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"Camouflaged Road, Entering Verdun Sector"
Lucien Jones
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Rumors reached the Marines about March 1, 1918, that they
would soon enter the front in a quiet sector to complete their training. Equipment, such
as trench knives, trench boots, and extra clothing, began to arrive.
"Orders received this date for turning in all excess property, preparatory to moving to the
front. Weather clear," is the notation in the War Diary under the date of
March 8, 1918. Despite these orders, the Fifth Regiment on the following day held "regimental open warfare maneuvers" and also conducted training in "out-posts and patrols," while the Sixth Regiment had "battalion exercises," and the Sixth Machine Gun Battalion "tactical exercises, including long range barrage firing data."
General Orders No. 21, Second Division, March 7, 1918, directed that for convenience of designation, the rifle and machine gun companies of the Marine Corps regiments and the machine gun companies of the Machine Gun Battalion of the Fourth Brigade, Marine Corps, of thiss Division, would be lettered.
General Orders No. 23, Second Division, March 10, 1918, reads in part as follows:
~~ 1. In accordance with instructions from G.H.Q.A.E.F., this Division will move to the front for training for a period of approximately one month. It will bew assigned to and installed in the sector now occupied by a French Army Corps, and will be placed under the Corps for tactical instruction.
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~~ 12. Entraining will be under the immediate direction of officers, as follows:
~~~~ At Bourmont: Major John C. Montgomery.
~~~~ At Breuvannes: Captain Edwin P. McCaultey, 5th Marines.
The routine on Sunday, March 10, 1918, was normal, as shown by
the following extract from the War Diary for that date:
~~ Sunday routine. Divine services and band concerts during afternoon. Orders received
this date containing instructions as to moving to training area at the Front. Weather
clear.
Training was continued on March 11, 1918: "The 67th Company,
which had been stationed at Southamption, England, strength 3 officers & 163 men, arrived
this date. One officer and about 20 men remaining in England.
March 12, 1918, was spent "in preparation for change of
station," sea bags being turned in and stored, and men keeping only such extra clothing
as they could carry in their packs; but training was also continued.
All records of the Brigade and its units, except those absolutely necessary, were stored.
The greater part of these records have never been located.
Billeting parties were sent on March 13, 1918, to the area
southeast of Verdun where the Brigade was to go into a quiet trench sector as the final
phase of training. Five second lieutenants of the Army (Infantry) joined the Sixth Machine
Gun Battalion from the Second Corps School on this date.
Training was continued on March 13, 1918, while "completing
arrangements for moving to the front." On this date the Second Battalion of the Fifth
Regiment and the Third Battalion of the Sixth Regiment entrained for the front.
MOVING TO THE VERDUN FRONT
The first detachment detrained at Dugny at ten o'clock at night at a station a short
distance from the front lines. They had just completed unloading rolling kitchens,
rations, and supply wagons, and had straightened out their baggage along the platform
ready for the trucks to haul it away, when an enemy aviator, circling above, spied them
and, sending up a signal, called the attention of the German artillery to the fact that
troops were arriving. It took but a few minutes to clear the platform of Marines and
when the first shot landed they were well clear of the station, marching toward their
destination.
The shell missed its mark easily by a thousand yards, falling ahead and to the left.
Another signal flame was despatched and soon the second shell exploded, this time
uncomfortably close, but still somewhat off its mark. A third signal and a third
shell did the trick, with the result that a Lieutenant's trunk was smashed and its
contents scattered about, a fine drum and other instuments of the Fifth Regiment band
were broken, bent and twisted beyond repair, and a nice big shell hole was left in the
station platform. That was the total extent of the damage. In the meantime French
aviators made their appearance and a lively fight in the air ensued, the Boche making
his escape under cover of darkness, the French giving chase. One of the bandsmen left
to guard the unstruments narrowly escaped.
During the period between March 14 and 17, 1918, the various
companies of the Fifth and Sixth Regiments and Sixth Machine Gun Battalion entrained for
the front, detrained at Dugny and Lemmes, and proceeded to barracks and dugouts within
the assigned areas.
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