Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Great War Diary, Accession #10875-bi , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum, Watchung, New Jersey, on December 10, 1998.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of a single bound diary, 95 pages, kept by a sergeant first class, 2 nd Air Service, 15 th Company, Motor Pool, with the initials W.T.J.. The diary begins near the end of World War I on November 1, 1918, and continues through May 8, 1919.

Entries for the month of November 1918 mention his work on Fiat motors; taking hangers down; Turkey; Austria and Germany all signing peace treaties; his practice of giving tobacco to the French soldiers; receiving letters from his mother and Lavinia; walking around the outskirts of Paris; the celebration at the end of the war; activities of the rats; and the widespread fear of the flu.

In December 1918, he mentions big trucks and automobiles in bad condition; his work on twelve Army trucks; drunk soldiers stealing the Company truck; the visit of President Woodrow Wilson to Paris, "Well we all half crazy over President Wilson's speech;" seeing the Handley Page British aircraft with four motors leave the airfield; his visit to Chateau-Thierry, and description of its devastation and scenes of death (continued in back of diary).

During January 1919, he mentions people arriving for the Peace Conference; leaving camp aboard the trains for La Rochelle; seeing the lowlands flooded; notes that "most all colored troop here;" makes a reference to being at Camp Hancock [Georgia] in the past; and sees wharf rats waiting outside the Mess Hall for the slop. He also talks about those late for formation being sent to the docks to work; the 6 th Company going home; one company of the 3 rd Regiment boarding a ship for home; and makes racist references.

The soldier refers to the Negro and White Y.M.C.A.; being on leave at Bordeaux; Lordes; and [Bagnes?]; his visit to the Spanish border; and an inspection by John J. Pershing in the February 1919 section.

In March 1919, he writes about receiving an inoculation with a French serum; leaving the United States a year ago to the day (March 4); the rumors that the [Motor Transport Corp] must stay another five months to assemble 150 GMC ambulances; 50 Fords; about 75 motorcycles; and 300 bicycles; refers to Townsend Inlet [New Jersey ?]; the orders received by the captain that the regiment would form at Nantes; a venereal disease lecture; and release from the [Motor Transport Corp] on the 30 th .

During the month of April 1919, the soldier visited the sea coast; went on various hikes; engaged in many leisure activities; heard about an engine room fire aboard a S.C. 99 ship; left La Rochelle on April 15 and arrived at Nantes; received new toilet kits for inspection; underwent an embarkation inspection; made remarks about the French magazine Viva La Parisian, and complained that Americans were not allowed on the streets of Nantes on April 30 th because of the French Labor parade. In May, he received orders to go to St. Nazaire on the 13 th with the 79 th Division to leave for home.