Floyd Boyce Phillips was one of millions of boys from the United States who were sent across the Atlantic to the Old Country to fight in the Great War. In this series of posts, we follow the 101st anniversary of Floyd’s journey and get glimpses of what was going on at home while he was over there.

Many thanks to Coralee for providing me with artifacts throughout the years and especially for the stack of WWI-era letters that were delivered to me on 31 May 2019. They have provided countless hours of family history entertainment.

– Denise

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the armistice was signed and the Great War was over!

Floyd was finally able to write in his journal again! The news of armistice was no doubt exciting for everyone.

Nov 11 – 11 AM Hostilities ceased.

Nov 11 evening I went to Issondin.

Bunch drunk.

Armistice signed at 5:40 AM.

Albert, in the army in San Antonio, Texas, was excited to hear the news too. Even though he had just written the one of the most entertaining letters ever, he and wrote again to his brother Floyd to celebrate armistice. He described how they celebrated Texas-style.

At 40^th Headquarters

Nov 11. 1918

Dear Bros:

A war is what Sherman said it was, then so was San Antonio. At 2:45 word was rec’d from D.C. that Germany had surrendered!

All the cannonading and raising of old harry it sure was raised. Whistles blew, guns were fired. In camp we had an old 12 ga. Shotgun made sometime BC also a box of shells. I got hold of it and today Camp John Wise is minus 1 box of 12 gauges, but I have some shoulder.

Send cablegram when you leave the Old Country and if it is a possible thing I will meet you at the Coast. More about that later. How I wish I were with you. I have so much to tell you.

I must close now with love. It took 16 days to get your last letter written the 21 of Oct. rec’d it the 6^th of Nov.

Must go.

Love, Albert

Next…

A Birthday Abroad

Who is Who?

Guy and Gertrude Phillips Family

Floyd was the middle of the five sons of Gertrude Lovin Boyce and Guy Allison Phillips.

Sources:

Floyd Boyce Phillips, “Journal” (Army, 1918-1919).” privately held by Denise Krueger, Rochester, MN, 2019.

“Albert” [Albert Harold Phillips] (San Antonio, Texas to “Floyd” [Floyd Boyce Phillips], letter, 11 November 1918; privately held by Denise Krueger, Rochester, MN, 2019.

WWI Interactive Timeline, The National WWI Museum and Memorial ( https://www.theworldwar.org/explore/interactive-wwi-timeline : accessed 3 Jun 2019)

“Great War Ends,” Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov 1918, page 1 ( https://www.newspapers.com/image/355213227/ : accessed 5 Jun 2019).

Armistice Day 1918, You Tube (https://youtu.be/S1QSNP9ibBs : accessed 13 Jun 2019).

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The Phillips Family