Above the French Lines: Letters of Stuart Walcott, American Aviator: July 4, 1917, to December 8, 1917 — John Shaqi
Above the French Lines: Letters of Stuart Walcott, American Aviator: July 4, 1917, to December 8, 1917Walcott, Stuart
History
Above the French Lines: Letters of Stuart Walcott, American Aviator: July 4, 1917, to December 8, 1917
Walcott, Stuart
World War, 1914-1918 -- Aerial operations
“It takes two months before we receive the report from Germany
officially. In the meantime you will read all sorts of reports in the
newspapers. But I will cable or have Capt. Peter Boal do so, if I get
any news that is true.
“The case of Buckley, the American who fell Sept. 5, was reported as
being in flames from five thousand metres down, and fell in German
territory. The observers reported that it landed on its back and
burned completely. His parents were notified of his death; newspapers
reported the terrible death he died. Well, Sir, on November 25 we
received a letter from him, saying he was enjoying the best of health
and was satisfied with his surroundings in the prison camp in Germany.
“So we are all hoping the same for Stuart.
“I have all Stuart’s personal things, and will give them to Capt.
Boal the first chance I get.
“Mr. Walcott, it is beyond words for me to try and tell you how
grieved we all are about Stuart, and how great a loss it is to the
Escadrille, for him to be away. He was more than liked by every
member and officer, and gave promise of doing great things, was
always up in his machine trying to better himself in combat flying;
there never was a minute that he was idle, if it was possible for
him to fly. And never a more generous and kinder boy. Only the night
before the patrol he last went out on, he gave me every care in the
world, got up during the night to make sure I was comfortable and to
do anything he could for my ankle.
“From one who has been with Stuart through all his training, and
roommate on the Front,
“Yours respectfully,
“E. J. LOUGHRAN.”
This letter was written before the cable dispatch of January 7, from
the International Red Cross, which seems to establish definitely the
fact that Stuart Walcott gave his life in support of the endeavor to
“make the world safe for democracy.” In further and final evidence, a
letter dated February 5, 1918, informed Dr. Walcott that the Red Cross
agent in Paris had reported “Stuart Walcott’s grave has been found.” An
accompanying map from Loughran shows that the spot where Stuart Walcott
fell is on a hill a little South of Saint Souplet.
* * * * *
Benjamin Stuart Walcott was of New England ancestry. His earliest known
American forbear was Capt. Jonathan Walcott of Salem, Mass., 1663-1699.
Later, one of Capt. Jonathan’s descendants, Benjamin Stuart Walcott,
served in a Rhode Island regiment during the Revolutionary War. On his
mother’s side two ancestors served in the Continental Army and in the
Revolutionary War.
FROM PRINCETON TO FRANCE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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