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THE NARRATIVE OF 

COMPANY A 

106th machine gun BATTALION 

27th division, UNITED STATES ARMY 

IN THE "GREAT WAR" 

TOGETHER WITH ITS FOKMATIOM 
Ax\D A SUMMARY ( >F THE ACTIVITIES OF ITS PREDECESSORS 
__ TROOPS K AND H 

FIRST NEW YORK CA\ ALRY 

EDITED BY 

FIRST SERGEANT WALTER R. KUHN 




CopMi2hi. lyiy. 

Eleuit F. Morlkv. N. Y. 



THE NARRATIVE OF COMPANY A • 106th 
MACHINE GUN BATTALION • 27th DIVISION 
UNITED STATES ARMY • IN THE "GREAT WAR" 



~]^ ()T having compiled, written or edited a 
^ lii'-tory or encyclopaedia lately, we take 
_L 1 our X'i aterniaii Ideal in hand t(jr the 
edification and gratification of ourselves. Orient 
yourself and visualize the exhausted, hrain- 
fagged and Kaffee-Hagged editors, torn \t\ shot 
and shell, endeavoring to present a worthy narra- 
tive in chronological order of the fads, fancies 
and tacts, together with cau^e and eflect. of the 
relations of Coniparn A. l()6th Machine Gun 
Battalion. 27th Division with the Powers of the 
world during the recent connnotion in Europe. 
\ou uill agree that it i- a tough detail and a 
trick oji k.P. is an oil Sunday in comparison. 
The respective genealogies of the editors have 
heeu traced and nowhere has the hlood of a \eno- 
]>hon. Caesar. Macaulay, Greene or other his- 
torian of any note heen "outed" and we all know 
"Bhxxl will out. \o a|)(>logies of any sort are 
protlered or suggested. This historette is a 
rnaginis opii.s. a work of love, although a "helu- 
va" jol). The real hard work has been done bv 
Joseph F. Joyce. Charles H. Wadhams. Thomas 
F. Ivane, W. Frank Collins. C. Cvril Jovce. Otto 
Ostendorf. Albert L. Nelson. Hamilton C. Gris- 
wold and Henrv P. Smvthe. These men have 
narrated the several epochs of the life of the 
comi)anv. The limits of a work of this nature 
have forced the editor to blue pencil to too great 
an extent their commendable eftorts. 

To seek the origin of Company A we must 
mope through the archives of the First New- 
York ("avalry of the State of New York. We 
there find that Troop K had its begimiiii'i nearly 



twenty-three years ago when as the Fourth Pla- 
toon ol Troop C. National Guard of New \ ork. 
(■(innnanded bv Ca|)tain Bertram C. Clayton, it 
ileveloped and made manifest the efliciency and 
discipline bv which it was ever afterward char- 
acterized. In IVO"^. Proo]) C. with a membership 
of one hundred and hitv and a waiting list of 
twice that number expanded into Squadron C 
under the connnand of Major, now Brigadier 
General, Charles I. DeBevoise, known and loved 
as ■■Dehbv" and the Fourth Platoon became 
Troop 6. ((jinmaiided b\ Captain Paul M. Grout. 
In I')I2 the cavalry of the New \ ork National 
GuartI, consisting of Sipiadron A, Squadron C 
and eight separate troo|)s was organized into two 
regiments. Troop 6 of the squatlron became 
Troop B of the Second New York Cavalry, hav- 
ing as its Captain Mortimer I). Br\ant who 
was Colonel of the IDTlh Infanlr\. A. F. F.. 
alleclionatelv referred to in those da\s. as in 
oui own. as "Mort. This a]iparent casualness 
was ]jrincipallv and preeminently employed by 
the men in the troop to hide Ironi the public 
gaze a respect and admiration both lor the 
man and the -(d<licr that amounted almost 
to wor>lii|j. In the autumn of 191.1 the Fed- 
eral Government enacted a law which required 
National Guard units to conform to the tables 
of organization of the Regular Army and 
the two regiments of New York cavalry, each 
consisting of eight troops, were redistributed to 
form a regiment and a squadron. Squadron A. 
with its original troops, reverted to its former 
status and the remaining troops became the 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



First New \ Ork Cavalry ol whicli Troop B of the 
Second was designated Troop K. 

In 1916 the National Guard was mobilized on 
the Mexican Border. Troop K. with the other 
troops of the regiment was called into service 
June 19tli and after a few days at Van Cortlandt 
Park. New York, entrained at Yonkers and de- 
trained at Mission. Texas, on July 5th. hiking to 
McAllen the following day. The regiment, which 
included Troop H of Rochester, which later took 
an important part in the organization of Com- 
pany A of the lOGth Machine Gun Battalion, 
remained at McAllen from July 6th until the 
fifth of March. l'']7. and (hiring that period 
transpired the host of events the narrative of 
which is so often |)receded hv the famous words 
"When we were down on the Border. " 

At this ])oinl it is apropos to command "as 
\ ou were" and digress a hit to look into the 
"where and wlntore" of the famous H troo]). 
The "a|)ple-knocker" contingent was mustered 
into the Nalional Guard of the State of New \ ork 
on Ai)ril !(). 1912. Mr. Ralph Hurst, who for 
some reason or other was obliged to go to Roch- 
ester to engage in business, had been a member 
of the Syracuse Iroop and it was he who revived 
the possibility of eidariiing a group of men who 
rode together fre(]uentlv into a Iroo]). The cou'i- 
t\ and cit\ ollicials of ihe "Flo\\er Cit\'" im- 
mediately approved of the pos.-ibilities of form- 
ing a troop and this approval, with th" co-oi)'i:i- 
tion of influential business men. resulted in the 
formation of a cavalry troop Colonel Brid-i'- 
nian of the New ^ ork National Guard mustered 
some fifty men into service as members of Troop 
H. First New York Cavalry, at the Hotel Seneca. 
Rochester, N. Y. The followins; July the troop 
was ordered to Manlius. New York, for a period 
of training which lasted one week. The horses 
of D troop of Syracuse were provided for their 
use and it was here that Troo]i H received it* 
first cavalry experience under the supervision 
of Captain, now Major General. Lincoln C. An- 
drews who had been detailed as cavalry instruc- 
tor from the Regular Army. The followins 



spring Captain Henry R. Allen and Fir>t Lieu- 
tenant Guy Ellis resigned their commissions and 
the next September Charles J\L Tobin received 
his commission as Captain with Benjamin Briggs 
as First Lieutenant and ('arl Loebs. through the 
resignation of Lieutenant Hurst, was matle Sec- 
ond Lieutenant. On July 7. 1916, H Troop ar- 
rivetl at McAllen and joined the rest of the regi- 
ment. 

The first cani|) develo])ed into little better than 
a morass and aside from the disconilort thus en- 
gendered it became almost impossible to keep 
horses and men in good health. The health rec- 
ord of the regiment during its ten nionihs" stay 
i> an eloquent testimonial to the unremitling and 
eflicient eilorts of the officers to do everything 
possible for the well-being of the men. an effort 
which was e(]ualled only In the attention which 
the men devoted to the horses. In this connec- 
tion it is well to remember "G. 0. No. 7." This 
General Order was an innovation in the annals 
of the Army made by Major-General John F. 
ORvan, the commander of the Sixth Division, 
leniiniling the men of the disastrous results of 
imbibing vinous beverages to excess on account 
of the extreme heat. This order applied only to 
members of the Sixth Division stationed in Mc- 
Allen an<l I'liarr and as good soldiers, who kick 
at everxthing. the men com])lained bitterly of the 
injustice ot the order but as we look back at 
those da\s we now realize the wisdom of it. 

About the middle of September we moved into 
what was known as the new camp which was 
as nearly an ideal camp as favorable location 
and hard uork could make it. The roads around 
and through ihc ramp were well made and 
graded. The Iroop streets were lined on both 
sides with palms, transplanted and cared for. 
with great labor and much profanity, by the 
men. At the foot of each street, just beyond 
the rumor centers, were picket lines and beyond 
those the corrals and every troop was provided 
with a saddle room where each man had a rack 
for his saddle, bridle and other horse equip- 
ment. There were four commodious >hower 




I!I!I(;\I)1ER (;ENKKAL CH\1!I,F,S 1. DEBKNOISK 



10 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



baths in the camp ami just beyond the camp 
limits, tennis and handljall courts. Too much 
credit cannot be given to the hard work, enthu- 
siasm and interest displayed by Lieutenant Ed- 
ward Raldiris of Troop K, later a Captain of 
Field Artillery in the American Expeditionary 
Forces, and his assistants, in the construction of 
this camp. It was known from one end of the 
border to the other as a model. 

The numerous hikes, of course, always 
mounted, to Stirling's Ranch. Brownsville, Point 
Isabel and Ojo d'Agua, left many pleasant 
reminiscences of the "outing" on tlie border. 
The regiment in January, 1917, turned out "'en 
masse" to root for the cavalry football team in 
the game against the Second Texas Infantry, at 
San Antonio, Texas. Our trip ended January 
21st. which in the minds of the men at that time 
was comparable to November II, 1918. the day 
ol the armistice in the great war. We then con- 
sidered that our work on the border was over 
and rumors were rife that the regiment would 
move shortly. Finally the order to return was 
received and on March .S, 1917, we entrained at 
West McAllen station and proceeded northward. 
On March 2(lili the regiment was mustered out 
of the Federal service but still remained a part 
of the New York National Guard. The first 
sipiadron of the regiment was out of service but 
ten days when they were ordered to patrol the 
a(]ueduct for protection against plots against 
the Government by the German Intelligence De- 
partment. 

War having been declared on April 6, 1917, 
against Germany, the men in the regiment real- 
ized that it would i)e only a question of time 
when they would he again called to the colors. 
Out of some thirteen hundred men the First New 
^ ork Cavalry furnished more than seven hun- 
dred officers to the United States Army. This 
necessarily depleted the ranks of Troops H and 
K of the men who had service in Texas. On 
July 16. 1917, the National Guard of the State 
of New York was called into service. General 
routine work was held at the respective armories 



throughout the State and on August 15th the 
regiment mobilized at the Bliss Estate, known as 
'"Owl's Head" Camp in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, 
and a tough war was here fought. On October 
9th the regiment entrained for Camp Wadsworth, 
Spartanburg, South Carolina. Up to this time 
we still had our horses and brought them with 
us to Camp Wadsworth lut on detraining in the 
"Sunny South" we were informed that the horses 
were to be turned over to the Remount Station. 
Thereu])on a great transformation scene was de- 
picte<l and we were christened "Machine Gun- 
ners." Seventy-one men of Troop H were trans- 
ferred, together with the entire Troop K to form 
Company A of the 106th Machine Gun Battalion. 
Captain Alson Shantz, who had been so instru- 
mental in bringing Troop H to its high standard 
of efliciencv, was ordered to the new Ammuni- 
tion Train that was being formed. First Lieuten- 
and Carl Loebs and Second Lieutenant Roger 
Wellington, both charter member of old Troop 
H, were transferred to Company A, 106th Ma- 
chine Gun Battalion. 

It took no longer than the time required for 
"Johmiy" Reilly to polish off a scuttle of suds, 
to weld Troop H and Troop K together. The 
spirit and loyalty displayed bv these troops in 
Texas, and Bay Ridge, was the inheritance re- 
ceived by the new organization. Captain Harry 
H. Spencer who had commanded Troop K since 
191.5 and throughout the Texas campaign con- 
tinued as Captain of the new company. John S. 
Roberts — "our own Jake" — who had been "top- 
kicker" of Troop K in Texas became the other 
first lieutenant. Edgar T. Beamish, hereafter re- 
ferred to as "Beamo" and known previously in 
Texas as "Robidee" exchanged a worn-out Ser- 
geant's bunk from Texas for an officer's billet in 
Spartaidiurg and was the other second lieutenant. 
With this personnel of officers the Company ex- 
panded its chest and daringly exclaimed: "Bring 
on your hundred million Germans." Albert L. 
Sopp, was burdened with the cares, trials and 
tribulations of the company in the capacity of 
first sergeant. 




COLONEL MORTIMER U. liR\ AM 



12 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



True to form, as the re.-^itleiits of McAUeii. 
Texas, had enlightened us on the beauties and 
atmospheric conditions of the Lone Star State, 
the dizzy Southerners extolled the pleasantries 
of the "Sunny South" and informed us of the 
ideal climate that always prevailed south of the 
Mason and Dixon Line. The elements were good 
to us and showered blessings upon us in the form 
of rain, snow, hail, mud, wind, thunder and 
lightning, in shmt, everything but sunshine. 

Intensive training was inaugurated and the 
men prepared to ])erfect themselves for the great 
battles overseas. Besides the regular drills, hikes 
and instruction in infantry and machine gun 
work, practice trenches had been dug in the 
wilds of Spartanburg which on several occasions 
were occujiieil bv the companv. In preparation 
for a trick in the trenches the men would don 
e\erv conceivable garment including woolen 
wristlets, sweaters, and helmets furnished b\ the 
loving hands of ■"mothers, wives, sisters and 
sweethearts." The training we received as a divi- 
sion in these practice trenches made the breaking 
of the Hindenburg Line inevitable for we there 
acquired such an utter loathing and wholehearted 
hatred of Ircmli warfare, even to the smallest 
detail of trench routine, that smashing the Hun 
trenches was after all a small matter and a thing 
to be expected. 

Simulated conditions prevailed to such a high 
degree that thev became i|uite realistic. Iniagin- 
erv guns were mounted and sentinels posteil to 
patrol across "No-Mans Land" into the l)lack- 
ness and stillness of the night where solilarv 
figures stalked and moved with the utmost pre- 
caution, wearing white bands around slouch hats. 
and endeavoring to creep upon the men on guard 
unawares. The nights were cold and dawn 
seemed ever laggard while the days seemed in- 
finitely aged liefore they tottered off with drag- 
ging feet into the fading west. Each day at cold 
gray dawn we "stood to" as realistically as pos- 
sible until the light had softened the face of the 
earth and allowed us to step down into the damp 
and earthy smelling trenches again. We had 



little sleep anil not nmch food anil night Ijrought 
with it again the necessity of constant vigilance 
beneath the stars with every nerve tense and ex- 
pectant, not for Huns but for a far more deadly 
enemy — the inspecting officer of the trench zone. 
The inspecting officers used every means in their 
power to make conditions resemble as nearly as 
possible actual battle conditions and they came 
very near succeeding, but our sense of humor 
saved us from getting too excited. Incidentally 
that same sense of humor kept us sane in Fland- 
ers and France in the great crucible of actual 
war. 

On December l.ilh. again our pride was in- 
jured bv the order requiring us to substitute for 
our vellow hat-cords of cavalry and leather put- 
tees, the canvas leggins and the Alice-blue sym- 
bol of the common ortlinary doughbovs. Then 
there was gnashing of teeth and ]iulling of hair 
to say nothing of original and sincere profanity 
against the authors of our degradation. Early in 
December rehearsals began for the minstrel show 
entitled "Cavalry Days" which was staged, man- 
aged and produced by "Bill" Halloran. formerly 
a buck private in Troop E in Texas, commis- 
sioned a Second Lieutenant in the 17th Iiitantry, 
National Guard of New York and later assigned 
to Companv A. Many of A Company starred 
in this performance when it was put across on 
January 5th in the Converse College Auditorium 
\o a crowded house with the inevitable sign of 
"S. R. O." 

On Januar\ 5. I'^lo. the ()Hicer>' Training 
School at S])artanburg was established. First 
Sergeant Sopp. Su])ply Sergeant McDonnell and 
Sergeants Grant and King were selected to at- 
tend this school and after a severe course of 
training graduated with honors and were com- 
missioned artillerv officers. At this time there 
were vccancies in the ranks of the officers of the 
l()6th Machine Gun Battalion and through the 
efforts of Major Bryant these men obtained as- 
signments to the battalion. Lieutenants McDon- 
nell and Grant came to Company A while Lieu- 
tenants Sopp and King were assigned to Com- 





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(APTAIN I'M I. M. GROUT 



14 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



pany D and Sergeant Ward was promoted to 
First Sergeant. 

Machine Guns were finally issued to us in 
February and practice was held on a one thou- 
sand inch range. The men took a keen interest in 
the guns owing to the competition for high score 
and the rivalry existing between the different 
squads and platoons. In March we learned with 
great regret that C.ajitain Harry H. Spencer was 
to be transferred to the Machine Gun Company 
of the lU8th Infantry and that Captain Kenneth 
Gardiner of the Machine Gun Company of the 
107th Infantry was to be placed in command. At 
a "So-Long" dinner given at the Finch Hotel in 
Spartanburg to Cajjtain Spencer. Major Bryant 
and all the oflicers of the company paid tribute 
to the sterling qualities as a soldier, leader, good- 
fellow and comrade of Captain Spencer. 

An epidemic of influenza, spinal meningitis 
and measles broke out in the camp and the un- 
tiring efforts of Lieutenant Tibbutt (later ]ir<)- 
moted to the rank of Captain I and of "Buddy" 
Neergaard were instrumental in holding down 
the sickness in our battalion to a minimum. Al- 
though "Buddv" was in the medical corps, each 
company in the battalion claimed him as their 
own but he "dined and reposed" so much with 
Company A that the men of our company al- 
ways considered that theirs was the prior claim. 
He had a tough job and more than held it down 
with credit. 

Early in April llie i)altalion was ordered 
to Glassy Rock range in the Blue Ridge Moun- 
tains, about thirty miles distant from Camp 
Wadsworth. Infantry packs had previously been 
issued to the company but without the combina- 
tion for same. They might just as well have 
been so many bird cages as contrivances for 
carrying the wardrobes of the men. Many 
"mean" packs were rolled that early morning. It 
was genuine A Company weather, a light drizzle 
and black clouds overhead promising a deluge. 
Captain Gardiner had been assigned as acting 
major of the 105th Machine Gun Battalion. First 
Lieutenant Carl Loebs had been transferred and 



promoted to the rank of Captain of the 102nd 
Suppiv Train, leaving Lieutenant Roberts in 
< ommand of the companv. It took three davs to 
make the hike, our destination being disclosed 
as a desolate sort of place, simply a clearing 
perhaps a mile square with Glassv Rock looking 
down upon it. The company remained in tliis 
vicinity about ten days studying problems, ma- 
chine gun fire and the tactical use of the guns. 
Orders were received to return to Camp Wads- 
worth and there were rumors in the air that the 
division was to move shortly for France. The re- 
turn hike consumed but two davs and upon ar- 
rival in cam)) found that Freddy Scliini(h who 
had been detailed to remain in camp, had pro- 
vided hot showers and a big dinner. The ex- 
]jeriences at Glassy Rock were beneficial and 
although entailing a great amount of endurance 
the men were all in good spirits. I ])on our 
arrival in camp it was amiounceil that Lieutenant 
Rol>erts had been promoted to the rank of cap- 
tain and was to be in command overseas. Joy 
was unconlined at thi> announcement. 

A few davs after our return from Glassy Rock 
we received the word that we were shortly to 
depart for France and it cannot be said that there 
was any regret evidenced at the prospect of leav- 
ing Spartanburg. With the sixty men from Camp 
Upton to bring the company up to its conqjle- 
ment of war strength, on the thirtieth day of 
April we entrained for Newport News, Virginia. 
The trip was uneventful and we pulled into Camp 
Stuart the following morning and were assigned 
to barracks. 

Experiences of the Men at Upton 
While the original company had been in train- 
ing at Bay Ridge and at Spartanburg from Au- 
gust. 1917, until April. 1918. it is well to con- 
sider the attitude of those men who had been 
called to the National Army pursuant to the 
Selective Service Act. The contingent of men 
who had been inducted into the service at their 
respective Local Boards throughout the Greater 
City and who had received their first training at 




< :\I'T\I\ II \J;KV 11. .SPKNLKK 



16 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



Camp Upton. Yapliank, Long Island anil had 
subsequently been transferred to Camp Wads- 
worth, dated their service from April fourth, 
fifth and sixth. 1918. These men had been 
chosen as machine gunners bv a committee 
headed by Major ( later Lieutenant Colonel ) . Ed- 
ward McLeer. known throughout the cavalry as 
"Big Ed." The popular Colonel had for many 
years acted on the Character Committee on Ad- 
missions of the First New York Cavalry. This 
experience gave him a great insight into human 
nature and it served Company A well in bis se- 
lection of the men who were to join the organi- 
zation and become part of it. The men them- 
selves already presented a most favorable con- 
trast to their appearance when they reported at 
Camp I pton. There they bad arrived at \aphank 
in their ci\ili;ui clothes, some neat and some 
shabby. Sonic had on .sweaters, others overcoats: 
some wore half military and half civilian clothes 
of one or more countries. Some were shaven, 
other.') had a week's growth of bristles on their 
chins. Some were sober, some were drunk; some 
carried suitcases, large and small, while others 
had only themselves. A cold, biting wind had 
been blowing and the men were obliged to stand 
for some time until the officers in charge could 
look after the numerous details necessary in an 
army. The men were drawn up in a long double 
column while their teeth rattled in the cold and 
their knees beat out a nervous rhythm to the 
tune of coughs which were being emitted from 
hundreds of husky throats. A roll-call was taken 
by the officer in charge. This was the first bit 
of military routine that the recent civilians and 
not-yet soldiers experienced. At the end of the 
first military roll-call came the first military 
command "Forward, March." The command 
meant little at that time except to pick up what 
luggage one had and haul it and oneself in a 
ragged column toward the camp. 

The men were conducted to barracks which 
were permanent two-story wooden frame build- 
ings with slanting roofs. Around the outside of 
the buildings were small hedges and gravel path- 



ways and close to the sides were flower gardens. 
In many cases clam shells, fancifully arranged 
in odd designs designated the company or the 
outfit that lived inside the building. The build- 
ings were constructed to house comfortably about 
two hundred and fifty men. On the first floor 
was a large dining-hall and kitchen, a large 
room for sleeping quarters, a supply room and 
the orderly room. The kitchen consisted of a 
large coal range with all the necessary cooking 
utensils, a counter over which kind-hearted 
K. P."s served the food and a special compart- 
ment for the cooks' sleeping quarters. The din- 
ing-hall was fully equipped with tables and 
benches. The second floor was used entirely for 
sleeping purposes. Next to the main barracks 
was an auxiliary building containing shower- 
baths and other modern sanitary conveniences. 
Running water, hot and cold, was available at all 
times anil in the sleeping quarters there were 
large stoves for heating purposes and electric 
lights. All sleeping quarters were equipped with 
regulation Army steel spring cots while about 
twenty windows on each long side and about 
four on each end assured the inmates of plenty 
of light by day and an abundance of cold fresh 
air at night. 

Most every evening there was an entertainment 
of some sort. The amusements varied from 
movies one night to musical programmes, vaude- 
ville sketches, exhibition boxing bouts and lec- 
tures. At no time was any man able to complain 
of the lack of entertainment. The K. of C. gave 
enjoyment through movies, band concerts, dances 
and social "get-togethers;" even Victrolas were 
at the disposal of the troops. The Army Post 
Exchange furnished ample supplies for the sol- 
diers' needs. Still complaints were profuse. If 
the men could have but looked into the future 
three months thev would have been contentetl to 
know that they were enjoying the closest thing 
to Heaven they were to see for some time. Dur- 
ing this time the men were under quarantine in 
the sense that thev were not permitted to leave 
rani|i. There had been rumors that twenty-four 




CXPTAIN ALSO.N SHANTZ 



io 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



hour passes were to be given to the men to enable 
them to go to their respective homes in New 
York City. Elaborate plans had been made lor 
the good time in the metropolis but sad to relate 
at the last minute the report proved to be onlv 
a rumor and instead of the long looked for 
"furlough" the men were ordered to pack up 
for the South. An opportunity was given to tele- 
phone ones folks or to communicate with them 
by telegraph in order to have them come to 
camp some time Friday to sav a last goodbye. 
A large number of the relatives and friends 
took advantage of this o|)portunitv and journeyed 
to \aphank. The last train left camp at four 
o'clock and on it went most of the devoted ones 
away from the boys they were not to see again 
for more than a year. In some cases they were 
never to see the brave lad who so willingly, since 
then made the supreme sacrifice in Belgium and 
in France. 

This was I he novitiate of A Company's last 
contingent in the army, a strenuous two weeks 
at Camp I'pton made up for the most part of 
physical examinations, outfitting the men with 
full e(juipment. inoculations against typhoid, 
para-typhoid, small-pox and influenza to say 
nothing of drills and instruction in the manual 
of arms and the school of the soldier. 

As the men journeyed southward they were 
received at the various stations en route by large 
delegations of j)atriotic people. The journey 
ended at noon on the twenty-second of April at 
Spartanburg. South Carolina where they were 
welcomed by a band of the Twenty-seventh Di- 
vision. On April 26th selection of the men. as 
heretofore noted, was made by Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel McLeer and the contingent that was to join 
Company A was conducted to the company area. 
Captain Roberts greeted the men and in a short 
time impressed upon them the ideals of Com- 
pany A of the 106tli, Machine Gun Battalion at 
the same time showing them how actively he 
was interested in the welfare of his new charges. 



Camp Stlart, Virginia 
Immeiliately after being assigned to barracks 
the battalion received orders that it was to be 
under strict quarantine and that no passes were 
to be issued to the men to visit Old Point Com- 
fort, Newport News or Norfolk. The telephone 
was at our disposal, however, and immetliatelv 
the usual Army "line" was formed to get in 
toucii with our folks in New York. Bert Morley, 
always a couple of jumps ahead of anybody 
else was greeted upon our arrival by his parents 
and the now Mrs. Morley. The company was 
completely outfitted and successfully passed 
through one more physical examination. Within 
the next lortv-eight hours, evidence of the whole- 
hearted support of the folks at home was ap- 
parent l)y the arrival of the relatives and friends 
of the men. Although we had become, as we 
tiiought. seasoned soldiers and strong-willed 
enough not to give way to our emotions, the 
realization of the sacrifices and discomforts our 
dear ones had made in journeying to .Newport 
News to bid us a fond farewell could not but 
prey upon our minds and did much to help 
us restrain any evidence of our feelings. There 
are few of us who will forget the last night at 
Camp Stewart. 

As per scheilule. Company A was designated 
to stand guard from Retreat on May 9th until 
our departure sometime on May 10th. The last 
fond farewells had been said and a strict censor- 
ship was ])laced upon the telephone and tele- 
graph connnunications and the orders were is- 
sued for an early reveille the following morn- 
ing. 

W ith enormous packs we set out for the water- 
front but it was not until about ten-thirty in the 
morning that we boarded the L .S.S. Antigone, 
formerly the .North German Lloyd S.S. Nekkar, 
which had been interned and taken over by our 
government. The men were ordered below decks 
and directed to their several compartments which 
in the majority of cases were located in the 
i)owels of the ship: in comparison, the Black 
Hole of Calcutta wa> a Yellowstone Park. With 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



19 



no salutation of any kind, the anchor was 
weighed and we were off for Euro])e. 

