South High School - Tiger Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

Page 32 text:

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

Page 31 text:

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

Page 33 text:

We Vfictlfduy may ' ' J ff:-:af could be stopped, and there I was in that cold, cold water, the hail coming down and the bubbles from the rudder of the ship sticking me like pins. I was in the water about a half hour when a life-boat reached me. I sure felt then that the One above was watching over me. For the rest of my voyage homeward, I laid between white sheets with my head on a real pillow. On January 28th I reached the good old U. S. A., happy to be back once more. EARL DAH1.. WITH THE AMERICAN FLEET The U. S. S. Utah, flagship of the sixth division, left Hampton Roads on August 28, 1918, for duty in foreign waters. We had fairly good weather the first two days, on the fourth day we ran into a bad storm. The next three days the tables were not taken down and our meals were rather light. The eighth day the sea was calm enough to start having three square meals a day. On the eleventh we were met by a convoy of four destroyers, which convoyed us to the American base at Bere-haven, Ireland. Bere-haven bay is a smaller portion of the Bantry Bay, which is sheltered by an island and makes a fine place for a base on account of its protection from the sea. On the tenth day of October the three battleships rigged ship for sea. Part of the life line was taken down and an observation balloon brought aboard. The balloon stayed with us for a day and a half. It does not take much to set fire to one of these balloons, and the ones on the Utah and Nevada burned up. We steamed west for one day, and in the morning of the second day we sighted a convoy. The convoy consisted of one cruiser, eight destroyers, twelve transports, and three battleships. We stayed with this convoy for one day and then changed our course and went to meet another convoy. This convoy was made up of ten troop ships. It was a wonderful sight to see those big ships going through the water, never thinking that a submarine might be half a mile ahead of them. We left the convoy, returning to Bere-haven that night. While in Ireland we received four hours' liberty every two weeks. After a person had gone ashore once or twice he did not care to go again, because there was nothing to be seen. An English army camp was situated on the island where we went ashore. The men in the camp were very young men or men that had been at the front and were not fit for duty in the war zone. One of the boys went ashore one day and came back with five chickens. Nobody asked him where or how he got them, but they sure were good. Everyone had doubts as to his paying for them, because it was too near pay-day to have money enough to buy chickens. We left Bantry, Ireland, on the twenty-seventh of November for Weymouth, Eng- land, arriving there on the twenty-eighth. On the second of December the U. S. S. 29 ME