Letters From World War I

I was given a collection of letters, most of which were written by my grandfather, Mortimer C. Dennett to his brother, Winburn A. Dennett. The letters are from 1917 and 1918. My grandfather was in the army stationed at Camp Devens, Masachusetts and later in France. His brother was a student at the University of Maine, Orono and after graduation in 1918 enlisted in the Army. He was at the Syracuse, NY Recruit Camp and later at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor, NY.

There are twenty six letters dated between October 16, 1917 and May 31, 1918 while he was at Camp Devens. There are also three letters written while he was in France in the summer and fall of 1918. In addition, there are three letters written by my great grandmother, Annie Corbett Dennett, to her son Win in the summer and fall of 1918 after he had enlisted in the army.

A much more recent hand written note accompanying the letters says "Oct. 1917 - Aug 1918. Letters from Uncle Mort to my father. (Mort was in the service & Dad in last yr. @ U. of Maine)"

A note accompanying the Sept 22 letter says "Sept 22, 1918. This is a letter from Grandma to my father, but most of it is a copy of letter she'd received from Uncle Mort."

A third note accompanying letters written from France says "July 1918 & August 1918. Letters from Uncle Mort, one written aboard ship, and others in France. Mailed to Grandma Dennett's address & she forwarded them in a letter to Dad."

These notes, from the context, were most likely written by Win's daughter Marilyn Frances Dennett.

I have scanned the original letters and envelopes and transcribed them. Below are links to them.

The letters written by my grandfather while at Camp Devens are undated. Any date is from the postmark on the envelopes. Some are difficult to read and some do not have the complete date. I have been able to estimate the date based on the incomplete postmark and what was said in the letter.

Anything in square brackets [...] within the transcribed text is my comment or note.

Date of Letter Text Scan of Original Letter Comment
October 16, 1917 Text Original Scan
November 4, 1917 Text Original Scan
November 19, 1917 Text Original Scan Date estimated based on partial postmark and contents of letter.
November 26, 1917 Text Original Scan Date estimated based on partial postmark and contents of letter.
December 2, 1917 Text Original Scan Date estimated based on partial postmark and contents of letter.
December 10, 1917 Text Original Scan Date estimated based on partial postmark and contents of letter.
December 13, 1917 Text Original Scan Date estimated based on partial postmark and contents of letter.
December 20, 1917 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
January 3, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
January 16, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
January 23, 1918 Text Original Scan Day on postmark is illegible. Since the letter was written on a Wednesday, it was either the 23rd or 30th.
February 12, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
February 20, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter. 1917 on letter is most likely an error.
February 27, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
March 5, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
March 14, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
March 20, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
April 4, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
April 11, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
April 17, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
April 19, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
April 26, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
May 2, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
May 9, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
May 15, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
May 31, 1918 Text Original Scan Date based on postmark and contents of letter.
July 28, 1918 Text Original Scan On Board Ship
August 18, 1918 Text Original Scan From somehwere in France
August 26, 1918 Text Original Scan From somehwere in France
November 1, 1918 Text Original Scan From somehwere in France

The following three letters were written by Mort's and Win's mother, Annie Dennett, and addressed to Win.
Date of Letter Text Scan of Original Letter Comment
September 22, 1918 Text Original Scan
November 10, 1918 Text Original Scan
November 11, 1918 Text Original Scan The Great War Ends



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Contents Copyright © by Charles R. Dennett.

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