The rules of the ship were imparted to the 
men and great stress was laid upon the fact that 
all lights must be extinguished at sunset. No 
smoking was allowed on deck after dark and the 
men were required to be in their quarters by 




MAJOR CARL H. LOEBS 

nine o'clock. A lookout guard was established 
from the personnel of the Army whose duties 
were exacting and trying, inasmuch as it de- 
volved upon them to report the presence of any 
object between the ship and the horizon. The 
men were posted in the crow's nests fore and 
aft and at certain intervals on either side. 

Each man was allotted his position in case the 
ship was attacked bv a submarine and cautioned 
to proceed quietly but quickly to his place and 
remain silent. To keep the men in good ph\- 



sical condition the English calisthenics were held 
during the mild weather. The living and eating 
conditions can be truthfully described only by 
saying that they were "rotten." But two meagre 
meals were .served each day and as we look back 
upon the fare, we cannot help but resent it and 
we cannot too strongly express our contempt for 
the Mess Steward, sarcastically referred to as 
"Bigdiearted Tom" for his treatment of the sol- 
diers. To eke out the scanty rations, the men 
of the company after getting into the goo<l 
graces of some of the sailors on lioard. were 
permitted to purchase loaves of jjread at the pre- 
vailing rates of one to two dollars per loaf. 
This fact is merely recorded not as a complaint 
Init to present to the reader the characters of 
some oi the men in the navy. 

The "Antigone" was in toucii with afiairs at 
home and aboard by wireless. 1 he ships |uess 
was put at the disposal of the Army and through 
the efforts of men of literary ability the first 
newspaper ever published on a transport was 
produced: "Hot Stufi — (loniiii Ilini" the slogan 
ol the "gobs" was its name. 

As far as submarines were concerned our trij) 
was uneventful. Target practice was held by the 
naval officials and we were sure of putting u|) a 
>tubborn resistance in case of an attack by the 
demons of the deep. Taking the trip as a wh(de 
it cannot be said tiiat our sea yf)yage was a 
voyage of comfort and pleasure. It is true that 
the majority of the days were mild and the sea 
calm and there was Imt little mal-de-mer and 
save for the profiteering propensities of the pov- 
erty-stricken sons of Neptune, the trip made lit- 
tle impression upon us other than the fact that 
we were crossing the Atlantic to foreign shores. 

On the last night of our voyage A Company 
was on guard. This "honor" afforded the men 
an opportunity to escape the heat and crowded 
conditions of the sleeping (juarters and to be on 
deck when we hove in sight of land. But land 
was not the first thing that came within our 
view. First came the aeroplanes from out of the 
sky to welcome us to France, next a few fishing 



20 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



smacks and tlien. just oil tlie port bow there 
came out of tiie mists a gray line above the 
waters edge aiul a lower of some sort was faint- 
ly silhouetteil against the brightening sky. Soon 
afterwards a little destroyer came skimming out 
of the harbor and after circling about our stern 
caught up and passed us on the right with its 
red-and-blue cap|)ed sailors waving a friendly 
greeting and the tri-color fluttering behind. It 
was not our fortune to land immediately and we 
were held about a mile otT the piers of Brest for 
two davs. The ""KE" glasses of the sergeants 
were then re(|uisitioned bv all hands to get a 
peek at France and we could see in the distance 
the prison, the boulevards, the cathedral and 
several chateau and the American arniv tents up 
on the hill. 

On jVIav 2.5th a lighter was swung alongside of 
the "good ship"' Antigone and jovfullv the men 
crossed the gangplank with ])acks carrying every- 
thing but the kitchen stove and jammed up tight 
on its decks. The <letail which had gone ashore 
the dav before to unload baggage was there to 
greet us and we were informed bv the ever ob- 
servant Riker of the places and points of interest 
in Brest. The company was quicklv formed and 
our first hike on French soil was coninienceil. 
Up. up a winding hill we traveled through the 
town of Brest and were greeted bv the inhabitants 



who consisted mainlv of women, girls, small 
boys and verv old men. We then realized that 
France bad given most of its young men to the 
Cause. A pelil garcon marched ahead of the 
column clad in a black apron, wooden shoes, 
playing on a tin flute a tune which was recog- 
nized as the good old Armv song: "Hail, Hail 
the Gangs All Here." This incident showed us 
that we were not the first Americans to have 
landed at Brest. We continued through the nar- 
row cobblestone streets with its quaint stone- 
front houses clo.se to the walk and marcheil with- 
out resting until we were well bevond the out- 
skirts of the farther side of the city. Then came 
the first halt and with it our first lesson in the 
French language from an urchins S'il votis plait, 
cigaret pour Papa. After the halt we continued 
on to Pontanezen Barracks through the big stone 
gates where we were met by guides and con- 
ducted to our billet. 

The barracks themselves were said to have 
been constructed bv Napoleon and used for 
quartering bis troops. Thev were built of large 
gray stone, with i[uaint washrooms and a high 
stone wall about the entire encampment, not to 
speak of the gallows and the execution wall. 
We were ])laced under strict quarantine and in- 
structed to await orders. At the canteen con- 
ducted li\ the thrifty French, the men were privi- 




COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



21 



Mid-Ocean 



COMIN' 



.j'^^ 



?3yr<l4%^ 



,. THRU 



"Hot Stuff" 



Ten ( 



Tuesd.v. May 21. I"!" 



(:.n<i.i,ii.le Ccniin 



WHISPS O* WIRELESS 

Ix>ndon. The German air senice 
hjs been battered to pieces. Since 
March 21 it is estiRi.iled their losses to 
lotal seven hundred pilots, obsen-ers 
and mechanics, while one thousand 
machines have been destroyed. 

London. British aviators have 
photctrraphed Ostend, confirming that 
Fridjy morning's enterprise against the 
submanne base was successful and that 
the fairway ii now blocked- 
Columbia, S. C. There have 
been no further deaths from yesterday's 



"U KNOW ME AL" 

Broadway is quid once more. "You 
know me Al" is now on the briny deep 
and well do we know it, (or we have on 
boaid tjie major pari of the original cast 
as seen in Gotham. 

Lajid or sea, it is all the same to 

Lieutenant [or untiring in eflorts, 

he and his able assistants are making 
our voyage a memorable one. 

On May lith, all on board — rather 
those who had the good fortune to 
wedge themselves into the ship's theater 
had an opportunity to witness sepenite- 



leged to excliange good American ilnllai- loi 
franc notes which in appearance coni|)are(l lavor- 
ahlv with tiiiinese laundry tickets. Large luscious 
strawlierries at two francs the hatful were iiuick- 
Iv ])urchased. Chocolate antl cigarettes coulil he 
obtained at the ^ . M. C. A. canteen if one had 
the patience to withstand a never-emling line. 
We slept on lattice work beds that resembled 
chicken coops. In the morning we woubl awaken 
stiff-jointed, sorehacked. grouchy and u illi waf- 
fle-like creases in our unilorms. The lolhiwing 
day being Sunday no iorinations were held and 
in the afternoon the .American game of '"cat " 
was first introduced into France by (lomjianv A. 
The following morning packs were made u]i 
and over the same road we had traveled, down 
through the town of Brest we arriveil a second 
time at the yards where our four-wheeled liox 
cars awaited us. It was our first intiddnciion to 
the mode of travel furnished liv the French Gov- 
erinnenl for soliliers. They looked like toy cars 
drawn by a toy engine and on the side of each 
was the marking we were anxious to confirm 
Hommes 40 Chevaux 8. When horses were trans- 
ported the cars were filled with clean straw. We 
waited about three hours in the yards which af- 
forded the men an opportunity to become ac- 
quainted with French modes and customs as 
exemplified in the nearby estaminets. One of the 



men whose condition warranted an inquiry as to 
his indulgence in the Ijeverages of France re- 
marked: "I consumed but two liotlles of this 
local beer and am absolutely al a loss to ac- 
count for the effect produced." Upon further in- 
vestigation it appeared that the local beer was 
of the brand "Cognac" which is more or less 
pugnacious. 

The l)last ot a horn, more remiiii-ceiU of iNew 
\ ear s Eve or ot toy Ijal loons, which soundeil 
about four p. in., was the French Irain-despatch- 
er"s method ot intorniing llic anxious men to 
"I'rejjare to .Mount" and shortly afterward the 
train started on its course to "Somewhere in 
I' ranee. All along the mail we were welcomed 
b\ the jjopulace ot every town, \illage antl ham- 
let. It was here that we received our first views 
of the rolling and \ciilaiil icjiinli \ ol |iii'liiiesque 
France, from our side-doors ue connnanded a 
bird"s-eye view of the surrounding country and 
we were struck by the great aniounl of intensive 
farming which had in most cases been jierformecl 
by the women. As we passed munition factories 




AbiHit III Li'iiit' Brrsl tiir ihr (jmit (tifirniiiii 

there was alwa\s a group ot women who uouhl 
stop their work to wave at us ami greet us. 
Women guartled all the railroad crossings, stand- 
ing with small white flags until the train hail 
passed by. On all sides were advertising signs 
of Du Bonne!. \ in Toniqne. Fan ()iiini|uina. 



22 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



Chocolat Menier and Cherie Roclier, the last- 
named being quickly translated, without the aid 
of a pocket diclioiiarv, into "Jeriy-roacher." \^'e 
were carefree antl happy and the fortunate ones 
had the seats of advantage at tiie side-doors with 
legs dangling, a can of buUv heef in one hand 
and in the other some Army pastry, termed by 
the British "biscuit" but bitterly cursed by the 
Americans as ''hardtack.'" 

Our itinerary during the first two days brought 
us through the cities of Morlaix, St. Brieve, Ren- 
nes, Alencon and Rouen. Our first long stop 
was on the outskirts of a small town called 




Potiliviczdn lidrrijiks at lirtst 

f'louaret. We were allowed to j;el out ami stretch 
and informed that we would have time to visit 
the nearbv town Init to return within one hour. 
Here some more "local beer" was purchased 
which in many cases helped the men to forget 
the inconveniences of their surroundings. 

It was at Rouen, as we recall, that the French 
peasant girl, Jeanne d'Arc. after her triumphant 
march against the English was taken and burned 
at the stake by them almost five hundred years 
ago. We crossed the Seine whose very waters 
we knew had passed under the carved stone 
bridges of Paris and by the Invalides. the Louvre 
and Notre Dame, on its way north. Then the 
"Cook's Tour " continued through a long tunnel 
and out through the open country once more. 
It was dusk before we again stopped when an 
opportunity was given to wash up and stretch 
and have our cups filled with hot coffee. It was 
here that we first encountered an English canteen 



with English speaking girls and it was here that 
we were introduced to Wild Woodbines and 
Goldflakes, used extensively by the British in 
lieu of cigarettes. 

Our association with the hospitable English 
canteen girls was all too short and within an hour 
we had again started. At times the French en- 
gines are able to show some speed but this is 
usually on a down grade: still, we were a bit in- 
terested when ours slowed up, just barely crept 
along for a time and finally stopped. At the lime 
the reason was unknown to us but we shortly 
found out that we hatl reached the vicinity of 
Abbeville and the Jerry planes were up while 
the searchlights of the English anti-aircraft bat- 
teries were endeavoring to seek out the enemy 
and prevent him from dropping his deadly 
bombs. In this "Tommy" was not altogether suc- 
cess! ul. In the east the whole skv seemed to 
light up in (|ui(k successive flashes followed by 
distinct though distant rumblings. It was here 
we first realized we were on the threshhold of 
danger. The railroad station and a large area 
about it had been demolished by the Jerry 
lionibs as we saw in the morning when we pulled 
into Abbeville. 

The following afternoon we reached Noyelles. 
Lp to this time our barrack bags had been with 
us or near us and we were all under the impres- 
sion that the bags with all our earthly belong- 
ings would continue to be part of our impedi- 
menta. At Noyelles, however, the bags were un- 
loaded and hauled to a nearby field where we 
were instructed to take out a clean suit of under- 
wear and socks and change them in the field, if 
we so desired, and to retain only those things 
which were absolutely necessary. We were con- 
soled by the fact, or rather the rumor, that the 
bags would be stored and kept for us at Calais 
and some time in the future, near or remote, 
would be returned to us intact. So with a fond 
adieu to the l)lue Inigs we started life anew with 
just what clothes, trinkets and novelties we could 
carry in our packs. We were then conducted to 
an English "staging" camp with the "Tommies'" 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



23 



in charge, washed ourselves at tlie "alilution 
benches" and enjoyed a sumptuous meal of tea, 
cheese and marmalade. We did not loiter long 
and in a few minutes were again on our wav. 
hiking to the town of Nouvoin. not many kilo- 
meters distant. 

Here we were entertaiiied in an l-,ngli^li "rest 
camp consisting of streets line<l with ramoullaged 
conical tents, in many instances with wooden 
floors. Twelve men were assigned to each tent 
and disposed themselves ingeniously in its nar- 
row confines. P'ortunately the men were very 
tired and it was not long before they were slee])- 
ing the sleep of the weary if not just. That night 
a few of the men were awakened by an air raid 
in the vicinitv l>ut the majority slept ])eacefully 
through the hum of the Hun ])lanes an<l the noise 
of the shrieking shrapnel. The next day. May 
30th, in order to celebrate Decoration Day prop- 
erly, we l)roke camp at ten o'clock in the morn- 
ing and started for Rue. This was a short hike 
of about thirteen miles. It was a sweltering hoi 
day and the packs were heavier than ihey should 
have been for the men had been injected with 
the disease of "accumulitis" and hesitated about 
disposing of a host of unnecessary articles. We 
had had but little exercise since our dejiarlure 
from Newport News on May 10th and naturally 
the men were a bit soft. 

We raised the dust on that road from Nouvoin 
to Rue, marching at route order, and the A 
Company quartet kept the men in high spirits. 
We had been hiking a little more than an hour 
along a road lined with tall trees when the 
command "'HaUr' was given to the colunm. An 
automobile had met us and stopped beside our 
Major, and from it descended an English Staff 
Officer who |iroved to be Sir Douglas Haig. Field 
Marshal of the British Forces in France. It was 
simplv a casual meeting: he introduced himself 
to Major Bryant, inquired what organization we 
were and requested that we pass in review order. 
The battalion was brought promptiv to attention 
and marching with heads erect, shoulders back 
and eves straight lo the front, we -wuni; bv in a 



nonchalant way, looking as cool and unconcerned 
as possible. We learned allerwards that Sir Doug- 
las was amused at the excess baggage we carried 
and prophesied that it would not be long before 
we cast aside every non-essenlial article. 

We finally reached Rue, a prelly little village 
which like all the others in Fran<:e was depopu- 
lated of voung men. We were graciously and 
hospitablv received bv the iriliabilanis for we 
were the first American soldiers ihey had seen, 
riie companv was billeted bv platoons in barns, 
chateaux and school houses. Some of us slept in 
attics on w len col^. olhcr> on a slone floor in 




.( I'liint «/ Ri'iil liiliTcst in Kiic 

the school house which was said lo have been 
utilized as a hospital before our arrival while 
the most fortunate were in a large stable where 
straw was abun<lant and the owner M. Martin 
very agreealile and solicitous for our comfort. 
The kitchen was in the field behind the barn 
and the men would eat their frugal meals in the 
shade of the beautiful o'chard. The men quickly 
adapted themselves to their surroundings and 
sauntered off' to see the town. Chocolat Menier 
was purchasable for about one hour after our 
arrival after that time the supply had been ex- 
hausted. The meti soon liecame friendly with the 
pro])rietors or proprietresses (as the case might 
be) of the several estaminets. The Hotel Pa- 
risien. on the Grand Place of the little town, 
conducted bv a decrepit old man. a l)uxom 
woman and tri'.s jolie Mile. Aimee was a most 
[lopular report. (Adv. I 



24 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



It was in tliis town that llie men were formal- 
ly and properly introduced to the fifty-seven 
varieties of French cordials, light wines and 
beer. The main form of amusement of the in- 
habitants here was not to retire but to anxiously 
wait for the hum of the enemy aeroplanes bomb- 
ing adjacent towns. We w'ere in the Somme dis- 
trict at that time and were informed that tlie 
ever elusive front was about liiirty kilometers 
distant. .Strict orders had lieen issued for all 
lights to be extinguished and even cigarettes could 
not be smoked on the streets after dark, ll was 
in this town of Rue that the men became ac- 
customed to the ])ulsating hum ol the Jerrv 
planes. It took no time for the large audions 
that are placed in the cities and at the edge 
of the towns in France to pick up this sound and 
determine from which direction it comes and im- 
mediately three or four and sometimes as man\ 
as fiftv shafts of light jump iorth and start to 
comb the Heavens in .•search ol the little siKer 
wasp above. It alwavs is the same and so it 
happened in just thi> ua\ on om lii'-t night in 
Rue. .Soon there was a conlu>ed hunnning of 
many planes, enemy and allied, an<l although 
many of us imagined a great deal going on abf)ve 
there was nothing to see but the blue skv and 
the searchlights. However, \\hen the first bombs 
drop])e<l. and the\ did drop again that night on 
Abbeville, the brilliant flashes, the crackling of 
the "Archies ami the machine guns spitting fire 
in the air was a spectacle that made us open our 
mouths in amazement as we stood gathered in 
the orchard in the rear of the billet. 

We were now in the British area and were to 
be brigaded with the British. This meant that 
we would be issued English rations and equip- 
ment. And instead of requisitioning sujiplies 
as is the American Army custom, the mess and 
supply sergeants were obliged to familiarize 
themselves with the method of "indenting." The 
English rations were a mystery to the cooks to 
say nothing of Mess Sergeant McAlester who was 
reputed to have been born tired and was jealous 
of his birthright. More about Mac later. The 



kitchen force rose to the occasion however and 
soon discovered the combination of a Maconochie 
ran and became so adept at opening them that 
it became a habit. This concoction consisted 
of beans, pieces ol meat with the fat thereof, 
potatoes and other vegetables while the lucky 
ones occasionally drew a monkey wrench or en- 
trenching tool. But the cooks learned to pre- 
pare it and the men learned to swallow it even 
topping it olT with a Wihi Woodbine. Large 
([uantities of these were issued and the beverage 
was tea. 

The first few davs the men were conditioned 
by physical drills for even up to this time we 
had not received machine guns. The firills were 
not strenuous or unduly prolonged and the men 
had a great deal of leisure time. It did not take 
long liefore they were able to direct the weary 
traveler to the several town> in the vicinitv, the 
location ol the various billets or to Rousseau's 




Si'itr(hlti:ht l.ttnLins: tor "jerr\" mar 



i)icycle shop where A Company's orderly room 
was situated, where 1st Sergeant Ward and Cor- 
poral J. O. Collyer held forth. 

There is no doubt that the presence of our 
battalion in this small town was a financial 
Godsend to the community. American soldiers, 
as is well known, never can — or will — appre- 
ciate the value of monev and while it lasted they 
spent freely. Manv a wine merchant in Rue was 
able to dispose of his accunudated stock at pre- 



COMPANY A 



100th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



vailing rate> uliicli were slightly higher for sol- 
diers than for civilians. 

In spite of the fad thai the enemy was at this 
time pushing down the valley of the Somme and 
in the north in the direction of die Channel 
ports, nevertheless the men of the company letl 
a carefree life. Except for the jiresence of French 
and English soldiers and the nightly air raids in 
the distance, we could easily have imagined that 
the town of Rue was continuing its ]ieaceful 
everyday affairs quite outside the pale of war. 
Of course, we had vel to become ac(]uainled with 
the cross of nearly every family in line which 
had some mendier or relati\e killc.l nr perma- 
nently injured. 

Like every other i'rench |(]wn we visited. Rue 
was no exception to the rule (d holding a weekh 
market-day which in this case ua> on Saturday. 
Early in the morning there would coinc stream- 
ing into town from all directions the two- 
wheeled carts filled with farm jiroducts. They 
were either small loads drawn h\ large jiowerfu! 
horses or large loads drawn by diminutive don- 
keys hurried along by old women with wooden 
shoes and wooden cane. Straight from the fields 
would come droves of shee|) scurrying over the 
cobblestones, fleeing from the cries of a small 
boy always garbed in a black aiiron-like frock, 
a horn swung over his shoulder, ^witch in hand, 
with a Idue soldier's cap on his head and wooden 
?hoes. The shepherd bov's dog was alwa\s there, 
whose province it was to keep the sheep on the 
straight load to the market jilace. All |hi> con- 
glomeration of traffic terminated in the square 
l)ack of the old stone church which had been 
remodeled into the Hotel dp \ ille. Here the 
animals were tied up to the iron rail which 
partly enclosed the square while the carts were 
transformed into little booths which by nine 
o'clock displayed in great array everything from 
cut-flowers and oranges to muslins and hard- 
ware. Then there was the town crier who drew 
the attention of the crowd bv beating a ilrum 
and announced the news of the week and the 
decrees of the town major. 



All of this was interesting to us and it was 
ilillicult to imagine that we had come to France 
as machine gunners and not as pleasure seekers. 
The men were anxious to be instructed in the 
niani]iulation of the guns and to get up in the 
""Line." This anxiety of ours was due more to 
the s[)irit of curiosity than of pugnaciousness. 
We wanted to .-ee for ourselves what it was like 
and to take ))art in the great s|)cctaide of the 
ages. There is no doubt that the romance, the 
bigness of it all had its share in a|jpealing to us 
as well as jjatricjtism and ideals. 

We had been in town but a few days when 
Captain Roberts was ordered to a machine gun 
school at St. Valery, a town on the other side of 
the Somme. Soon after his de|iailnie about ten 
non-commissioned officers, together with Lieuten- 
ants Beamish and McDonnell were .sent to an 
English machine gun echoed al ( iliamp-Neuf, not 
far from the town of La (hotov. It was during 
their absence, to be exact, on the fourth of June, 
five tlays after our arrival at Rue, that the com- 
pany was issued gas masks. Of cour.se, we had 
received instruction in Spartanburg in the use 
and care of the mask ami it was not strictly 
speaking an innovation in mw life but here was 




Thi.s Street in Rue Shini/il he Fumilmr to Must of is 



26 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




FIRST LIEUTENANT EUGAlt T. BEAMISH 



brought home to us the fact that it was an es- 
sential part of our equipment, more necessary 
even than the cook. Tlie company had the masks 
testeil at the nearby town of Hautebat. 

Two davs later we received six Vickers guns, 
chambered for English ammunition and not 
manv davs afterwards English limbers and mules 
arrived. \^ e were now brigaded with the Sixty- 
sixth (English) Division and our instruction was 
conducted under English supervision. An Eng- 
lish lance-corporal taught us English phvsical 
games and further instruction in the adjustment 
of gas masks in "Nothing flat." A little English 
sergeant lectured to us on the use of English 



hand grenades while other English N. C. O.'s 
gave valuable instruction on the art of war in 
general, specializing in the use of the bayonet. 
While Captain Roberts was at St. Valery and 
Lieutenants Beamish and McDonnell at Champ- 
Neuf, Lieutenant \^ellington. popularly known 
as the Duke, was in command of the company. 
With his usual enthusiasm and energy he took 
it u|)on himself to impart to the men whatever 
knowledge he had gained of the machine gun 
and ils tactical handling. Wlien C'aptain Roberts 
and the other officers and non-commissioned of- 
ficers returneil from school, expecting to impart 
to the companv the little knowledge they had 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



27 




KIRST LIElTh:N\Nr I!()(;KK H. W K1 LINGToN 



gleaned fnini llie English instructors, they were 
astounded to find that not only were the men not 
beginners hut in ino;-t cases were possessed of a 
good workinu knowledge of the machine gun 
game. To Lieutenant Wellington must he given 
credit for his untiring efforts in hringing the 
compan\ to the high state of efiiciencv which it 
had at that time. 

In addition to the machine gun work. Lieuten- 
ant Wellington occasionally took the men on 
"practice hike>"" to La(aotoy for a swim in the 
Channel at the mouth of the Somme. Opportun- 
ity was given the men to have dinner at the 
Hotel de la Marine, a modern hotel and the 



rendezvous before the war for lourists and French 
civilians during the sunnner months. It was in 
this small town that Jules Verne resided imme- 
diatelv after our own Civil War and it was here 
also that a beautiful statue of Jeamie d'Arc — 
not of the trium]ihant ])easant girl astride the 
white horse — but as a deserted martvr in chains, 
stands in the principal square. 

We remaine<l at Rue ahoni three weeks and 
although a lot of hard work was done, there 
were also a great many jdeasant hours. The 
game of "cat" which had lieen introduced by us 
in Brest was a favorite mode of exercise after 
evening mess. Much had been accomplished. 



COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




LIEUTENANT MYLES \I. DoWKI.I, 



The men had hecome familiar with the gun. 
they had liecome proficient in adju^^ting the gas 
mask, steel helmets had heen issued and cooties 
had been discovered. A review was held in the 
fields near Clhamp-iSeuf and we were inspected 
by Sir Douglas Haig. Then orders were re- 
ceived and we were again on the march, our 
packs made heavier liy the additiim of the helmet 
and gas mask. 

We plodded along jiast La (Jrotoy, crossed the 
Somme and continued up through St. Valery. 
It was literally ii/i through St. \ alerv for as we 
reminisce we shall never forget the hill on the 
wav out. It was extreme! v warm and the column 



was stalled on the hill which gave us a chance 
to wet our lips from the canteens and catch our 
breath. We had vivid hopes that we were to set- 
tle down in ihe rest camp just outside the town 
but on we passed and continued to the town of 
Salle-nell. Here surelv we would be billeted but 
this small town was occupied bv the 105th Ma- 
chine Gun Battalion so we continued on about 
four miles further to a town called ^\atie-Hurt. 
Watie-Hurt consisted of ]>ossibly fifty old 
houses with thatched roofs, strung along the 
road, a maire or town-hall, a cafe-epicere and 
another cafe without the epicere. Conipanv A 
was billeted in barns and stables grouped around 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



29 




i.iKi Ti:\ wr i-i; \\(:i> i;, ci! \\T 



a coin l\ aid ^ci-called. Iiul realK a harnvanl. 
and llie transport was locaterl altout a i|uailrr 
of a mile t'uillier on. Watie-Hurt is ianious in 
tlie niinil- of tlie sergeants for it was here the 
sergeant's mess was first instituleii. Tlii> e>lal)- 
lisliment (■ause<l rejoicing among llie |iri\ates 
wlio were no longer to lie annoved. al least at 
meal-times. h\ the presence of the ever-present 
sergeant looking for details. 

It was really at Watie-Hurt that the organiza- 
tion of the transport, that adjunct so essential 
to a machine gun battalion, had its inception. 
True, the motive power was to he provided hv 
mules, hut a ureat main ot the men still had a 



longing for the cavalr\ ami the service with the 
transport consoled them somewhat. It requires 
a great deal of patience, courage and profanity 
to take care of mules and in every respect the 
memhers of Company A"s transport were ]iast 
masters. The transport was made u|) mostly of 
volunteers and the men were selected on account 
of their knowledge of animals. At first the trans- 
port was a hattalion organization under a first 
lieutenant who had full charge of all the com- 
pany sections. Each company section was under 
its own stable sergeant and Guy Sager Pfluni 
looked after our interests. He was abh sup- 
|ported bv the then Acting First Class Private 



30 



COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




LIEUTENANT EAKL G. HAWKINS 



Albert Kyrilz, Jr., later Pflum's successor to- 
gether with Johnnie Reilly and James \incenzo 
Toscano, the always present, particularly when 
Reilly is mentioned. 

