The War Diary of Cpl H. Fletcher Davidson, USMC
IN THE BOURMONT TRAINING AREA
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Jan 4th -
Detrained at Damblain and marched to Chaumont la Ville. Was sick on hike and
collapsed as we entered Chaumont la Ville. We left Lewis guns and equipment on
board train.
[Train arrived at midnight at Damblain. At 7 AM started to unload. Left all
Lewis guns and equipment aboard train. About 6 to 8 inches snow on ground. Road
not wide enough for 4 abreast so #4 man had to break a path. Hiked a mile or so
before discovery was made we were on wrong road. So we had to go back and start
over.]
[We hiked through Germain la Ville where I saw some French farmers threshing
grain with an old horse power. We went on to Chaumont la Ville where Company
was billeted in several houses. My platoon was put in a vacant stone house of
two rooms and an attached stable. There was a fireplace in one of the rooms,
but no fire and water froze in the rooms that night.]
Jan 6th -
Company received Hotchkiss guns and carts. Went to Damblain and pulled them in
by hand.
Jan 12th -
Co. went to Damblain and were issued French Hotchkiss machine guns and carts.
Each cannon weighed over half a ton and 4 or 5 men pulled and pushed them.]
Jan 24th -
Our first mail call.]
Jan 26th -
New YMCA opened today. Selling jams, chocolate, tobacco.]
[ LETTER HOME ]
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Jan 26, 1918
Dear Sis,
I have been intending to write you for a long time but I don't seem to get many
letters written at all. In fact six to Father and Mother are all I have
written. The night before last I received a little Xmas card and some stamps
from Auntie Hoy which is all the mail I have received. It had been sent down to
camp and was forwarded.
It is about the same thing every day here and as we can say nothing of our
drills there isn't much of interest to write. I don't think I ever will get so
I can understand their jabber here, though I have gotten so I can get a few
things I want. I carry a French book around in my jacket with me all the time.
I get a paper here nearly every day so I have some idea of what is going on in
the States. We can get the Paris edition of Chicago Tribune or New York Herald
a day late for only three sous. ( A sou is a little less than a cent)
It is quite springlike here and the weather is very pleasant. The country is
beautiful around us.
Try to keep Mother from worrying as much as you can. I am in no danger here.
Lots of love
/s/ Fletcher
Cpl. H.F. Davidson
81st Co. U.S. Marines
A.E.F.
DIARY CONTINUES---
Jan 29th -
Were issued [French] gas masks and started drill with them.
Feb 1st -
Received some Christmas bags from Red Cross. Fired Hotchkiss gun for first
time.]
Feb 4th -
Issued Colt 45 today. Also a bunch of mules.]
Feb 12th -
Tried out our new masks by going through a gas chamber.]
Feb 21st -
Reveille at 4 AM. Brigade maneuvers - rain and cold all day.]
Mar 2nd -
Battalion hike to Bassomcourt for billeting drill. Muddy hike.]
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