Aida Austin, Eldred, to McKinley Austin, France August 19, 1918 Dear McKinley, We have been having a few cold days and it seems good after the terribly hot weather we had. Your dad’s and Uncle Lon’s buckwheat looks fine. Uncle … Continue reading
Both Irwin Briggs and Cyrus Roullion (and probably many of the others in this story) experienced Gas Warfare. Until the first world war, it was considered uncivilized to use poison gas. The French fired tear-gas grenades against the Germans in … Continue reading
McKinley, France, to Jennie Austin, Eldred August 9, 1918 Dear Mother, I hope you will pardon me for not writing sooner. But when I had paper, I did not have time and when I had time, I could not … Continue reading
McKinley Austin, 11th U.S. Inf., France, to Jennie Austin, Eldred July 7, 1918 Dear Mother, I got your letters all right. And I got one from Raymond at Camp Merritt. It must be hard for you to see us go, … Continue reading
When Raymond Austin enlisted in May, Mort and Jennie Austin had two sons to be concerned about. In mid-June, Raymond was recuperating at the Base Hospital at Camp Merritt, NJ. McKinley was with the 11th Infantry in the Vosges Mountains, … Continue reading
Boarding Houses Ads, 1918 Highland Cottage Splendidly situated on Washington Lake. Accommodates 125; fine roads, dancing, bathing fishing, tennis, garage; $12 to $14. E.V. Kalbfus.—Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 25, 1918. Side Hill Farm House Own farm produce; $12 to $14 … Continue reading
McKinley Sails to France On April 24, 1918, McKinley Austin (11th Infantry) left Hoboken, New Jersey, on the U.S.S. Leviathan. They arrived on May 2, in Brest, France. May 8 they arrived at Bar-sur-Aube, southeast of Paris. They were trained … Continue reading
McKinley Austin in Eldred In March, McKinley had a leave to go home before his outfit left for France, as the next letter indicates. McKinley, Chattanooga, Tenn., to Mort Austin March 14, 1918 Dear father, I got here all right. … Continue reading
In January of 1918 George Sidwell wrote to his friend Mortimer McKinley (Mac) Austin, stationed in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was Mac’s nineteenth birthday. George Sidwell, CAC 7 Co., Fort Amador, Canal Zone January 5, 1918 Dear Old Mack, Well this … Continue reading
Repost from 2013: These postcards are from a Souvenir Folder of the Sunny South. They were sent to Aida Austin from Chattanooga, in October 1917. So I assume the folder was from Mortimer McKinley Austin, Aida’s nephew. Sunny South Postcards … Continue reading