While the transport was being organized the 
rest of the company followed the daily routine. 
There was one advantage in the arrangement of 
billets in Watie-Hurt over those in Rue in that 
the entire company, except the transport, was 
billetted in one area. Of course, some were olj- 
liged to climb a ladder to the loft at night, 
others slept in the stable and still others pre- 
ferred to pitch pup tents between the rows of 
poplars in the pasture. The barnyard was com- 



nion to all and it «a.- liere the men would con- 
gregate around the "pond-of-ooze." which at 
times the pigs would take over for their pleasure 
and agitate the green fog which seemed to hang 
over it. The muddy-bottomed creeks, full of 
weeds, which ran under the stone road-bridge 
and through the orchard served us as an open 
air bath and it was on the banks of this flowing 
stream that we were first to experience the thrills 
of romance in searching for the elusive cootie. 

On the nineteenth of June, the day after our 
arrival in Watie-Hurt began our real intensive 
training on the machine gun. It commenced with 
early reveille and early breakfast followed by 



COM P AM A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



31 



a three-mile liike to the range. There we learned 
the parts of the Vickers .303 Machine Gun, 
studied its mechanism and operation and fired 
into a sandbank. Our English issue rolling 
kitchens brought us noon mess in order that no 
time would be lost and the whole day devoleil 
entirely to the gun. It was both novel and in- 
teresting and would have been remembered as a 
happy interlude in our training if it had not 
been for that back-breaking hike of three miles. 

With the return of the Non-Coms from the 
English school at Cliamp-Neuf came Clorporal 
Harry Taylor (pronounced by himself in Cock- 
ney English as Tyler), a member of the Machine 
Gun Corps of the English Army. He was a 
typical little English corporal, about forty-two 
years of age, a tailor by occupation in Surrev. 
England. He had thoroughly a])i)lied himself to 
and had mastered the mechanism of the gun and 
had seen quite some service at Ypres in the early 
days of the war. His method of instruction was 
that of insisting upon the men learning verbatim, 
by continuous repetition, all that he himself knew 
of the gun. He knew everything that was be- 
tween the covers of the \ ickers Handbook and 
he would continuously cite his aulhorit\ when 
any discussion arose as to the exact ]iliraseology 
needed to describe some particular operation of 
the gun. Although the men would jibe at him 
at times for his Cockney accent. ne\ertheless they 
responded readily to all that he had to teach. 

Competition was organized among the several 
squads in the Tests of Elementary Training, ab- 
breviated as the English always do. into T. O. 
E. T., which comprised Mounl and Disinounl 
Gun, Mount and Dismount Tri|)o<l. Sight Setting 
and Laying on a given target. Load and Unload. 
Action and Out of Action. It was upon the 
range at Watie-Hurt that the Tarzan Twins. Hines 
and young Joyce excelled bv establishing a rec- 
ord in mounting gun with the steam plug out. 
and tripod legs reading 20 20. in eleven .sec- 
onds. The men became proficient in the nomen- 
clature of the gun and in man\ instances were 
able to select the various parts with their eves 



shut, distinguishing such small details as the 
split keeper pin from the axis bush. Our whole 
interest seemed to center about that gun and its 
employment and even at the end of a day's work 
after a cold bath in the creek, a small group 
would be found spending the evening around the 
gun trying to decide for one another, at which 
position of the crank handle the fusee spring 
had its greatest extension and why it was that 
the tail of the crank handle was peculiar. Then 
later in the evening when it became too dark to 
see. there would be a gathering under the trees 
at the head of the lane leading l)ack to the fields 
and it was here "That Quartet " held forth — 
Dingwall, Johnson. Malioney and Bright. They 
had a repertoire that would ha\c made Caruso 
jealous, their harmony was g<i(id and many an 
idle hour in the cool ot the evening was spent 
listening to them. 

True to Arm\ Iradition lilllc ur iiu work was 
done on .'Sundays and cnniidi'lc rclaxalinn was af- 
forded the men. Passes over the week-eiul were 
issued to St. \ alerv and Cayeux-sur-Mer. Cayeux- 
sur-Mer before the war bad iicen a pn|iulai resort 
on the English Channel. It bad an excellent 
beach, several hne hotels, an elaborate casino, 
and many quaint stone-lront chalelets or seaside 
homes. At the time of our visit the casino and 
the large hotels had for the most part been 
gi\en over to be used as hospilals. 

Lieutenant Wellington and Sergeants JoNce 
and Everson were ordered to an English ma- 
chine gun school at Cecile-Plage. Camiers and 
left the company on June 22nd. A few days 
afterwards Captain Rolterts and First Sergeant 
Ward returned from their reconnaissance of the 
front line trenches near Alberl and (Jii June .'lOtli 
Lieutenant Beamish and Sergeant kuhn left the 
company to attend an American machine gun 
school at Langres. on the other side of Paris. 
The meaning of "the other side of Paris" is all 
that the phrase implies. Fortunately the rail- 
roads in France are so constructed that their 
several routes necessitate changing cars at Paris 



32 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



in order to get from any given |)Iace to any otlier 
given destination. 

On the third ut Jul\ tlie men were stamped 
efficient machine gunners and received orders to 
pack up and ])repare to entrain. The French 
civilians always seemed to have advance infor- 
mation as to where the American solilals were 
to go. Some said Vpres. otiiers Arras. Some of 
the men who had friends at headquarters who 
always had inside information said Alsace-Lor- 
raine hut the rank anil file of the com])anv said 
nothing, heiiig content merely to seize upon and 
helieve in an\ rumor while |)atientl\ awaiting 
orders. We hiked to Novelles which was onlv 
a few hours march hut the glaring sun succeeded 
so well in making the heavv equipment so un- 
comfortahle that the sight of the side door Pull- 
mans with the now famous inscri|)lion Homines 
40 Chevuux 8 was a v\cl(dme one. Fhere was a 
hurried meal at a British re>l camp in the town, 
a (juick loading of the transport on Hat cars, a 
rush and tumhic a- lliirl\-ri\e men -ardined them- 
selves into each ol iln' Ikjx cai^ and we were 
o(T, No one kneu where and no one cared pai- 
ticularK so long a- we reached "that front." 
e\ery nian"s ohsosion for llu- p.isl \ear of train- 
ing. It cannot lie said thai liavcling through 
iiorlhein France at lhi> time \\a> a sightseeing 
loin especial l\ u hen darkness came and the men 
woulil atlenqil to stretch themselves on the 
crowded floor hut as on all similar occasions, 
hefore and after, the situation was taken good- 
humoredly and the lie>t made of the cramped 
conditions. Songs and stories helped the long 
night along and with continuous changing of 
hunk- nearly e\eryone was able to get in a few 
Hink> cd sleep. We finally reached the outskirts 
of the citv of St. Omer where we detrained about 
.S..';>() on the morning of Juh tth. 

As we celebrated Decoration Dav bv our 
march into Rue so we celebrated the "Glorious 
Fourth" by a hike. While waiting for the de- 
barkation of the transport we had an opportun- 
ity to look about the village. There was ample 
evidence of the activity of the hostile aviators 



together with a few significant samples of what 
a long range gun can actualh do. Here and 
there a roof smashed in. the ualls of a house 
taken off on one side show ing the undisturbed 
interiors, upstairs and down, demonstrated that 
bombs and artillery fire could equal the vagaries 
of lightning. A halt-hour alter our arrival, 
without waiting f(jr breakfast, the column was 
formed and the march began with everyone as 
usual ignorant ol the tiestination. \^ e marched 
on and oji and on through Arques. past several 
other villages and fine looking farms straight on 
to the big u<)od> be\<ind St. (Imer. Eight miles 
and eleven o (lock were lelt far astern before 
the comman<l ""Halt!" came ilown the column. 
Here a gooil meal was quickly cooked and every- 
one soon forgot his troubles in the fumes of the 
>a\ourv. though at other times unwelcome, sluni- 
gullion. All that afternoon wc could hear the 
roar ol the hcav\ camionadiiig in the lines, 
miles distant, bringing home to us the fact that 
here was an altogether diflerent manner of cele- 
lirating a sale and sane Fourth of July. The next 
morning, the last instructions were given the 
compam in |iacking the limbers according to 
the neulv |)rescribed regulation and everything 
wa~ pul in preparedness for a sudden move to 
the line. In the allernoon ammunition was 
Inoken out and the machine gun bells filled 
v^hich put the last touch to the warlike feeling 
that had taken ])ossession of us. 

The w(joded hills on which we were encamped 
formed part of a |iowerful new reserve line con- 
structed li\ uhile .nid (Ihinese labor battalions 
of the British together with the assistance of 
I' rench civilians and German jjrisoners. On the 
march to the front, nine of these great reserve 
systems were counted and doulitless there were 
others in the direction of the coast, all the re- 
sult of the disastrous experience of the English 
in the March offensive of l')17 at which time, it 
will be remembered, the British had no reserve 
worthy of the name to which they could have 
retired but were forcetl to make their last stand 
in badlv ])repared position>. Had the Germans 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



ihen known the real cunditiun of the Brili^li, they 
1 ciiihl have heen easily ousleil and pushed vvitli 
little eflort into the sea. These new defenses 
were as nearly impregnable as modern military 
science could make them. 

It was about four o'clock in the afternoon that 
an order came down directing the battalion to 
move forward within an hour. Tents were struck, 
packs rolled, the transport and kitchen were har- 
nessed and loaded and the entire outfit was ready 
to take the road forty minutes after the receipt 
(il the order. At five o'clock the march hesan 
and continued until eleven at night where in a 
field, said to be near the village of Wormhoudt, 
])U|) tents were pitched in total darkness. The 
hike was not resumed until well into the after- 
noon of the following dav. Saturdav. This time 
a fine camp-site was selected before dark and a 
creek was discovered nearby. Little time was 
lost before the men had divested themselves of 
iheir jierspiration soaked garments and were 
splashing in its shallow waters. L"p at daybreak 
next morning and awav on the last la]5 of the 
march uhich look u> to the reserve position^ that 
were to lie occupied during the first warlike ef- 
lort of the unit. The roads in the vicinitv were 
all heavih eamouRaged as hostile observers were 
stationed on the famous Kemmel Hill and in 
Jerrv s high-flung observation Ijalloons. 

Then came Steenvoorde. .Scarcelv a bLiilding 
in its business section had escaped. Evidence of 
heavy shell-fire could be seen evervwhere but 
like many other shelled towns and villages with 
which (j)m|janv A came in contact during the 
succeeding months quite a number of civilians, 
mostlv women and children, still lived in the 
town. Despite the continous bombardment of 
the place these French peo|)le stayed in their 
homes, tended small shops and eating |)laces 
patronized by the "soldats"' and worked in the 
nearby fields. Thev would take to their cellars 
when the fire came close, out again and to work 
unconcernedly when it had ceased. These peo- 
]>le had clung l(i iheir hearths in sjjile of all the 



discomfort and desolation that uar had brought 
upon them. 

We continued about a mile beyond Steenvoorde 
and into the great Wood of Beauvoorde. Prior 
to our occupancv the French and British artillery 
and cavalry had sought shelter there and had 
left behind them a policing job that made the 
labors of Hercules in the Augean stables seem 
like a "cushv detail in blighty" in comparison. 
Straight across the roati from the company's 
camp stood an occuiiied farmhouse and Get-Rich- 
Quick-Wallingford-Morley with the aid of his 
good Man-Friday-Russo immediatelv entered into 
negotiations with the Mailame so that not long 
thereafter the sergeants had established them- 
selves and arranged for a Sergeants Mess. Con- 
ditions did not allow ol an oiderlv arrange- 
ment (d ]iup tents so Captain Kolierts ordered 
the men to locate individually and to pitch the 
tents so that observation bv hostile ])lanes would 
lie tru>traled. Although the men had lieen cau- 
tioned to dig in and barricade the tents against 
the ])ossibilitv of shell fragments disturbing their 
sleep, they were unconvinced of the danger or 
too tired to concern themselves about it. Steve 
Brodie took a chance and so did we. It was 
about ten or ele\en o'clock when out of the 
nmffled rumble came two reports, then a buzzing 
sound like a far distant train approaching, al- 
ways a little louder- and a little closer. Now like 
a near-coming express train. Everyone sat up. 
A whiz, a whirr and a roar; the thing had passed; 
then, hang! Then another one. Right over! Be- 



Ba 



Oth 



shells 



came and tlie com 



th: 



panv was getting its first experience of shellfire. 
Thev appeared to be right on us but in reality 
they were <lro|)ping in Steenvoorde nearly a mile 
behind us. The town was getting its nightly 
strale. The flashes lighted the entire lanilscajie. 
the explosions seemed to shake the earth, then in 
a few minutes it was over. Of course, we chris- 
tened the episode and the repeated shelling of 
Steenvoorde was referred to as the "Mary Steen- 
voorde Express." 



34 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



The men were cautioned to remain in the 
sheher of the trees inasmuch as enemy aero- 
planes in large numhers continuously infested 
the clouds and it was not deemed advisahle to 
allow any considerable number of men to show 
up on the German photographic plates. The men 
were astonished the following day to note the 
presence of several French Mademoiselles sell- 
ing chocolate, for these venturesome maids be- 
sides their wares were equip|)ed with gas masks 
which thev carried as a matter of course. 

A few days after our arrival in Beauvoorde 
Woods, Sergeants Perkins, Follit and W adhanis 
who had preceded us to France, rejoined the 
com|)anv. Tiiev had attended the machine gun 
school at (^halillon and upon the completion of 
their course received orders to rejoin the com- 
pany. From all sides thev were met with in- 
quiries concerning the whereabouts of Lieuten- 
ant "Fannie" Grant who had left S])artanliurg 
with them. We then learned the sad news that 
the ever fastidious "Fannie"' had met with a 
severe accident, having been struck bv an Eng- 
lish aeroplane at Paris Plage. Thev tokl us. how- 
ever, that he was doing finely and would meet 
the companv later. 

We remained in Beauvoorde Woods for a few 
days and then hiked a long eighteen miles, fin- 
ally seeking billets for the night at a place wliich 
will long remain in our memories — Nieurelet. 
near St. Omer. This was on the fifteenth of July, 
the anniversary of our call to the colors and on 
that night, a day"s march from the Line, came 
the first casualties of the battalion. A fleet of 
German aeroplanes had attacked St. Omer and 
at least one had headed for Nieurelet. Almost 
before the batteries had begun to speak bombs 
were dropjiing on the town, the last of seven 
squarely hitting the billet of D Companv. kill- 
ing one man, wounding twentv-five and narrow- 
ly missing the entire battalion transport which 
was assembled alongside that particular building. 
The other bombs killed a woman and two chil- 
dren besides severely wounding a number of 
civilians. The accompanving poem, written bv 



Corporal York of B Company crystallizes the 
impression the incident made upon us: 

NIEURELET 

I've seen my .share of action 

And it lias its own attraction 

And I've hilit-d tlic roads of France, Imth niirht and 

day; 
But to nie tlie meanest feeling, 
Oil it set my heart areelinir. 
Was when .Terry drop]icd his liomlis on Nieurelet. 

Now the I.ine is often thrillinjr 

With its shellinp and its killing; 

And the gruesome sights one often has to see; 

But when you're in a billet sleeping 

And through the sky he comes aereeping, 

Believe me, Bud, that's not the place for me. 

The "archies" started liuiiiping 

And the liomlis eonuneneed a "crumping" 

.\11 we <'ould do was lie there on the floor; 

We could hear his engine humming 

And we thought our time was coming. 

tlcTieral .Sherman had the dope describing war. 

Now they say the war is finished 

But my wish is undiminished 

I want to meet that Hun some future day. 

For his bombing raid succeeded 

.\nd he "got" some boys we needed 

That moonlit summer's night at Nieurelet. 

The following day a ten mile march brought 
tiie battalion lo Ouelnies. This march w ill remain 
in our memory because of a mile and a half 
walk which we had to take over a swamp, march- 
ing in single file on bucklioards. the most tire- 
some method of covering distance in the world. 
The transport was forced to hike tlouble the dis- 
tance because of the detour they were compelled 
to make. It was at Quelmes that Lieutenant 
Whitt. who ha<l been detailed to us at Rue. re- 
ceived his orders to report to another part of the 
Line. He was a favorite with us and was an 
enthusiastic and indefatigable worker. He look 
w ith him the respect and admiration of the entire 
company, not only for his hard work l)ut also 
for his uniform kindness and courtesy to the 
men he commanded. The battalion remained at 
Quelmes until the twenty-third of July practising 
with the machine guns on the range every day 
e.xcept Sundays. They were reaching a high 



COMPANY A 



1061 h MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



degree of proficiency and the effect of the prev- 
ious practice and (hilling at Watie-Hurt and Rue 
was plainly visible. On the twentv-lhird of July 
we started hack towards Beauvoorde Woods. We 
made camp at Lederzeele and the following dav 
a hike of fifteen miles lirought us to the Woods. 
The East Pojieringhe .Su])port Line had been 
estal)lished only since the cessation of the Ger- 
man offensive in March, and Init little work of 
value had been accomidished to lend to it the 
strength which was considered necessary to en- 
able the Allied troops to hold the boche in check 
should he again become menacing. Mount Kem- 
mel. the keystone of military strategy in that 
section, was then in possession of the Germans, 
the French troops who had retired from that 
front having lost it a few weeks previously. It 
is several hundred feet high and. as before re- 
marked, afforded the German observers such ex- 
cellent information that practicallv no work or 
improvement could be carried on in the davtime 
for miles around. It was absolutely necessary, 
however, that the jKisition be strengthened and 
the work of establishing a strong line of support 
was detailed to the new American troops. This 
supj)ort line lay some three or four thousand 
yards from the German positions, our own frail 
front line opposing a most unsatisfactory ob- 
stacle to attack. 

On the night of July 2 Itb the battalion re- 
ceived orders to garrison this support line. Part 
of each company was to stay in reserve for a dav 
or so and the men to go were picked indiscrimi- 
nately in all ranks. Captain Pioberls uml Lieu- 
tenant McDonnell went with this party and with- 
in half an hour the troops were marching up 
the old East Poperinghe Line road, through 
Abeele and on to Remy. No shells fell verv 
close during the march although the roads over 
to our left were getting a good share of the 
strafing. The column moved in platoon forma- 
tion with intervals of fifty yards and companv 
headquarters was established in a house some 
hundred yards below the road at Remv while the 



gun positions were soon established and manned 
by gun teams of three men each. 

The situation at Mount Kennnel, or as that 
l^articular stretch of front was more connnonly 
called, the Kemmel .Sector. <liffered in number- 
less ways from the situation on other fronts. 
Here the armies of Prince Ku]jrecht had faced 
the French and British only since the Spring 
tirive of the ]ireceding March and at one lime 
it seemed that the Prince could not be stopped 
short of the coast in the desperate Teutonic rush 
for the ])orts of (Calais and Dunqueniue. The 
Americans were greatly astonished upon their ar- 
rival to find the landscape, even up lo the fore- 
most jKisitions, so beautiful. To be sure ihe ad- 
jacent villages were lillle more than masses of 
ruins liut farmhouses, although ]iractically all 
had been hit by shells, were still standing, to- 
gether with the hedges and wonderful Iv regular 
rows of trees that make the northern parts of 
France and Belgium so picturesque. It seemed 
increilible that grim war should hold forth in 
these beautiful surroundings, seemingh so elo- 
quent of peace and traucpiillity. It was not until 
a sheet of flame, accompanied bv the crack of 
doom, burst from an iimocent looking park near 
Company Headquarters, a hidden ammunition 
dump shot skywards and gas set its nearly in- 
visible and ghastly hand over that fair scene, 
could we realize that we were aboul lo lake a 
real jwrt in the conflict. 

We could see battle-scarred Kemmel on whose 
crest Tiot long before France's bravest had re- 
fused to retreat and had died Irving in vain to 
stem the gray onslaught. This hill had been the 
crucial point on which bad turned the German 
and .\llieil fortunes and during these last hot 
July days it again seemed destined to look upon 
the crash of mighty forces for the Germans were 
then giving every indication of preparation for 
another tremendous effort to take the Channel 
ports. The long jagged Allied line that stretched 
southward from Belgium, the last obstacle to 
Hun possession of the key to success, ])oorlv 
constructed and manned, an altogether iii-uDi- 



36 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



cient barrier to the narrow coastal strip, the 
loss of which spelled disaster to the Allied arms, 
was about to be overwhelmed by countless num- 
bers. The British soldiers were naturally pessi- 
mistic regarding the situation. They had lost 
much spirit, due to their defeat of the previous 
Spring and were impressed by the seemingly ir- 
resistible power and resource of the boche and 
appalled by the depletion of their ranks. They 
had every reason to believe that disaster was at 
hand. The coming of the Twenty-seventh Di- 
vision brought to the Line not onlv men but a 
boost to the morale of the British Arm\ «hicli 
at that time was at a low ebb. 

Companv A dug in and strengthenetl the 
positions to which il bail been assigned and the 
meaning of the camouflaged surroundings gradu- 
alh liecame clearer. It devolved upon the com- 
panv to make our section of the East Poperinglie 
Line more easilv tenaide. Manv shells came 
over and a lunnlici of ihe men had exceedingly 
narrow escapes. 

We remained in these positions three days 
and nights and returned to Beauxoorde Woods 
about .T.(K) p. m.. on Jul\ 27th. Here we rested 
for two days ami had an oijportunity to get a 
hoi bath in Steenvoorde after which we returned 
lo liie same positions in the East Poperinghe 
Line. On the .'5] st of Julv we took up positions for 
the first time in the front line trenches, going in 
about 1 l.'id p. in. on tlie left of Mount Kenmiel 
in what i> known as >ur|)rise jjositions where 



some of the gun crews were but 200 vards hom 
the German front line. It was here we received 
the famous Standing Orders for Machine Gun- 
ners from Major General ORvan: 

1. This position will be held and the sec- 
tion will remain here until relieved. 

2. The enemv cannot be allowed to inter- 
fere with this program. 

3. If the gun team cannot remain here alive, 
it will remain here dead: in any case it 
will remain here. 

4. Should any man through shell-shock — 
or other cause — attempt to surrender 
he will remain here — dead. 

r>. Should the gun be put out of action the 
gun team will use rifles, revolvers. Mills 
grenades ami other novelties. 

6. Finally, the position, as stated, will be 
held. "Stand to" only on S.O.S. 

While we were in these positions each gun 
crew was more or less "on its own which neces- 
sitated the men carrying ammunition, going for 
rations and individually preparing their own 
meals. Each position presented its own dilTuul- 
ties and dangers but with it all the man were 
in a happv frame of mind. Although the sh>jll- 
ing was well-nigh continuous the men would 
crouch, duck and scatter as the "big stufl" came 
over and then either through nervousness, feeble- 
mindedness or nonchalance would actualh laugh 
and joke about the narrow escapes. They were 
more or less in the frame of mind where being 
>trurk b\ a >niall bit of shrapnel or a machine 
iiun bullet was considered fortunate for it really 




COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



37 



seemed a> tli<iui;li it were only a questimi ot time 
when each of us would get a ■■|)lii;hl\ "" and tlien 
the chief consideration was whethci il uouhi l)e 
a severe or a slight wound. 

On August 3rd Oliver Smith. lonnciK ni' ulil 
H troop in Rochester, was struck in the leg. arm 
and chest by shrapnel. "Arkv" Arlidge. '■Te<l" 
Durkee and "Cv " Joyce immediately rendered 
first aid to OIlie and carrieil him d(i\sn lo a 
clearing station. Smith took his injury philo- 
sophically especially when it is remembered that 
he was the first victim in our coni])an\. Although 
the men commiserated with him for his injuries 
and pain, nevertheless the feeling ])reyailed to 
some extent that Smith was fortunate in getting 
a "Blighty." The men Ijecanie more cautious l>ut 
the ever-present Yankee curiosity was not ]jer- 
ceptildv diminished. Earlv in the morning of 
Tuesday. August 6th. we were relieved liy the 
machine gun companv of the lOTlh Iidanlry and 
making our way back to Beauvoordc Woods we 
|iitched camp. 

The following day we remained in tani|i rest- 
ing after our trying experience and on Thursday, 
August fltli. we hiked to a field outside of Ouder- 
zeele where we livetl in pup tents for over two 
weeks. Clo.se order drill, machine gmi drill, 
physical exercise and instruction on the machine 
gun constituted our daily routine. Divisional 
baths were established in the town of Ouderzeele 
and were liberally taken advantage of by the 
men. The Divisional Theatrical I nit put on 
vaudeville shows under the name of the "Broad- 
way Boys." Our companv staged a show of its 
own the outstanding features of which were the 
rendition of popular airs and medleys by the 
(juartette and a monologue by a Y.M.C.A. enter- 
tainer. Sergeant Wadhams received orders to 
return to the machine gun school at Chatillon as 
a Non-com. Instructor. 

On August 21st orders were received for a de- 
tail to proceed to Poperinghe again to locate gun 
positions and guard ammunition dumps. Com- 
pany A's headquarters was established and a 
machine gun dump was located near what 



was known as Balla (Cottage. The guard con- 
sisted of Don MacChesney. George Day (who 
uas later transferred to the Chcnncal War- 
fare Service I and Arthur Struck. The shell- 
ing had been unilorndv severe and while .Struck 
was standing his guarti he was bit by a ])iece of 
shell casing or shrapnel aTid instantly killed. All 
possible aid was rendered him and his body was 
carried to the Field Hospital <d' the British 
Army. The following noon he was buried with 
lull military honors at L\sjcndi(icck Cemetery, 
lieiny Siding. Belgium. I'lic lo>s was a severe 
blow to the men ol the com|ian\ li\ u hom Struck 
was universally liked lor his ihecry dispositioti. 
willingness and readiness. The detail was re- 
lieved and met the comjiany at Beauvoorde 
Woods to which il had pr<jceedcd the previous 
day. Here the company remained until Se])teni- 
ber 1st. furnishing details of gun crews for thre? 
days to the "Po])" Line positions, u hi'u we moved 
on to Winnizeele. We remained at Winnizeele 
until .Seplemlier 1th when we hiked to Hvbeck 
and entrained aliout lour oClock in the after- 
noon. We passed through Dumpienpie. Bou- 
logne. Calais and Rue and aliout o.llO a. m. on 
the fifth detraineil at Candas. From here we 
hiked through Beauipiesne lo the small village 
ol Raincbeval in the .Sonune district. We |)itched 
camp about three o clock in ihc allernoou in 
pup tents in a small field. It rained continu- 
ously until the following Wednesday when 
ihiiiugli the efforts of Major Bryant we moved 
our camp to large Nissen Bow huls constructed 
of corrugated galvanized iron and conniionly 
known as "elephant hunts." situated in what was 
known as Victory Woods. The Tommies had 
established this camp and left it in excellent coii- 
<lition. in great contrast to the cam|) which we 
took over in Beauvoorde Woods. 

