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Preferred Citation

Diary of Fontaine Newton Taliaferro, 1917-1918, Accession #14276, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Swann Auction Galleries, New York, New York, on July 24, 2008, by the University of Virginia Library.

Biographical/Historical Information

Fontaine Newton Taliaferro III (1894-?) came from a well-to-do Hicksville, Long Island, New York family, attended Poly Prep, Brooklyn, the Stone School at Cornwall, New York, and graduated from the University of Virginia, which he attended from 1914-1916. He then enlisted in the United States Ambulance Corps on May 28, 1917. He arrived in Europe in August 1917 and was attached to the French army as a mechanic for the ambulance service. In May 1918, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre. After the war, he sold insurance for Seaman & Taliaferro in Hicksville, New York, and ran for public office on Long Island, for Assemblyman in the Second District.

Additional Information about his section can be found in the 1919 edition of Corks and Curls, pages 230-237, "S.S.U. 517" by R.H. Baker who furnishes a brief outline of life in Section 517 of the ambulance corps, mentioning short anecdotes and many of the men in this diary.

Scope and Content

Taliaferro enlisted with the University of Virginia unit and was stationed at a base near the Alsace region and later near Dunkirk. The diary contains details of his training, voyage to France on the San Jacinto, mechanical work on Ford ambulances, driving through bombardments, adventures of his fellow drivers, Croix de Guerre awards, sightseeing, and off duty carousing. He frequently mentions fellow University of Virginia students including Louis Astor, R. H. Baker, Marvin L. Bishop, Frank S. Darwin, Joseph H. Fee, Edward G. Fenwick, Charles D. Fox, Edwin C. Hathaway, Tarleton F. Heath, Philip L. Johnson, Jack Leathem, James E. Moore, Peter Upton Muir, William H. Rogers, Jennings B. Rust, [George Scott Shackelford?], Charles H. Sheild, Philip B. Sheild, Brenton A. Tilghman, Charles V. Tompkins, and Dr. Benjamin C. Willis.

Annotated entries for the Diary

May 1917

28- enlisted in the United States Ambulance Corps in Charlottesville; played pool with Charlie Sheild; went to the movies ("low as the dickens")

29- went back to the hospital for orders; "sworn in" to service; wired for a leave to spend money on girls and dancing at "the Beach" in Fry Springs; took train to New York in coach; helped Pete Lawrance build a greenhouse at home on Long Island; Decoration Day Parade

31- mixed concrete for greenhouse; went to the Lodge for meeting

June 1917

1- greenhouse finished; went with Mother to collect rent in Brooklyn and shop; Scout meeting; party at the farm school given by Mrs. Johnson

2- "ran around like a chicken without a nest;" broke up with girlfriend, Harriet Lines; went to Louise Hewlitt's house- "any man's girl" but made him feel better

3- lots of calls at the house; went out with Mother, Katherine Lawson, and Emma Foster to church; spent the rest of the day talking with them

4- last day at home; Mother and Katherine saw him off; homesick; late to Philadelphia so must wait to be mustered in; went to the pictures; stayed at Bingham Hotel

5- must wait until the 7th for Virginia men to arrive; staying with Irwin, from Virginia; passing time by eating and watching the pictures

6- ate at famous Child's Restaurant; did some shopping; went to pictures; finds Philadelphia boring- but there are lots of soldiers

7- went to Armory; learned nothing until later found that they were to meet on the morning of the 8th; saw organ recital

8- now not leaving until the 9th; something secret happened at the hotel; met Mabel Beirut; went to show again

9- transferred to camp; meal; learned how to make cots- "hard as the dickens"

10- drilled by Corporal Miller; went with Al Store to Central Park to see girls

11- up early for drills and "fatigue duty;" had to clean whole camp; went downtown with Charlie Sheild

12- guard duty and lots of work around the camp

13- guard duty; learning to love hash; never had so much work to do

14- marched in parade; disgusted with meals- not eating much

15- marched in heat; got shots from Old Lieutenant Klapp- arm got really sore and felt sick for a few hours

16- rotten night with sore arm; girls came to see camp; went dancing

17- listened to lectures by Major Persous; went to the Post to meet girls and show them around camp

18- marched all morning; went dancing- danced with a professional dancer

19- drilled for the usual 3 ½ hours; learned First Aid and how to carry the injured; went to New Columbia for dinner; at night, went dancing

20- drilled; Mother visited- showed her all around and went to the pictures

21- went shopping with Mother; had First Aid training; some friends visited and ate ice cream; went on a date to the Orpheus Club

22- Lieutenant Harley made everyone do exercises; learned rules and regulations; all penalties seem to be death; First Aid class; dancing

23- inspection day- "some kind of Hades;" Allentown for dinner; dancing

24- played soccer with men; chest expansion decreased; caught "hail Columbia" for not saluting older men; met Marie Boyle; second round of immunizations

