Photo #070 – “Here is the tents we live in but this is not all, gee there is a awful lot of them.” A cropped closeup taken from the last photo in Vol. 2. H.S. Wheeler went to France when only 18, turning age 19 while there. This photo was undated, like all the rest, but based on the lack of stripes on his uniform, this was probably early in his overseas assignment when he was still a seaman (he was discharged in May 1919 as a Machinist Mate 2nd Class).
Photo #071-pc -- ?? For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Photo #072 - “U.S.S. Florence H. going down” On 17 Apr 1918 the steamship Florence H. was destroyed by an internal explosion while anchored in Quiberon Bay, France (west of St. Nazaire) – 45 killed, 12 wounded. See French language web site: http://perso.orange.fr/cdasm.56/florence.htm [Note: Photo #073 was missing.]
Photo #074 - “Vouterland” – S.S. Vaterland/Leviathan. Another German ship seized by the US, renamed USS Leviathan, painted with “dazzle” camouflage and used as a troop ship. See: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-l/id1326.htm
Photo #075-pc ??
Photo #076 - “Big gun at the front.”
Photo #077
Photo #078 - Handwritten caption not clear, but appears to be “St.L.” - which could mean St Lazaire/Nazaire...?? Regardless, must be aerial view of French coast..?
Photo #079
Photo #080
Photo #081
Photo #082
Photo #083 - Working on Naval seaplane..?
Photo #084
Photo #085
Photo #086
Photo #087
Photo #088
Photo #089 – “De calb”? -- USS DeKalb ?? Some similarities to DeKalb, but online photos do not make a good match with this photo. DeKalb was yet another German ship seized by the US and used as a WWI troop ship – see: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-d/id3010.htm
Photo #090 – “Frank E. Szawica, 1729 W Superior St, Chicago, Ill”
Photo #091 - women washing...??
Photo #092
Photo #093 - ? Work crew, prisoners..?? Note non-Navy caps on those in front..?
Photo #094 - Navy payday..??
Photo #095
Photo #096 – “Concrete gang at Brest Air Station”
Photo #098 – “J. J. Mattes??, 1303 Greene St., Ft Wayne, Indiana” (Last name not clear).
Photo #099-pc – “W. D. Menges, 1940 North 16th St., Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.A.” H.S. Wheeler on left; Menges must be “chum” on right.
Photo #100-pc – “J. M. Yocum”
Photo #101
Photo #102 - ?? maybe USS George Washington left of center in Brest Harbor, Dec. 1918 ?? -- see “Letters from France,” Dec. 14, 1918, where St Clare wrote home to his California girlfriend Doris Birch, “You ought to have been here and seen the president when he landed. There was ten super dreadnoughts & a bunch of destroyers that convoyed him in. It was sure some sight to see all those battle wagons come steaming in. Today the French are having a holiday celebrating. The town is all decorated with flags and large signs saying (Long Live Wilson) (Honor & Welcome to Wilson) etc. The people sure shouted & the bells rang & whistles blowed when he came up the street on his way to the depot where they had cars all decorated up and two or three bands were playing. It was quite a sight.”
Photo #103 - Navy camp laundry day..? In letter home dated 29 Dec 1918, H.S. states,"I just got through a big washing. .. I used to send it to the laundry but it got so you wouldn't get but half back. So most of the boys do their own washing." (note tower left background - see next photo #103a.)
Photo #103a – “This is a small tower I helped put up at Brest Air Station. There is a mark over my head.” This caption was written on back of photo so man to left on top was H. S. Wheeler. This photo was loose in the album but placed here because previous photo showed what appeared to be the same tower. Not sure of function of this tower? Close inspection shows series of cross wires, maybe indicating diagonal bracing - or maybe antenna wiring for radios - or maybe navigation lights..?? For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Photo #104 --- ?? For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Photo #105 --- ?? For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Photo #106 - Did St Clare take this photo showing death of trench warfare? After the fighting ended, he did volunteer to truck supplies to “starving” Belgians. In a 1919 letter, he wrote, “Their homes are all torn up and their country needs help for there was only 4 sq. miles that wasn't touched by shells. This war sure ruined the country where the shells flew. You take a look at the battle field .. and all you can see is ruined buildings and big shell holes all over the country. The smell of the battle field will make you sick. You see bodies of soldiers that were never buried and some that they do bury have only a thin layer of dirt thrown over them. You see lots of Yankee boys who have fallen, probably where they could not be seen easily, and are still laying with their clothes nearly rotted off. Germans just throw them in a shell hole, probably sprinkle some dirt on top. So you can see how awful a place it is. As far as you can see, nothing but ruined country. I hope there is no other war like this."
Photo #107 - last photo in album. For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Example page from old photo album - photos #103-#107. Keep in mind that many photos in H.S.W.'s WW-1 photo album were quite small, many were faded & worn from many years of storage. Some of the larger photos appeared to have been from a commercial source and printed on heavier paper with back-side printing making possible to send as a postcard. The size of these photos ranged from the smallest snapshots of 1.5"x2.25" up to the post card size of 3.25"x6". For more on HS Wheeler's WWI experience, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
Example of “Post Card” printing appearing on the back side of some photos. This might indicate a purchased commercial photo (i.e., not an original). However some individual portrait photos also had this printing indicating it might be an optional printing from a local photographer. Any clarification welcomed. For more on H.S. Wheeler, see: http://www.wheelerfolk.org/familyphotos/hsw_ww1/his_navy_years.htm