The Sergeants will ever recall the happy days 
(and nights) spent in this small town. A mess 
was established by them in the home of Madame 
Duhamel who at that time was held jjrisoner by 
the Germans, having been captured in August, 
lOM. at Douai. Her two daughters, Madem- 



38 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



oiselles Georgette and Theresa were making their 
home with llieir grandmother and grandfather in 
total ignorance of the whereabouts of their 
mother and mourning her as dead. Thev extended 
tlie hospitality of their home to the Sergeants, 
cooked meals at all hours, mended clothes and, 
on occasion, filled in as dinner partners. On the 
occasion of the departure from the company of 
Santos Russo, the Sergeants, always on the look- 
out for an excuse to "celebrate." tendered him 
a farewell dinner the memory of which will en- 
dure for a long time. 




T/uTr.sc mill Her Muiniiin 

-Manoeuvres were held near Beauquesne 
through Puichvillers, Talmas, Naours, Havernas 
to Canaples. These were held under the super- 
vision of Division and Corps Commanders and 
were in preparation for the imminent campaign 
to take on the Hindenburg offenses. 

On Sunday, September 22nd. the Company be- 
gan preparations for the move which was to end 



by giving us our greatest test of the war. All 
the day before, with the spirit of impending 
movement in the air we had been busy cleaning, 
inspecting and putting in order our full equip- 
ment, antl on Tuesday morning at about four- 
thirty the battalion was silently formed in the 
moonlit road outside our quarters and bidding 
farewell to Haincheval we set out for the trains 
awaiting us a little way outside of Doullens. 
It was shortly before noon when the last man 
entrained and as usual we found ourselves travel- 
ing "a la box car." The greater ]iart of a short 
trip was made in daylight antl it undoubtedly 
proxed to be the most interesting trip the com- 
pany made in France. Early in the afternoon 
ue got our first glimpse of Amiens with the 
spires of its noted cathedral in the distance and 
though the train moved through without a stop 
we glimpsed eagerlv the big deserted city of 
[■ ranee which for four vears had been one of the 
main ])ivots of attack and defense. The July drive 
oi the English had finally released the city from 
menace and it was even then once more spring- 
ing to life, nevertheless we had an excellent op- 
piirtunitv to see the wanton <lestruction of the 
German long range guns and air raiders in the 
battered condition of the big station, the desolate 
appearance of the streets and the numlierless 
buildings whullv or partially destroyed by shell 
fire. As we left Amiens it was highly interest- 
ing to observe the various rings of defense which 
had been constructed to protect this important 
gateway to the heart of France. The city was 
[Motected to some extent by long stretches of 
water and marshland, almost impassable barriers 
and in the open stretches of country bv hundreds 
of deep well-constructed trenches which par- 
alleled, zig-zagged and criss-crossed in every 
direction. All of this country from a few miles 
outside of Amiens through Peronne and on to 
Tincourt where we detrained had but recently 
been won back bv the British in their July of- 
fensive. It was to continue this work that the 
Twenty-seventh Division, still fighting as part of 
the Fourth British Army, was now beina; hurried 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



39 



forward. At Kemmel we had seen only one side 
of the battlefield; here, we had our first view 
of a series of Ijattlefields which had manv times 
been the scene of desperate advance and more 
desperate, stubborn resistance and retreat. 

The territorv we now passed through was a 
desolate slretcii. The land was practically void 
of any isiiid of vegetation and entirely lacking 
in signs of cultivation. Here and there we would 
see deserted trenches with their flanking rows 
of barbed wire, now on one side, now on the 
other, its position signifying In which armv the 
trench had been used. It neetled but a slight bit of 
imagination to picture to ourselves most vividly 
the struggles which had so receiitlv been enacted 
lor the sinews of war were everywhere visible. 
In a few places where the advance of the British 
had been too swill and sure foi a >lid)b(:irn re- 
sistance the country looked more normal but in 
the main the country was literally pittetl with 
shell holes and though it was still early fall ihe 
trees hail been sucpl entirely cleaTi of branches 
and leaves \>\ rille and machine gun fire, or, 
as in man\ places, uprooted or cut through bv 
the direct hits of heavy shells. 

The railroad over which we were tra\eliiig 
had but recently been rebuilt by the unceasing 
work, day and night, of the British and Canadian 
engineers and the roadbed continnallv showed 
that il had been a main target for Hun shells. 
The telegra|ih and tele])hone wires were almost 
entirely down and it was a common sight to en- 
counter |)()les either cut clean through by shells 



or so badly shattered that the weight of the wires 
had forced them down. The wires still in use 
were laitl. as is usual in forward areas, hicjsely 
along the ground with plenty of slack so that 
they might be easily repaired. On all sides w-ere 
the remains of field j)ieces, abandonc<l tanks, 
bent and twisted aeroplanes, innumerable small 
liits of ordnance and ecjuipment, lying where 
they had lieen ha>til\ Hung bv men in the terror 
of retreat or the lust of pursuit. 

It was dark when we detrained at 'Fincourt, 
the railhead at that time, anil in a lin\ miruites 
ue were hiking u]i the road towards what was 
to be our camp. Our course almost paralleled 
the hattleline and we could hear cpiile plainly 
the distant, intermittent rumlde of the big guns 
while the horizon was often lighted by the Hare 
of signal rockets and \ ery lights. We pas.sed 
through a mere shell of a town, and after a 
l)risk walk ol four miles reached our cam])ing 
])lac-c just on the edge of a thick pine wood. On 
this march we received the historic order, "Get 
out \(iur cups!" At the commencement of the 
hike the word wa^ pa-^ed that we wiudd ]iro- 
ceed oid\ a huntlred yards or so when we would 
hall and have a cup of hot coflee to stay us on 
the road. About liltcen minutes out the word 
came down the column to gel out cups and each 
man tugged and swore at his "left flank rear" 
in the ellort to disengage his cup Irom canteen 
co\er. Heads went u|>, hearts and step lightened 
at the ]iros])ect but sad to relate we carried those 
em|it\ cuji- for an hour and a hall and then. 




.\LL THAT IS LEFT OF PERONNE 



40 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



stealthily, sheepishly, by twos and threes re- 
turned them unfilled to tiieir places. 

\^ hen we reached the woods we were met by 
the billeting party which had preceded us. We 
also found that the transport and kitchen had 
arrived and that "Mac" had awaiting us the hoi 
coffee for which we had so vainlv sought. The 
billeting question was not solved in a particu- 
larly satisfactory manner. There were a few ele- 
phant huts in the woods but A Companv's al- 
lotment was sufficient to house only a part of 
the first and second platoons. The rest of the 
company, after being cautioned against entering 
German dugouts I for fear of mines I were turned 
loose to shift as best they might. Relying on 
what promiseil to he a fine clear night, most of 
us contented ourselves with making sleeping 
bags out of our blankets and shelter halves and 
stretched out on the grass. French weather signs 
proved deceptive, however, and early in the 
morning we had a rather damp awakening. How- 
ever, when it rains, the great rule in the Army 
is to let it rain and at nine o'clock we were up 
and about the day's work which consisted in pro- 
viding shelter for ourselves as our stay in that 
area, so far as we could find out, promised to be 
an indefinite one. 

During the day we roamed about, cautiously 
prying into Jerry dugouts and looking over parts 
of his equipment which was lying about. We 
had had instilled into u- a wholesome respect 
for his abilil) to make ihe places he had va- 
cated, undesirable for his successors and we got 
additional evidence of it here. 

At daybreak, on September 26th. Lieutenant 
Beamish who was in command of the company 
in the absence of Captain Roberts, with Sergeant 
Ray and Private Thurber as runner, set out to 
reconnoiter the territory and select the gun posi- 
tions which we were to occupy that night. Lieuten- 
ant Wellington was left in command and we 
spent the morning loading belts, filling the guns 
with water and packing everything in tip-top 
shape on the limbers. During the morning we 
were joined by Sergeant Leslie M. Sharper of 



the 12th Australian Machine Gun Compam who 
was attached to give us the benefit of his long 
ex])erience at the front. He was an excellent fel- 
low and was welcomed heartily and we acknowl- 
edge gratefully the many things he did for us all 
during the next few days. 

Packs were rolled and deposited in a general 
dump which we had established in the billeting 
area and it was a happy, laughing conqjanv that 
snapped to attention at Lieutenant Wellington's 
command that afternoon. We were off to meet 
the boche and give him such a deluge of machine 
gun bullets as he had never known before. So 
with a song upon our lips and the confidence 
to do or die in our hearts we moved out shortly 
before three o'clock. 

Our route led us past Templeux-la-Fosse and 
on through numerous small villages, all more 
or less destroyed by shell fire. In many instances 
a sign-post and a heap of brick and debris was 
all that remained to mark them. Long lines of 
lorries and horse transports continually passed 
us hurrying forward their various cargoes of 
supplies and returning for fresh loads; giant 
caterpillar tractors dragged on the big guns 
which were soon to hurl their messages of de- 
fiance and death Jerryward and long winding 
columns of light artillerv helped to choke the 
populous highwav. 

We passed through Villers-Faucons and just as 
we left this latter place we were treated to one 
of the most thrilling and spectacular sights that 
we witnessed during the war. As is usual on a 
clear day, the British had run up a string of 
observation balloons about four miles back of 
the front line. Two of these were almost di- 
rectly over our column and as we watched them, 
suddenly, out of the light clouds shifting about 
above them darted two Jerry aeroplanes. Each 
plane selected a balloon and made straight for it. 
There was a quick pul-put-put- as the pilots let 
go a string of incendiary bullets and then they 
were away in a terrific dash for their own lines. 
As the boche pilots fired two figures somersaulted 
out of each balloon and drifted down in para- 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



41 



chutes while in the next second both balloons 
were a mass of flames. The ilaiing Huns en- 
countered a (leel of Allied planes on their re- 
turn trip and we short I \ atlerwards saw one of 
them brought down. 

Tovvard> dusk we halted and ale our meal 
along the roadside just under cover ol a slight 
lull. We were now quite close to the line and 
when we fell in after mess were ordered to 
change from overseas cap to helmet and to wear 
our gas masks at the alert position. We con- 
tinued on and just as darkness set in reached 
Templeux Cross, a crossroail about a half mile 
from the town of Ronssoy. Here the guides who 
were to take us into ihe line awaited us. The 
lindjers were unloaded as the plan was to man- 
handle the equipment from this point to our 
positions. 

The reconnaissance of the positions had been 
made onlv that mortnng and ihe company or- 
dered forward >o hurriedh ihal iheie was no 
time to give even the ]>latoon sergeants conqdele 
data as to where the guns were to be laid. Just 
ahead and to our lelt was an inunense (juarrv 
along one side of which ran the road we must 
travel and in and around this (juarry as well as 
on the road were maiiv batteries of heavy guns. 
Jerry seemed to be well aware of these guns and 
subjected the area to heavv and interniiltent 
shelling. We had just picked u]) guns and e(|uip- 
nient and the colunui was being formed in the 
road when two high explosive shells came hur- 
tling over and burst not twent\ vards from us. 
We crouched in the side of the road and were 
covered with a shower of dirt and gravel, one or 
two of the men near the hea<l (d the column be- 
ing knocked flat by the concussion. As quickly 
as possible the column formed and moved out. 
proceeding for about half a mile, ll was then 
learned that considerable distance had yet to be 
covered to the positions and each man was in- 
spected and his load reiluced to the niaximuiii 
weight it was thought he could handle. The sur- 
plus e(iuipmenl was piled in a heap and the com- 
pany moved on. Frank Blackball, George 



Chase, Duve and Weaver were wounded while 
guarding this property and were forced to leave 
the company and later were sent to hospitals in 
England. 

We ^llall not >o(in forget that bike down 
ihe Tem|)leux Swit<'h to the sunken road at 
the far end of which our positions were lo- 
cated at a point called Valley Post. Any one 
of us asked to estimate the length of that march 
would luue said unhesitatingly anti with assur- 
ance "About one hundred and eightv-five miles," 
but later reflection comjjels us to reduce this 
figure somewhat. We encounlered muil. shell- 
Indes. artillery and machine-gun fire and gas: 
singly and together, and all duiing ihis time we 
were burdened with im|)edinienta o! various 
sorts. The guides, like all guides, set out at a 
good still pace and in lillecn minutes or so the 
colunni became pretty well strung out. Part ot 
the second and third platoon after losing touch 
with the head of the colunni. look ihe wrong 
turn and proceeded down a trench which was 
enfiladed l)y German machine guns. A conveni- 
ent dugout, then occupied by pari ol the lOOlh 
Infantrx oflered shelter during a twenty minute 
barrage which Jerry at ihat lime felt constrained 
to put over. 

After the barrage, they started again and fin- 
ally did get into the jxisitions. It was about 
midnight when ihe whcde com|iany reached \ al- 
ley Post and nmch remained to be done before 
dawn. Gun positions had to lie dug and weary 
though the men were they commenced ihe work 
almost iiumediatelv. The trench we were in was 
more of a sunken road, high in front and low in 
the rear and alTorded a good measure of pro- 
tection, lending il>elf well to the construction of 
gun em])lacenienls. While the men were digging 
these. Company Headquarters was established in 
a dugout midway of the twelve gun positions 
and Lieutenant Beami>h checked all the equij)- 
ment and discovered thai our sup])ly ol amnumi- 
tion was insuflficient to enable us to pul down a 
successful barrage. A detail was immediately 
formed of all the men except a corporal and one 



42 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



man from each squad who continued the work 
on the gun positions and this detail under the 
command of Sergeant Collins successfully car- 
ried through one of the hardest jobs we en- 
countered during the wiiole war. 

When we set forth we were already exhausted 
bv the long afternoons marcii and the difficul- 
ties we had met on tiie trijj into the line. Our 
route lay through the trenches and over the 
sunken roads we had just traversed and these 
were soon so slippery from the rain that it was 
impossible to keep ones feet for more than a 
few steps at a time. In the pitch darkness we 
would go sprawling over low-lving strands of 
wire or sliding into unseen siiell holes until we 
were soaked to the skin and covered with mud. 
About an hour (d >ucii traveling brought us to 
the amnnmition duni]i and the prospect of going 
back through the same difficulties, this time bur- 
dened with belt boxes, was far from encourag- 
ing. It was just as we hati reached the dump 
and had pulleil up for a breathing spell that 
Jerry dropped a few heavies almost on top of 
us and everyone crashed ])ell-mell into the 
nearest dugout which ha])pened to be an artillerv 
shelter. About two-lhirtv. though the shelling 
still continued, we realized that we must return 
to the gun positions before daylight so we started 
off. Each man took three belt-boxes, weighing 
twenty-one pounds each, liut our later experience 
proved that our hopes of getting through with 
this load were too sanguine. Just as we had 
gotten well started shells began dropping quite 
near and the alarm of gas was sounded. The 
"ammo" boxes flew in every direction and we 
all dropped flat as we dove into our masks. 
From then on our dodging shell holes or slip- 
ping into them were literally interspersed with 
gas alarms. Many of us were so weary that we 
almost had to crawl in places and a rise of a 
few feet appeared to be a mountain over which 
it was easier to crawl than to trv to walk. 

Wlien about a quarter of a mile from our posi- 
tions we entered the sunken road occupied by the 
106tli Infantry. The going here was tougher than 



it had been if such a thing were possible for the 
trenches were narrow and ankle deep in stickv, 
slippery mud. Once more Jerry bumped a few 
over and one shell exploding directly in front of 
the column killed two infantrymen who were 
standing near. One was killed instantly and the 
other was past our help. We summoned aid 
from their companv and pushed hurriedly on; 
a desperatelv fatigued and mud-caked crowd who 
crawled or tumbled into the positions just as 
dawn was breaking. 

During the absence of the ammunition party 
the rest of the companv had been hard at work 
fixing up the gun positions although the work 
was hindered by the rain and intermittent boche 
shelling. Jerrv was not altogether unsuccessful 
in his endeavor to strafe us for one shell ex- 
ploded s(juarelv in the trench and the flving 
fragments wounded Tim O'Connor, Andy 
Schmitz, and Eddy Comtoise and Van Deusen 
and Haussmann were gassed. These men were 
wounded so severely that they had to be taken 
to the rear on stretchers. Messinger and .Sheldon 
with Iwi) other men whose names we are unable 
to recall deserve the highest commendation for 
their work as stretcher bearers. 

The gun ])ositions were coni])leted and the 
guns laid in a nick of time and at 4:1.t a.m. 
the battalion laid down a short barrage in con- 
junction with the artillerv. 

It might be well to pause here in our story 
and consider briefly the part which the company 
and battalion had to play with reference to the 
division, corps and army of which we were a 
part. A Company's position at Valley Post was 
on the extreme right of the line held by the 
Twenty-seventh Division. The Twenty-seventh 
and Thirtieth Divisions of the Second U.S. Army 
were acting as part of the Fourth British Army 
and on the night of the twenty-seventh of Septem- 
ber were occupying adjacent positions, with a 
division front of about 3..500 yards. The Twen- 
tv-seventh occupied the corps" left in front of 
Bony and Le Catelet while the Thirtieth held the 
corps' right in front of Bellicourt. all strong- 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



43 



holds of the Hiiiileiiluirti; Line and its suhsidiaiv 
defenses. The Ihirtietli l^ivisions front-line 
positions on that night were approximately along 
the hroken line which was to be the take-oft' for 
the big stunt on September 29th. while the for- 
ward positions of the Twenty-seventh Division 
were from loOO to 2000 vards Ijehind llii~ line. 
It was to take part in the preliminarv battle 
(d "The Knoll. " an attack bv infantr\ >upported 
b\ tanks, artillery and machine guns, when the 
lOfith Infantry was to attcm|)t to straighten out 
the corjjs' left, that the lOOth Machine Gun Bat- 
talion had been brouglil up and it was to cover 
this iniantrv advance that the artillerv and ma- 
chine gun barrages were laid down. Jerrv as 
usual answere<l ibis barrage with a counter-bar- 
rage which however was directed niainlv at the 
allacking units an<l the artillerv. our onlv casual- 
ty that night lieing the slight wound receivefl liy 
Sergeant Zimmer. A ])iece of shrapnel struck 
his hand and necessitated a I rip lo the dressing- 
station. Init he returned in an hours time and 
continued with the companv. 

The experience of Lieutenant Hawkins in 
bringing up the ammunition transport is worthy 
of chronicle. As the companv left Villers-Fau- 
cons. Lieutenant Hawkins was detached on Bat- 
talion service and ordered to locate an Australian 
convov ot G. S. wagons and jnoceed with them 
to the Battalion Ammunition Dump. Shortlv 
alter dark he locale<l llie lrans])ort which had 
been delaved liy the trailic congestion and brought 
them up to where thev were to meet the guides 
who would direct them on their wav. Thev 
reached the outskirts of Templeux where the\ 
were to ]iick u|i the guides but finding none, the 
lieutenant. ba\ing verbal inlormalion that the 
dump was to be established at a point called 
Orchard Post, decided to continue alone. Leav- 
ing Templeux he found that the road forked 
north and south and chose the south fork. This 
proved to be "bad medicine" for thev bad pro- 
ceeded but a short distance when the Jerrv bar- 
rage shifted lo the road directh in front of llieni 



and in a few minutes had rendered it impassable. 
It was pitch dark and raining hard and as 
usual the road was choked with transjjort and 
artillerv trains. To add to the general contusion 
the ammunition train of the l().">th Machine Gun 
Ballalion arrived on the scene com|detely igno- 
rant of their location and in the narrow road it 
was almost impossible to keep the two convoys 
separate. The task of turning the train about in 
that narrow traliic-filled road was a hard one but 
it was finallv accomplished and they retraced 
their steps to the north fork and in a short lime 
reached Ronssov where the train pulled up be- 
hind a wall where it remained for the ne\t hour 
while LieutenanI Hawkins roamed ihrough mu<l 
and rain and darkness under shelHire until he 
at last found Battalion Headquarters where he 
received the necessarv information to enable him 
to firing the transport to Orchard Post, rejoin- 
ing the companv about four a. m. 

The Ircnch we occupied was found, in day- 
light, to be a sunken road which had been con- 
verted into part of the trench svslem. Several 
small dugouts, jiroof at least against shrapnel 
and shell splinters had been dug and there was 
one large dugout ca])able of housing at least a 
hundred men. This dugout was partially occu- 
]jied bv infantrvnien of the Thirtieth Division 
and for the next two days we shared it with them. 
Like most of the larger dugouts it was furnished 
with chicken wire bunks and barring an occa- 
sional gas alarm was an excellent place to sleep. 

At nine o'clock Friday morning a ration party 
went back to the kitchen over the route taken 
bv the ammunition partv, related above, and 
brought out our first hot meal. On the return 
trip they came through Hargicourt, a consider- 
ably shorter route which was thereafter utilized 
bv all carrving parties. It was on this morning 
that the companv suflered its hardest blow of the 
Hindenburg battle in the death of Bugler Harrv 
C. Walsh and the severe wounding of Fred 
Zeitler. Walsh was one of the boys who had been 
with ihe company since its inception .it Spartan- 



44 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



burg anil previous to that with the old Troop K 
and his cheery good nature and faithful work 
had made him a friend and connade who has 
been genuinely missed by us all. Freddie Zeitler 
enlisted with old Troop H and had also joined 
Company A at Spartanburg and had been with 
us continuously. Althougii seyerelv wounded 
he enileavored to rentier all possible aid to 
Walsh. We honor them both for the sacrifices 
they have made in the performance of their dutv. 
Late that afternoon. Lieutenant Hawkins who 
had been out all day in an endeavor to get our 
company ammunition train through Ronssov 
which was being shelled almost continuously, 
stopped at the company kitchen for a cup of 
coffee and finding that they had a hot meal ready 
to serve offered to try to get the "eats" up to 
the positions along with the ammunition. The 
way led up through Hargicourt, a town well 
known to Jerry as an important center for the 
allied horse transport service and therefore con- 
tinually a target for the heaviest sort of shelling. 
It proved to be a ticklish job getting through 
for Jerry had starteil his evening harassing fire, 
but cool, steady work on the part of Lieutenant 
Hawkins and the daring, skillful driving of Ek- 
lund and Schempf. who had already spent the 
greater part of the day in the saddle, brought 
the limbers to within about fifty yards of our 
gun positions. This jjroved to lie the solution 
of one of our most trying problems for it was 
almost impossible to bring up a hot meal by 
hand. The following day. both morning and 
evening, Mess-Sergeant McAlester brought the 
front half of the rolling kitchen clear up to the 
gun position with steaming hot meals. "Mac" 
surely worked hard those days and to him as 
to Ekiund and Schempf who drove on the various 
trips, together with the Gaellic kitchen force of 
Galvin. Powers. Hannigan and Sancken, goes all 
the credit for the fact that A Company was the 
best fed company in the line during the Hinden- 
burg stunt. It was with a great deal of pleasure 
that months later, in Connerre. the battalion was 



|)araded to hear read to them the citation from 
the Division Commander which we print here, 
earnestly echoing the sentiments it expresses: 

TWKXTY-SEVENTll DIVISION' 

A .M I-: It u'A X i-:x pi-'.nniox A K Y fokcks 

I'liAXCK 

T.I .Mfss Sergeant Walter C. Me Alrster, Cd. A. iniith 
.Machine Gun Battalinn: 
■^'iiiir gallant cchkIuc-I in the fii'lil on Septeinlier 
.'!), lilts (liirinjj- the ojieraticins against the Hinilen- 
linrjr Line in taking vdni- fiehl kitchen forward to 
tlie line under heavy tire after you had lieen wounded, 
has lieen reported to iiic\ and I take pleasure in 
I'oimnending and making tliis record of your gullan- 
lr\. 

John V. O'Rvax. 

In the I'ield, France. Majar (teiiirn] 

Deccinher I-.!,191S. Coininanding. 

The main stunt in front of the Hindenburg 
Line had been scheduled for Sunday morning. 
Friday aiul Saturday we were occupieil mainly 
in working on our gun positions and equipment. 
The emplacements had been hurriedly dug 
Thursday night, but with two full days before 
us we dug and sandbagged them until ihey af- 
forded the last ounce of protection and cover 
for the men who were to fire from them on 
Sunday. We also constructed small dugouts di- 
rectly below each gun to be used as belt-filling 
stations. The value of the work and the thor- 
oughness with which we accomplished it was 
shown on Sunday when despite the heavy coun- 
ter-barrage laid down by Jerry we suffered no 
casualties other than a few men slightly gassed. 
The two days seemed fairly quiet although we 
hail our periods of excitement when the boche 
would suddenly cut loose with a short, fierce 
barrage, especially at night when he drenched 
the surrounding country with gas. As dusk set- 
tled over the trench the men proceeded to mount 
the guns and tripods on the completed emplace- 
ments. The work was soon finished and all was 
in readiness for the big stunt. Just after five 
o'clock next morning the word was passed to 
"Stand to" and the men quickly tumbled out of 
the various dugouts and took their respective 



COMPAM A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



45 



place*. Tlie dawn was just beginning to break 
ami the night mists hung low over the surround- 
ing country. As we took our places there seemed 
to he a lull over the entire country broken only 
l)y an occasional shell which went screaming 
overhead. As we waited we could hear the low- 
droning sound made by the tanks as they lum- 
bered forward and through the lifting mists we 
could dinilv discern their ungainly looking hulks 
creeping in and out of shell-holes and trenches. 

The zero hour was .5. .50 and we spent the scant 
hour lieforehand looking to the guns, correcting 
elevations, re-laving, checking data and carrying 
filled boxes to the gun emplacements, ready at 
hand for the No. 2 men. During the night a 
tape-line (a white marking line to guide the 
infantrx on the jump-otl i had lieen laid down 
bv the engineers. It ran ])arallel to the Hinden- 
burg C'anal about 2(11)0 yards east of it and a 
short distance in ironl of our positions. The in- 
fantry had alread\- taken their places on the tape 
and crouched there waiting for the word to send 
them forward. All through the night the Aus- 
tralian artillery had been wheeling into position 
behinti us. Their heavy guns strung out for 
thousands of yards to the rear, their light field 
pieces in a field just back of our trench. 

All was in silent readiness as at 5.15 the Nos. 
1 and 2 men climbed over into the em|ilacements 
and crouched behind their guns. "Stand-Bv" 
came the order and twentv-four figures straight- 
ened as they gripped the gun handles. An in- 
stants silence and then "Load" and the guns 
clicked sharply twice as the belts were ])ulle<l 
through and the locks went home. A short wait, 
seconds perhaps, and then "Fire" and in one 
blinding, roaring flash, up and down the trench, 
on all sides of us and to our rear, the attack o!i 
the Hindenburg Line was started. Thousands of 
iron monsters belched forth their messages of 
death and destruction. Guns wh'trh had lain si- 
lent for days and weeks awaiting this moment 
suddenly leaped to life along with iho-^e that had 
been daily hurling shells across that valley. The 
noise was so great we could scarcely hear our 



own little guns pounding awav. The men at the 
guns worked as surely men had never worked 
before. The order was for rapid fire and we ran 
the loaded belts through as ra])idly as the fast- 
heating guns would work. The men in the niches 
below us outdid themselves in refilling belts and 
sending back the loaded boxes should we have 
need of them. Of course, there were stoppages, 
some slight and some more disconcerting but 
each gun coaxed or buUietl into doing its full 
duty and when the signal "(lease Fire" was given, 
each gun was still going like mad. Every ten 
minutes we corrected for elevation and refilled 
with water and during the scant minute occupied 
in doing this we had a chance to look out over 
the valley in front of us. It was sim|)lv a seeth- 
ing inferno of smoke, men and shells and we 
wondered then, as we do nou. Ikju an\b(>dy ever 
got through it. 

