The following photo is of my great aunt Hattie’s husband, Will (Bill) Whitcher, and her brother Bill Whiting. The writing on the back of the photo is “Bill Whitcher and Bill Whiting, Home on furlough 1918.” My father tells me that only Bill Whitcher (left) was home on leave, and that Bill Whiting (right) “was never in service and could not pass a physical due to a boyhood hunting injury. He and [his brother] Tom were hunting quail and Uncle Tom accidently shot him in the hip. My mother always said that she was told that he was wearing a heavy jacket which kept the injury from being more severe.”
Note the differences in the two men, one in uniform with a soldier’s posture, staring straight at the camera. The other looking to the side, in a relaxed slouch, wearing leather cowboy wrist cuffs and fur leg chaps.
Bill Whitcher registered in the First World War I Draft Registration of June 5, 1917, for men ages 21 – 31 when he was 26. Bill Whiting registered in the Third Registration, September 12, 1918, for men 18 – 45, at age 19. Note that height on the registration cards is listed not as a specific number but as tall, medium, or short, and build as slender, medium, or stout. When Bill Whitcher registered, he was a farm laborer working for Hattie’s father. Bill Whiting listed himself as a farmer working for his older sister (by 18 years), who by then was Mrs. W. J. Whitcher.
See Also
- The Doughboy’s Uniform and Equipment (from the blog, Soldiers’ Mail: Letters Home from a Yankee Doughboy 1916-1919)
- The Evolution of Western Wear (from True West magazine)
- Women in uniform, World War I edition (from the National Museum of American History)
This post was updated since its first publication and is part the #30PostsHathSept Blog Challenge. There is still time to join (just publish 20-30 posts in September)!
Lisa, Great picture. I noticed on the first registration was written Natural Born. I thought that was interesting in light of the whole “citizen” argument about Barack Obama’s birthplace and now also Ted Cruz who actually was born in Mexico. The Constitution says the President must be “Natural Born.” Not a term we use much anymore. We probaby all have an idea of what it means, but here we see it in action.
That phrase struck me, too, but I hadn’t realized it’s the official wording for presidential qualification. Thanks for expanding on that idea. So interesting to following these threads of history!
Hattie is my great aunt, her brother, Thomas Francis Whiting, is my grandfather. I remember the ranch at Hidden Timber very well.
Thank you for taking the time to write this. Louise was my grandmother, and I was born after Hattie died so have no memories of her or her farm, but I certainly heard about them a lot as I was growing up. It’s always good to meet another relative.
Hattie was also my great aunt. My grandmother was her sister Nellie Whiting Larmer. I met Hattie and visited Hidden Timber Ranch once as a young girl. Lisa, your grandmother was loved and revered by my father Lee Larmer and his brothers Boyd and Fritz. Your postings of Hattie’s diary is not only a window to the past but a link to my heritage. Thank you for the work you do on this project.
Virginia, thank you very much for taking the time to write this! I remember you and Tom well and am glad you are enjoying the diaries.