South High School - Tiger Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Wcfwtrigj mesa I i ' n the High Seas Q 9 THE PRESIDENT AT BREST U. S. A. Panther, co. Postmaster, New York, N. Y., Dec. 29th, 1918. Dear Mother: I have received several letters from you but have failed to answer them, partly on account of my visit to Brest. I saw the boys at their ship and escorted them to the hospital and around part of the town. I assisted them in buying souvenirs, altho a limited purse prevented the fulfillment of our wants. It was the day that the President came ashore, A- and it was dedicated to holiday festivities. I 9 E. There are around Brest people of a clan known as ii Breton, and for many centuries they have adhered to ancient customs of dress. Ordinarily in street dress the women have lace caps with streamers in the back. To this day, lace beautiful in its age, dresses, coats, and vests decorated by braidwork and beads, hats broad and black, with high crowns and a ribbon fluttering to the winds, are common on the streets and in public. Paris was all alive with people who came to see the President and the parades. The times were lively, and there seemed to be no end to the people's zeal. A hddler took a stand on one of the broad Parisian streets to start waltzing and the popular dances at evening and night. Demonstrative France! While in Paris I viewed several of the main scenes of the war and those of general interest. At one stop at the Place de Concord a number of captured and disabled Boche artillery and tank and anti-aircraft pieces were on exhibition. I went into the tank and cut myself a piece of insulated wire as a souvenir. At one place I put a two Franc piece into a set of picture cards. And some more money for a German non-trench helmet. Laden with these trophies, I started for Bordeaux, where I waited a day before going to Pauillac and the ship. The ship sailed the next day to Cardiff, Wales. where we are now in dock. I had another spell of Mmal de meri' on the way down. Hoping to greet you all soon. I am Your loving son, PAUL BRAMHALL. 27 Gai?-ix

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' 95' ' 1. J , 1 . .1 TQ.. 9 y 3 3 te .A - L A Cliffs Vncflfiifr- 'Wager CITATION FOR BRAVERY HEADQUARTERS 151s1' FIELD ARTILLERY, American Expeditionary Forces, France Special Orders No. 73. July 21, 1918. ' 2. Corporal Edwin Lindell and Private Raymond McGandy, Headquarters Company, 15lst Field Ar- tillery, during a time when the telephone lines to the lst Battalion were down, called for a barrage from a position in front of the Regimental P. C. with a pro- jector and remained bravely at their station under a heavy shell fire until their mission was completed and their message acknowledged, and they are to be commended for their distinguished bravery. By order of Colonel Leach, Gaonce C. Pancn, Ist Lieut., N. G., 151st F. A. Acting Adjutant. FIGHTING HISTORY OF MANY SOUTH HIGH MEN Headquarters Second Division fliegularj American Expeditionary Forces France, November 11, 1918. ORDER. 1. An armistice between the allied nations and Germany has been signed and hostilities ceased temporarily at 11 A. M. today. 2. It is fitting that the great part played by the Second Division in bringing about this momen- tous victory over a redoubtable foe should be recounted at this time. 3. At the end of May, the enemy broke through the allied lines on a wide front west of RHLIMS and reached the MARN1-: near CHATEAU-Tuiansr. The safety of Paris and of the allied Army itself was at stake. It stopped his advance, it drove him back, and it demonstrated for all time that the American is second to none in valor, in endurance and unyielding determination to conquer. 4. Again, on July 18th, during the last great enemy offensive, the Second Division, after a night march of unparalleled difficulty, struck, near SOISSONS, the flank of the enemy's salient, penetrated his lines and brought his offensive to a standstill. This was the beginning of the Allied offensive which has continued unceasingly and untiringly until today. 5. On September 12th to 15th, the American Army fought its first battle in France under American leadership. To the Second Division was assigned the most difiicult and the most im- portant task-the capture of T1-uAUcouR'r and the JAULNY-XAMMES ridge. It reached its second day's objective on the first day, drove off the enemy's counter-attacks, and clinched the victory. 6. In the Champagne District, October 2nd to 19th, it fought beside the Fourth French Army. On October 3rd, it seized BLANC MONT RIDGE, the keystone of the arch of the main German posi- tion, advanced beyond the Ridge and, although both flanks were unsupported, it held all its gains with the utmost tenacity, inflicting tremendous losses on the enemy. This victory freed RHEIMS and forced the entire German Army between that city and the ARGONNE FOREST to retreat to the AISNE, a distance of 30 kilometers. 26

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N WJ 'CIFEQ Vimllgm- Q1-Eoin U WE a H939 TORPEDOED On August 5, 1918, I made my First jour- ney across the water on an English auxiliary battle cruiser. The Limey,' ship, as we called it, was not very large. The crew consisted of about 200. The ship was mounted with 8-6 in. guns and 4-3 lb. anti-aircraft guns. On our way over, between Ireland and Scot- land, we were torpedoed in the fore part of the ship. Two other ships that were with us were torpedoed and sunk, but I was lucky enough to be on the ship that was not damaged so com- pletely that help would be useless. We all abandoned the ship in life-boats and on rafts. Eight tugs that were summoned towed the ship to a dry dock. Some destroyers were sent out to pick us up. We were landed in Scotland after twenty-one days on sea. We were then taken to Glasgow, Scotland, on board H. M. S. Cloustershire. We stayed there but two days and then traveled by train to Southampton, England. We were here for two months at the rest camp, detailed to unload hospital ships every day. I saw some terrible sights during my stay. On October 27 I was assigned to thc U. S. S. Rochester. I was transferred to land duty in France the latter part of November. Went to Eastleigh, England, about three days before the armistice was signed. A telegram was sent by Admiral Sims from London, stating that the armi- stice had been signed. The officers broke the good news to us. We sure did paint the town red. I went to London four times during my stay at Eastleigh, and while there I saw President Wilson. Christmas Day was spent in Eastleigh. That evening all the 'cgobsw had their girls at the Y. IVI. C. A. while I spent my time operating the moving picture machine. They weren't shy on the eats, and l was sick three days after from eating so much turkey. On January 20 we left Eastleigh, homeward bound. We shoved off at Southamp- ton and went to Brest, France. Here we coaled ship and took a number of casuals on board our ship, the U. S. S. Plattsburg. After being out for five days, we encountered a high sea. We were all given orders to keep off deck. Out of curiosity, two friends and I skipped up on deck. While I was walking along the sea-deck, I was suddenly knocked down against the bulk-head and washed over-board by a large wave. The chief engineer happened to see me through a porthole and he quickly telegraphed to the 'Lbridgef' Two life-buoys were thrown to me. I got the second one. The ship had gone about a mile before it 28