The wliole allied barrage nf whiih oins was a 
]>art may be divided roughK inln ihiee groups. 
It was up to that time the greatest barrage of the 
«ar. First the heavy artillery starting at the 
zero hour kept pounding awav all da\ Hooding 
the German back area with gas to hinder bring- 
ing up su])plies and men and seeking out the Hun 
heavN' flatteries with gas and high fxphisives. In 
the second group the field guns or light artillery 
put down a creejjing barrage, starting at the zero 
houi tud hundred \ards in adxanrc nf the ta])e 
line from which the infantry jumped and lifting 
one hundred yards every four mirnites. the 
scheduled rate of the infanli\ adxance. finally 
the machine gun Inurage was directed cm the 
main defeiLses in front of the Hindcnlung tunnel 
and canal and had as its object llic holding in 
check of the Hun infantrymen and machine gun- 
ners until our own infantr\ and tanks i-ould close 
u ith them and ]ireyent them liom getting into 
efi'ective action. 

."^o after thirty minutes of continuous fire came 
the whistle "Cease Fire" and we dismounted 
guns and carried e\er\thing below lo the dug- 
nu'- where ue (leaneil them and repaired any 



46 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



slight damage clone. Our work for a time was 
over and the struggle lay now wliollv witli the 
infantry and the artillery. 




The Caniil ilu .\or</. t'arl of Hindenburg Line of Defense 

During the next few hours as we waited in the 
trenili and prepared to move, we saw much of 
the grim side of the war. A dressing station had 
heen established by the Medical Corps of the 
Thirtieth Division under the shelter of one end 
of our trench and it seemed only a few minutes 
after the barrage stopped that the never-ending 
line of wounded began coming back. There was 
something pathetic and forlorn as well as thrill- 
ing to see those boys singly and in groups come 
hobbling or dragging themselves across the open 
space in front of our trench seemingly unaware 
of the shells that dropped about them. The in- 
ferno they had just left was so much more terri- 
ble that a few shells mattered not a bit to their 
numb, aching bodies and weary minds. As they 
reached the shelter of the trench and had their 
wounds cared for they told us much of the prog- 
ress of the battle. For a time they were men 
halted in the first mad rush of the assault and 
then later came men who told us tales of the 
hand-to-hand conflict surging up and down the 
canal and tunnels of the Hindenburg Line. The 
men whom we had seen go forward so gallantly 
in the morning came back with emptv pockets 



and hands to tell us of dropping bombs into the 
very heart of the German defenses only to feel 
the answering sting of bullets or shells. The line 
of wounded soon became interspersed with Jerry 
prisoners wandering back unarmed and un- 
guarded, crouching and ducking from their own 
shells and ever seeking shelter from which they 
were ever ousted and ordered to move further 
to the rear out of the way. 

Later in the morning some of the Australians 
who were to leapfrog our men, came through 
our trench headed for the thick of the fight. We 
could not help an involuntarv thrill of admira- 
tion at the cool, nonchalant way in which they 
sauntered forward, swinging along, scarcely in 
formation and seemins;lv deigning not even to 




The Yiinh Liidks Like I ineent lint We Knait il Isn't 

glance at the fast dropping shells. The "Aussies" 
moved forward in columns of files with about 
twenty to thirty-yard intervals and at the very 
head of one of the columns was a scrappy little 
foxterrier. stepping along as jauntily as any Aus- 
tralian in the outfit, head up and seeming to 
care for the shells as little as did they. 

Just in back of our positions was a solid row 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



47 



of eighleen-pouiKl Australian artillery and all 
morning we watched with ever growing admira- 
tion the work of the Australian gunners. Tiiey 
moved quickly and surely about their guns, some 
of them bareheaded, their gas masks hanging out 
of the satchel to be grasped with little delay and 
used no longer than was necessary, nearly all of 
them with some wound or other, they served their 
guns seemingly heedless of the death which sur- 
rounded them, taking toll of their numbers by 
the score. 

Along towards noon came the order to vacate 
our positions and gathering our e(]uipment we 
moved out by platoons. The transport was wail- 
ing just at the end of our trench and it was only 
the rare good-luck that always followed A Com- 
pany that saved them from heavy casualties. They 
arrived at Hargicourt just as the barrage was 
starting and for nearly three hours hugged a 
wall as closely as possible while Jerry gave them 
everything he had. Thev finally moved out to a 
little ravine back of our trench and five minutes 
after they left their first shelter the wall was 
completely demolished In a direct hit. From 
nine o'clock until near noon the men sought 
what cover tliL-\ could tor themselves and the 
mules in the ravine behind the trench and except 
for Sergeant Reilly and Private Boylan. who 
were gassed, they were untouched when the pla- 
toons moved out. 

We passed through Hargicourt and around to 
the left of Ronssoy where we halted by the road- 
side and proceeded to eat dinner. While so en- 
gaged we saw a stream of tanks come wabbling 
back and turii wearily into a nearby field. We 
were being held in mobile reserve and had noth- 
ing to do but await orders which would come 
only in case of a counter-attack or Ineak-through. 
We waited on a vast plain where were parked 
hundreds of British limbers wailing for dusk 
to start their journey to the guns which were 
being steadily |nished forward. Suddenly Jerry 
sent over a few "coal-boxes" as we termed the 
overhead shrapnel an<l in a few minutes every- 
thing movable was in a mad rush for shelter. 



That night (. and I) companies went liack to 
their former positions while A and B spent the 
night in the Bakalu Tunnel. This was a dugout 
in an abandoned (|uarrv and housed about seven 
hundred men. It was lilted up with Ijunks and 
we were just about congratulating ourselves on 
the pros|)ect of a good night's rest when shortly 
before nine o clock orders came in for one pla- 
toon to go back to Valley T^ost and establish 
S. 0. S. positions with four guns. As usual when 
a night move materialized, the French weather 
man kicked in with a hard rain and the fact that 
the limber mules were so choked with gas that 
they coidd hardly pull a loa<l added much to 
the difficulties of the situation. The first platoon 
was selected for the nights work and set out 
under Lieutenant Wellington about 11 ]i. m. It 
was pitch dark and the\ proceeded in single file 
with each man holding tightly to the man in 
front of him and every so often a man would 
slip off the road and drag two <:)r three leg- 
weary conuades into a shell-hole with him or 
mix himself and llieiiL up in the e\er pre-ent 
wire. Luckily there was but little shelling and 
when about half the distance had lieen covered 
a shell set fire to an ammunition dump and lor 
the remainder of the way it was almost as light 
as day. When we reached our positions the dug- 
outs were occupied by battle-worn infantrymen 
or Australian artillerymen so after posting an 
S. 0. S. and gas guard we disposed ourselves to 
sleep wherever we could. 

Hv Monday the situation on the left was much 
improved and the Germans had been driven out 
of Bony. The second platoon was ordered to re- 
lieve the first and take up positions about a thou- 
sand yards forward of their position at a place 
called Rifle Pit Trench. That same afternoon 
Lieutenant Wellington went forward and recon- 
noitered the ground and laid out the new posi- 
tions and at night the Second Platoon moved 
forward to the new line. The night passed very 
quietly, the new gun positions being constructed 
and upon the completion of this work the pla- 
toon, less the necessary guard, turned in. As it 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



was dark before thev were relieved. Lieutenant 
Wellington decided to keep his men in the old 
positions so that they could get a good night's 
sleep. The infantrymen had moved out during 
the day and the First Platoon shared the dugout 
with the Australian artillerymen whose guns were 
on all sides of the trench pounding awav at Jerry 
although now at practically their greatest range. 
The platoon had a merry little party that night 
with the "Aussies" for everyone was happy over 
the successes which had been and were being 
gained. Until far into the night Yank and ■■.\us- 
sie" swapped song and story and entertained each 
other with all the songs they could think of. It 
was the first time most of us had had an oppor- 
tunity to know the "Aussies" and we found them 
just as good fellows for an evening's song and 




laughter as for a week's battle u ilh Jerry. Tues- 
day morning the platoon was ordered to return 
to the Bakalu Tunnel and just before noon we 
left our positions in front of liie Hindenburg 
Line for good. 

After mess the entire battalion formed outside 
the Bakalu Tunnel and we marched to \ illers- 
Faucons, where we spent the night billeting our- 
selves in what nooks we could find. It was our 
first peaceful sleep in nearly a week and we cer- 
tainly gave it our full attention. In the morning 
the battalion continued the march. hikin£ to 



Buire which was our stopping place for a short 
period of rest. The ensuing week passed very 
quietly; we fixed ourselves up as comfortably as 
we could and then set to work on our equipment 
which proved a fairly sizable job but which kept 
us troni drilling which helped some. Two 
pleasurable events in Buire were the return of 
Lieutenant "Fanny" Grant from hospital and the 
return of Captain Roberts from Machine Gun 
School. It was during our week at Buire also 
that the battalion transport became a company 
transport and Lieutenant Wellington was placed 
in connnand of the A Company limbers. 

On Monday, October 7th, Captain Roberts 
spoke to the company along lines that left no 
doubt of the magnitude of the task in hand, and 
impressed on us the fact that pleasure, ease and 
comfort were things to exist in memory only 
until the German General Staff should hold up 
its hands an<i shout "Kamerad" for keeps. 

The brigade left Buire the next dav and 
tramped steadily in the direction of Berlin until 
about midnight, when it turned off into the fields, 
adjacent to what had once been the town of Vil- 
leret. A few men found quarters in an old dug- 
out. The majorit) made sleeping bags with 
shelter halves and blankets and prepared for 
sleep beneath the twinkling stars. Just before 
we dropped ofT to sleep, the British searchlights 
grew restless and began to shift anxiously, now 
concentrating on a point, now hopelessly diverg- 
ing. The characteristic rising and falling hum 
of the boche motor soon disclosed the cause of 
the commotion. Suddeniv a tiny silver cross 




COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



¥) 



appeaietl in the piilli ol one of the hirger search- 
lights, and simultaneously the crash of the 
"Archies and the pop-pop-].io|i ol llic l,exvi> 
guns hurst upon our ears. Tiie liaples> Imche 
nianoeu\red vainly to escape the unwelcome 
limelinhl. while \ icious spats of flame a|)peared 
to engulf him a-, the liritish shrapnel hurst close 
around him. Bui lurk favored the flun and at 
last he succeeded in sneaking oiil id ihe silvery 
lieam and try as ihev would, the searchlights 
could iiol hnd him again. Quiet came over the 
liehK. ~a\e lor an occasional lu^lv >noir. 

The next morning we ])acketl up and stood b\ 
for order'- until alioul noon. Mess Sergeant Mac- 
Alesler who had received a severe injury a few 
(lavs |ire\ious. from a piece of shell casing whicli 
had heen deflected aller striking (he huh of a 
rcdling kitchen, in adilition lo luniiii; heen 
gassed, logether w idi Jack Claiie who hail also 
heen gas.-ed were oldiged lo lea\e the com|)any. 
Both of them displayed symptoms of iidluenza 
and it was not until some lime afterward that the 
<-om|ian\ realized ihat lhe\ were in a serious 
condition. 

By some manner or means the roinmies near- 
hv had secured a barrel ol lager lieer and the 
fact spread quickly among the men of the com- 
pany. In these days of ])rohihition il is well for 
those who were fortiniale enough to have im- 
bibed the amber lluid lo reminisce a hit and 
smack their \\p>. A- one of the boys said "The 
beer was pretty iion." " That night we had gooil 
billets in Ramicourt which we reached via Nan- 
rov. Bellicourt and Joncourt. towns that were 
taken b\ the division in the now famou,r smash 
on the Hindenburg Line lietween (lamhrai and 
St. Quentin. 

Il was at Ramicourt that we de])osited our 
effects in a couple of houses where a number of 
chicken wire bunks promised a good sleep and 
then the gang started out on that greatest of all 
A. E. F. pastimes, lo wit: souvenir hunting. 
There were many grim evidences of the courage 
and loyalty of the German Machine Gun Corps. 
Guns mounted in shell-holes, railroad stations 



and other convenient places, stood silent guard 
o\er the bodies of their crews. A Gom|jany ac- 
ipiired a nundier id' the German bell boxes for 
extra lielts. bringing our number of full boxes 
up lo eighteen. Also. Lugers. field glasses, 
watches and bell> were much in vogue around 
the billets. 

Our last day of une\cnlful hiking pul \lonl- 
hri'hain. Brancouil and I'remonl behind us and 
llic hallalion ]Hlched pup lent- in Sahlieie Woods, 
later conmionh relern-d lo a- "flu \ alley for 
llie reason that llie plague scored hea\il\ during 
our sojourn in thi> place which later became rear 
Ballalion Headijuarters. Flu and German artil- 
lery fire had thinned us oul and ow in;i lo many 




(icniTdl 0'R)iin and Sir Duuplus Hiti^ ni 
Hindi'nhnrg Liiif 

blank and vacant files the company was divided 
inlo two |)latoons of four guns each, it being 
deemed inadvisable to try to fight twelve guns 
with the small numlier of men available. The 
new arrangement was designated as B formation 
and was used for the "rest of the war." 

On the night of October 11th orders were ex- 
pected for the company to move forward. Equi]>- 
ment was overhauled, belts inspected, limbers 
packed and the company waited in misery in a 
fine rain for the orders to come in. Al two a. m. 
on October 12th the ordei s came and not the com- 



50 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



pany but the Seconil Platoon hiked out in battle 
array, gun sections behind their limbers and 
pulled up in the brush outside Becquigny about 
six a. m. A cold ration of bully beef, bread and 
jam was ijuickh tiespatched and the platoon 
moved up to positions nearby and dug emplace- 
ments along two hetlges running at right angles to 
each other, facing the Hun across a narrow' valley. 
The hedges were on the forward slope of a hill 
and behind us the field stretched back up the hill 
to another hedge parallel to ours, on the other 
side of which was a mass of shrubbery, dotted by 
small clearings in which it was intended to dig 
funk lioles for sleeping. For awhile things were 
as tranquil as a New England Sunday morn. 
Perhaps Jerry saw too manv 0. D. figures mop. 
ing across the gaps in the hedge, perhaps lie had 
some inside dope, perhaps anything you like, 
but sudtlenly the air was filletl with whirrs and 
whistles and bangs and booms and in a minute 
the platoon was below ground the men taking 
shelter in any hole or depression that presented 
itself. The bonibardmeTit. consisting mostly of 
whizz-bangs with a heavy one thrown in here and 
there for luck, lasted about half an hour. It would 
go on steadily for al)Out ten minutes, slow up. 
stop, and just as we were about to climb out of 
our holes it would break out again and the pro- 
cess wouhl be repeated. We were lucky as usual, 
losing only one man. A piece of iron, from one 
that fell short, hopped through the hedge and 
then through ""Tim" Haneys arm. inflicting a 
very painful woun<l. He was brought back to the 
First Aid Station by volunteer stretcher-bearer. 
Harry Messinger. A couple of machine gunners 
from the Thirtieth Division, had been killed di- 
rectlv at one of the emplacements and though 
the men covered them with a ground sheet, their 
presence added nothing to the attractiveness of 
our surroundings. Their Lewis gun was mounted 
and the magazines filled. Another Lewis gun. 
salvaged bv Hanev before his misfortune, was 
also brought into line. 

At three oclock Captain Roberts arri\ed with 
word that the company was to fire a barrage at 



four o clock in support of the British on our right 
who were going over to straighten out the line 
near Vaux Andigny. B Company was to our left 
and rear. At the appointed hour we opened up 
and Jerry opened up on us. Our \ ickers ham- 
mered away merrily for about half a minute 
when there was a buzz, a screech and a tremend- 
ous explosion on our right front. Thereafter, the 
whizz-liangs and heavies banged away deafening- 
ly. The earth on all sides was torn by constant 
upheavals and the air was dark with smoke and 
debris. Still, no one was hit and our guns rat- 
tled on pouring a hail of lead on the German 
machine gun emplacements. Of our own ar- 
tillery we heard nothing. Its fire was directed 
too far to our right to help us much. In the 
midst of the liarrage it was seen that B C(im])any 
was unwittingly connecting their position and 
target by a stream of tracer bullets. Frank 
Collins went back to inform them of the fact go- 
ing through one oi the worst barrages we en- 
countered. After "Cease Firing" we went back 
to the shrubbery to dig funk holes in which to 
spend the night. We covered the holes with 
shelter haKes which did not do much towards 
keeping out the rain which fell thai night in 
torrents. The holes were soon a mess of mud 
and water and the fact that a crew had to be 




COMPA.XY A 



106th MACHINE G b\\ BATTALION 



51 



maiiitainefl on each gun. as well as a gas guard 
in the \icinily of the funk holes, added much to 
the general discomfort. 

Ahout ten o'clock that night the platoon was 
brought out through the woods for mess. A 
limher had been brought up to platoon head- 
quarters which had been established in a small 
cottage about 1000 yards from the gun emplace- 
ments. It had been a long day with a light 
breakfast and noon meal and the men were tired 
and hungr\. H<il stew was served and though 
stews may come and -tews ma\ ao. that stew 




"j'rr\ MikIuiii- dun Em iiliicrnirnl 

will always be remendiered by the men who fired 
the '-Matinee Barrage" on Columbus Day. The 
platoon returned to their positions and carried 
on through the night. It was aliout three o'clock 
the next morning that Sergeant Zinnner who wa> 
about to stand his trick on gas guard was struck. 
He had been in a small funk hole and as he 
raised his head above the level of the ground 
a strav piece of shraitnel struck him Inllicting a 
scalp-wound. Fortunatelv the wound was not 
serious and he was taken to a dressing station 
where he was carefully attended to hy a Red 
Cross ambulance driver. His absence from the 
company was a short one and within three days 
he rejoined us at "Flu" Valley. 

About ten o'clock the next morning the first 
platoon. Lieutenant Grant in command, relieved 
the second. The funk hcdes alreadv duo uere 



enlarged and deepened by the second platoon, 
while waiting for the relief and the guns were 
moved out to positions in front of the hedo-e. 
It was necessary to move the guns back of the 
hedge before tlaylight as the positions were 
under direct observation and German snipers 
and machine gunners were on the watch. 

When the first ])latoon took over the jiositions. 
the second hiked bark to BecMiuignv. where it 
stayed overnight. Here the first idaloon picked 
it U|) the following evening and both platoons 
returned to ■■Fhi" \ alley an.l made themselves 
a,- comfortable as pup tents will allow. An extra 
blanket apiece, bringing the total up to four, 
injured warmth and coridort in sleej). The next 
da\ brought a generous and welcome mail and 
the bright bits of news and gossi]5 fiom the 
States were a decide-d ndief after the -omcwhat 
precarious business of the week. The hap|)iness 
it brought was sadly dinnne<l In the olliiial 
nolidcalion that Harrv Walsh had met his death 
in ihe |)erformance of his duty on the night of 
Se|)teniber 27th. He had been reported as miss- 
ing since that date, but we had held oul hopes 
that he was at least doing well in xune hospital. 
The news was a blow to all the members of A 
Company as Harry was loved and ropi'di-d by 
all bv reason of his line spirit of friendship and 
s|)lendid character. 

Our rest period wa.- short. On the lOth. at 
three in the afternoon we moved out once more, 
this time to the village of Escaufourt. Eipiipment 
was deposited in the billets and the eompanv. 
armed with pick an<l shovel, walked out to the 
selected spot, about a kilo away, in the direi tion 
of St. Soujilet and |iro(eeded to convert a mun- 
ber of half-dug funk holes into a formidaljle 
line of scientifically constructed machine gun 
em|dacements. The positions were on the re- 
verse slope of a hill and not subject to observa- 
tion, thus having the two most essential char- 
acteristics of a good machine gun emplacement, 
to wit: field of fire (sufficient for the task at 
hand) and concealment from view and ]irotection 
from enemy fire, the last item beinu obtained 



52 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




Map shtmini: li(irrii,s<- find Irnni lird^e in inint of I mix Anilii;ny proti'rting the lell flank of the 
British as they icere straightening their section of the line. The counter barrage of the enemy 
during the forty minutes of filing uas one of the severest encountered by the company. 



by an hour of luslv e\<-a\ati<in. All being a# it 
should be. we returned to Escaufourt for supper 
and sleep. The next morning, or as the average 
livilian would call it. in the mitldle of the night. 
we were awakened and proceeded to the scene 
of action and soon the work of laving the guns 
was being rapidly complete 



gas masks off. we have work to do." And so it 
was done. This time it was evidently Jerry's ar- 
tillerv that had other work in hand for hardly a 
shell came near us during the half hour of firing 
that followed. We may say here that, while one 
of the easiest of our barrages, it was also one of 



Jerry chipped in the most important, assisting as it did in the at- 
with a few gas shells ami for a few minutes tack which carried our fighting doughboys across 
darkness and cloudy evepieces strove to hinder the La Selle River and to the top of the heights on 

this attack three companies 
lowed the infantry over, A 



the work but from one of the flanks the word the other side. In 
was passed down "Take those blankety-blank of the battalion fol 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




Map shmriii!; Iiiirnig,- fired prolccling our injunlry i/iiring the rupture oi St. Saiip/et and the 
rrossing of luSel/e Riier and barrage fired on enemy strong points nhirli were temporari/v 
holding up the adirmre. The latter were the la.it gun positions ol Company .1. Map also 
shows Brigade boundaries and gires an idia of the front occupied by a division during an 
advance. In this case the 27th Division occupied a little over 2.000 yards of ironl. 

Coiiipam lieinj; held as part ot the Brigade Ke- >uhiiiil U> the oppressive military measures of 
serve. We returned to Escaufourt for a couple of the --German Hijih Command. ■' Thev were oh- 



meals and ]jart of a night's sleep. Practirally 
all the fixilians had lieen hrought to the rear 
during the alta( k h\ the .\llies. The Germans 
had been in jjo.-session of this town for (i\er 
three years and the civilians were obliged to 



liged to turn over to the Germans all the results 
of their laliors in the fields, thev were restricted 
to certain areas and their women had been in- 
sulted and outraged. When we returned to the 
town we were greeted bv three elderlv French- 



54 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



men in whose niiiuls we were liberators. Tliev 
had heen under gas attacks, tlieir eves were 
bloodshot and their lungs congested, neverthe- 
less thev extended to us all the iiospitalitv at 
their command. Tlie endeavored to make us 
comfortable in the few remaining buildings and 
informed us where we could obtain vegetables 
irom nearbv truck gardens. 

In this town occurred the historic episode of 
the ciiicken stew. One of the platoons having 
wavlaid and (lcs|)at(lied a couple of orphaned 
"poulels" proceeded to make a chicken stew of 
undouLiled quality and savor. \\ lien the men of 
the otiier platoon looked (ni liimgrilv and the 
appetizing aroma filled tlieir nostrils, the prouil 
owners of the stew not onlv refused flatly to 
donate any portion of the meal to their famished 
brethren but insisted on receiving their half of 
the evening meal sent up from the kitchen. 
Thereupon the men ol the rival platoon deployed 



into the fields and hencoops and amassed a store 
of fowl and groceries that would have made 
Herbert C. Hoover. Food Comjitroller. lose sever- 
al nights slee]) bad be seen it. At once there stood 
forth Charlie Johnson, noted as the '"Barrie " of a 
famous quartet, and assumed the role of cook. 
The pile of forage was soon transformed into 
the most delicious stew ever served at an 0. D. 
banquet. .Viid so that the honor of the ])latoon 
might be fully restored, they also insisted on 
half of the very excellent rabbit stew sent up 
for the evening meal and thereafter a constant 
liut bloodless feud existed between the two pla- 
toons of A (.onipaiiv. As competition is the 
best guarantee of good service, who shall de- 
plore said feud? 

We went to sleep thai night, as usual ready 
to move at a minutes notice, which we did at 
one o'clock in the morning and trudged down 
llie much-shelled road to St. Souplet, a small 







'^^i^' 







^'^•^"^ 



THIS WAS TAKEN NEAR LA SABLIERE WOODS. WE ARE (.I.Al) WE WERE 
NEVER ON THE DEFENSIVE 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



55 




102(1 KN(;i.NEERS AT ST. SOL'PEKr BKIDCE 



village to wliicli Biollier Boche was desdliiig 
much attention at the lime. It was not a(ivisal)le 
to loiter loTig around tiie little wooden bridge 
liiat our engineers had erected anil maintained 
in spite of Jerrvs whole-souled ellorts to knock 
it down and keej) it down. The limiiers pulle<l 
up in a field and the men sat down in a stalde l(jr 
a short lime where we were |)estered hv flies who 
had evidently lieen gassed. Thev would flv for a 
second and iail and -Irnggle up again and tall 
again. We finally unloaded our gear and lirought 
it to a house on the main thoroughfare, ahout 
one hundred \ards from the hridge where we 
remained until the afternoon. Our positions this 
time were in shelMioles about halfway between 
St. Souplet and Arbre de Guise. I\o sooner had 
digging started that a number of German planes 
circled overhead, and as no more than twenty 
minutes had been allowed in constructing the 



gun positions these planes were, to say the least, 
a bit di-concerting. They Hew low enough for 
the men to distinguish the painted iron crosses 
on their wings anil hovered aho\e us like hawks. 
We were under the impression at that time that 
they were oliserving planes whose mission was to 
take |)liulogra|)hs so we all stood >till and waited. 
Finally a few homlis were dropped but lortun- 
atelv for us they struck on the road to our rear 
and unfcii Innately tor the transport of 15 (.om- 
|)an\ inflicted several casualties. 

We held the positions that night, three men 
per gun maintaining a guard, while the spare 
men >pent the night at Bec(]uigny. In the morn- 
ing the company was quartered in Bandival Farm 
tiear the positions where a number oi "Aussies" 
from a nearby battery were living. Here the 
spare numliers joined their sipiads again hut 
slept in funk holes outside the farm. The re- 



56 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



niaiiuler of tlie platoon slept atop the hay piles 
and slept the sleep of the just well into the morn- 
ing of the twentieth. The long slee|) was due no 
more to excessive fatigue than to a fortunate 
error whereby a petrol tin of rum was issued to 
thirtv-five men instead of the regulation half-tin 
to fifty men. The furnishings of the farm lent 
themselves admirably to cooking in the library 
and drawing-room so the comjjanv had several 
well prepared meals, toast and bread fried in 
bacon grease being incidental to every meal. 

That afternoon some of His Majesty's officers, 
whose caps bore the well-known device of the 
British Machine Gun Corps, were spied von- 
sulting with our officers and soon it was "good 
dope" that we were to be relieved. The relief 
was accompli.shed anil we marched back to Es- 
caufourt where we once more enjoved hot meals 
and chicken wire bunks. We were also favored 
with an issue of warm, comfort-giving sleeveless 
sweaters for which thanks are due to the Red 
Cross, as for other comforts that came to us 
from time to time. The division relieving us 
was, bv the wav. our old friends, the Si\th Di- 



vision (I3riti.sh Army) with whom we lirst heard 
the whistle of a shell and the whine of a machine 
gun bullet in the shadow of Kemmel. 

