World War I soldier's buried pen still writes
Strange but true!
It was reported in 1996 (AP) from Loos-En-Gohelle, France a local farmer plowing his fields unearthed the remains of a World War I French soldier, whose American Waterman fountain pen was still full of ink 81 years after he was killed on this battlefield.
(Associated Press)
The 29-year old soldier was identified by his dog tags as Alexandre Villedieu. He was killed during the Battle of Artois in May, 1915 in Northern France and lay buried in the field until a local farmer came upon his buried remains.
The farmer stated, “While plowing, I was surprised to discover some bones, then some objects, and this pen.” The farmer, Eric Vandeeverzuine reported this to French television.
The soldier's pipe, pocket knife, wallet and military belt were found along with the gold-tipped fountain pen, still full of ink and clearly engraved “Waterman Fountain Pen NY, USA Aug.4, 1908.”
The pen appears to be a wood-grained hard rubber safety model with a slip on metal pocket clip. Safely wrapped in his tunic, it was protected from the elements preserving it for posterity.
“After a few tries, I could write with it. It was beautiful, like old fashioned writing.” Said Alfred Duparq, president of the local historical association. The farmer contacted the group soon after his discovery.
“It's thrilling to know that this soldier could have written to his wife, father or his mother with this very pen, and 81 years after his death, it still works like new.”
The Veteran's Ministry successfully searched for the soldier's relatives. They and the Waterman Pen Company made formal presentation of the pen and his personal effects to his relatives.
Loos-en-Gohelle is a small village 30 miles south of Lille.