. 8 men out of each platoon that did not play up sick during the week gets off duty to day. So I am one of them." The bottom portion of page 1 and the top of page 2 has been erased maybe from the censors.

On page 2 Earl continues to tell Merelda …"They say Canadian soldier Dey all goot, Dey goot soldier they make us tro up our hands in de bayonet charge. The Saxons don't like to fight. The bombardment last night was the worst I heard yet. It was something awful the noise. These here 15 inch guns can certainly bark some. Our hut was on the tremble all the time. And we are six miles from the Howizers. There is one big fellow about 2 mile down the track from us She would speak about every 5 minutes. We would stick our heads out of our blankets and say ‘there goes Old Lizzie again' she jarred 4 candles of the window."


Jan 14, 1917, Somewhere in France "Dear Mother, You all will be surprise to hear that we landed somewhere in France. It is a pretty place far ahead of England. But the mud. We left Blithy the day of your birthday the (censored) of Jan. (the actual date in January was crossed out by the censors) The trip was great across the Channel a rough sea thou again. I sit down to write this the 18^th. We had to move farther up the line on the 14^th. So I had not time to finish the letter. There is about 3 inches of snow now all fell in one night. But before it came we could see women and men working in the fields as we pass through on the train."

In England the mail arrived twice a week, Earl remarks that since they moved into France they have not received any mail (p.3) "Did Henry and Merle come down this winter? I have not heard from them for a long time. None of us have received no mail since we came here. But expect it to come in any day now. The mules are still alive yet. A few of them were sea sick comeing over." "Well Mother I will have to close now I cannot tell you all I would like to. Lieut Jenkins is our Company Censurer. " Now be sure and write often and tell them all to write letters from home will be as good as gold here." Earl includes a p.s. "excuse this awful writing I am writing on my knees." And signs off

"Sap. Earl Campbell,
No. 779051,
B.Coy, 127,
2nd Rly Battalion, B.E.F., France."

Field Service Post Card sent from Earl, Jan 21, 1917

Jan 21, 1917 Earl sent his sister Pauline a Field Service Post Card. Field Service Post Cards were issued to members of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.). Field postcards were a form of censorship since soldiers were not allowed to divulge information in letters or postcards about their whereabouts when fighting on the front line in World War 1. Key phrases were pre-printed and the soldier could quickly indicate by deleting phrases that did apply, date and sign their names. Since there was no danger of strategic information being disclosed, inadvertently, this kept the Censors happy. Mar 26, 1917, Somewhere in France. Earl mentions to sister Merelda that they have finally received some mail. There were no letters between January 21st to this one received on March 26th. As Earl explains he was in the hospital between February 18th and March 21st. "Well Merelda, I got some mail at last. Last night the mail came for us. I the lucky guy got twelve. Only yours, Pauline & Flossie's were dated Feb. 13th. I received Merle's ok it was dated Feb. 28th. You can't imagine how happy I was to get them." " Tell Mother the $2 she put in Merle's letter was not to be found. Maybe she forgotten to put it in. I had two letters from May also a bunch of papers, a plug of Shamrock was rolled up in with it." " I had sometime in Hospital with Clarence and F. Lucas. We came out the 21st of March went in the 18th of February. Lieut Jenkins said we were as fat as a bunch of pigs ready for market. We join our Coy again and the next day my Birthday. We all packed up and marched 9 miles to another place. I been on many a march but none like this one. I'll not forget my birthday in France."

"We are at a place where the Jerry's had been in 14 days ago. They sure like to ruin things. They tore up the railroads and hid the steel rails. They … up big steel bridges so we would have to work hard at getting through. We are now at the wide gauge track. We made a good name at building the narrow track. So we were put on the wide gauge. A number of French soldiers are guilding one beside us. Yesterday while I was sitting on the bank watching the rest work I took my steel looking glass and shone it in one of the Frenchies face. He yelled & jumped around. He thought the Germans had him for sure."

Mar 29, 1917, p.1 letter to Pauline from Somewhere in France "No Pauline I do not see any bullets flying over my head. They come so slow it is hard to see them. I hear lots of wiz bangs but I watch out and not get in the road of them. I didn't believe I could stop one."



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