I can just imagine the relief these parents must have felt, knowing that their son made it through the war safely- and what an exciting time for Bonnie Thornton, to be in Paris when news of the armistice was received.
I also found this article interesting, because of the details about the aviator who fell from his aircraft. How horrible – especially since he seems to have been celebrating the end of the war when it happened. To have made it through the war and then died while rejoicing is so depressing.
Alton Evening Telegraph, Alton, Illinois, 12 Dec 1918, page 8
Bonnie Thornton Expects to Go to Germany
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Thornton hae just received a letter from their son, N. B. Thornton, and there is rejoicing in the home at 503 Prospect street.
The boy writes from Paris, “The war is over and I am well.”
He is a member of Battery C, 443d Heavy Artillery, and is at present stationed at Paris. In part he says:
“No one can tell, nor words describe the excitement that is tearing at the heart of Paris, giving a glad note to every movement in this great city as the news of the armistice is received. I was in the band seranading, when an aviator some 2,000 feet above the city streets, was performing some feats. The aviator was thrown from the machine and the body fell at my feet. When our company finally went home to the barracks they found it in ashes. It had taken fire by some means and burned down. There is nothing yet in sight that leads me to expect to be sent home any ways soon. My battery may be sent into Germany for occupation.” Thornton send to his friends his regards.
