The War Diary of Cpl H. Fletcher Davidson, USMC
PONT-A-MOUSSON, MARBACHE SECTOR
|
Jul 21st - We hiked to rear from afternoon until midnight when we stopped to camp in the Compengne woods.
Jul 22nd - Lay in the woods all day. Worked most of day repairing carts.
Jul 23rd - Resumed march to the rear. Hiked all day and stopped for night in a courtyard in a small town.
Jul 24th - Took bath this AM. In afternoon hiked a few kilometers further to Bregy.
Jul 25th-31st - Much repair work to be done on carts. Made grate for boilers in kitchen to rest on.
Aug 1st - Left Bregy at noon and hiked to Nanteuil where we entrained. Passed through St. Daunis (?) at dusk. Rode all night making good speed.
Aug 2nd - Made good speed on the train all day. Passed through Poissons, Gondrecourt, Toul to Nancy where we detrained and hiked to Houdimont.
Aug 3rd - Doc Kirkland and I had a 3 to 11 PM liberty to Nancy. Saw Harry Hodges picture in a photographer's window.
Aug 4th - Slept in AM. Was sent to Div PC in Nancy in PM to crack safe so got second liberty in Nancy.
Aug 5th - Left Houdimont and hiked about 15 miles to a camp in the woods. Saw Cliff Franklin in Nancy as we marched through.
Aug 6th - Slept in day and that night hiked to Dieulouard.
[ DEPT OF THE MEURTH ET MOSELLE - MARBACHE SECTOR ]
[ PONT A MOUSSON ]
Aug 7th - Slept in day and at night hiked to Pont-a-Mousson. I spent night with Lt. Bower's section.
Aug 8th - Took morning report from Lt. Bower's section into 81st PC in Pont-a-Mousson. Had a good bath and scrubbed clothes in AM. In PM did nothing but rummage around and eat plums. Doc Kirkland and I had a private dress parade.
Aug 9th - Left 81st PC at Pont-a-Mousson and went to 6th MG BN PC at Dieulouard as runners to 81st. Germans brought balloon down.
Aug 10th-12th - Made one run each day to 81st PC and had a meal there and filled up on plums.
Aug 13th - Took swim this morning in the Moselle River. Art Band (artillery band ??) gave concert in street tonight.
Aug 14th - Made run out to Co. PC after supper and rode back on cassion. Anti-aircraft guns and searchlights very active. Germans excited sending up many starshells and signal flares.
Aug 15th - Rode out to Company and return on horse. Had my dinner out there.
Aug 16th - Germans brought down observation balloon this morning before breakfast. Made run to Company PC. Company came out of trenches and I helped billet them in Dieulouard for the night.
Aug 17th - Went down to corral and had a good swim and clean up this morning. Mended brake on water cart in PM. Left Dieulouard at 8:15 PM and hiked to 3:45 that night. Had charge of prisoners on the hike. Stout took D-7's (??) and towed them along behind escort wagon.
Aug 18th - Breakfast at 6:30 and resumed march from Gondreville at 7 AM. Passed through Villery de Sec, Villery de Sec en Hage crossing river and canal and RR in latter place. Arrived at Camp Bishops Woods, or in French Bois de Eleveau. Worked prisoners rest of forenoon.
Aug 19th - Bunch went to river in PM to swim and wash carts and mules. One mule drowned. Put in charge of billet.
Aug 20th - Cpl. [Harry] Cochran made company carpenter. He and I built black board for office. Washed clothes in PM. Had my teeth inspected.
Aug 21st - Fixed up two tripods and took water cart apart to be painted and repaired.
Aug 22nd - Mended water cart and assembled. Fixed two gun carts. Rode mule to river after supper and took swim in canal.
Aug 23rd - Worked on carts in AM. In PM went to repair a Hotchkiss and function fire. Rode a mule to water and took swim after supper.
Aug 24th - Painted some tripods, ammunition boxes, shafts, etc. Company on parade before 2nd Division officers. Rode mule to water and took swim in canal.
Aug 25th-30th - In camp in Bishops Woods doing general repair work.
Aug 31st-Sep 3rd - In camp in Bishops Woods. Had clothes `decootized' first and took swim in river. Packed up to leave at 9:15 PM. Shoved off and hiked all night. Stopped in woods.
Sep 4th - Lay in woods all day, hiked all night.
Sep 5th - Camped before daylight in woods. Raining. Stayed in woods all day. [Floyd] Williams returned to Company.
Sep 7th - Still raining. Stayed in camp all day. Made sea horse stencils in PM. Packed up after supper and hiked all night.
Sep 8th - Camped just before daylight in woods and lay there all day. Still rainy.
|
|