This time we were coming back for a divisional 
rest. As usual, all sorts of rumors were circu- 
lated throughout the battalion. We were to get 
the "King's Rest," a British privilege of three 
months out ol the line. We were sure of this as 
the "Aussies " who fought with us at the Hinden- 
burg Line were out for three months. Then it 
was saiil that General Rawlinson, or some other 
high officer, had asked that we be returned in 
three weeks. The pessimists said we weren't go- 
ing out at all. But no one had the least suspi- 
cion of the real outcome. Had we known on 
that morning of October 20th, that we were 
through with the great World W^ar, at least in so 
far as actual fighting was concerned, the buoy- 
ancv that the thought would have added to our 
step would have been just about counteracted 
by the extra weight of the souvenirs that would 
have been gathered in a last mad rush. But no 
one knew and many a Luger, belt and helmet 
lav unmcdested on the fields on that account. 




THIS WAS SUME CUKNER IN .ST. SOUPLET 



COMPANY A 



lQ6th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



The movement back was continued and we 
spent the night in a farmhouse near "Flu " \ al- 
ley. Straw was ])lentiful and the Ijarn, cleaned 
out. made \erv comtorlahle (|uarters. On the 
morning ol the 22nd we pulled out again, this 
time in column of squails with the linihers lol- 
lowing the battalion, a method ul marching much 
easier than battle formation, in which the squails 
are con>laMllv slowing down and douMt- liming 
to catch u]). owing to the irregularils of the 
mules" gait. We passed through PrenKnit and 
evening brought us to Nauroy where we were 
turned loose with carle hliiiiche to sleep in any 
house we saw. The oidv trouble was that none 
of the houses had roofs or windows and most 
of those that were not razed to the ground were 
shy several walls. There was, however, a con- 
venient cemetery that had been torn by the severe 
bombardments and it was here that some of the 
men sought shelter. In one instance al least one 
of the vaults was ap])ropriated and a xacant 
niche therein utilized as a bunk and the fastidi- 
ous soldier had no compunctions whatsoever 
alioul his surroundings. We took to the cellars 
and frres were soon ilrying them (jut. the smoke 
uhich refused to go out being less objectionable 
than the cold and dampness. Morning found us 
passing through Bellicourt and the masses of 
barbed wire and concrete emplacements and 
dugouts that had lately been part of the "im- 
pregnable Hinilenburg Line." We passed again 
through war-torn Roi?el and pitched pup tents 
at Marquaix about two kilos lievond. Each com- 
pany scattered and collected all the wood in 
sight which was used to keep roaring fires going 
al ihe head of each company street. Thai e\eii- 
ing a ni\>terious tossing of coins and callins 
of ■■head>"" and "tails" occurred in most of the 
tents and at five-thirty next morning shi\pring 
men eniergefl from the tents with all the spare 
blankets while the luckier ones snuggled under 
the blankets that remained and shouted encour- 
agement to the bad guessers who were loading 
the s])are blankets on the limbers. The transport 
pulled (iiil aboul -i\ oVlock: the ballalion moved 



about nine and arrived at Tincourt at noon. 
We pulled up in a field for lunch ami after some 
delav lioarded the lamiliar box cars and 
"Honuued and Chevauxed" to \ illers Bretloneux 
which we reached about cighl p. m. The hike 
ihat followed was not pleasant being accom- 
]ilished in ihe pitch dark, fullv loailed and tired 
out by the train ride. Aboiil ten o'clock we 
dragged ourselves down the main street id' \ aire- 
sous-Corbie and were distributed among the va- 
lious collages. 

This town ot \ aire-sous-( !(]rliie wa- sjinated 
about twentv-five kilometers north of Amiens 
arul Division Headquarters was locale<l at Corbie 
al)oul live kilometers from \ aire. We little real- 
izetl at this time that we were oul of the war 
and anxiously awaile<l the arrival of ihe Daih 

Mail and the Paris edili d ihe llrnilil. There 

were few sufferers in this loun as the Australians 
had started an offensive from Villers-Brelton- 
neux the previous August and mns| ,,(' ihe in- 
habitants had retired as relugees towards the 
larger cities of France. As usual rumors pre- 
\aileil that Germany was gelling rea<ly to capit- 
ulate anti the men imniedialclx siarled making 
wagers as to the date. We (inalK recei\ed the 
news that terms had been sidmiilleil lo ihe enem\ 
anil that an armisliee would go inln eliecl al 
ihe ele\enth hour of the eleventh da\ of the 
eleventh nionlh ol nijieleen hundred and eigh- 
teen, jjrovided Germain consenled lo ihe terms. 
The news was received about four o'clock in the 




Thank Caniiufss Tlirse Dins urt- Oicr 



58 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




^♦1 



"St^ * '^^6i> ^ 4 ■ 



TOMMIES GOING IP THROLGH RAMICOl l!T 



afternoon on November lltli and our celebra- 
tion of the event was made liy Jack Briglit climb- 
ing the steeple of the dilapidated village church 
and lolling the bell. 

Immediately thereafter rumors were rife as to 
the time of our departure for America. Some of 
the men reported that thev had heard posiliielv 
that the companv would entrain and proceed at 
once to Brest where transports were awaiting us 
and that we would positively be home before 
Christmas. It was at Vaire that our long-looked 
for leaves of absence were granted. St. Malo 
on the coast of Brittany had been designated as 
a leave area for our division but with this an- 
nouncement the men were confronted with the 
fact that remuneration for service in the Army 
had not been conserved and most of the men 
were impecunious. "Stuff-em"' Eklund had been 
successful in the outdoor game of African golf 



and had managed to corral nigh on to one 
thousand francs. L nder the regulations govern- 
ing leaves of absence two men were allowed 
lo |)roceed to St. Malo and Eklund was ])erfectly 
uilling to be the pioneer into the great unknown. 
He selected as his side-kick Charles Henry John- 
son. Jr., to hel|) him expend the '"easv monev." 
They proceeded to St. Malo and returned with 
glowing accounts of the hospitality they received 
from the French. The leave center for officers 
(jf the tlivision was Nice on the Riviera and as 
soon as the announcement of its opening was 
made. Lieutenants Beamish and McDonnell 
grasped the opportunity. They were fortunate 
enough to be in Nice the day the armistice was 
signed and their experiences would make a short 
history in themselves. 

Through the generosity of the Fourth British 
Armv ninetv-eight of their leaves to England and 



CO Ml' / \ J A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



59 



Ireland were exteiuleel to our Division every 
seven days. Our Battalion was given its pro rata 
share and men of the company who had near 
relatives in Great Britain or Ireland were given 
the preference for tiie o]ip(irtunity to visit them. 

On November oth, First Sergeant Ray pro- 
ceeded to Officers" Training School to join his 
predecessors Sergeants Perkins. Wadhams. 
Joseph Joyce. Collins and Lindsay and the real 
hard work of the company from then on de- 
volved upon Sergeant Walter H. Kulin who was 
made "Top-Kicker." He says so himself. On 
Novendier lOlh. Memorial services were held in 
honor of the men of the Division who died on 
the field of honor and thereafter a review was 
held by Major-General John F. O'Ryaii on the 
field near Corbie. 

With the signing of the armistice, manv of the 
men who had been sent awav suffering from in- 
fluenza and gas. returned to the companv and 
Denny. Hart, Bernstein, Maranilo, Moore. Kaiii- 
er. Orgeron. Priske. W. R. Williams and Willms. 
were added. General routine rontinuetl and 
tactical training was the work of the day. par- 
ticular stress being laid on the packing of mules, 
and manoeuveiing. Weekly passes were issued to 
Amiens and most of the men in the company 
took advantage of the chance to visit the 
"Cathedral City." The Twenty-sevcnlh Division 
theatrical unit staged the "Broadway Boys" 
which helped a great deal to break the monotony 
and was in fact the only diversion we had. Lieu- 
tenant Wellington arranged for the installation 
ot battalion baths near the canal and the men 
were given every facility to rid ihemselves of 
the ever present "cootie." Just liefore we de- 
parted on our trip south. Lieutenant McDonnell 
went to a machine gun school to be instructed in 
warfare which to all intents and ])uri)oses had 
been completed. 

On Novemher 2.>d the company entrained 
again in the side-door Pullmans with provisions 
for a seventy-two hour journey, but fortunately 
after an uneventful trip of two days we detrained 
at Connerre in the Le Mans area. 



We were pleased to greet Lieutenant Hawkins 
who had left the company in Buire in October 
for service as an aerial observer but with the 
ceasing of hostilities he had been ordered to re- 
lurn to his company and we found him acting in 
the capacity of Billeting Officer. With his ever 
present foresight he had looked after the inter- 
ests of the men of Conijianv A to say nothing 
ot his selection of an officers" hillel. Barns and 
stables had been provided for the men but per- 
mission was granted to hire rooms in the homes 
(>{ the inhabitants and the French were ever will- 
ing and anxious to increase their hard-earned 
savings. In com])liance with an order from 
Battalion Heatl(]uarters requesting information 
as to the number of men residing without the 
billets assigned, it was disclosed that Companv 




British L'ltrrts "(hir Tti\is" 

A. as always well in front. le<l olT with ninetv- 
one men and the next company could boast of 
but eight. As has been noted, three days" ra- 
tions had been allotted the men and therefore 
our first day in Connerre. which happened to 
lie Thanksgiving Dav. was celebratefl by a full- 
course dinner of "corned willie" and hardtack. 
The sergeants who had been attending Officers' 
Training School were ordered to return to their 
companies as by an order from G. H. Q. no 
further commissions were to be made and ex- 
cept in the case of Sergeants Perkins and W ad- 
hams, the courses were not coniideled. On De- 



60 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



cemher iUli tlie c()in]iaiiv received the lollowiiig 
replacements: Anglin. Armstrong. Asp. Beck- 
ham, Beier. Belkoski. Benzie. Blomiarz. Bell. 
Eagerton. Gorman. 

Our Major, Mortimer D. Bryant, who had 
been with us since the formation of the battalion, 
was promoted to the rank of Colonel and as- 
signed to the l()7lh Infantry Regiment. His 
promotion took place before the armistice while 
he was in the line and inasmuch as no furliier 
promotions could be made the men well knew 
that their commanding officer would not be one 
of the four Captains of the battalion. JVIajor 
Eggleston. formerly of the 105th Machine Gun 
Battalion, was assigned as commander of our 
battalion. 

Connerre was but four hours distant from 
Paris and although Paris was in the prohibited 
area, the old adage of "Where theres a will, 
there's a way" again proved true in a great 
many instances. Towns located on the other side 
of Paris were selected as visiting points but in 
very few instances were they visited. 

It was in Connerre thai il Ijecame evident that 
waiting was more dillicidt to withstand than ac- 
tivity an<l « itii liic kn(i\\ ledge that the war was 
really over as far as we were concerned, the 
bugbear of daily routine liecame almost olinox- 
ious. From the da\ ol mn arrival in the town 
the men were always anxious to know when we 
would sail for home. To make u|) for our frugal 
meal on Thanksgiving Day. |)lans were formu- 
lated to celebrate properly our Christmas Diimer 
and various committees of Entertaimnent. Ar- 
rangements. Decorations and Dinner were a[)- 
pointed. There was no building large enough 
to holil the function so after a great deal of per- 
suasion we were able to obtain through the cour- 
tesy of the Y. M. C. A. a large marquee, which 
with the aid of willing hands wa* quickly erected 
on the laun in the rear of the kitchen. This 
was artistically decorated with ])ines. mistletoe. 
Japanese lanterns and electric lights. The sur- 
rounding country was searched and through the 
efforts of Charles Johnson and Bert Hamilton a 



|)iano was procured anil entertainers Irom the 
Division Theatricals, consisting of Jack Ma- 
honev. Judson House. Eddy Rickard and our 
own quartette offered a programme. Yi e must 
also recall Ray Riker's presentation of the "Kid's 
Last Fight." Speeches were made by the officers 
and on behalf of the men of the company. First 
Sergeant Kuhii presented a watch, which had 
been purchaseil in Paris, to Captain Roberts. It 
was a token of esteem and aflection from the 
men in recognition of his untiring efforts, exam- 
ple and interest in the welfare of each man in 
his command. 

A separate paragra|)h must be allotted to the 
very successful efforts of the Refreshment Com- 
mittee in connection with our Christmas Dinner. 
'"Norm" Wangmann and "Little Jimmy" CoUyer 
were the official brewers. "NuflF sed!" 

Early in December Captain Roberts had been 
assigned to form a |)rovisional Supply Company 
with (piarters at Pont-de-Gennes. In his absence 
Lieutenant Beamish took conmiand of the com- 
pany whicb. althciugh il excused him fmni drill, 
imposeil upon him the difficult task of endeavor- 
ing to prevent the men from being court-mar- 
tailed and sent to the Labor Battalions. He was 
successful. New Year's Eve found the finances 
of the company as a whole in a bole. Somehow 
or other, by ])leading with the officers or the 
townsjieople for the necessary francs the men 
accmnulated enough funds to do justice !o the 
occasion. At midnight ihe band of the 107th 
f{egiment a])peared on the square and played 
jazz music to the strains of which the men quick- 
ly exhibited their terjisichorean abilities. "An 
enjoyable evening was had by all." 

In the first week in January a competitive in- 
spection between the Twenty-seventh and Thir- 
tieth Divisions was announced. This inspection 
was scheduled to be made by the Corps ("om- 
mander. Major-General George W. Read. Al- 
though the jireparation entailed arduous labor 
on the ]}art of the men in getting their equipment 
in first class order the competition was looked 
upon with favor h\ the men and every effort was 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



61 




(iLl; (>MI(.l.i;> l\ IIIKII! HEST \T rOWERRE 



iiiaile li\ earli Tiiaii to liriiiu liiinur ami lanic In 
llie ili\i--i(jn ami tlie liatlalidn. Tlii' Tweiitx- 
-exeiilh Divi>i(in marched to the lii'M ilt'-ij;r,ale(l 
fill llie in~|jerti(in liut tlieir ii\al>. llie Thirtielli. 
(lirl not |iul in an appearance antl altliou^li nn 
decision \\a.^ made the men ot the division ac- 
cepted the default of the Southerner- a- a vic- 
tors for themselves. 

In the divisional competition the KKith Ma- 
chine Gun Battalion was given hr>l humirs as is 
attested liv the following communication: 

hi: \i)i,u' \iM'i-ii>; •>Hii iXFAXTiii tu;ic;Ai)i': 

A. E. F. 

FllANCK, .I;lll. I I, llll'l, 

I''iid:M: Ciiiiiiiiinilint; (mtiitmI. 

'I'll: C'liMiiii.iiiilinf; ( )ffiri-r liliitli .M.irjiiiic C'.iai H:it- 

tMlillll. 

Srn.iix'r: ' 'mii tin tidi'f inn. 

I wish til (■iin\i-\ iii\ siiiccn- ciinjiT.ituIatiiins due 
tn \(Mr iiri:;iniz;itiiin rt-cri\ iiiii' tir.st liiiiinr.s in tin- n"- 



rnit riilii|ictitlii|i iif till- Hirer ni.irlniir ^illi lililU nt 
till- -7th i)ivi.siiin. 

Ihr KKitll .Miicllini- (illll lliitl.iii.in h.is l-i-tlrrlrd 
iin-at tiiinnr u])(in tlic l-'irt\ -fniiilh Inl.iiitry lirii;.iilr. 
Please convey to your ntiii-ers anil iiien iii\ a]iiii-eei.i- 
tiiin of tlu'ir tine aeeiini|ilislinieiil. 

(Sinneii) f, I-:. I'll-; I! CI-:. 

HriLiailiei- ( lemral. 

'I'lie fiilliiwint;- is a euininisite i-alini; iiiaile hy the 
Inspectiirs 

Iiil^iiLli-y 
'l'rii(i|Ks . . . 
Transimrt 



Mm. hill. • (Inn Hu 
10.". Ilili HIT Hl.s Hit in:. Hl(i 

so.i st.s sd.H s:i.(i s.>.,' st.,'i h'.o 
s!).,") ntji !i.)..") ss :! so.o <i,).(i <>ii._' 



l-'if;-. (if .Merit St.S Sil. i illl.il S.VIi S.VIi !»0.(l (ll.li 

Although the mor-iings were dc\otcil exilu- 
sively to individual drill and gas drill, the after- 
noons were set apart tor athletic games and as 
Usual haseliall was predominant. Rival nines 
were formed from the platoons ami under the 
leadership of Lieutenants Grant and Hawkins 
"real interest was manifested. There was also 



62 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



one consolation in the fact that re\eille was dis- 
pensed with and tlie first real formation was held 
at 8.30 o'clock each morning. In some instances, 
however, even this hour was too early with the 
result that the lale-comers were relegated to the 
culinary department as extra iatigue although 
in reality it was a more or less welcome break 
in a monotonous existence. A great deal ot time 
was devoted to equipping the men in first class 
uniforms and to tiailv physical examinations. 
We had heard id the delousisig ordeal which 
was usually compulsory in the Le Mans area 
and which necessitated a hike to the Belgian 
Camp, otherwise known as the "dirt\' cam])." 
The men dreaded undergoing this experience for 
it had been rumored that instead of being freed 
of our constant companions, they were great 
mixers and made friends rapidly. Under the 
circumstances the company was very ha])])y to 
receive the following order: 

JTtli i:)lVTSI()N" 
OiuiKKs ]:!, .laiuiarv, 1!U9. 

Xo. 1 1; 

I. IxroR.MATIox : 

The followini;' is cxtr.nt from ti'Icfrraiii fnim Hca<l- 
(|iiarliTs Eiiiliarkatidii Center: 

"If your Division can lie oonii>letely ilelouseil 
ill its present area it need not Ik: moved in- 
to the Belgian C:inip prior to its departure 
for Bre.st. ..." 

'2. DEi.orsiNG: 

I. Ret:imint:il .iiid I'nit Coniniaruters will iimnedi- 
atrl\ (Hreet iiii-iUeal personnel to make niedioal 
inspeetion to determine an exact roster of each in- 
dividiKil niemlier of their eoniniand who is infested 
with Miinin. 

II. 'I'liey will then issue necessary orders to insure 
thai each uian listed on this roster bathes his entire 
liody onre daily by means of a vessel eontaininft at 
least four ipiarts of hot water and liy completely 
latheriiif; his entire body. Durinfr the bathinp jieriod 
a suitable detail will press the se.anis of all elothinjr, 
ineludinn underwear, with hot irons. 

III. Commissioned otficers will supervise the liatli- 
inp: jiroeess and the pressing of elothiiif; and cheek 
.same on roster. 

1\'. .V niedir.il otlieei- will make a daily inspection 
of :ill jiersonnel listed on vermin roster and will 
certify their di.sch.irfre from the perfornianoe of these 
duties when free from vermin. 

By Comiii.ind of M.\joR General O'Ryax, 
W. H. Raymond, 
Colonel. G. .S., Chief of .St.iff. 



Again through the efl'orts of Lieutenant Well- 
ington a battalion bath was established at the 
power house and Sergeant "Tom" Kane became 
"Bath-House John."' 

The company was ordered to proceed to Cham- 
pagne where the Belgian Camp was located to 
stand a review by General John J. Pershing. 
Although in other outfits this review would have 
been considered an honor, the company actually 
resented any interference with their carefree life 
and particularly frowned upon any order that 
might result in a hike. The Belgium Camp was 
situated aliout eighteen kilometers from Con- 
nerre and the entire company with the exception 
of the First Sergeant, the sick and Mr. Chartress 
set forth in the early morning and made the hike 
in one day. They made camp at Champagne, 
were reviewed the following afternoon and the 
following day made the return hike. We will 
allow Mr. Chartress, formerly Mail Orderly, who 
distributed the mail even when the men were in 
the line to explain his absence and the result. 

On February 22nd, Private First-Class Thomas 
A. Brown who had been attached to the Head- 
quarters Detachment of the battalion, received 
the following Divisional Citation: 

For fiallantry ami detenniii.itiijn in re])eatedly 
carrying im]iort:int messancs under heavy enemy fire 
durinji- the ojierations against the Ilindenburg Line, 
I'" ranee, September JH, to October 1, lillS and durinfr 
the battle of the I. a Selle Ri\er, I'rance, an<l the 
engagements subsequent thereto* October 17 to JO, 
lilts.' 

John F. O'Ryan, 

Ma jor General. 
OFFICl.M.: 

Tuistiia.1i Tipi'Eii, Division .Xdjutant. 

At last the definite word arrived that we were 
to leave Connerre at Brest. On February 2.3rd 
we were scheduled to entrain at 1.4.5 p.m. An 
early breakfast was had, the billets and town 
policed and by nine o'clock the men were all 
ready to make the short hike of a mile and a 
half to the station. Although our departure 
meant home, there was some feeling of regret 
that we were leaving for all time manv of the 
pleasant experiences we bad had in this small 



COMPANY A 



106th M AC HI N E G U A B ATT ALIO A' 



6?, 



village. We had liveil here (ov three innnlli- hi 
the day and in that time main nl the men had 
become real friends with nian\ cil the inhali- 
itants. We will all remember the |Mi|iLdar e?- 
taminet^ and their |ier>onnei: Maiie. ^\(inne, 
Marcelle. Clecile. Celeste, and so on ad inlinilum, 
had Ijecome household words. The whole town 
was out to bid us tarewell and '"Bon \ ovaue. " 
Thev tolil U'- thev disliked to si>e u- depart liut 
joined with us in our jo\ in oui Injineward trip. 
The battalion was formed at II. 00 a. m. and was 
met at the station by Red Cross. K. <<( C. and 
Y. M. C. A. workers who served a line hot lunch. 
,\t 1.4.T p. m. we mounted the .\merican freight 
cars which were to take us on our last box car 
journev and exacllv at 2.00 p. in. we were oft. 
Although these cars were vastiv su])erior in con- 
struction to the smaller French cars, having 
clean straw and larger dimensions, liftv-seveii 
men were assigned to each car which reallv 
caused conditions to be more crowded than in 
those of the French varietv. But we were travel- 
ing towards home and all discomforts were 
brushed aside and forgotten. In a verv few- 
minutes (!onnerre-Beille from which we some- 
times thought He would never escape became but 
a dot on the landscape and linalh flickered out 
coni|)letelv. 

The main tnpir of conversation was whether 
or not upon our arrixal at Brest we would ])ro- 
ceed inuuediately to the waiting transports or be 
obliged to return to the barracks which we had 
left the previous May. We traveled until about 
seven o'clock that night when we stopped for 
supper the announcement of which was received 
with as nuicb relish as the su|i|ier itself for the 
halt aftorded the men an opportunilv to exercise 
stiff joints and stimulate circulation. Large con- 
tainers resemlding milk cans were transported 
from the kitchen car at the head of the train to 
each of the troop cars and within a hall-hour of 
'topping each man had been satisfvinglv fed a 
well prepared hot stew with bread and delicious 
coffee. After sujjper the men settled down in 
whatever space was available for the night and 



uhen morning linalK ranie it found a tired, 
vawning. half-frozen train of tniopers who were 
then more keenly concernetl about hot coffee 
than for a glimpse of New \ ork harbor, and just 
before seven o'clock we were served roast-beef, 
bread, coffee and preserved peaches. At about 
one in the afternoon the train slid into view of 
Brest harljor. The weather vva> cold, lainv and 
cheerless but the lacl that the harbor was really 
present was enough to discount the weather con- 
dition>. The men were amazeil at the transfor- 
mation uhich had occurreil during a brief ten 
monlhs. Here was a great, long station jilat- 
form and shed where but a tew months before 
had lieen <inl\ cinders and >and. Ihere were 
docks and warehouses, large bill,'- had been con- 
>tructed for canteens, kitchens which were 
reached over walks made oi duck-!)oards. 
through traffic-regulating railings. Brest had in- 
dee<l lelt the ]iiil>e ol American perseverance 
and as we looked up llie hnig hill, dotted with 
numberless buildings coiistrucled b\ the Ameri- 
can Expeditionarv Forces, where only the jirevi- 
ous Mav nothing but green helds la\. we re- 
called the remark of Frank Blackball uhen we 
first sailed into the harbdr: 'Tf these hills were 
in New York thev would be covered with "Buv 
it Today" ads and decorated billboards."" Truly, 
I\'ew Y ork had come to Bre>t. 

We quickly detrained and our ho|)es of board- 
ing a transport at once received a severe jolt. 
We were informed that we would >tay at least 
two days in Brest to go through ihe necessary 
red tape of returning units, launch was served 
at the station and at three o'c lock we were liack 
in our packs trudging silentlv ihrough a <lrizzle 
up the long, long bill, the same hill we had 
descended on our wav to the "Front."' At that 
time we had taken the hike light-hearledh with 
the song of "Hail. Hail, the Gang's All Here" on 
our lip,-- but now" as we marched onward and U|)- 
ward few- words were spoken and unconsciously 
we were paving tribute bv our silence to the 
fact that the "Gang" was not all there and re- 
viewing the experiences and the -acrifices that 



64 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




«^atfa#ffgmiiMBWBKKCFi>ME=p'3'gg-artg:a5PHgc-flg-'^^a,' jiujita^^ I jwUi 



FIIJST PLATOON AT CONNERRE 



hail lieen made. The camp at Bie^-t had grown I 
Irom that Napoleonic hislorical ohl barracks 
uilli accomjnodations for about .S.OOO men to an 
enormous reservation with lodging and service 
am])le (or the needs of oO.OOO. At first we were 
assigned to tents with wooden floors and in spite 
of the continuous downpour of rain, which is al- 
ways prevalent in Brest, we were comfortable 
inasmuch as bedsacks were issued together with 
large quantities of fuel for the Siblev stoves. 
We remained in the tented area but a few davs 
when we were ordered to make packs and pro- 
ceed to barracks. We stayed in Brest eight days 
in all and during that time physical inspections 
were held twice and the men of the battalion 
were called upon to jierform numerous details, 
both day and night, details more arduous than 
any we had yet experienced. Sergeant Herbert 



\av became a victim of the ""llu and Ciharlie 
(".hartress broke his arm. caused indirectly in 
upholding his southern ])rinciples. Both these 
men had been with the companv in the line but 
now they were ordered to a hos])ital for treat- 
ment and so cheated of the homeward trip with 
their comrades and the ovation later tendered 
the division in New \ ork City. On the morning 
of March 5th, reveille was at .5.00 a. m. and it 
was not long thereafter that we were sneaking 
quietly under strict orders for silence out of 
camp on our very last march in France. 

