SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
I
A soldier boy lay dying,
On a road “somewhere in France;”
He had tried to get thru a barrage
Tho he knew he stood no chance.
A pal knelt down beside him
While the tears ran down his cheek
For this soldier was his life long friend
And he longed to hear him speak.
II
When the dying soldier opened
Up his eyes, and looked around
And saw his dear old pal
Kneeling side him on the ground
He smiled and said “They got me Jim
Yes got me with a shell.”
“My orders were to take this note
Thru water, fire and hell.”
III
“Take this message Jim and run it thru
Do not stop for me
It means two hundred lives and more
Its for our company
Fritz made a fake attack this morn
Just at break ‘o day
If you can only get it thru
We’ll make those dam Huns pay.”
IV
“And when you get around to it
Just write a line or two,
To my mother and my sweetheart Jim
Old pal so good and true;
Tell them I tried to make it
Thru gas, barrage, and shell
That my resting place is heaven
For I went clear thru a hell.”
V
Then the dying soldier closed his eyes
His pal with tender care,
Gently laid him down
And smoothed his bloody ruffled hair,
And with a sob of anguish
He started down the road,
In his hand he held the message
That was written out in code.
VI
Jim got the message thru in time
To call the German’s bluff,
He told the story to the boys
How the blood got on his cuff,
The dying words of Bill his pal
A runner dead and gone
And the company paid their last respects
To the brave but silent form.
(Wrote at Apremont at the conclusion of a dream)
—Batt. Runner Blanchard, Co. F 103rd Inf.
Many thanks to http://portraitsofwar.wordpress.com/ for sharing this rare find written by Pvt. C.R. Blanchard of the 103rd Hdq. Co. Signal Platoon while assigned to Co. F at Apremont in the Toul Sector. Please visit PortraitsofWar for many other fine examples of vintage military photography and interpretation.
Soldiers' Mail
Did we ever figure out who C.R. Blanchard is? I’m trying to put together a WWI presentation and would like to have additional info on him. Any potential leads?
I know that C.R. Blanchard was initially part of Hdq. Co., 103rd Infantry. He is listed on the Company Roster on this site. However, he is not listed as part of the Company when it was a Camp Devens prior to demobilization in 1919. You might contact the Mass. NG Archives and Museum in Concord, MA to find out if they have any additional information.