Remembrance Day/Veterans Day

[Lost Skeleton]

As we all know, this Friday is November 11th. My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Upper Canada, where I acquired a poppy benefiting the Royal Canadian Legion. Back home, I received a "Buddy" Poppy for contributing to the VFW Veterans Assistance Program--small gestures for the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed services.

I thought it would be interesting for those of us who had relations in the Great War to share something of their family history. I know Brian, Gus, and Spikeymikey have stories to tell about their grandfathers, and I'm certain countless other members of the forum have a personal connection to the 14/18 conflict.

For my part, it comes from the Canadian side of my family; the Freeborns. My great-great uncle, James S. Freeborn, MD, was a surgeon attached to Medical Staff in the North-West Rebellion (1885). He married in 1888, and both his sons attested in 1915. The elder, who bore three family names, Switzer Gardner Freeborn (1888-1965), was a Captain in the Canadian Field Artillery. The University of Toronto, where he earned his BS, supplied the following data through the Roll of Service, 1914-1918 (RoS 275):

Freeborn, Switzer Gardner; B.S.:- 1915; 9th Hwr. Bty., C.F.A., Lieut. 5th Bde. Amm. Col., C.F.A., Lieut., July 1915; 20th Bty., C.F.A.; France, Jan. 1916, 8th Bty.; 'E' Can. A. A. Bty., Jan. 1917; Capt., Aug. 1917; 1st Bty. Feb. 1918; Hill 63, Ploegsteert, St. Eloi, Ypres (1916), Somme, Vimy, Hill 70, Lens, Amiens, Arras, Cambrai-Valenciennes; Wounded, Somme, Nov. 18, 1916, and Vimy, May 25, 1917; M.C., Somme, Oct. 14, 1916.

Lt. Freeborn received the Military Cross during the Battle of the Somme (London Gazette #29824, 16 November 1916, page 11078), but had the misfortune to be wounded on the very last, futile day of the offensive--a gunshot wound to the chin. The strain of battle is clearly visible in this photograph:

One can presume this postwar portrait was heavily retouched:

As an interesting sidebar, one of Switzer's sons, Frederick Roberts Freeborn (1924-1974) enlisted in the RCAF in 1942 and transferred to the army in 1943, where he trained in artillery like his father. In Korea, he served with 57 Independent Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Corps of Engineers, where he also received the Military Cross (London Gazette, #39518, 18 April 1952, page 2114). Only thirty-three Military Crosses were awarded to Canadians for the Korean conflict.

Lt. Freeborn's namesake and uncle (Switzer's brother), Frederick James Freeborn (1895-?) was a Sapper in the 1st Pioneer Battalion (originally, he was attached to the 10th Canadian Mounted Rifles). Representing the other ranks, his war record is quite sketchy. Nevertheless, his file from the National Archives in Ottawa reveals that he was briefly hospitalized for insomnia and pain in his back and right leg and "fined one day's pay for eating emergency rations without leave." He also caught a bit of grief in France for "contravention of town orders; being in town without a pass." For his service, his assigned pay was $15.00 per month. I have two overseas letters written by Fred to his namesake, my great-grandfather. This is the second page of a letter written not long after the armistice--from Belgium:

A number of the boys have turned their leaves down but I sure did not and expect to get away in a few days too. Anything for a change. The people here are still relying on the Belgian Relief Fund for their grub. Fritz took everything with him in the shape of poultry and rabbits etc so they have not much left. There is a little girl and a boy here 11 & 13 years of age. The boy is just getting over an attack of pleurisy and is very white and sickly looking. The doctor says that he will not last long as his left lung is gone. Nearly all the kids out here have the same look on their faces. I have just been a week in bed that is the reason for the late alteration. I could not become sick enough to make hospital…

Clearly, he was a compassionate young man.

Finally, in addition to the Freeborn siblings, this tablet from the township of Magnetawan (née Maganetawan) Parry Sound District, Ontario lists fourteen surnames with multiple entries: Bird (2) Boettger (2) Bush (3) Haerlen (2) Harrison (2) Hodgson (2) Jenkins (3) McCorkindale (2) McLachlan (2) McKinnon (2) Nicholson (2) White (2) Whitelock (2) Wilder (2). Talk about a band of brothers.

Chas

 

[Gustaf]

A great post as we approach Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day

It had to be difficult for the soldiers to watch the civilian suffering, especially the children. Herbert Hoover is not remembered well in the US, as he was President during difficult times, but he did amazing work with the Committee for Belgian Relief during WWI.

My grandfather (Robert S. Adams) and his brother William W. Adams) served in France, of course, the US arrived long after the Somme, and that can be seen in the face of my grandfather, who was also shot through the chin.

This is a photo of him after being discharged, there is a very big difference in the experience that he went through compare to Lt. Freeborn, and that can be seen in the expressions.

Here is the text of a letter sent home by Will Adams, who was in the 29th division as an Engineer, to his father in Oregon.

