American and Australian troops dug in together during the Battle of Hamel. Hamel was fought in the early morning and by a happy arrangement on what was their National Day, United States troops attacked, at battalion strength, for the first time in the British line. Their part in the operation not only made the day memorable for them, but created a great bond between the Americans and Australians. (From Wikipedia, The Battle of Hamel)

Letter #8

France, July 4 – 1918

 

Dear Mother:

 

            I heard more shooting this morning than I have heard on any Fourth of July in all my life.  At about 2:30 this morning about 2000 of our cannons started firing on the Germans.  Believe me there was some noise and it was pretty hard to get to sleep again.  It has been pretty quiet all day otherwise.

 

            A year ago we were down at East St. Louis and it hard to tell where we will be next Fourth but let us hope it will be in Chicago.

 

            An Australian band is playing for us to night.  They play different pieces than our band.  Our band is great on the rag time stuff.  Our company and another one are detached from the regiment at present.  I do not know when we will see the rest of the regiment again.

 

            A German airship tried to put one of our observation balloons out of business yesterday but our airships came up and shot it down.  The man in the balloon jumped and came down in a parachute and landed safely.

 

            I am still in the best of health and my appetite is just as good as ever.

 

            I suppose there was quite a celebration in Chicago today.

 

            I do not know of anything more to write about so I will close hoping everybody is well.

 

                                                                        Love to all

                                                                                    Theo

Poster's note:  Theo is describing preparations for the Battle of Hamel in which troops of the 33rd Division saw their first action. Censorship precludes him from saying more at this date.    He provides more description in the next letter date 7/14/1918.  TLT