Sidney D. Light's WWI Diary, Postcards & Letters, 329th Battery Book Accounts

        The second battalion was assembled at 1:00 p.m. and marched down the never-forgotten Custer road to the train at the far end of the camp, from where we bade farewell to the best camp we have ever occupied.  The train took us through Detroit, Windsor, etc., and finally landed us in Hoboken, N.J., from where we took a boat to Long Island, N.Y.  After spending several anxious hours in Long Island we boarded a train, an 1820 model, express, and arrived in the Garden City late that evening.  From here we marched to Camp Mills with full packs.  This march is one of many which never will be forgotten, as the streets were oily and muddy.  To add to our discomfort our slickers were worn, thus allowing no free walking motion with our packs.

         We arrived at Mills about midnight and were immediately assigned to quarters.  Some fifty fellows slept in a two by four cook shanty, which at that time felt mighty good.  The next day the battery was assigned its portion of tents and the necessary overseas requirements were started, including physical inspections, clothing settlements and drills.  During the afternoons passes were issued and the entire battery took advantage and visited New York City, the famous Coney Island and other places of amusement.  The bath houses were also a very essential necessity in Camp Mills, as black dirt storms visited us every day.  When the time arrived for our departure we were happy, as living in tents filled with black dirt, with the hot sun beating down upon them, did not quite strike our fancy.

         On July 31 we marched to the train and departed for Long Island once again.  At Long Island a ferry boat welcomed us and finally landed us beside the good old ship “Maungunui” in Hoboken.  The remainder of the day and night was spent in looking over our submarine fighter, which was pronounced safe to make the trip.

        August 1, 9:00 a.m., the “Maungunui” cleared the dock and headed for the deep blue sea, midst laughter, singing and cheers.  The first two days were days of agony for most of us, in fact the sea sickness started several hours after we had left port.  All was quiet in these days, one being only too glad to be in his hammock and asleep if sleep were possible.  About the third day out things changed for the better and once again the men were singing and going about the boat in a merry mood.  Our escort, composed of some sixteen vessels, was a picturesque sight on the water and the group of ships could defy any number of submarines. 

        Sunday morning, August 11th, the tune of “Star Spangled Banner” came floating out to us from the Liverpool docks.  It was played by a British band while our boat docked and we again set foot on land.  The battery marched through the streets of Liverpool to the station, where we were fed by the Red Cross before our trip across England.