France, November 6, 1918

Dear Dad
I received your most welcome letter while at the front, and have hardly had time since we have returned to answer. We were moved from the eastern to the western front, and had plenty of action, but the most important thing was that I got to see Bob, even tho I had to go into the very front line trench to see him. We were in the rear of the infantry, fixing roads, as the Germans were being driven ahead very fast, and the roads were full of shell holes and cut up with heavy transportation.
We were under shell fire day and night from the Germans, and our artillery was firing over our heads. Sleep was next to impossible, but the very night I did go to sleep, Bob’s regiment went thru on its way to the front. They went over the top at daylight, and Bob was in the first wave. As soon as I could, I left the company (without permission) and took some rations and started for Bob’s Division. When I got to the headquarters there was a ration detail there, and they said it was almost impossible to get to where Bob was, but that he was safe. They were trying to get rations in as the men had had nothing to eat for two days, as the shell fire was so intense that they could not get food in or wounded out. I took the chance. Two airplanes flew over us and turned their machine guns on, and bullets were flying every where, but no one was hit. They were shooting from the woods at us also. A short distance farther the Germans started a barrage which lasted three hours, and how any of us escaped is a little more than a miracle, but we were on the edge, and not in the middle of it. There was some gas, and we wore our masks for a while. After the barrage stopped we went again forward, jumping from shell hole to shell hole, as the Germans were shooting star shells and spraying our way with machine gun bullets. When we got up where Bob’s outfit was they only had a shallow trench, about 18 inches deep, and most of the men were in shell holes. Bob was in the very front, and they told me that I could not get there, but I insisted, so one of them went out across No Man’s Land and found the hole where Bob and four others were and told him that his brother was there, but he was dead tired, and did not believe them. They told me where he was, and I went out, and by accident, dropped in where he was. There was never such another meeting between brothers, and if God spares us both, we will never forget it.
We visited about forty minutes, and the Boche gave us a machine gun barrage, kicked up a lot of dust on us, and we expected a counter attack, but they did not come. I was unarmed, as I carried rations and could not carry a gun. One of the cooks from Bob’s company was with us, so I came out with him. We were shelled going out , and got some good strong gas, but took refuge in a dugout which the Germans had built. Bob was feeling fine, and as cool as if he were at home in a rocking chair. Too much credit cannot be given to the American Infantryman, both officers and privates, as they are all the same at the front. Bob has been over three times. I don’t suppose he told you, because it’s not like him to say much. Many were wounded and quite a few killed, but the Germans are whipped, and past their strong places of defense.

There were many German prisoners passing us each day. We were only about 2½ miles in the rear. Bob’s division has been relieved at about the same time as we were and I doubt if we will ever again be taken into action, especially Bob’s outfit as they have certainly done their bit. You will probably hear from him soon.

My grandfather Bob, was shot through the chin a few days before this letter was written, Will did not know that. Both boys made it home, but Will had contracted the mumps in France, and because of that, was unable to have children..

 

[usa1918]

Great stories. I have always loved the correspondence of the soldiers, give a much more personal side to the war than you could ever have from a book. I have the letters from my great Uncle, Andrew Anderson (as well as his uniform, helmet, pictures, gas mask, etc).. He immigrated from Norway with the Anderson branch of the family in 1902, and was drafted in 1917. Ended up in the 308th just in time for Meusse-Argonne. He was separated from his unit during the battle and ended up with Company L of the 307th during the Lost Battalion phase where he was gassed.

Keith

 

[RON]

Touching stories gentlemen, thanks for sharing.
Great post Chas!

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Thanks for sharing that incredible letter, Gus. :bravo: I can only imagine the emotions your great-grandfather experienced as he read it for the first time. The ordeal described therein is hellish. It is also sobering to learn the consequences your great-uncle's mumps.

I feel lucky to have any mementos from the Freeborns; extended family appears to have been more closely knit back then. I do know that my grandmother, who was born in 1910 corresponded with Fred, and the papers in my possession surfaced in my grandparents' estate when they passed over in 2002. This was nothing short of a miracle as my grandmother either threw or gave just about everything away.

Chas

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Chas,
I was lucky that a large part of this letter was printed in the Klamath Falls newspapwe in 1919, I have a clipping, as well as most of the original letter, but about a ¼ of one page is lost, but with the clipping, I am able to have the whole text. I also have cards from my grandfather, he complains about being broke, and his father sends him checks, which when he receives them, he cashes one for $50, and has a good time on furlough. He also writes home to his two brothers, telling his older brother to take care of his horse, or he will be afoot when he gets home. He also tells his younger brother that maybe he will bring home a nice French girl for him. It turned out that Will was the one who ended up with the French girl. He sent for her after he got home and found that not only did the older brother at home sell Bob's horse, but he also stole Will's wife.
When my grandfather was wounded, he worried about going to the aid station, because he did not want to be sent to a replacement depot (his division had been broken up on arrival in France, and he was made a replacement then, and he did not want to go through that again). He also did not like being with all the soldiers with wounds to the left hand. He had said that those who wanted out of the trenches would hold their hand up above the parapet and in no time be wounded and on their way to the rear.
Best
Gus

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Very nice Chas & Gus. In my entire family, one man has served in an Army. Me. My entire family has managed to avoid every war going back to the 1600s. I hang my head in shame. ale:

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Tony,
You are serving, there is no need for you to hang your head in shame.
Best
Gus

 

[Larmo]

Great thread and stories guys, thanks for posting these....

