Excerpts from a letter by Fred Lorch to Dr. W.E. Simonds

Excerpts from a letter by Fred Lorch to Dr. W.E. Simonds

Fred Lorch writes about his eventful journey to France via England. According to Lorch, "The second day we were in France, while on our way down to our base we met with an accident. It happened about 8:30 in the evening. Our train, which was all dark and moving along very slowly, was struck in the rear by another train and telescoped. Many cars of both trains were completely wrecked. By what good luck I crawled out from underneath it I can't say, but, altho I was in the third car, i came out with only a few bruises about the face and a wrenched back. Many others were far less fortunate. About two o clock the following morning the injured ones were taken to an American Camp Hospital []3 miles away. Some bad cases were brot [sic] in that night but the worst one was the best pal I had, he has been given up several times by the doctors but still he is pulling along. I think now he will live." He finally describes the "old fashioned" beauty of France and comments "One feels how much war is hell when one knows that miles and miles of just such beautiful and peaceful country has been destroyed and trampled down."

World War I; First World War; Soldiers; Hospitals; Railroad accidents;

Lorch, Fred;

10/31/1918

eng

Text

WWI-506;
WWI-507;
WWI-508;

1918