"Hezzie" Goes to War: World War I through the Eyes of a Mid-Missourian

Destruction and Devastation

"I've Seen and Experienced Enough"

German Souvenirs

"I Have Seen France"

Going Home

German Souvenirs

(no letter #)

March 7th, 1918 Chief Surgeon's Office, G.H.Q, A.E.F., France.

. . .
In a few days I will start, and you should receive within the next week or so, a large box with several things in it. . . .

The war souvenirs are all made by soldiers at the front or wounded soldiers at home. They are made from shells, bullets, etc. The small paper knife is made from a German bullet forming the handle and the shell of a French cut and flattened out shell. The vase I bought from a one soldier in Paris. The single shell with the bullet is a lead pencil when the bullet is pulled out and reversed. All the buttons are German buttons.

Letter No. 93

France, 14 November '18

. . .
In a few days I am sending you a German helmet. When you get this I would take out the padding that is . . . under the leather. There is something to explode [sic], but after I packed up I thought there might be something poisonous in those small pads. . . .

(no letter #)

16 November '18
no location

Dear Mother and Dad,
I am sending two "captured" German airplanes. Please give one to Mr. Hon. Also I am sending a German Gas mask - this is entirely harmless. Will write a letter tonight or tomorrow.

Your loving son,
Hezzie.

[p.s.] Airplanes made from shells and bullets by French soldiers.

German bayonet

German trench book

German cartridge case

German insignia

Letter 104

. . .
The last week I sent you four packages. One of these contained a German bayonet; another a helmet and a leather cartridge case; another a German shell and a circular tin which is made of paper and which the Germans used as a substitute for leather belts; some pieces of schrapnel I picked up on the front; a cake of soap which a British soldier gave me (it was soap given to them by the Germans while the British were prisoners in Germany); the bag which I wrote you about in another letter, a German first aid package of gauze, and a plate-holder which some German officer had left behind. I hope all four packages got thru.

In a few days I will send in a box if possible, an officer's (German) helmet and another cartridge case and more of the white tape.

A Joint Exhibit
of the
University of Missouri
Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia
and the University of Missouri-Columbia
Museum of Anthropology

Acknowledgments and World War I Links

Museum of Anthropology, 100 Swallow Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-1440

Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm