Search

The Walter Crane papers contain 88 letters, 2 postcards, and 1 Christmas card written by Corporal Crane to Ruth Backof, a former high school classmate, while he served in the Machine Gun Company of the 138th Infantry Regiment during the First World War. He described his experiences in training at Camp Clark, Missouri, and Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma. Crane also reported extensively on his involvement in combat along the Western Front, including his service in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive and on life in the trenches.

The Walter Crane papers contain 88 letters, 2 postcards, and 1 Christmas card written by Corporal Crane to Ruth Backof, a former high school classmate, while he served in the Machine Gun Company of the 138th Infantry Regiment during the First World War.

Crane wrote his first letters while training at Camp Clark in Nevada, Missouri, in September 1917. He inquired about mutual friends and reminisced about his time at McKinley High School in St. Louis, Missouri. After moving to Oklahoma's Camp Doniphan in late October, he discussed his fellow soldiers, training exercises, and leisure activities. On December 25, 1917, he copied lyrics to a soldiers' song entitled "When Our Machine Guns Are Starting to Roar (for Me and My Gal)," and mentioned that his unit played sports in their spare time. Several envelopes bear the skull-and-crossbones insignia of the 138th Infantry Regiment's Machine Gun Company.

In April 1918, Crane moved to Camp Mills on Long Island, New York, and made final preparations to travel overseas. A May 14, 1918, letter provides an account of the trip. He first wrote from France on May 25, 1918, describing his journey across England. The remaining letters contain his impressions of France and news of his military engagements. Crane's vivid war letters mention both simulated battles (July 30, 1918) and real engagements. His stories of life in the trenches include several featuring trench rats. Between August and October, he wrote about his experiences in combat along the front lines just before and during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive -- the letters dated August 18, 1918, and October 6, 1918, are especially detailed. After November 1918, Crane’s company stayed in training near "Grimaucourt," France, despite the armistice. He continued to describe his daily life and on December 12, 1918, he copied three pages of poetry written by Sergeant S. F. McElhiney, a member of his company. On April 23, 1919, he wrote his final long letter while aboard the USS Kroonland, and, after he landed in the United States on the 29th, he sent Ruth a brief telegram.

The two French postcards are dated October 9 and December 21, 1918, and the Christmas card (1917) bears the insignia of Crane's unit. These three items are filed with the correspondence.

This collection spans the duration of William Bandemer’s participation in World War I. The papers are divided into two series: one comprising his letters home and the other consisting of photographs taken during the war. Within each series, the material is arranged chronologically.

This collection spans the duration of William Bandemer’s participation in World War I. The papers are divided into two series: one comprising documents (mostly letters) and the other consisting of photographs taken during the war. Within each series, the material is arranged chronologically.

The correspondence begins with Bandemer’s letter informing his family of his enlistment in the Army. The first folder in the collection describes camp life, mostly concerning Fort Devens in Massachusetts. He illustrates everyday life at Fort Devens, including food, lodging, training exercises, and chores. Of particular interest are two letters: one telling of a measles outbreak and the other of a fire in the camp.

The second folder begins with Bandemer’s first letter from France. He describes the trip over from the United States. In the majority of the correspondence, he tells of daily life, such as living conditions and the weather. He also shares his impressions of shelling and the amount of action he saw in the war, including shelling and gassing attacks. The letters also describe his frustration with receiving few letters from his family because of mail delays and include his general reactions to family news. Near the end of the war, Bandemer details the surrender of Turkey (2 Nov 1918), liberated Italian prisoners (17 Nov 1918) and his reaction to German propaganda (10 Nov 1918).

After the war ended (November 11, 1918), Bandemer stayed in France until February 1919. These letters provide descriptions of post-World War I France, including descriptions of towns reduced to rubble. Of particular interest are two Christmas Cards designed specifically by his regiment (1 Dec 1918 and 8 Dec 1918). In other letter, he details his travels through France to reach a port for departure and his ensuing trip home.

William Bandemer did not write two letters in the collection. One informs him of his father’s death (7 Aug 1918). The other is from a family friend serving in WWI telling Bandemer’s mother of his visit with William (25 Jun 1918). They are integrated in the collection chronologically. The final folder in the collection is a loan request made by Bandemer after the war.

The photographs span all of Bandemer’s involvement in the war (1917-1919). Included are two portrait photographs of him, dated 1913 and 1920 respectively. Many of the photographs are difficult to date and identify, but estimates have been made. Because of this, the photographs were kept in original order in the hopes that researchers could piece it together themselves. Most of the pictures are from Camp Devens in Massachusetts and France. One folder includes pictures of Bandemer’s family in Saginaw, Michigan, taken during the war.