Uploads from RV Bob, tagged worldwar1

Wrigley's Ad, 1918 Great Lakes Recruit Magazine

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:44 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This is the back cover advertisement from the "Great Lakes Recruit" magazine published in 1918, during the First World War.

Great Lakes Naval Training Station was located near Chicago, so an ad from Wrigley's would be a natural.

This magazine was produced at the Naval Training Station, and had slick covers and pages with many interesting articles and advertisements from that era.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Cooks and KP Men from 137th Spruce Squadron, First World War

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:11:49 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This is a scan of a photo from the "Memory Book of the 137th Spruce Squadron" (Monarch Mills, North Portland, Oregon), a souvenir book published for this group at the end of War. These are the cooks and KP crew.

The men are named in the photo caption:

Edward B. Swanson, James J. Egan, Abraham Ratner, Albion. K. P. Hall, Oscar F. Mahler, Elmer Little, Thomas V. Craddy, Carl Klubscheidt, Humphrey Smith, Frank J. Downey, O. C. Thompson, Charles Derrick, Angelo Deni, Robert H. Gallup, Sgt. Joseph R. La Londe, Lora F. Smart, William M. Cook, Robert F. Weise.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

WW I Safe Return Card by Norman Rockwell

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:28:28 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This picture postcard was given out to returning troops by the Knights of Columbus after the end of the First World War.

The cartooning was done by Norman Rockwell (see signature).

The soldier who mailed this card wrote on the front with his humorous take on the French language.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

WWI Letter Sent to a Forwarding Agent in Great Britain, Then Onto France

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:31:58 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This letter was sent to a Doctor who was serving with the British in 1916 during the First World War. It was mailed from the United States, to a forwarding agent, who then moved it on to the recipient on the Western Front.

The forwarding agent was Shipley of London. The letter was forwarded to the 22nd General Hospital with the British forces.

From the cancel dates, it appears that the letter went from South Hamilton, Massachusetts, to London in about 10 days.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Letter from AEF Soldier, Forwarded with Added Special Delivery, 1918

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:24:40 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

An item of First World War postal history. This letter was sent from France by an American officer. When it arrived at the given address, it needed to be forwarded. Someone added a Special Delivery stamp, and a new address, and it was quickly delivered to the recipient.

Notice, that since this letter was mailed by an officer, they censored their own messages. This Lieutenant was in the 307th Infantry. The officer's name appears to be Chamberlin, possible first name Ward.

The letter was forwarded on September 27, 1918 from White Plains, New York. It was received the same day at Bridgeport, Connecticut. Now, that is fast service!

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Troops at Camp Dix, WWI

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:19:52 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

Real-photo picture postcard of troops training at Camp Dix, New Jersey. They are taking part in some pretty intense physical drill here.

Writing on the photo indicates that these fellows were part of the 312th Infantry.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

WWI German Soldier in Belgian Hospital

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:30:02 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

The previous owner of this real-photo postcard was kind enough to translate the writing on the back. His notes are below the photo.

December 1915, Belgian hospital. The postcard has no postal markings on the back, except for the address and writing translated here.

"picture taken in the garden of the war hospital
Tournai in Belgium, Dec. 1915"

"To my dear comrade Menger dedicated
to friendly rememberance. Kanonien
(artillery) Nicolaus Mueller, Foot (Fast?) Artillery
Battery 484"

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Drum Major for Parade of the 90th Division Homecoming, Dallas, Texas, 1919

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:24:39 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This is a detail of the real-photo picture postcard of a band of the 90 Division marching in a parade on Main St., Dallas, Texas, in 1919.

See the extensive discussion associated with the full photo, to learn more about the parade, its route, and this man.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Camp Sherman, Ohio, 1917 Thanksgiving Menu

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 11:30:27 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This is a scan of a letter I have from Camp Sherman, Ohio. The letter was written on stationery with the menu for the Thanksgiving dinner. Note the "funny" military names given for the food courses.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Leavenworth, Kansas, Community House, Letterhead, WW I

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 13:28:34 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Various local charities provided facilities for servicemen to use during the First World War. Some printed their own writing paper.

This letterhead is from the "Community House" at Leavenworth, Kansas. Fort Leavenworth was very active during the First World War.

The flag logo in the letterhead is quite familiar, and I have seen it used on other stationery items. Note that one of the "allied" flags is from Cuba.

Scanned and processed using GIMP.

Troops and Band at Fort Slocum, New York, During the First World War

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:26:12 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Real-photo postcard of troops, a military band, and buildings at Fort Slocum, New York. This was a major recruit depot during the First World War.

Based on the message on the back, this appears to have been mailed in June 1917, early in the
operation of the Recruit Depot.

The postcard was mis-sorted on the RPO train, and received a "MISSENT" rubber stamp. The receiving town, Millford, Connecticut, re-cancelled the card with an American flag machine, which
appears to be dated in late June 1917. This cancel overstrikes the originating cancel from Fort Slocum. Note that the earliest listed use of the American flag machine at Fort Slocum was June
21, 1917. That makes this example a very early use of the machine.

The message is as follows:

"Guess you know
more about this
than I. Everything
is great here.
You ought to hear
the way they knock
the Militia. Expect
kitchen duty soon --
only use 200 men there
a day -- One thing
there won't be many
dishes to wash. Bill"

The card is addressed to a Mr. Paul Butler, Guilford, Connecticut.

