Arriving in England and France
All the day was spent crossing England and this country afforded us beautiful scenery, until late in the evening, when we arrived at Southampton, where we put up for the night at a rest camp several miles from the town. We were advised this camp was so situated in order that the soldiers could wash up and get a good rest before departing for France, but the next day at noon found us hiking for the docks, where we again embarked, this time for France, on the Harvard. The night was spent crossing the channel. We landed at Le Havre early the next morning, from where we took a train to “Somewhere in France.” It was at Le Havre we first got a real look at the actual results of the war, a large base hospital.
The remainder of the day and part of the next were spent in the 2X4 box cars traveling through France. The trip was enjoyed as far as the scenery was concerned. It was in these cars that the occupants were compelled to sleep in reliefs. The 18th found us happy and contented in billets in Messac, which place will never be forgotten for its hospitality. It was here we could run down to the river and enjoy daily baths and weekly clothing wash-ups. All the boys took advantage of these conveniences and within several days we were all enjoying a more homelike appearance once again. Here the cider and vin rouge were purchased freely and many a fellow will recall with regret the flowing drink. Mixed with our long evening pleasures, the days were spent drilling, attending helpful lectures and going to schools.
August 25th we packed our belongings and hiked for Camp Cöetquidan, arriving there the following day. This surely was a long, tiresome hike, considering the fact we marched with packs on our backs. On this march the fellows began having fun with the inhabitants owing to their improvements in the French language. It was about noon when we entered the much noted American Training Camp called Cöetquidan. The first faces to greet us were Lieutenants Sparks and Gorton, Privates Findley and Philo, who had gone as an advance party and it is needless to mention that these faces surely made us feel at home. Several days were spent cleaning the barracks and surroundings and putting our new home into a livable condition, after which time we started on our final training for the front.
September 6th the battery lost Lieutenant Gorton to Headquarters Company and gained Lieutenant Roy W. Wilson. September 17th we received our allotment of horses, which were turned over to Lieutenant Wilson for care, and to look at them one would think they needed feed worse. It only took a week or so until they were Americanized and pronounced fit for front line duty, which duty they later performed satisfactorily. October 1st the battery received its first chance to fire the French 75s. It did not take the men long to learn the knack of handling them.
Fourteen men were transferred to us on October 16 from the 310 Ammunition Train, which organization had disbanded. On the 18th we lost our best Irish friend to the hospital, Stable Sergeant Burl J. Kelly, a real battery jewel. With Kelly went the entire battery’s wishes for a speedy recovery, which later did come.
At this time the battery was taking their regular road marches, necessary drilling and practice firing , when weather permitted. We saw nothing but rain and damp days, which caused many “flu” cases and sent many to the hospital. Of the fellows sent to the hospital, all recovered with the exception of Privates Varner M. Cravens and Frank Neuhauser, who succumbed from pneumonia.
The remainder of the day and part of the next were spent in the 2X4 box cars traveling through France. The trip was enjoyed as far as the scenery was concerned. It was in these cars that the occupants were compelled to sleep in reliefs. The 18th found us happy and contented in billets in Messac, which place will never be forgotten for its hospitality. It was here we could run down to the river and enjoy daily baths and weekly clothing wash-ups. All the boys took advantage of these conveniences and within several days we were all enjoying a more homelike appearance once again. Here the cider and vin rouge were purchased freely and many a fellow will recall with regret the flowing drink. Mixed with our long evening pleasures, the days were spent drilling, attending helpful lectures and going to schools.
August 25th we packed our belongings and hiked for Camp Cöetquidan, arriving there the following day. This surely was a long, tiresome hike, considering the fact we marched with packs on our backs. On this march the fellows began having fun with the inhabitants owing to their improvements in the French language. It was about noon when we entered the much noted American Training Camp called Cöetquidan. The first faces to greet us were Lieutenants Sparks and Gorton, Privates Findley and Philo, who had gone as an advance party and it is needless to mention that these faces surely made us feel at home. Several days were spent cleaning the barracks and surroundings and putting our new home into a livable condition, after which time we started on our final training for the front.
September 6th the battery lost Lieutenant Gorton to Headquarters Company and gained Lieutenant Roy W. Wilson. September 17th we received our allotment of horses, which were turned over to Lieutenant Wilson for care, and to look at them one would think they needed feed worse. It only took a week or so until they were Americanized and pronounced fit for front line duty, which duty they later performed satisfactorily. October 1st the battery received its first chance to fire the French 75s. It did not take the men long to learn the knack of handling them.
Fourteen men were transferred to us on October 16 from the 310 Ammunition Train, which organization had disbanded. On the 18th we lost our best Irish friend to the hospital, Stable Sergeant Burl J. Kelly, a real battery jewel. With Kelly went the entire battery’s wishes for a speedy recovery, which later did come.
At this time the battery was taking their regular road marches, necessary drilling and practice firing , when weather permitted. We saw nothing but rain and damp days, which caused many “flu” cases and sent many to the hospital. Of the fellows sent to the hospital, all recovered with the exception of Privates Varner M. Cravens and Frank Neuhauser, who succumbed from pneumonia.
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