Letter to Aunt Nell -

[I'm inserting this letter here because although I anticipated that it was written on June 18, I discovered when removing it from the envelope that it was actually written on June 8 and I'm transcribing it here in order to maintain the chronology of this post. I also want to mention that some of the envelopes from Clyde's overseas service were discovered to be empty.]

Somewhere in France

June 8, 1918

Dear Aunt Nell -

Just a few lines to supplement my doings, etc. since I wrote you last. Am still in France - but at a slightly different place. My company is still in billets, of course, but I'm on a bit of detached duty up here at the British School of Scouting, Observation and Sniping [S.O.S.] for Officers and N.C.O.s. I am representing my company here. We have Four N.C.O.s and a Lieut. from my battalion, learning what we can about "S.O.S." It's quite a school - and I find the British instructors (commissioned and warranted) to be very clever and extraordinarily well versed. Will probably have a couple weeks here - then return to my company. The British are wonderfully strong on detail as we'll surely be well schooled in scouting (patrolling), observations and sniping when we leave. We surely touch everything. In sniping alone - we touch rifle ballistics, equipment, range finding, map reading & drawing, use of prismatic compasses, binoculars, telescopic sights, observations, shooting, enemy uniforms, message writing, camouflage, and other innumerable topics. The same applies to the scouting and observation branches - explicably thorough. So you can imagine how immensely I am enjoying it. Sergt. Jeal, of my co. is also down here. He is taking the musketry course - which is the fire control course. The difference between the musketry aims and ours is that they aim for a volume of fire to the maximum amount, which our creed is a minimum of fire and a maximum of killing accuracy.

So much for the school, needless to say. I put my whole day to it - attending lectures and actual practice - with all space moments devoted to compiling my note books into a systematic volume.

But at night - from 6 - 8 I get over to the show. Certain units of Australians are behind the lines - here - as well as "up at the show" and they have a concert party called the "Smart Set". Beside their wonderful band - better, I believe than any Yankee band I ever heard - they have a theatrical troupe - and they're immense. This is my first experience with behind the lines theatricals - and I'm surprised at the "class" they exhibit -as there are genuine artists - both musical and dramatical - really famous in civilian life.

I've observed several changes since coming here. First, it's more like N.Y. State and secondly it's fine for one's appetite. Then - you should see my head. Last Sunday Corp. Markham challenged me to get my coiffure arranged similar to his - to wit - clipped & shaved! Consequently - my head is like an immense billiard ball! You should see it! Sergt. Jeal also has a bald head now - so I'm not the only N.C.O. here that's shorn!

Well - I'll close for this time. Shall look for one of your letters awaiting mw when I get back to my company. Will write you later. As ever / With much love, / Clyde

Now, more diary entries -

June 9, 1918, Sun., Cloudy - cooler. S.O.S. School

Up 7:30. Fair meals today - regular issue of smokes. Jeal & I played rummy part of forenoon. Pretty snappy (?). Met Lt. Diaz of old 7th - now of 307th. Rode up here inquiring for Burrill & the bunch. Fine chap. Wrote a few letters in p.m., slept and smoked. Worked on notes - bed early.

June 10, 1918, Mon., Rain most all day. Pont Remy.

Had lecture on daylight patrols, study of air photos and map enlarging & drawing this a.m. An hour and a half of self defense (wrestling & boxing) and a lecture on Observation & Snipers Posts. Have a sore lip from the boxing. Good eats today. Rainy all evening, cleared up toward night. Bed early.

June 11, 1918, Tues., Warm in a.m. Hot in p.m. Pont Remy.

Had lecture on night scouting, practical instruction of SP & OP's - and an hour and a half of self defence in a.m. and some observation practice and enemy identification lecture in p.m. Jeal, St. Claire and I played rummy in evening. Had some private entertainment in our hut by an Australian just in from the line.

June 12, 1918, Wed., Fair - warm. S.O.S. School.

Had lecture in panoramic sketching, study of air photos, practice in panoramic sketching, range practice (application at 300) (34 ex. 50) and lecture on Importance of Scouts & snipers in attack and defense today. Jeal (of musketry school) went back to Co. today. Corp. Bartro came down for musketry course. He and I did the camp. Wrote letters, read & smoked. Bed early. Cooler.

June 13, 1918, Thurs., Fair. Warm. S.O.S. School.

Left camp on a patrol problem at 9:30 a.m. going from an imaginary outpost of our batt. (N25 - N6) at Cocqurel, with across country to Bellancourt, scouting all woods between (14 miles) and the town of Franciers, to G35 where we were to pack out a bivouac for our Batt. H.Q. in Longuet (N28) and Bellancourt.Our patrols got through without meeting any enemy patrols - thereby accomplishing our mission most successfully. Read, wrote & bed early. (In about 4:20)

June 14, 1918, Frid., Cooler. Partly cloudy. Pont Remy.

Up at 7:30. Had lecture om our work of yesterday, and dope from Major (?), D.S.O. on all sorts of patrol work, and application at 200+, on the range (41 ex 50). Also practice at panoramic sketching. Had air photo study and lecture on duties of Batt. Intelligence Officer in p.m. Fair luncheon & supper. Wrote notes, read & smoked, played rummy with Leonard & St. Claire, bed early.

June 15, 1918, Sat., Fair. Cool breeze. Pont Remy.

At range this a.m. - competition shoot - and at practice in night (?) with dark gloves - also self defense practice. Great dope! At a demonstration in 800+ musketry with tracer bullets - exceedingly interesting. In at 3:15 - down (?) in p.m. Played rum, wrote in evening. School over. To go soon. Bed early. Cool. [Keep in mind what Clyde's use of dope means - information about a subject, especially if not generally known]

June 16, 1918, Sun. Rain a.m. Fair p.m.

Up at 7:30. Good bkfst. Made my pack - ready to return to my co. School finished and we all were highly commended. Luncheon at 1:00, on lorries at 3 and rode as far as Forest Moutiers - Lt. Buel and 3 of us hiking from there to Favieres. Found mail from mother, Sis. Got my stuff out of my barracks bag. Bed early. Cold as h---. Jerry around to keep us awake.

June 17, 1918, Mon., Fair. Warmer. On hike.

Up at 5:45. Over for reveille. Co. in line with full packs at 8:30. Started hike at 9 and went all day until 6 at night. About half the outfit fell out. The stiffest hike I was ever in - all I could do to hold on the last few miles. Came through Noyelles, cross the Somme to this place - Woignarue. Are less than a mile from the English Channel. Bathed - in billets. I have a (?) room. Bed rather late. Very (?) tired.

June 18, 1918, Tuesday. Cloudy. Some rain. By English Channel.

Up at 6 a.m. Jeal and I in small room in billets. Co. marched to range near beach - rifle practice with new Short Enfields in a.m. Good scores. Lunch at 2:00. Damned rotten eats - men are all in bad shape from being underfed during past month - why the large no. fell out on hike. Had a nice bath in Channel in p.m. - & shot. After supper had a big gas demonstration with real gas. Hiked back - ret. at 1 a.m. Nearly (?) up.

Next up - another letter to Aunt Nell.

Short Enfield Rifle