We arrived at the dock where we were again 
the grateful recipients of refreshments from the 
Red Cross. We boarded a lighter which brought 
us out to the U. S. S. Missouri and shortly after 
noon were established on board. Although con- 
ditions were cramped, there was just our own 



COMPANY A 



lOOih MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



65 




y^jf' 



.SECOND ri,\TO()N \T OiWKltKF. 



battalion and a few casual* on board. The 
^Missouri was a 1912 man-of-war. manned bv a 
fine tv]ie of American sailors. The men were 
assigned to \arious compartments and besides the 
non-commissi(nied officers, a ( .. P. 0. was assigned 
to each com|iartmenl to as>ist the men (d the 
Army. Dining tables and benches, together with 
the ship's crockery was at our disposal. Tiie 
food was good, of great variety and served hot. 
At about seven p. m. anchor was weighed antl 
a few minutes later we slipped through the gates 
of Brest Harbor leaving the coast of France an 
inilistinct line through the heavy drizzle. Bv 
seven-thirty we were tossing in a choppy, white- 
capped sea which ruined many of the hapjn 
dispositions and complexions of both Army and 
Navy. Motion pictures were held on the quarter- 
deck almost every evening and were attended In 



all ranks of both services. The i\ay\ band was 
generous with its music and furnished concerts 
miirning. atternoon and evening. Be.-idcs this 
there was boxing, wrestling, a well-stocked can- 
teen, phonographs and a lilirary of recent works. 

There was l)ul comparali\el\ little sickness on 
board and but one serious case, that of Herbert 
I" au!ice who had contracted influenza which de- 
velope<l into pneumonia. For eight anxious days 
the men of the company worried liut due to inost 
excellent care and the untiring efforts of the 
ship's doctor. Faunce was jmlled through his 
crisis. 

On March loth we were all stirring early for 
it had been ann(junced that we would doi-k some- 
time during the day. We were held up on ac- 
count of the heavy fog but slowly picked our 
way and had hardly passed Sandy Hook when 



66 



COM P AM' A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




THIKU FLATUON \T CONNERRE 



our attention wa> ilraun to a little craft wiiich 
as it drew nearer we discerned to he a harbor 
tug gaily decorated with (lags and banners. Run- 
ning the full length of the tug was one large 
printing "Rochester." "To the devil belongs his 
due" and we must here acknowledge that the up- 
state contingent of our company were the first 
to receive a personal welcome. It is interesting 
to note at this point tliat as the little tug pulled 
alongside the most conspicuous gifts showered 
upon the Missouri were the popular large red 
apples for which the men of the "Flower City" 
had been dubbed "Apple-Knockers." a nickname 
then confirmed to live forever. 

We were greeted by an enthusiastic reception. 
Before leaving the boat the men of the battalion 
joined in a hearty cheer for the crew of the 
Missouri who were as sincere and enthusiastic 



in reciprocating. Un the dock we were met by 
the e\ev present Red Cross workers with coflee 
and rolls and immediatelv thereafter |iiled 
aboard the ferry which took us to \^ eehawken. 
Here we l)oar<led trains — real American day 
coaches — and were carried to Camp Merritt. Ten- 
afly, N. J. That night the men were detained in 
camp to he properly deloused and then until the 
following Sunday passes were issued to allow 
them to go to their respective homes. On Sun- 
day the battalion proceeded to the First Cavalry 
.Armory in Brooklyn to prepare their equipment 
for the Brooklyn parade the following day. The 
welcome we received in Brooklyn and in the 
Divisional Parade the following day in Manhat- 
tan will go down in historv and cannot be ade- 
quately described by the editors. On Wednesday. 
March 26th. we reported at the armorv and 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



67 




THE (,()(l|) iiLli KOI I l\(, KITCIIKN 



iiKirched In the Long Islan<l Itailroail station 
anil entrained lor C.ani]i L ]iton where we were 
again |)livsicallv and nientallx examined by tlie 
officials and on April 2nd every man in the rom- 
pany received hi^ lionoral>le tlischarge and short- 
ly after ten a. m. the men were speeding home- 
w"ard hack to their "ciyies." 

The last curtain has fallen and as it rises for 
a brief hnale. we curtsev and retire to leave 
alone for a moment in the glare of the fool- 
lights, the officers who made Compans A the 
happy family and efficient fighting unit for which 
it was often applauded. With full and lasting 
devotion to our Captain Roberts and his lieuten- 
ants we pay a soldier's highest tribute in that 
if the war were to be fought again we could 
think of no greater privilege than to be re-en- 
listed in their command. 




RetUTitins to Brooklyn Armory oj First \.). Cinnlrv. 



COMPANY A ■ lU6th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 




I in; III Ki,> ()\\ \ 




NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ON MISSOURI 



COMPANY A 



106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



69 




rii,i,r„,„„l ,1- r„i:,r,-,„„i 



THE MISSOURI A1{KI\ ES WITH FAMOUS FIGHTERS! 

The U. S. battleship Missouri is seen arriving at her pier in 
Hoboken with members of the famous 106th Machine Gun 
Battalion, of the 27th Division, crowding her decks. The^^e 
are the boys who won undying fame by smashing the Hinrleii- 
burg Line. 



3n iHrmonaiu 

"But nhetlier oti the scaffold hish 
Or in the Ixiltlc's van. 
Thejillest place ivhcre man can die 
Is uliere he dies for man. " 



Among the memlxT- (if Cdnipaiiv A uln. unit uilli u> to Fiaiur 
eiglit were ilestineil not to see llieir home land again. These 
gallant men laid flown their lives in the performance of iluty. 
To them is given the res]iecl and alTection of everv memlier of 
the Company. We honor their meniorv and hear witness to 
their courage, nohility and selfless devotion to the Cause for 
uiiich thov fouahl. 















r*- 






1 ''"■^. 

\0m m>. ,*• 












\ 


















ARTHUR STRUCK 




Killed in Arliun 




llVRliY C. WALSH 
Killcil in A(lion 



Hsn 






^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^r.-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H|yi^ ^^^1 



JOSEPH F. MAGUIRE 
Died ill France 




HLiHERT A. BOUCHER 

Dit'd in France 




ROBERT F. CARRIE 

Difil in France 



^ 







ANTHONY S. DISK) 
/>(V(/ in Frtmce 











r^ 






* \ 




GEORGE A. SCHAEFER 
Died in France 



CITATIONS 



Following are Citations, etc.. received 
hy 27th Divisioti 



(London Times clipping) 

AMERICAN ATTACK NEAR LE CATELET 

"Advance "Into the Blue"" 

( From C. E. W. Bean I 

WAR CORRESPONDENTS" HEADQUARTERS 

September .'>()tli. 

This morning Australian infantry started from their positions astride the front 
and second systems of the Hindenliurg Line, uiiich they reached vesterdav. and 
worked gratlualh along both systems. By midday a report was received that they 
had captured Bony, near the northern end of the front system. They also worked 
well up the second system towards Gouv. 

There is not the slightest doubt that, in their first assault yesterday, the Ameri- 
cans reached Gouy. Farther south, where the American attack seized Bellicourt 
and Nauroy. the Australians passed through yesterday afternoon and reached Jon- 
court exactly according to programme. They found here a certain number of 
American troops, who carried their first magnificent assault far beyond their objec- 
tives. As the left flank was here in the air. the Australians brought in these Ameri- 
cans in order to get in touch with the troops in the second system on the Hindenburg 
Line before Nauroy. where they spent the night. These Australians jirought back 
with them eight German field guns and 250 prisoners. 

Some day, when the full story of the American attack yesterday can be told the 
j\merican people will have every reason to thrill with pride at these magnificent 
troops upon whom the tremendous task of yesterday fell. Never in this war have 
I seen keener or braver soldiers or more intelligent and high-minded men. These 
two divisions, young in experience, were faced with the formidable task of breaking 
through two double systems of the greatest defence line the Germans ever constructed 
at the end where the enemy knew it was certain that the attack nmst come within a 
few days. The tunnels, dug-outs, and every nook and cranny of that system were 
garrisoned. Uncertainty in regard to the position of their own front line on the left 
of the attack made the task still more difficult. Yet these troops carried this form- 
idable assault, and penetrated deeper even than was intended, and delivered to the 
Germans a blow which attracted the greater part of the enemy opposition, and which, 
beyond all question, enalded the great defence to be broken in a jjosition which was 
of the utmost importance to the Allied advance. 

The Australians today are attacking up the trenches, fearing that pockets of 
wounded and living Americans are still there. The fact that the northern portion 
of the attack is hampered through the Germans reajipearing behind the Americans 
does not detract from the grand spirit of these young troops and the magnificent 
self-sacrifice with which thev have carried out what they believed to be their task. 
Every Australian soldier is proud to be the comrade of the Brilisb and Americans in 
this fight. 



HEADQUARTERS II CORPS 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

France, Oct. 4, 1918. 
From: Adjutant General. 

To: Commantling General, 27tli Division, American E. F. 
Subject: Operation against Hindenburg Line of September 29, 1918. 

I. Following is letter received from tbe Commanding General, Australian Corps: 

AUSTRALIAN CORPS 
Corps Headquarters 

2nd October, 1918. 
My dear General : 

As the Second American Corps has now been withdrawn from the line, and my 
official association with you and your troops has been, for the time being, suspended, 
I desire to express to you the great pleasure that it has been to me and to the troops 
of the Australian Armv Corps to have been so closely allied to vou in the recent very 
important battle operations which have resulted in the breaking through of the main 
HINDENBl RG Line on the front of the Fourth British Army. 

Now that fuller details of the work done by the 27th and SOth American Divisions 
have become available, the splendid gallantry and devotion of the troops in these 
operations have won the admiration of their Australian comrades. The tasks set 
were formitlable. but the American troops overcame all obstacles and contributed 
in a very high degree to the ultimate capture of the whole tunnel svstem. 

I shall be glad if you will convey to vour Division Commanders my apprecia- 
tion of and thanks for the work done, and to accept niv isest wishes for every possible 
success in the future. 

Yours very sincerely, 

JOHN MONASH. 
Major-Gener-\l G. W. Read, N. A., 

Commanding Second American Corps. 

II. In communicating to you this expression of the sentiments of the Commander 
of the Australian Corps, the Corps Commander desires to make known to you his 
appreciation of the splendid fighting qualities of your division, and of the results 
they accomplished in their part in breaking this formidable portion of the Hindenburg 
Line. It is undoubtedly due to the troops of this Corps that the line was broken 
and the operations now going on made possible. 

The unflincliing determination of these men. their gallantry in battle, and the 
results accomplished, are an example for the future. Thev will have their place in 
history and must always be a source of pride to our people. 

STEPHEN C. CLARK, 

Adjutant General. 

Hq. 27th Div.. U. S. A.. A. E. F.. 5. October 1918. OFFICIAL COPY to all concerned. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISION 
AMERICAN E. F., FRANCE 



Bulletin 

No. 100 



19, October "18. 



I. The following telegram from the Conunanding General II Corps. A. E. F., 
is published for the information and guidance of all concerned: 
Commanding General 27th Division. 

The following repeated for your information quote number 1606G.'3 the Com- 
mander-in-Chief desires you to convey to the officers and soldiers of your corps his 
appreciation of the magnificent qualities which have enabled them comma against 
powerful resistance comma to advance more than ten miles and to take more than six 
thousand prisoners since September twenty-seventh McAndrew unquote Addsd 27th 
and 30th Divns. Second American Corps. 

By Command of Major-General 0"Ryan: 

Stanley H. Ford. 
Colonel, G. S., Chief of Staff. 
OFFICIAL: 

H. B. Battenberc, Adjutant General, Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS 27th DI\ ISIO.N U. S. A. 

AMERICAN E. F., FRANCE 

Bulletin 
No. 103 

October 21. 1918. 

Since the 25th of September — a period of nearly one month — the division has 
been engaged almost continuously in fighting and marching. Some of this fighting 
involved a leading role in one of the fiercest battles of the war — the breaking of 
the great Hindenburg defence line. We have suffered the loss of some of our best 
officers anil men. but unfortunately, such losses are incidental to battles of such magni- 
tude. Onlv divisions highly trained and disciplined, possessing the greatest confi- 
dence and morale and at the very top notch of their strength could have accomplished 
what this division and our comrades of the .lOth Division accomplished in that great 
battle. Only such divisions could have met the sacrifices ilemanded, and with morale 
unimpaired have renewed the advance in the manner characterizing the operations 
of the past two weeks. 

This is not the occasion to describe the Hindenburg defenses or the details of 
the battle for breaking them. That will doubtless be done after the war. The same 
comment applies to the details of the operations since that engagement. Neverthe- 
less, the Division Commander cannot witldiold this expression of his admiration and 
respect for the valor and discipline as well as the endurance and spirit manifested 
bv officers and men throughout this long period of fighting. These sentiments are 
stimulated bv the events of the past week, when reduced in strength, the Division 
attacked the enemv, took the town of St. Souplet. forced the crossing of the Le Selle 
River, and against strong opposition successfully assaulted the heights on the other 
side. Since that date the Division has attacked daih taking b\ assault the town of 
Arbre Guernon and a number of strongly fortified farms and forcing a withdrawal 
of the enemy to the Canal De La Sanibre. 

In this latter advance the Division captured more than I 100 German officers and 
eidisted men. and a vast amount of military |)roperty including field guns, a great 
number of machine guns, both light and heavy anti-tank guns, trench mortars, dumps 
of ammunition and railroad rolling stock. In all this fighting the character of the 
enemy's resistance and the extent of his losses are indicated by the large number of 
enemy dead on the field. 

The efforts of the ])ast month constitute a record to be proud of, and their value 
is indicated in the commendatory letter from the Commander-in-Chief of the British 
Expeditionary Forces which has been published for the information of the division. 
Officers and men have justified the estimate made of the division, when after its 
arrival in France it was selected to hold the Mt. Kemmel sector against the expected 
great effort of the enemy to drive through to the sea. They have justified the opinions 
of their fighting qualities formed when that crisis, with the evacuation of Mt. Kemmel, 
had passed, and the division promptly attacked and took Vierstaat Ridge, being, 
with the 30th Division on our left, the first American troops to fight on Belgian 
territory. 

John F. O'Ryan, 

Major-General. 



HEADQL ARTEKS, 27tli DIVISION, V. S. A. 
AMERICAN E. F.. FRANCE 

From: Coinniaiuling General, 

To: Commaniling General. .Slth liif'aiili) Brigade. 

Subject : CommenJation. 

()(t..l.er 22. IMir,. 

1. I write to express llirougii \(iu to the officers and men ol (he lOOlh Madiine 
Gun Battalion and llie Machine Gun (Companies of your Brigade. ni\ admiration an<i 
respect tor their \alor. initiative and endurance iluring the great iiattle for the iireak- 
ing of the Hindenhurg Line and tiie (jperations sulisequent thereto. 

2. Ahnost contiiuioush since tiial iiatlle the division has been fighting and 
marching, lying in shell holes at night, attacking at dawn, fighting throughout the 
day against a most tieterniined machine gun and artillery resistance and repeating 
this after temporary relief which meant only lying in other shell holes or pits in 
])ositions of close support. The skill, endurance and determination of the machine 
gunners contributed largelv to the success of the operations which resulted in our 
forcing the crossing of the Le Selle River, capturing Bandival Farm and the town of 
Arbre Guernon, taking the farms of Jonc De Mer an<l La Rue. and in co-operation 
with flanking divisions, driving the enemy to the line of the Canal De La Sambre. 

'.]. Whether in attack or in resisting counter attacks the conduct id' the machine 
gun units has been characterized at all times by the exceptional courage and skill 
(d' officers and the valor and tlelermination of the men. The machine gun units have 
won the respect and admiration of the entire division. 

.John F. O'Ryan. 

Major General. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISION U. S. A. 

AMERICAN E. P., FRANCE 
Bulletin 
No. 104 

October 23, 1918. 

The following communication received from the French Mission is published 
for information of the division. In connection therewith the Division Commander 
wishes to express his extreme satisfaction over the manner in which our men respected 
the property rights of those absent from their damaged buildings, and aided and 
sympathized with the civilian survivors of the bombardment and the refugees who 
returned. 

From personal ob.servation and from conversations with civilians who expressed 
their gratitude for the altitude of our men, the Division Commander feels that on the 
occasion referred to, they gave further demonstration of their rectitude and discipline. 

From: French Mission, Headquarters 27th Division, 

To: Commanding General, 27th Division, 

Subject: Expression of gratitude by the French inhabitants. 

Officer interpreter R. Bernstein has been requested by the acting Mayor of 
Busigny and by numerous inhabitants of the town and also of St. Souplet and Escau- 
fort, to express their heartfelt gratitude for all the kindness that was shown to them 
by the 27th Division. 

They fullv realize what the officers and soldiers have done in assisting the evacua- 
tion of civilians, in feeding them, in giving medical aid to the sick and aged. 

They fullv realize the debt of gratitude which they have incurred towards Ameri- 
can troops and Officer Interpreter Bernstein considers it a great honor and privilege 
for him to convey to you these feelings of his countrymen. 

Lieut. Robert Bernstein, 
Officer Interpreter. 

By Command of Major-General O'Ryan: 

Stanley H. Ford, 
Colonel. G. S., Chief of Staff. 
OFFICIAL: 

H. B. Battenberc. Adjutant General. Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISIOxN 
AMERICAN E. F., FRANCE 



Bulletin 
No. 102 



24, Octol)er 1918. 

The following letter from the Commanding General, 3rd Australian Division 
is published for the informatirm of the Division: 

France. 14, October 1918. 
General: 

On behalf of all ranks of the MA Australian Division. I desire to express our 
sincere appreciation of the fighting qualities displayed by the 27th Division U. S. on 
the 27th and 29th Septemlter last. The gallant manner in which your troops faced 
an extremelv difficult task, the determination of their attacks on a strongly entrenched 
position, and the undaunted spirit with which they met their losses make us hope that 
we shall again have the honour of fighting alongside the Division under your com- 
mand. The confidence of the men in their officers appealed to us as a particularly 
happv omen for the future successes of the 27th. 

Very respectfully. 

I. GELLIBRAND, 
Major General 
Comdg. 3rd Australian Division 
OFFICIAL: 

Major General O'Ryan. 

Comdg. 27th American Division. 

COPY. 

General Orders 

No. 44. 



HEADQUARTERS. 27th DIVISION 

AMERICAN E. F., FRANCE 

28, October, 1918. 
Bulletin 
No. 108 

Fourlh Army No. G. S. 2/25. 
II American Corps. 

Now that the American Corps has come out of the line for a well earned jjeriod 
of rest and training, I desire to place on record my appreciation of the great gallantry 
and the fine soldierly spirit they have displayed throughout the recent hard lighting. 

The breaking of the great HINDENBURG system of defence, coupled with the 
capture of Grandcourt. Busigny and St. Souplet, and finally the forcing the passages 
of the Selle River constitute a series of victories of which each officer. N. C. O. and 
man has every reason to feel proud. 

The Corps has been verv well supported by the artillery of the Australian 
Corps, to whom I desire to offer my best thanks for their skill and endurance during 
the long months they have now been in action. 

The efficiency with which the staff work of the Corjjs has been carried out on this 
their first experience as a fighting Corps in the line of battle has filled me with ad- 
miration, and I attribute it largely to the zeal and unity of purpose which has through- 
out animated the whole Corps. 

The outstanding feature of their recent victories has been the surpassing gallan- 
try and self-sacrifice of the regimental officers and men. I congratulate them on their 
prowess and ofier them one and all my warmest thanks for liie leading part tliev have 
taken in the recent operations. 

It is possible now to give the Corps a period of rest, during which sjjecial atten- 
tion should be paid to the training of the smaller units in minor tactics, such as the 
attack of strong points and machine gun nests. The experience they have had of 
actual combat will assist them to improve their fighting efficiency in this respect. 

In thanking the Corps as a whole for the great services they have rendered to the 
Allied cause. I desire to wish all ranks the best of good fortune in the future. 

H. S. RAWLINSON, 

General, ("ommanding Fourlh Annv. 
Adv. H. Q., Fourth Army, 

22nd October, 1918. 

By Command of Major General 0"Ryan: 

Stanley H. Ford. 

Colonel, G. S., Chief of Staff. 
OFFICIAL: 

H. R. Battenberg. Adjutant General. Division Adjutant. 



HF.ADQL ARTEKS, 27th DIVISION 
AMERICAN E. P., FRANCE 



Bulletin 
No. Hi! 



15, November, '18. 



Tlie following telegram IKuii llie (^iMumander-in-Chief. Ainerican Kxpeditionary 
Force* is published for the iiifonnalion of all concerned: 

"Haef Nov. l'>. riie following general order of Nov. 12lh is telegraphed 
for your information. Tiie enemy has capitulated. It is fitting that I adihess myself 
in tlianks directly to the officers and soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces 
who by their heroic efforts have made possible this glorious result. Our armies, 
hurriedly raised and hastily trained, met a veteran enemy, and by courage, discipline 
and skill always defeated him. W ithoul complaint \fiu have endured incessant toil, 
privation and danger. ^ ou have seen many of your comrades make the supreme 
sacrifice that freedom may live. I thank you for the patience and courage with 
which you have endured. I congratulate you upon the splendid fruits of victory 
which your heroism and the blood of our gallant deati are now presenting to our 
nation. Your deeds will live forever on the most glorious pages of American History. 
These things you have done. There remains now a hartler ta^k which will test your 
soldierly qualities to the utmost. Succeed in this and little note will be taken ami 
few praises will be sung; fail and the light of your glorious achievemeiils (if the |)ast 
will sadly be dimmed. But \(iu will not fail. Every natural lendenr\ nui\ urge 
toward relaxation in discipline, in conduct, in appearance, in evervthing that marks 
the soldier is the representative in Euro|ie of his people and that his brilliani deeds 
of yesterday permit no action of todav to pass unnoticed bv friend or b\ loe. ^ ou will 
meet this test as gallantly as you have met the tests of the battlefield. Sustained by 
your high ideals and inspired bv the heroic part you have played. \iju uill carry 
back to our people the proud consciousness of a new Americanism born of sac rilice. 
Whether you stand on hostile territory or on the friendly soil of France. \ou will 
so liear vourself in (liscijdine. ajipearance and respect for all civil rights that you 
will confirm for all time the pride and love which America feels for your unibuni 
and for you. Signed, t'ershing." 

By Connnand of IJliK.AOIEK GENERAL PlERCE. 

T. B. Taylor. 

(>)lonel. G. S.. Acting Chief of Stall. 
OFFICIAL: 

H. B. BattENGERG. Adjulanl C^cneral. Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS II CORPS, 
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES 

GENER.4L Orders 
No. 44 

France, November 18, 1918. 

1. The following letter from the Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies to 
the Commanding General II Corps is published for the information of the officers 
and soldiers of this command: 

"Now that the American II Corps is leaving the British Zone, I wish once more 
to thank you and all officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of your command, 
on behalf of both myself and all ranks of the British Armies in France and Flanders, 
for the very gallant and efficient service vou have rendered during the period of your 
operations with the Fourth British Army. 

"On 29th September, you took part with distinction in the great and critical 
attack which shattered the enemy's resistance in the Hindenburg Line and opened the 
road to final victory. The deeds of the 27th and 30th American Divisions, who on 
that day took Bellicourt and Nauroy and so gallantly sustained the desperate struggle 
for Bony, will rank with the highest achievements of this war. They will always 
be remembered by the British Regiments that fought beside you. 

"Since that date, through three weeks of continuous fighting you advanced from 
one success to another, overcoming all resistance, beating off numerous counter- 
attacks, and capturing several thousand prisoners and manv guns. The names of 
Brancourt, Fremont. Busigny, Vaux Andigny. St. Souplet. and Mezinghein, testify 
to the dash and energy of your attacks. 

"I rejoice at the success which has attained your efforts and I am proud to have 

had you under my command. 

(Signed! D. Haic, 

Field Marshal."' 

By Command of Major General Reed: 

George S. Simmonds, 
Chief of Staff. 
OFFICIAL: 

Stephen C. Clark. Adjutant General. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISION 
AMERICAN E. P.. FRANCE 

Bllletin 
No. 123 

25, November, '18. 

Tlie loUouing letter from the Commaiuling General, II Corps. A. E. P., dateil 
November 16. 1918 is published for the information of this commaiul: 

1. Referring to the telegram from the Commander-in-Cliief of appreciation of the 
sacrifice and service of the troops of the American Expeditionary Force, I feel that 
it should be impressed upon the men of our command that they, and the organizations 
to which they belong, have played an exceptional part in bringing about the magnifi- 
cent results which the Commander-in-Chief has so warmly eulogized, antl that every 
advantage should be taken of this expression of what has been done in the past and 
confidence as to the future by those in command to inspire their men with pride in 
the service thev have had as soldiers in the Army of the United States, and to keeji 
alive this "proud consciousness of a new Americanism born of sacrifice." 

2. I would request that you convey to your command my appreciation of the 
part thev have taken in our great victory, and my thanks for their heroic devotion to 
duty; and that I share with them their sorrow for fallen comrades, and their pride 
in the high achievements of the men of this Corps. 

I Signed ) G. W. Re.\D, 
Major General. Commanding. 

By Command of Major General O'Kyan: 

T. B. Taylor. 
Colonel. G. S.. Actg. Chief of Statf. 
OFFICIAL: 

H. R. Battenberc. Adjutant General. Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISION 

AMERICAN E. F.. FRANCE 
Bulletin 

No. 39 February 20. 1919. 

I. The Division Coniinander has received the folhiwiiig from Sir Douglas Haig, 
Field Marshal. Commander-in-Chief. British Ex|)editionarv Forces. 
No. A. 0. A. 122. 

General Headquarters 
BRITISH ARMIES IN THE FIELD 
12th February. 1919. 
To the General Officer Comnwndinii and the officers, non-commissioned officers and 
enlisted men oj the 27th American Division: 

You are returning in victory from the first campaign in which American troops 
have fought on European soil. Secure in the strength and limitless resources of vour 
own great country on the other side of the Atlantic, the call of outraged humanity 
which from the outset of the war sounded so loudly and so closely in Britisli ears 
was heard from afar by the manhood of our sister nation. A people less far sighted, 
less imbued with the loftv iiieals of liberty, might never have heeded that call. You 
heard it. vou gave it heed, and when the time was ripe anil every city, township, 
village, hamlet and farm in your mighty land knew the full meaning of the des])erale 
conflict raging bevond the seas, you flung yourselves into the frav. ardent and im]ietu- 
ous on the side of Right. 

Right trium|)hed. You who now return to the homes that sent you forth in laith 
and hope, to make if need be the supreme sacrifice for the belief that is in you, can 
say to those who greet you that in that triumph you have had your share. You can 
point to a proud record of achievement, to the months of patient earnest training, 
to the incessant strain and watchfulness of the trenches, to the fury of great battles. 
You can point also to your sacrifices, made with a courage and devotion unsurpassed 
in all the dread storv of this war — abundant in heroism. — sacrifices which were the 
price of world lil)ertv and ]ieace which vou have helped so powerfullv to build up 
anew. 

Returning, you and all ranks of the American Expeditionary Force carrv back 
with \ou the pride, affection and esteem of all who fought beside you. and not least 
of those with whom vou share a common language and a common outlook u|)on life. 
The memory of our great attack upon the HINDENBIRG Line on ibe 29tb Septem- 
ber 1918. in which the 27th American Division along with troo])s from all parts of 
the British Empire took so gallant and glorious a part, will never die and the service 
then reniJered In American troops will be recalled with gratitude and admiration 
throughout the British Empire. I rejoice to think, that in the greater knowledge and 
understanding born of perils and hardships shared together, we have learnt at last to 
look beyond old jealousies and past quarrels to the essential qualities which unite 
the great English-speaking nations. 