25- First Aid class; shots at the hospital; date at the Orpheus Club again

26- got uniforms- most didn't fit but his did; went with Charlie Sheild to dinner at girls' houses

27- worked in Mess Hall; took driving test in a Ford and became a government qualified driver; went to Central Park for a band concert

28- had cornflakes for breakfast; listened to anatomy lectures; marched downtown in uniforms but crowd was quiet

29- talk on politeness; lecture on aphasias; went downtown to see "Within the Law" for the third time

30- weekly inspection; pay roll- don't get any money yet

July 1917

1- service at church was on missionaries in China; dates came to camp and ate with the men

2- exercises; Ford detail; lecture on diseases; date

3- usual work around barracks; went to the Orpheus Club to see a cheap vaudeville

4- shopping; lots of visitors to camp; ladies made "rare promises"

5- lecture on wounds; more immunizations at hospital; dancing

6- marched in very hot weather; afternoon lectures

7- inspection; took train to New York; went to eat with Ethel Stillson at Westbury Garden Inn; saw Margaret Cocks; Scouts visited

8- visited Aunt Lee; saw Central Park; back to camp

9- drove around in the rain; went downtown for dinner; visited a steel works 46 miles away

10- drove to Philadelphia; date with Marie Boyle

11- worked as orderly- sweeping; went downtown for lunch with Mother; in evening, had to stay at camp instead of going downtown

12- have been issued raincoats; lunch and dinner with Mother

13- drilled in the street; not much happened despite being Friday the 13th

16- new schedule with less rest time; took Mr. and Mrs. Henderson out for a drive; went on a merry-go-round

17- new schedule is very difficult- more drill time

23- got up early to pack for hike; hiked 12 miles to Oakland Park with only 3 rests; packs taken by truck back to camp

24- got up early again; hiked to Fishkill Park- 8 miles

25- rode in the Ambulance after guard duty; went dancing

26- hiked back to Fishkill Park; then hiked back to Oakland Park; had lots of food and lots of mosquitoes

August 1917

3- left Oakland Park early; received orders that Section 17 (his section) was to pack up immediately for France- greeted with much joy; got new uniforms, utensils, and canteens; Mother came down to visit

4- telegram from Margaret Cocks

5- not allowed to leave camp; lots of visitors came to see them off; played card game, 500, with other men

6- expected orders but still in Allentown; spent day with Mother; hours are numbers- expect to leave in morning

7- took train to Jersey City and boarded a boat to wait for the rest of the convoy; very hot quarters because beside the boiler room; feeling homesick

8- could see Long Island and three other ships- The Antilles, Henderson, and[ Finland Leuope ?] and his own ship called San Jacinto; some men assigned to submarine duty

9- won some card games; passed a few friendly ships; better food

10- still at sea; enjoying watch because not in the bottom of the boat; sat in crow's nest and spotted another ship

11- morning exercises; beautiful sunrise; played cards all day

12- some men spotted a German submarine and shots were fired; then two huge American tankers scared everyone

13- less sleep; played cards; thinking of Harriet Lines often

14- getting bumps and blisters from the boat

18- lots of training exercises; ships travelling in zigzag direction; strike aboard the Finland- crushed

19- kept watch; saw lots of fishing boats; choppy seas; feeling very anxious

20- spotted land on watch and more submarines; shots very fired again- very scary; but landed safely

21- got off boat- sick; large camp used by French and English; will leave soon; also lots of prisoners

22- walked around; all women are "crooked;" have to sleep on the ground

23- drilled all day; got pass downtown to sample wines; back to camp by 9

24- went on a 9 mile run/hike; played guitar and talked until bed

25- Captain Berry mixed up orders so inspection took a long time; talked to a German prisoner who said war was not great; pass downtown- but what happened is secret

26- walked toward La Baule; listened to a concert by Marines at Y.M.C.A.

27- drilled; washed clothes; played and sang at night

28- very windy- hard to keep tents in place; guard duty

29- drill was miserable in the rain; had lecture on First Aid

30- all day hike- 5 miles past La Baule; saw German submarine that had been captured by an American crew

31- another hike to Nantes- very tiring (15 miles)

September 1917

1- forgot mess kit in inspection so had to work as orderly all day; wrote letters and read papers all day; wished to hear from Harriet Lines

2- went to Nantes- saw cathedral, castle, and gardens ("if a person has seen one, he has them all"); went to Hotel Europe for dinner; two boys got "tight" (drunk?); he and Doc Willis caught by guard when coming back to camp late

3- had tent pitching contests- Section 17 won; got extra sugar and butter; snuck out of camp to get dinner

4- punishment for coming in late- guard duty all day in full equipment while other boys went for a hike

5- convoy came in; went downtown

6- challenged to football game by Section 1- tie; signal drill; tore new breeches and lost two 10 dollar gold pieces

7- payday

8- supervised a gang of German soldiers; saw French acrobats perform at the Y.M.C.A.

