In 1919, Bill W. [right: in France, 1919]
wrote to Lois that the men in his artillery battery had “paid him special
honor,” saying,
The Tiffany signet ring
[left]
featured Bill’s initials, “WGW,” and was inscribed with the words, “From
Men of Bat. C 66th C.A.C., Chalus, France Nov. 1918” (Bat. = Battery,
C.A.C. = Coastal Artillery Corps). The watch
[right: a 1918 model, not Bill’s]
was a pocket watch, which explains the watch chain that Bill mentioned in
his letter.
In 1946, Ian MacE. wrote to the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City asking for help and became the first A.A. member in New Zealand.
Previously, he had tried every known treatment for his drinking problem without success. In late 1945, Ian had checked himself into the Nelson Psychiatric Hospital. While in the reading room, he picked up a copy of the November 1944 issue of Reader’s Digest
[left: cover]
and read an article condensed from Argosy, which had published the
full article in October 1944
[right: cover]. Titled “‘Maybe I Can Do It Too!’”
[left: 1st page]
by Edward McG., the piece detailed the recovery of an alcoholic who had
found help through a fellowship called Alcoholics Anonymous. Ian had never
heard of A.A., but he identified with the article in a way he had never
identified with anyone before. A note at the end of the article stated, “A
postcard sent to P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Annex, New York 17, N.Y., will
bring further information about this organization.” Ian wrote to that
address, taking the first step in his own recovery, and thus A.A. in New
Zealand was born.
Quite a touching thing happened just before we came here. The men presented Captain S. [Sackville] & I [sic] each with a watch chain and a ring. They lined up the whole battery and I tell you it was equal to promotion and decoration by [General] J. J. Pershing himself! Coming as it did from a clear ploy it was quite overwhelming. Wouldn’t have changed insignia with a Brig.[Brigadier] Gen. [General] It means so much more than promotion. In so far as I know we are the only people in the reg. [regiment] who have been so honored. I know you’ll be as happy and proud as I am. The watch is an elaborate gold and silver affair, the chain a very light gold one which several of the boys rather^shyly “opined” would look well against a “[illegible]” vest. The ring is a plain & gold one with a facet for a monogram [sic] Am terribly inflated & stuck up.
The Tiffany signet ring
[left]
featured Bill’s initials, “WGW,” and was inscribed with the words, “From
Men of Bat. C 66th C.A.C., Chalus, France Nov. 1918” (Bat. = Battery,
C.A.C. = Coastal Artillery Corps). The watch
[right: a 1918 model, not Bill’s]
was a pocket watch, which explains the watch chain that Bill mentioned in
his letter.In 1946, Ian MacE. wrote to the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City asking for help and became the first A.A. member in New Zealand.
Previously, he had tried every known treatment for his drinking problem without success. In late 1945, Ian had checked himself into the Nelson Psychiatric Hospital. While in the reading room, he picked up a copy of the November 1944 issue of Reader’s Digest
[left: cover]
and read an article condensed from Argosy, which had published the
full article in October 1944
[right: cover]. Titled “‘Maybe I Can Do It Too!’”
[left: 1st page]
by Edward McG., the piece detailed the recovery of an alcoholic who had
found help through a fellowship called Alcoholics Anonymous. Ian had never
heard of A.A., but he identified with the article in a way he had never
identified with anyone before. A note at the end of the article stated, “A
postcard sent to P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Annex, New York 17, N.Y., will
bring further information about this organization.” Ian wrote to that
address, taking the first step in his own recovery, and thus A.A. in New
Zealand was born.
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