In bidtling God speed to vou whom for a time I was privileged to have under 
my command. I feel confident that the new era opened out before us by the appearance 
of American troops on the battlefields of the Old \X orld will see the sympathy and 
friendship now established between our two nations constantly deepened and strength- 
ened, to the lasting advantage of both peoples. 

D. HAIG. Field-Marshal. 

Commanding- in-Chief, 

British Armies in France. 
OFFICIAL: 

Tristram Tlpper. Adjutant General. Division Adjutant. 



The Division CDinniander has replied as lollow? 



HEADQUARTERS 27tli DIVISION U. S. A. 

AMERICAN E. F.. FRANCE 

A. P. 0. 74!'. 

February 18. 1919. 
Fielil Marshal Sir Douglas Haig. 
Commander-in-Chief, 
British Armies in France. 

.\1\ dear General Haig; 

I acknowledge receipt of your very generous letter coniinending the l.attle record 
of ihe 27th Division. On behalf of the officers and men of the Division 1 express 
a])precialion of your words and of tlie sentiments which inspired them. With you I 
rejoice in the knowledge that our relations born of peril and sacrifices shared together 
in campaign and in battle, constitute an en<luring lie that will be proof against the 
petty distractions ol ordinary times. 

The personnel of our Division, being Americans, are the descendants of many 
races and peoples, some of them having no sentimental or otiier ties with Great 
Britain. It is natural to assume that they entered upon the service of their Division 
with tiie British Army, witii widely varying notions respecting British soldiers and 
the soldiers of her colonies. I think I tairly state the sentiments ol our officers ami 
men when I sav that upon the completion of our service, we carried with us respect 
and admiration for your soldiers, both officers and men. We found them to be brave 
and patient in adversity, courageous and magnanimous in victory, and under all con- 
ditions highly disciplined and modest in deportment. Toward us they acted like 
brothers — not as formal Allies in a joint endeavor. And so we leave France with a 
complete reciprocation of the sentiments \ou have been kind enough to express and 
with gratitude for many kindnesses, both proiessional and personal, shown us by you 
yourself and by the Commanding Generals of the II and IV Armies and the officers 
associated with them. 

With best wishes and expressions of high personal regard. 1 am. 

Very respectfully, 

John F. O'Ryan. 

Major-General 

Commanding. 

By Conmiand of Major-General 0"I\van: 

W. H. Raymond 
Colonel. G. S.. Chief of Staff. 

OFFICIAL: 

Tristram Tlppp:r. .Adjutant General. Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS, 27th DIVISION 

AMERICAN E. P., FRANCE 

Bulletin 
No. 34 

February 19, 1919. 

I. The following farewell message to the 27th Division has been received at these 
Headquarters from General H. S. Rawlinson, Commanding the Fourth Army. B. E. F.: 

As the commander of the Fourth British Armv I keenly appreciate the honour 
of having had the 27th Division under my command in the great Cambrai-St. Quentin 
Battle which decided the war in favour of the Allies. 

The gallantry of all ranks of the divisions in that battle, as well as in subsequent 
engagements, has filled me with admiration and all units of the Fourth Armv value 
beyond measure the privilege of having been so closely associated with their brave 
comrades from New York. The seeds of good fellowship and mutual esteem which 
have been sown with the blood of the fallen, on the battle grounds of France, will 
bear fruit as time goes on in the wider field of international relationship — and I 
look forward to the future with a firm conviction that whatever mav be the trials and 
tribulations to which we may be subjected, the close friendship of the English-speak- 
ing peoples is now founded on the bed rock of mutual sacrifice and esteem, which 
will stand secure for many generations to some. 

(Signed) RAWLINSON. 
By command of Major General O'Ryan: 

W. H. Raymond, 
Colonel. G. S., Chief of Staff. 
OFFICIAL: 

Tristram Tupper, Adjutant General, Division Adjutant. 



HEADQUARTERS. 27th DIVISION 

BL1.1.ETIN AMERICAN E. F.. FRANCE 

^\;o 38 Feluuaiy 20. IMIO. 

I. The following. receive<l l)\ the l)i\i-i(>ii Commaiuler. from Lieutenant General 
John Monash. commanding Aii-lralian Corp>. is publi^he(l for the information of 
all concerned : 

The affinity of the Australian people and Australian soldiers for the great Ameri- 
can Republic took birth from the memorable visit of the American Fleet to our shores. 
It was fostered bv mutual sympathy with the common ideals shared by these two 
democracies. — and bv the community of their interests in the problems of the Pacific. 
It culminated in the comradeship of their fighting men in the Great War. The flower 
of the \outh of Australia and of America met and fraternized ujjon the battle- 
scarred soil of France. Thev recognized, in each other, a kindredshij) of spirit and ol 
their outlook upon life. Thev were privileged to fight shoulder to >houlder in 
several of the most notalile battles of the War. 

From Julv 4th. the famous day of HameL when American troops first entered 
the conflict, until the final and decisive series of victories which in September anti 
October resulted in the capture of the great Hindenburg Line in its most formidable 
sector. Australians and Americans have worked and fought and bled together. These 
stirring events have set the seal u]^on their lirotherhood. 

For none of all the American troops with which they have lieen thus associated 
will the "diggers" las thev are aflectionatelv nicknamed I have a more lasting re- 
membrance than for the bovs of the 27th American Division. To the gallantry and 
sacrifice? of this splentlid Division, as displayed in that heroic feat of arm.-* which 
led to the capture of the famous Tunnel, and of Bon\. Gouy and Le Catelet. 
our men bear willing witness. It was this knock-out blow that compelled the Ger- 
mans to launch their final peace ofTer, which so soon after led to the Armistice. 

It has been, to me personallv. a source of great pride to have had the 27th Divi- 
sion, together with its sister Division, the .SOth. under my comman<l for these great 
ojjerations. and to have been alTorded the opportunitv of so close and successful an 
association with 



men of the 2 ith 

Cori)S. LOMION. 

II. The fol 



their Conuuander?. Staffs and Soldiers. — and I do not doubt that the 
Division will not soon forget their comrades of the Australian Army 

Lieut. -General. 



JOHN MONASH. 

owing letter from Sir Herliert Plumer. Commanding Sec(jnd Arniv 
)i\ision saw service in f landers, is published lor the 



B. E. F.. with which the 27th 
inforniatiiin of all concerned: 

HEADOLARTERS 



SECOND AICM\. Cologne 

9 Februarv V)\'). 

Dear General: I should like before the Division returns to the United States to 
convey to vou and to them m\ ap|)reciation of the service rendered by the Division 
while they were with the 2nd Army. 

The wonderful spirit which animated all ranks and the gallanlrv displaved in 
the minor engagements thev took ])art in with us foreshadowed the successes they 
would achieve later. 

Our regret was that the pei iod of iheir service with the 2nd Arnn was so brief. 

Believe me. 



V. 



smcerelv 



HERBERT PLUMFR. 
By command of Major General 0"Rv\n: 

W. H. RvYMOM). Colonel. G. S.. Chief of StatT. 
To G. 0. C. 27th American Division. 
OFFICIAL: Tristram Tipper. Adjutant General. Division .\djutant. 



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BILL WEAVKR 



NICHOLAS ZAFFARANO 





CLARENCE ZELLER 



FRED ZEITLER 



ROSTER 

COMPA^Y "A" 106ih Machine Gin Batt\i!(»\ 



(■(i/i/iiiii : 
Koliurl>. J, ,1m S 2{l()(. CatDii A\c.. Urooklvii. \. Y. 

FirsI Lii-iilciiaiils: 

Beamish, Edgar T .IV.') I'lillori Si.. r>iijt)kl\n. \. V. 

Wellington. Roger H <!2 Urnn-u i( k .'^|.. Ium lic^icr. \. ^ . 

Second Lieuteiuinls : 

MeDoiniell. M\lej 71.i Gate.- Ave. l>r(iokl\ri. \. ^ . 

Grant. Franris B 221- \ as>ar St.. [{iK-liott-r. \. V. 

Hawkins. Earl E UO Keeline lUiilding, Omaha. .Neb. 

First Sergeant: 
Knlm. Walter K 6:! Smilli Oxford Si.. I!r.,i>kl\ ri. \. ^ . 

Supply Sergeant: 
.Morlev. Elbert F Ill IVarl Si.. \.u ^ n,k (.ilv 

Slalile Sergeant: 
Reillv. John P. (Gassed) 1 1 10 Halsey Si.. BnH,kl\ii. \. V. 

Mess Sergeant: 
McAlester. Walter C. ( W omideil i ](> Alkin-on St.. 1um1icsI(m. N. Y. 

Sergeants: 

Wadhams. Charles I Candidate Officer I T^ittsford, .N. Y. 

Collins. Frank W l.'>6 Fitzluigh St.. Ixochcstfr. \. V. 

I.iii.lsav. James L 12.50 Bav St.. Rosebank. S. I.. \. Y. 

Jovce. Joseph F 29.') Sterling IMace. Brooklyn. \. '^ . 

Perkins. Kenneth R. ( Caixlidale Officer i 11 10 Kenniore Place. Brooklvn. \. Y. 

Ra\. Herbert C 7011 Linccdn Place. Brooklvn. \. ^ . 

Fdllit. Robert R "> East Ninth Si.. New "l Ork City 

Zinnner. Edward L. l W ounded I TOO Monroe A\e.. Rochester. N. '^ . 

Dunn. Wilbur R West Heruiella. N. ^ . 

Crawford. George M .', 1 \. Parsons Ave.. Flushing. N. Y. 

Pllum. Guy S 201 West 10 lib St.. New York City 

Kvritz. Albert. Jr 1001) 7;;ib .St.. Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Smith. Harlev C '22[] W'. Cheslniit Si.. F. Rocbc-ler. \. Y. 

Guare. George H '. 71i)-A Presidcnl Si.. HrookK n. N. ^ . 

O'Brien. John J 112 Eighlh A\.-.. RrookKn. N. V. 

Head. Sanford J lO.i Eenuood Ave. |{oche>ter. \. Y. 

Kane. Thomas F 1!!0 Third St.. Brooklvn. N. '^ . 

Wait. Robert R 23' ^mi'li ■'^'•- I'eekskill. N. Y. 

Jovce. Charles C 29.3 Sterling PI.. Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Johnson. Charles H 12.i.S St. .Marks Ave.. Brooklvn. N. ^ . 

Drowne. Brewer C 1'^ Madison .<!.. Rulland. \ I. 



140 COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



Ward. George i\I. ( Commissioned 1 36 West Ave., Rochester. N. Y. 

Everson. Alfred H. (Transferred I 146 Hawthorne St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Corporals: 

Collyer. Joseph 8201 13th Ave., Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Mowris, Russell C 285 Alexander St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

MacChesney. Don R 136 Fulton St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Murphy. Edward J 186 Ainslie St.. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Collyer, James M 8201 13th Ave., Brooklyn. N. ^'. 

Brewster. Russell G 87 Woodruff Ave., Brooklyn, ^f. Y. 

Ketcham, William B West Webster. N. Y. 

Palmer. Arthur C Pittsford. N. Y. 

Arlidge, Ral|)h J 134 Grand Ave.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Bright. Allien J 19.30 82nd St.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Durkee, Roosevelt W 44 Gregorv St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Hine:-. John D 207 Vi inthrop St.. Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Light. Arthur S 7503 Fort Hamilton Parkway, Brooklyn. N. ^ . 

Stubbe. Elmer J 53 Beauford St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Slobbe, Walter B 86 University Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 

Walker, Harry ( Transferred I 8 East Ninth St.. New York Citv 

Cooks : 

Powers, Patrick 28 East 126lh St.. New York City 

Hannigan, Rodger .301 West 119th St., New York City 

Galvin. Charles, '', Miss Mary Galvin 540 West 126th St., New York City 

Fieker?. Bernard H 1228 Putnam Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Mechanics: 

Chase. George T. ( Wounde.l I 8223 13th Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Lindstrom. Theodore 1665 Edgewater Ave., Chicago, HI. 

Maguire, Joseph F. ( Died I . Mrs. Mary J. Maguire I Mother I . 191 Winthrop St.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Menne, Henry 513 East Fifth St.. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Bernstein. Bennie ( Re])lacenient I Arlington Heights. Natchez, Miss. 

Wittemer, Frederick H 107 Church St., Richmond Hill, N. Y. 

Horseshoers: 

Toscano, James V 778 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hart. James E. ( Replacement! Route A. Box 42, Miami, Fla. 

Buglers : 

Denny, Enunett E. ( Replacement I Bellaire, Mich. 

Gorman, Michael J. i Replacement ) R. F. D. 2. Osceola Mills. Pa. 

Walsh, Harry C. (Killed in Action I . Mrs. Jennie ^alsh ( Mother 1 . 282 Sterling PI.. Brooklyn. N.Y. 

Privates — First Class : 

Akins. Henry J 22 Allen St.. Hudson. N. Y. 

Anglin. Roltert R. i Rejilacement i Donaldsville. Ga. 



COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



I II 



Armstrong. Hufjii C. ( IJenlareineiit i . . . i. v n i ,• i 

Barber. ri.,v,l II. . . . !>■ I . D. 1. (.o.hran, Ga. 

,,, ,, ,, ,. , u , >''^ VV<-st l.,.,th M.. ^e^v'>ork(;itv 
Hla(■kllall. l-rank i\\(,i,M(lf.ii -Xl" K, , -1,1 <. U 11 XX 

momuuv. ., „ , l..,,la,.e,nen, , , ,;,„ ^,„„„. ^^,. ,.,.^. ,„_ 

b.uuher. Hul„M, A. ,l),e,li. II. \. i:,,,,, I,,., .lalh-r, |, K.-n, ,s,.. Allu.nv N V 

Hon Ian. Arthur E. I Gassed 1 "7i r ■ w, 1, , , " x, x- 

D „, , ,v, '"' ' '"'111 >l- Brooklyn, l\.\. 

Brown. Walter W ,-,1, , ,.,,,.. ^. ^ ' , , 

r, T,, . '■' west l.'.Oth .SI.. iNfw ^ „ik City 

Browne, IhomasA 11- w . /.r ^' 1. . . 

o , ^., , , II' west 61I1 .S|.. ISavonn.-. \. J. 

Biihsen. Glauile N .,,, r- , .,, ,,-.,,,, ^ , 

Cooper. Georue - r 1 ^ ,> , , ,- 

,, ' ,, ,„,' ' l;i\lor .St.. Hoclieslcr. .\. V 

:f'"'^'""- ' '"""^'^ '^ 11:; W -1 U.-lnA St.. New > ork City 

<.liarlres.(:i,ar!e. J.. '', Mrs. F. B. Geraty.- .|„| |,,„, ,,„„ ,x„,. ^..,,^ v„rk City 

(.iclietti. Kniiiio •>/,- i' , ,,,■. 1 ^' x v , ... ' 

,,, . , , . ><>' l-isl Utiid St.. New "l ork City 

Claire, John A. (Gassed) iqiri,,i a u 11 \. x- 

IT !• Clarkson A\c.. Brookhii. N. \ . 

^:°'7- '''■^'' 2.»l')l,o.aM Bnulexard. Chira.o. III. 

Cook. Seymour H -5 ^|^„.j„„ |,|^„. . ,;„,^, ,„, , ..,„„. |„„; |^,^_,,,, 

Criscello. \ ineent 1.,.). !■ , . x \ r ,■■ 

I"-' I ii>l A\c.. \rv\ > ork (.it\ 

Deepan. Frank \l i-/,i> . i>i n 1 1 x, x. 

I '<•' I ro>|ii-(| I'lacc. IhdokUn. N. Y. 

ingwall. Walter 3,,,, |,„.^, ^, ,.,,,,,^1, ,, N. Y, 

HuHy. George T N^^^, y.,,.,^ ^„„l |.-„,,,, ,\,^,__ Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Kagerton, Charles P. (Henlacenieril ) 1. ■ ' ,- 

„ ' I>nn>(in. Ca. 

tnos, hranklin ,| ,, 1, 1 c. i> 1 x \ 

l'> llancork .S|.. i;(j(li.-s|rr. N. ^ . 

Fklund. Gu^tax II -/nil \ i> 1 1 xi x- 

.()(• (,la»on \\e.. I!i ookh n. N. \ . 

rrench. Bohcrt \l 111- < 11 <, u ri xt x- 

Ml, (.arndl St.. BrookKn. N. Y. 

iaunce. Herlierl J ii,, .■ ^, ., ., ^^ .. 

I !<■ I'crnr e Si.. llrookl\ii. N. 1 . 

(jilieaii. Allien .) 11 w , i- , \ \ii x- x 

i\ W alcrx licl ,\\<-.. Allianx. N.\. 

Gordon. Jacol) S -(■(. \\ > i> r 1 x x- 

lo'' Alarcx ,\\e.. BrookKn. \. ) . 

Gougli. Henr\ E i.-,.„ 1,1 ■ii i> i <, , 1 1 1 x \- 

!• le.'-likill Ixoail. Staten Island. N.l. 

Griswold. Hamilton (] •).. i>,.,„ 1 1 ,-, ,, , , ,, .- 

-" lic\ nolil SI,. Iiocliester. !N. 1 . 

Haney. Cornelius G. I Vi'onnded 1 lioche^ler N Y 

Hasselwan.ler. Hezekiah _,(, Curtis ,S|,. H„rhe>|er". N. v' 

"'"'•''• *^""''' '"^ 26 Sunnier I'ark. lioeheMer. \. ^ . 

Irwm. Roherl. ', W hile Well Co , , \x,|| Si.. \,„ >, nrk City 

'^'^"- C'^^''''^ '■' :; Nelson St.. K.,ehe~ler. \. Y. 

''""•^- J"'^" *^ 11 Austin St.. K.MheMer. \. Y. 

Mahony. John F. ( Detaehed Seryirel V.Vl Seynlh Si.. BrookKn \ Y 

Mandl, Joseph F .;„ ^lasl <;()th St.. New York City 

Mettler. Howard - \V,H„|ruir Aye.. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Messinger. Harry \I 3, s,,. Oxford St.. BrookKn. N. Y. 

Mezger. Frank J 126 Kenilworth Place. BrookKn. N. Y. 

Mooney. Kussell F. I Wounded I 75,, Franklin Aye.. BrookKn. \.Y. 



142 COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



Nelson. Albert L 1244 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Ostendorf, Otto M 58+ Clay Ave.. Rochester, N. Y. 

Proctor, Robert G Cliatham, N. Y. 

Riker. Raynor M 578 Franklin Ave.. Brooklyn. N. "^ . 

Schehl. Geor'^e F 682 Eastern Parkway. Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Schempf. Frederick +23 East 85th St.. New York City 

Sheldon. Charles A +89.A Hancock St.. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Smith. Oliver C. ( Wounded I 70 E. Boulevard, Rochester, N. \. 

Smvthe. Henrv P I'^^O East Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 

Snow Ira J '^^ Hamilton St.. Rochester. N. \ . 

SouviUe, Lawrence W B3 Monroe St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Souville. Llovd A ^'^ ^•o»'-oe St.. Brooklyn. N. \. 

Thurber, Edwin W 4;« East 9,h St.. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Van Deusen. George E. ( Gas^.d I Old Chatham, N. Y. 

Wadhams. Robert R P^'^f"''^- N- Y. 

Walker. Charles 1 «■« South Ave.. Rochester. N. \ . 

„r M A Mendon. N. \ . 

Wangmann, JNornian A 

We.t Ralph E "22 <.lint..n Ave.. So.. Rochester. N. \. 

Williams, Norman B l'» Polhemus PL, Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Privaies : 

Asp. Oliver R. ( Replacement » 2%6 N. Clark St.. Chicago, 111. 

Baresch, William F 961 Third Ave.. College Point. N. ^. 

Bassett Harvev P '^'''"'^ Syosset St.. Woodhaven, Long Island 

Beckhanu Harvie J.' iReplacen.ent Matador, Texas 

Beier. Albert A .3.% Woodmere St.. Detroit, Mich. 

Belkoski. Stanlev (Replacement: Detached Service. 1054 Russell St., Detroit. Mich. 

„,,.,,, o , , , Odell, Texas 

Bell, Arthur L. ( Replacement i 

Benzie. Peter J. ( Replacen.ent Box 713. Stephen Location, Norway, Mich. 

Brand, George West Brighton, Staten Island, N Y. 

Burnside, George Y 324 N. Bergen Ave.. W. New Brighton, N. Y. 

Burrows Gordon H. (Died I. Mrs. F. R. Russell. I Mother I ., Lake Placid Club. Lake Placid. N. ^ 

^ , , , r- 2.30 West 107th St.. New \ork City 

Carlos. Jack L 

Carrie Robert F. i Died ) . James Carrie ( Father 5.58 Monroe St., Brooklyn, N. \ . 

„.■.., 518 West 50th St.. New York City 

Carvin, Patrick 

^- ff T u ,T„„cf»rr^r1 \ "00 Main St.. Lnion Hills, N. J. 

Ciofte, John ( 1 ransterrecl I ^ 

n- , ■ T^^ r ,\)i:,.„n,lp,li 127 Crown St., Brooklyn, IN. 1. 

Comtoise, Edgar E. ( Wounded i ,r , --. 

^ wii iTr.nfprrpdi ,524 West 147th St., New York City 

Coonev. \V illiam ( I ran&lerred I „ a- i i\t v 

,. ^ ,T ,r ,, . , 486 Ashland Ave., Buffalo, N.Y. 

Dav, George ( 1 ransterred ) 

^ ■ r I Navesink, N.J. 

Despreaux. b rank , , 

r^. ,, x? I 564 First St.. Brooklyn, N.\. 

Dingwall, r rank . j 

Disio, Anthonv S. (Died), August Disio (Father. 65 Baker Ave., Dover, N.J. 

^ , , , , 38 Taft Ave.. New Brighton, N. Y. 

Dolan, John J 



COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 14:'. 



Dona. Francis A .'536 We.^l 72n(l .St.. \c« ^ oik Citv 

Driggs. James K K)l West .'i.inl .St.. \cu York Cilv 

Duve. Fred H. (Wounded i 267 Codding St., Akron. Ohio 

Fritz. Henry W. (Transferred; Bn. I'ersonncl Sgt. i 1 12 I'ourlli Si.. Long Island <:il\. \. \. 

Galliraitli. Alexander, /, Mrs. M. Saner 71 Wadswortli Ave.. Slalen Island. N. Y. 

Gallagiier. Joini H 108 Wilson Si.. Hi<„.kl\n. N. Y. 

(>erardi. Guisep|)i ll.''> East I I 7lli St.. New "> ork (lilv 

(;illillan. Waller ( Transferreil I 7.S (Clinton A\c.. Slatcn Islaml. N. Y. 

(dal/.ina\er. William ( Translerrcd ,nid licpl.iremenl I 27 Fagle St.. S(lirni'(lad\ . N. ^ . 

(Jrogan. \\ illiam M l-ililli St. and Flton Ave.. \e« ^drk (iity 

Hamilton. Burton C. ( Detached Service I 2901 (darendon Boad, Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Ilausmann. Roliert F. ( Gassed I 117 I'^ast ;i7th St.. New ^ ork (atv 

Jahour. Thomas S 701 Florida Ave.. Jacksonville. Ida. 

Jacobson. Jack ] d<! East 27lh St., New ^ Ork ( 'ity 

Johnson. Carl O. ( \\ ounded I 77-) Lexington Ave.. New '^Ork Gilv 

Kainer. Herman ( Re|)lacemenl I Flalonia. 1' a veil c (!ounlv. Texas 

Kane. William H KW Third Si.. Brooklvn. \. Y. 

Kncdiel. Harrv D 16.S9 Avenue A. New ^ Ork (aly 

Lahusohr. Harrv 200 West I lOth St.. New York City 

Lakeland. Albert A -52 Bay Ridge Ave.. Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Finder, Reuhen H Fi'.l Sterling Place. Brooklvn. N. Y. 

Mcllvenny. W illiam (Transferred I .'iSO Franklin Si., \orvv ich. (!oim. 

Moore, William I Replacement I F il/gcr,dd. (7a. 

Murphy. Alexander D 2<>0l Glenvvood Road. Brooklvn. \. "> . 

Oliva. George 31 East I27th Si.. Ncu") ork City 

()(.onnor. Timolhv iW.iundedi. ', Mrv II. Maiming 262 W. 1 Fllh Si.. \cu York City 

I'earce. Frank A (^ity Flngineer Dept.. Rochcslcr. \. Y. 

F^riske. Frank D. ( Replacemeni 1 R. F. D. .'.. Fldoia. Iowa 

Prokop. (iharles F" 1!!.^ Buchman Ave.. (Juccns. L. I.. N. ^ . 

Parfrey. Sydney ( Transferred I F32 East End .Ave.. .\ew ^Ork City 

Perdue. Edward F. (Transferred I •'. Pembroke St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Ross. Elmer J. (Wounded) 1 Judson St.. Rochester, N. 'l'. 

Russo. Santo F. (Transferred 1 V) Stuart Ave.. Flu-hing. N. ^ . 

Sancken. John G 700 Fre.sh Pond Rc.ad. Brooklyn. \. Y. 

Schaefer. George .A. ( Died I. George .Schaefer ( Feather I \ an Ri|)er Ave.. Flushing. \. "l . 

SchafTner. Frederick P''' Park St.. Corona. N. ^ . 

Smyth. Louis C. (Transferred!. '■, Mis- S. Ca.sev 4.50 First Ave.. Astoria. N. ^ . 

Sorensen. Peter ( Replacement 1 Latimer. Iowa 

Staiger. Julius ■>32 Ea.st 00th St.. New ^ ork Citv 

.Stein. Walter L Carpenter Ave.. Holli.s. I,. !.. \. > . 

Snedeker, Thomas H. ( Transferred 1 62 Judge St.. Elmhursl. \. Y. 

Stahl. Louis A. (Transferred 1 !>1 Wayne St.. Jersev Cilv. \. J. 



144 COMPANY A ■ 106th MACHINE GUN BATTALION 



Steckler. August i Tiansferred I 161 West 63rd St., New York City 

Struck. Arthur (Killed in Action!, Mrs. Helen Froehlich (Mother). 

823 Church St.. Richmond Hill. N. Y. 

Schmitz, Andrew C. (Wounded) 282 Sterling Place. Brooklyn. N. Y. 

Toher, Edward 1626 Second Ave., New York City 

Tracey, Rohert C 227 West 1 iSth St., New York City 

Tvelia Joseph \ 1223 Chestnut St.. Richmond Hill, N. Y. 

Vincent, George E H Grand St.. Jamaica. N. Y. 

Walzer, Howard. Jr 84 Cortland St.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Weaver, William L. ( Wounded i "^ Clinton Ave.. Rochester. N. Y. 

Williams. William R. ( Replacement ) R. F. D. 8. Eastman. Ga. 

Willnis. Henrv ( Replacement ) R. F. D. 1. Applington. Ohio 

Zaffarano. Nicholas 58 Eighth Ave.. Astoria. N. Y. 

Zeller. Clarence L 3392 West 2.5th St., Cleveland. Ohio 

Zeitler. Fred C. ( Wounded ) 91 Hickory St., Rochester. N. Y.