9- went downtown and moved fright cars around (can be pushed by 5 men) ; then moved bags of oats and hay

10- Ford detail at the docks- putting together cars; supervised another German gang because knows German well

11- received orders to go to the Front with Section 93; issued overcoats, heavy underwear, and blankets; cutting hair in preparation to leave

12- first mail from home; first class private appointed- Leathem, Irwin, and Saunders; Jack Bocock got his commission; was appointed mechanic

13- Pat Calloway appointed top sergeant; Bishop also appointed mechanic- very bossy, a "typical roughneck and murders his English;" Ford detail; took Louis Astor out- bad driver

14- replaced broken springs; sang songs together at night

15- changed and cleaned all the spark plugs; went downtown one last time

16- Sections 17, 93, 10, and 85 left in ambulances; many tire punctures along the road which he and Bishop had to fix; stopped in Saint-Nazaire, Nantes, and Angers

17- on the road again; more tire punctures; stopped in Le Mans and Nogent-Le-Rotrou

18- stopped in Chartres to see Cathedral; lots of tire punctures; passed through Maintenon and Rambouillet; stopped in Neuilly-Sur-Seine- lots of Americans; very happy to finally be in Paris

19- toured American Hospital No. 1; repaired cars

20- exercises; French lessons at hospital; drove through streets- saw lots of ladies; thinks Paris is cliché and the Eiffel Tower too big

21- given new rules and regulations

22- two inspections

October 1917

27- orders to drive to the Front for New York State elections

28- went to see his "Petite" – Parisian women are good to men with money

29- ran errands for command center in Chateau in Paris

30- up early to drive north for voting for New York elections; driving all over collecting votes

31- driving south through Montreuil-sur-Mer to Douriez, then to Arras- in complete ruins; almost ran into German trenches- fired at

November 1917

1- another raid- very close to being hit; drove to Verdun- under fire again; raids were very scary

2- drove all day again; very cold and wet- felt as if going to freeze

3- broke a front spring; finally arrived in Peronne; misses men in Paris

4- last day of the trip; finally back in Paris

5- rested; leaving Paris again tomorrow

6- said goodbye to Mr. Osterheit; car trouble- punctures and bad engines along the road

7- passed through Troyes; had lunch in Bar-sur-Seine- huge mob watched them eat; lots of rain; spent night in Nogent

8- saw the remains of a German zeppelin in Bourbonne-les-Bains; ate lunch in Plombieres-les-Bains; spent night in Remiremont, where there is a prison camp; all the cars seemed to be in pretty good condition

9- drove to Rupt-sur-Moselle; washed cars- from brown to green; not sleeping well

10- took an old Frenchman on tour of inspection; one of the cars wrecked so tried to fix it the best he could- had to go back to Remiremont for parts

11-trouble starting the cars because the engines were wet- late start; stopped in Belfort; finally reached Rougemont-le-Chateau, new headquarters

12- taught Phil Johnson how to drive; divided up cars with Bishop to split responsibilities; Guggenheim was bombed and Joe Fee was in the area- anxious to see him

13- can hear bullets; helped fix up cars; fighting in the camp between the Frenchmen and Americans

14- lots of airplanes and troops coming through; bombing

15- went scouting for escape roads in case of bombardment with Lieutenant Harley; went through Lachapelle-sous-Rougemont and a place near Guggenheim; saw shell hole along the way; very cold

16- fixed up cars; found a hayloft to sleep in but had to move as it was being used as a distillery; new place has rats

17- on orders from Lieutenant Dobes, went to the Front with Jack Leathem and Jimy Howell- could hear the cracking of rifles; went to the famous Hotel Hartman for dinner

18- went to the market with the Frenchman; mail came in the afternoon- now feeling very homesick

19- hearing shells has become a usual event; went out driving with Phil Johnson; still feeling homesick

20- took the Medecin Chief Divisionaire on a tour of inspection; went very near the trenches- could hear whizzing of bullets

21- cold and dark; went with Leathem to get coffee at Café Hartman all day; car broke down so didn't go to the Front

22- worked on Joe Fee's car and then the staff car; went driving with Dutch Miller and Jack Leathem and then to Hartman's; not cloudy tonight so they expect gas bombs

23- working on Hudson Rogers' car so missed paymaster- will have to wait 2 months

24- cleaned Jimy Howell's car; Jack Leathem is at Masevaux- lots of injured because he had already made two trips to Belfort; Duke Fenwick has been sent out and got lost; very clear weather- can see the Alps

25- fixed up Phil Sheild's car from a crash in secret; borrowed money since he missed pay; sitting in Hartman's drinking coffee; Lieutenant Dobes has left for Paris

