WWI Volunteer Ambulance Driver for the American Ambulance Hospital in Paris.
1914 - 1915. Fascinating collection of 42 postcards of France showing views and the destruction thus far of the war, written by an American volunteer, Edward W. Shattuck. With notes to the family on the verso telling the story of where he was and what he was seeing. Shattuck was a volunteer driver during the time prior to US involvement in WWI. He worked at the American Ambulance Hospital in Neuilly (outside b n b bbParis) which was established as a private hospital funded and staffed by American volunteers to treat wounded soldiers from both sides of the war. It was established at the Lycee Pasteur in August 1914 and was ready for service the next month; the French government soon recognized it as a military hospital. The American Ambulance Hospital and its volunteers were recognized as key elements in strengthening French - American relations.
Edward Whittemore Shattuck was born in Natick Mass. 1887. He applied for a passport in 1913, and his WWI registration (dated June 1917) states that he was a driver for the ambulance corps of the French government for 6 months. He is also recorded in 'Friends of France, The Field Service of the American Ambulance described by its Members' (Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin: 1916) as entering service in France in November 1914 and leaving in May 1915.
Collection includes a real photo postcard of Shattuck with an officer standing in front of an American ambulance, dated December 1914, Amiens on the verso. Another postcard showing 10 ambulances lined up with drivers at the ready, titled "Ambulance de l'Hopital Americain de Paris (Neuilly sur Seine), with credit, "simi bromure, A. Breger Freres, Paris".
War damage to buildings seen especially in the contemporary war series of 8 postcards of Arras, with a continuous message written in purple pencil across the verso, each one numbered by Shattuck. The first in the Arras series of 8 is dated Feb. 24, 1915, St. Pol, Pas de Calais. Here Shattuck describes the damage to the city ("Arras is pretty much in ruins"), repairing vehicles, receiving newspapers and mail, playing billiards, and the food and pay ("being an officer I don't get a blooming cent").
Other postcard images showing local points of interest, cathedrals, chateaux, street views, and bird's eye town views. They describe travel in the area north of Paris, in Alsace. Towns visited include: Vittel, Arras, Saint Pol, Hesdin, St. Maurice sur Moselle, Neufchateau, Bar le Duc, Saint Andre de Cubzac, Tours, Amboise, and Amiens.
Shattuck's messages home, on postcards which are not postally used (except for one), are written in purple pencil or ink on the verso of postcards and dated. The single postcard postally used is addressed to his mother, Mrs. Wm. H. Shattuck of Brooklyn, NY and mailed from Vittel on April 7, 1915. Postcards printed in France, with b&w printed photographic images (except for the one real photo postcard), and divided backs.
Cards in very good condition considering the fact that they were being carried with an ambulance driver who recorded his impressions of war torn France. Very good condition. Item #22834
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