The War Diary of Cpl H. Fletcher Davidson, USMC
BELLEAU WOOD
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May 30th - Stood by to move all night. Left Beaugrenier at 5:30 [May 31st’ and hiked in heavy marching order to Paris-Dieppe Road where we embarked in camions. Rode all day and till after midnight in camions [motor truck or bus]. All afternoon we met a continuous stream of civilians flocking to the rear in all sorts of conveyances. Many walking and leading dogs, goats, cows, horses. Some wheeling baby carriages loaded with a few choice articles they saved. Such a scene I never saw before and hope never will happen again.
[ DEPT OF THE MARNE --- CHATEAU-THIERRY ]
Jun 1st - Slept, or tried to sleep rather, in the crowded camion which took up the move again about three this morning. A German aeroplane dropped bombs close to us as we were stopped last night. We continue to meet a few refugees this morning. Stopped in ????? where we did our first salvaging. Everyone salvaged themselves a `bon' dinner. Disembarked from camion about 4:30 at corner of Lucy and Paris-Metz Road and immediately formed a line in valley between Lucy le Bocarge and Bouresches. Was stationed with Mr. Hart's platoon as section runner. Heines were coming over top then but we stopped their drive. Went out on run at night but section had moved forward and to left so went wandering until I found them. There were no signs of trenches of any sort so went strolling out into No Mans Land before I finally located them. Ran into French patrol on right and came near getting shot up by them.
Jun 2nd - Marines drove Huns back a ways. Made several trips to farm across the ravine on our right after water. Bob Watson and I went out that evening and brought in a milk cow and a fine veal. Put in a very strenuous night as all French infantry retreated and left us with only four machine guns without any support to hold a considerable stretch of front. All gun crews sent out flankers to the left and HDQ stood by most of the night. Germans made raids up the ravine and tried to capture Lucy and got within 500 yards of it but could not break our line. This point was the fartherest point the Hun advance; from then on we drove them steadily back.
Jun 3rd - Went salvaging in the morning with Bob Watson and we got twelve rabbits, five hens, and a goat. Also a bag of beans and some eggs. About 10: 30 was ordered to lead Sgt. Sharp's section over to Lucy. I took them down through where the French had been the day before and the Dutch opened up on us with machine guns but we were in a sort of a draw so we had a place to duck behind. Sharp and I left the section there and went forward to reconnoiter the way. Returned and lead section in by taking them down the draw to below the bridge on Lucy to Paris Metz Road and then up road behind bank. The Germans had gotten artillery up and were beginning to shell Lucy as we entered. Carson was struck in back by some shrapnel that AM, being first in our Company to be hurt. Sharp's section was sent out about a mile to left of Lucy and I remained in Lucy as runner to them. Five holes were put through roof of building I was in that night. Marines advanced all afternoon with considerable losses. Steady stream of wounded brought into 1st aid station in Lucy. They shelled the square woods where Lt. Hart's HDQ was that night and killed the milk cow we had brought in. Sgt. [Chris] Bond shot through leg by piece of shrapnel.
Jun 4th-13th - Remained in Lucy le Bocarge running to Sgt. Sharp's section and scouting for food for them and myself as we were without connection with the rest of the company and had no supplies coming in. It was an exciting ten days though. The Germans shelled the town continually; the last two days averaging a big shell into it every five minutes. I moved my quarters the second day to the old caf‚ behind the church. There was an old wine cellar in this building which made a good abri (??). We did not use the cellar until a big shell took the roof off our former bedroom. Luckily no one was hurt. There were five of us runners stayed there and we had a little club formed. Took turns doing the cooking, etc. One night the Germans made an attack and we stood by with rifles all night. A shell set a house afire and we had a bucket brigade to put it out. Next morning Marines made an attack and there was a stream of prisoners coming in all AM carrying wounded or in bunches under guard. Some of the prisoners we sent back to line carrying ammunition or bring in more wounded. Many machine guns and two minnie werfers were brought in.
Jun 14th - Left Lucy le Bocarge. It was a beautiful town with many fine homes when I first entered it. When I left there was nothing but tumbled waste and a smoking mass of ruins. Went to Paris form with reg 6th P.C. (???)
Jun 15th - Went on run to 81st Co. and received orders for transfer to Battalion PC in woods by Triangle Farm. Made a run into Bouresches.
Jun 16th - A very busy day; made one run to 6th RPC, one to Bouresches, three to 81st PC and four runs to Lucy. The valley between Lucy and Triangle Farm was full of gas all day so had to wear gas mask every time I went through the valley.
Jun 17th - We moved 6th M.G. PC from Triangle Farm to ravine NW of Lucy, east of Champillon. [Douglas] Milburn and I spent most of the day digging us our dugout home.
Jun 18th-28th - Lived and worked under almost continuous shell fire. Did nothing but runs, water and ration details - digging Officer's dugouts. Made a few trips into Vois le Chatel at night after YMCA supplies. Company went out of trenches
Jun 28th
.Jun 29th - Moved back to woods N.E. of Montreuil. [William] Yarnall taken sick on way out. Drew some new clothes. Found Company had had about 66 casualties including 11 killed in action; some others will probably die of their wounds and some are disabled for the service.
Jun 30th - Went to Marne for a bath. Swam across twice, took weak tremblings from swimming and went to St. Aulde to the mule camp to remain overnight.
Jul 1st - [John] Chaney and I walked from St. Aulde back to camp where we remained until the night of the 4th.
Jul 4th - Everything very quiet today. At night Company hiked back and camped for night near old chateau just below St. Aulde.
Jul 5th - Took bath and washed clothes in Marne. Did some repair work on the water cart. After supper packed up and marched up along Marne until daybreak.
Jul 6th - Encamped this morning in woods on a hill overlooking the Marne valley and slept most of the day. In the evening hiked a few miles farther to woods E. of Nanteuil-sur-Marne.
Jul 7th-15th - Remained in woods with guns in reserve positions while Company fixed up reserve machine gun emplacements.
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