I read a good amount of history books. If the book deals with a certain country and places, I really appreciate it when the author includes a map. I wouldn't doubt it that some of you reading these posts would like to know where my Uncle Charlie is in Northern Ireland. Since we know the name of his infantry, let's see what we can find out about his possible location before we read his next letter.
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Third paragraph tells where the 2nd Infantry Division is located.
Information from http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/features/heritage/training-troops
We see they are in the Armagh/Newry area of Northern Ireland. Here are maps and dates to show where Uncle Charlie was located and when.
In the northeast area of Northern Ireland we can see both Armagh and Newry. Their headquarters were in Armagh. They are 17.50 miles or 28.17 km apart.
The dates when the 2nd Infantry Division was in this area is shown below.
Information from http://www.history.army.mil/reference/ireland/nistat.htm
Now we can read what Uncle Charlie wrote to my Grammie and Grandpa on 9 Nov. 1943.
If I make a word RED it means I will make a comment about it AFTER the letter.
November 9, 1943
Dear Mom and Dad,
After writing you Sunday, I sure got a lot of mail. It came in late but I had four letters from home. I got two this afternoon. The six were dated from the fourteenth to the twenty first of October, nearly a letter every day. It sure seemed good as it was a long time coming. (So we are talking about two and a half weeks before he received these letters.) I got two cards one from Flavilla and Ralph and one from Helen and Ralph Merrill...…..
(Hold everything Mom I just heard them say "Mail Call." It about nine o'clock but I guess it's some late mail. Maybe a letter from home.)
One of the other fellas said he would get mine so I'll keep on writing. I'm going to take your six letters according to date and run through them to see if I can answer a few questions.
Glad you got the cross and chain but will say I had few to pick from. Most of them were cut up not plain as you like. You didn't think for one minute I'd forget you asked for it?...…......
I got that address for that boy and will see if I can find him. I will write you if I find him then you can tell Mr. Wilcox. He is from Bangor.
As for giving the number of my picture, I don't care but may as well as tell you now I don't believe it will ever be a match. I think you can partly guess why.........
I'm glad to hear you are well and doing so much but don't overdue just for the sake of keeping things off your mind or you may find yourself sick. I bet you'll have those two calves just like old Jully. I can see her now, stuck out her neck every time you went into the barn.
I like to hear about the weather at home and wish I could tell you how the days were here but that is out of the question. I will say it is damp and a cold rain most of the time. The nights are long.
Gee that is swell Daigel buying all of Johnson's land but I'm afraid he'd better use his help a little different. Good men like Joe are hard to find.....
I don't know who told you but they don't look in all the Christmas boxes and they don't read incoming mail. From now on put your return address on all envelopes and tell the rest to do the same.
You wrote about not sleeping one night after two thirty. Remember you said Eugene left the door not shut or it might have been something else well I know all about it. I might even guess or know what was going on. I bet it made you little afraid.
If Waneta can't send a Christmas box I'll know she meant well. It didn't give you much time but I think she'll find it alright to send it later.
I heard about the bear story, now the fox tale what will be next Ha ha. I remember the first year when Jeff shot the Silver Fox by the line...….
Gee what a mistake in your store bill; guess I would pay someone to get on the ball at the store. You know I never could understand why feeding three persons cost you so much even if things are high. I know you try to save.
What a joke about Harlie.
So Marilyn is getting married. I felt something must be in the wind because she hasn't written me a letter for sometime Ha ha.
Tell Eugene to write when he can he can. I would like to hear from him. Tell him to make it long.
Mother there is about five hours difference in time from here. When it is noon at home it will be five o'clock in the afternoon here. Just add five hours to your time. Right now I hope hope you are enjoying supper. Also please let me know when you first find out when I answer.
Well Mom I would like to write more but the fire is out and it seems a little cool so will turn in. Tell Dad to keep his chin up, you do the same. Tell brother I sure miss him. Give my love to all. With Love from your Son Overseas Charles.
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Flavilla and Ralph-Flavilla was Uncle Charlie's sister. Ralph was her husband.
Daigel-a local potato farmer. His home and land could be seen from my grandparents' house.
Joe-the husband of Uncle Charlie's sister Helen.
Eugene-Uncle Charlie's brother not yet married.
Waneta-Uncle Charlie's oldest sister and she was my mother. She lived till 2015 age 98.
Please feel free to share your thoughts about the post.
1. What struck you as the most interesting?
2. Why were letters so important?
3. Why couldn't Uncle Charlie share more specifically about the weather?
4. What did he mean that his picture and the number would likely not match.
I trust you have read the previous six posts. This is post #7.
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I have read them once but I will read them again.
ReplyDeleteWe are surely related. I have done a lot of research on the Lagacés.
ReplyDelete