You are serving, there is no need for you to hang your head in shame.

Gus is 100% correct Tony, you are one of the men we honor today, here's to all the men on this forum who have served their countries...Thank You, God Bless You All.

We are going to put the Flag up here as soon as the sun comes up and our MV club will be carrying local Vets in our town's parade today. I always get a little misty-eyed around Veterans Day.

Larry

 

[Gustaf]

Maggie and I did several presentations for one of the local middle schools on the 11th, based on the writings and family history of my grandfather, Pvt Robert S. Adams and his Brother, Pvt William W. Adams.
Many schools do not allow weapons on the campus, but the schools in the two counties where I live are an exception, they do require that all firearms be deactivated by Idaho standards before they are brought onto the campus (Idaho standard deactivation is to remove all cartridges from the chamber and magazine).

One of the best moments was during the question and answers, as student asked if the grenades were real, when I replied "yes" every student (about 170) in the hall at the time, leaned forward and then stood in unison. We knew we had their attention at that time.
The presentation was centered around one letter my great uncle sent to his father telling of meeting his brother in the front line trenches (it was actually in No Man's Land) that is posted above.
Best
gus

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Great stuff, Gus! :bravo:

I really like the way you captured your grandfather's pose from the studio portrait in the first mannequin from the left. It's gratifying to know your audience appreciated the hard and thoughtful work.

Chas

 

[Gustaf]

Thanks Chas,
You are the first person to comment on the pose, even though I did not know my grandfather until 40 years after that photo was taken, that is how I remember him.
Best
gus

 

[RON]

Well done again Gus! Love that picture of your Grandpa; the smile on his face is quite refreshing as most soldiers on pictures from the era look rather serious.
The idea of making the presentation revolve around that letter is a smart way of capturing your audience's attention: You gave a personal/human dimension to something otherwise hard to conceive by young audiences today... Using the grenades is also effective I guess; you could always blow one up to make the tougher crowds listen :wink:

 

[Gustaf]

I think the reason for the smile on his face, is that he knows that he is on his way home. The only thing that I can tell from his writings is that he was worried that prohibition would be in place before he got home, and he was a little unhappy that he had been over there fighting for our rights while one of his rights had been taken away from him.
Many years later, my grandmother was living in California, she was found unconscious in her home by a neighbour, when the paramedics arrives, they asked her what happened. She told them that she had passed out (she was not the kind of woman who would faint). In California, the phrase "passed out" means that you had drunk too much (my grandmother never used alcohol and abhorred it because my grandfather was an alcoholic) The paramedics then asked her how long she had problems with alcohol, and she replied "all my life" referring to her husbands abuse, so the took her to the drunk tank. The moral of the story is, if you are in California, and have a heart attack, no matter how macho you are, it is OK to say that you fainted.
Best
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

In an effort to keep the above post on topic, here is a photo of my Grandmother Pvt Eve Adams, taken in 1945. At that time she was serving in the United States Army Air Corps as a weather observer.

She began the war as a teacher in the Tule Lake Japanese relocation center in northern California, near my Grandfather's ranch. She had told the young girls that she would join up if the army would accept people of her age (she would have been 45 in 1942) and when they raised the age limit to 46, she felt compelled to "put her money where her mouth was".
One of her stories from her service had a bit of her prohibition attitude come out. A flight of Texans (AT s, Harvards to you boys up in the Great White North) came through Washington DC after a training flight to Bermuda, my grandmother was sure they had stopped and partook of the rum there, so she forecasted thunderstorms and grounded the flight. Her commanding officer told her that she was too cautious to be allowed to serve in a combat zone. The Texan pilots were very unhappy. (her words).
Best
gus

 

[usa1918]

Here's a couple of pix of a display we set up for a local gun show a few years ago:

Keith

 

[usa1918]

Here's a couple of picture of our Boy Scout Troop riding in a friend's White Half Track during the annual Veteran's Day Parade in Colorado Springs in 2007:

Keith

 

[Gustaf]

Righteous display. I think I will warm up the truck.
This is what the boy scouts do at Fort Douglas, they get to shell downtown Salt Lake City to earn their Artillery Merit Badge.

Best
Gus

 

[usa1918]

Boy Scouts..Fire, Camping, Sharp things and explosives. What more could a boy want (lucky I teach the First Aid Merit Badge )

Keith

 

[usa1918]

Righteous display. I think I will warm up the truck.

Gus

You're always welcome down here in Colorado Springs. I'll have the guard dog watch you:

Keith