Based on the message, we can assume that Mr. Butler was a member of the Connecticut Militia (National Guard).

Since the writer indicates the small complement of people to support the mess facility, I have to assume that the Recruit Depot was not full at this point. There do not seem to be any figures from the Army as to the total number of troops located at this facility.

Note message about the Militia being disrespected by the "Regular Army" at this depot.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Recruits at Camp Lewis During the First World War, January 1918

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:15:29 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

This real-photo picture postcard shows recruits at Camp Lewis, Washington during the First World War. The back is dated in January 1918.

Notice that some of the new recruits don't have their uniforms yet. This happened at many camps, as the supply of uniforms lagged the numbers of draftees and recruits arriving. They DO appear to have their mess kits.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Postcard Mailed by a Marine at League Island, Philadelphia, 1918

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:27:02 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

First World War mail from U. S. Marines is quite uncommon. I feel fortunate that I found this item, mailed by a Marine at the League Island Naval Base.

"June 17, 1918: Dear Ermel (?)
Every thing fine. Am
in the big city, Add-
ress me --

Private T (?) S. Reeves
U. S. M. C. Recruit Depot
League Island,
Philadelphia,
Pa."

Addressed to Ermel (?) Echols
McLeansboro, Illinois

Philadelphia main Post office International machine,
dated June 18, 1918.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Postcard Mailed at Portsmouth, Virginia, Navy Yard, c.1919

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:19:41 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

This postcard was sent from Portsmouth, Virginia, on what appears to be Feb 8 (1919?). The message is:

"Hello Feieda will be down
here in Norfolk. Va. for
a few days as our ship
is in dry dock here.
Will be going back to
France again in about
2 weeks. I sure hope
that Fred would come
back on our ship, for
I sure, would like to
see him. Best regards
to all at home.

Your friend

Carl Bonroe"

There is no year slug in the Universal machine for the Navy Yard Station of Portsmouth, Va, which seems to be common with this cancel. When the year is missing, we have to work on a date. The two cents franking of stamps would be appropriate for February of 1918 or 1919. The message indicates that the ship was in dry dock and would be sailing in 2 weeks.

This type of information was of very high security durin Wartime, so I have to guess that the ship is being used to move troops back from France, and that would set the date as Feb. 8, 1919.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

WWI Soldier Portrait

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:44:46 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

This photo was part of some postal items I purchased. I do not know the location of the photo, or the soldier's unit.

The name written on the back is: Lawrence W. Paul, Cook.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Postcard from Camp Pike, Arkansas, 1918

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:30:23 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Back of a picture postcard mailed from Camp Pike, Little Rock, Arkansas. The message is interesting in that the soldier indicates that he is in the "mule stall".

The message reads:

"Dear Friends I am
now a rooky stationed
in Co #5 mule stall
1 corp no 5 Camp Pike Ark.
but expect to be moved
soon as this camp is just
a replacement camp
We get fair eats but
some fellers don't get
enough and are hungry
to get two plates so I cant
kick. It is very hot and
dusty here. best
regards to the other
sewer rats Yours.
FRANK P."

Addressed to Ed Wachter, Davenport, Iowa.

The postcard is cancelled by the Universal machine of the Pike Branch of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Plattsburg Training Camp -- 1915

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:14:50 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Real-photo picture postcard showing the military camp held at Plattsburg, New York before the First World War. You can see the sign "Military Instruction Camp" near the tents.

These training camps were held before the First World War, during the "Preparedness Movement". The attendees were civilian men interested in joining the military, should the U. S. enter the war in Europe. Many of these men were businessmen on their summer vacation, which caused the camps to be called the "Businessmen's Camps".

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Plattsburg Training -- 1916

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:14:50 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Real-photo picture postcard showing trainees at the military camp held at Plattsburg, New York.

These training camps were held before the First World War, during the "Preparedness Movement". The attendees were civilian men interested in joining the military, should the U. S. enter the war in Europe. Many of these men were businessmen on their summer vacation, which caused the camps to be called the "Businessmen's Camps".

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

Soldiers and Horses at Camp Dix 1918

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:03:13 -0800

RV Bob posted a photo:

Interesting real-photo picture postcard of soldiers on horseback.

The caption is hard to read, but seems to indicate "circus" and "remount". Most of the larger Army camps during the War had a Remount Depot, where replacement horses were supplied for the Cavalry.

The message side of the card has the following:

"Hello old Sport have got
settled for a few days i
guess hope so anyway am
sick of moving all the
time. this is where
i am at present.
how is everybody
in Marlbor (?). Well i
hope this will find
you all well. this is my add
47th Co 12th Battalion
153 Depot Brigade
Camp Dix
N.J."

The card is addressed to Mr. N. R. Lord, in East Hampton, Conn.

The card is cancelled by a Universal machine of the Dix Branch of Trenton, New Jersey.

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.

New York National Guard Names, Van Cortlandt Park, New York, WWI

nobody@flickr.com (RV Bob) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:47:35 -0700

RV Bob posted a photo:

This is the back of the real-photo picture postcard of National Guard members at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.

Written message:

Extreme left (standing)

Bob Harris.

Center with "specks"

Max Constable

On his right (rear)

Ed Terrell

On Constable's left

Wm Sisson

Rt center with sleeve
stripes -- Corporal

Fred Hobart (band).

Image scanned and processed with GIMP.