26- partied last night and drunkenly told the sergeant to go to hell- serving guard duty as a punishment; worked repairing punctures

27- went to Masevaux with Jimmy Jones and bought a Browne Autographic; drove back with Duke Fenwick to work on Johnnie Woods' car; received nine letters in the mail; air raid last night- expecting another one

28- worked on Phil Sheild's car; drove out to collect wood- crashed into a ditch; got back to camp late; went out with Leathem and Fenwick to buy food

29- Thanksgiving- lots of food; walked the aviation field with Leathem and Duke- saw a man killed and his machine burned

30- tried to go to Masevaux for a bath with Duke- but no warm water; did drills at camp; boys at Front being bombed quite heavily; had party with Duke- eating cheese, fruit cake, and champagne

December 1917

1- lots of snow; planning to work on Dick Baker's and Pete Muir's cars when they get back from Masevaux; lots of German planes overhead- but no bombs

2- wrote letters back home with Jack Leathem; Duke is out in a heavily bombed area; boys brought in pieces of shells found along a road

3- finished work on Pete Muir's car; both Pete Muir and Dick Baker had to go to Belfort for gas patients; had to drive to the Front because heard one of the boys was injured- false alarm

4- went to Masevaux to buy a few things; fixed Phil Sheild's car again because he had driven off the road; waited until he got all the injured men to the hospital; Jimmy Moore's car was covered with bullet holes when he returned to camp- will probably get the Croix de Guerre

5- so cold that there was lots of trouble with the cars; Darwin's car overturned and he disappeared- had to drive to the Front to collect the wounded men

6- went with Bill Jones to tow Johnnie Woods' car- false alarm; lots of artillery fire

7- more mail delivered; took pictures of cars with Leathem; felt lonely and sad; hasn't had a wash in a while

8- French general arrived at camp and complained that his patients were not being well cared for- found that it was one of the Section 93 boys

9- going to be awarded sergeant's rating- with Charlie Fox as a helper and Bishop demoted to a private; Lieutenant Abbey hit a horse

10- annoyed at bad management; advised that he will get the Chief Mechanic rating; French taking down German planes

11- went to Masevaux to collect his picture prints; lots of work on cars- put in brake linings

12- car work; air raid while on the road to fix Rogers' car- only one on road

13- lots of planes overhead; worked on cars; played association football and later cards with Leathem, Fenwick, and Fox

14- finished working on Rogers' car; then worked on "Noisy" Tilghman's broken radiator; wrote letter home- missing Harriet Lines

15- may go on repos- days of drilling and marching; fixed a couple punctures; received a writing kit from Ethel and Fred Reinhardt

16- afraid that they will have to move; repaired magnets with Charlie Fox; Duke went out to "Massvolt-" as he calls it

17- woke up to loud thundering; drove to Front- shell hit right behind him; played card with Leathem, Fox, and Duke

18- got pay- two months behind; paid off 20 dollars of his Christmas Bonds; went to Masevaux for value connections; got a pass to go to Belfort with Bill Jones who had too much to drink

19- worked on Pete Muir's car; gave talk on Fords; issued oilskins and knee boots; went downtown with Leathem- saw happy troops coming in from the Front; played cards and ate cake

20- went to Belfort with Vaughn; bought a watch; left Vaughn because it was curfew

21- went out to fix a puncture; orders to leave Rougemont-le-Chateau on Monday the 24th

22- went out after Hathaway to fix car; in afternoon, went with Leathem to Belfort to change the watch; wrote Elise a letter in French telling her he loved her

23- skipped breakfast with Leathem- the Lieutenant had to wake them; worked on Tilghman's car

24- started all the Fords in the morning and drove to Lauw- open kitchen and no garage; went to Masevaux, Guewenheim, and Roderen to give the boys their meals; went to church and a party

25- sad Christmas because away from home; had to drive to Masevaux, Guenwenheim, and Roderen two times; lots of food, music, and dancing

26- drove to the Front to bring the troops some food; had order to help Joe Fee- no oil; delivered messages to Sentheim and Masevaux

27- visited Doc at Masevaux- had coffee together; went downtown with Leathem later to get coffee; the closer to Germany, the worse the beer

28- so cold the cars wouldn't start; lots of errands and work;

29- had problems starting the cars again; lots of shooting; worked on Willis's and Phil Sheild's car

30- drove to Roderen- heavily shelled road; then went back to Masevaux to pick up photo prints; went out after dinner to visit Doc- drank two quarts of champagne

31- accomplished a lot of work in the morning; went to Café Auguste Meyer with Leathem; fell asleep before new year

January 1918

1- slept in- had to rush to get cars ready; had to drive to Masevaux to fix Sheild's car- visited Doc and his wife on the way; gossiped about girls with the boys

2- drove M. de Baron to Masevaux- rough ride

3- lots of planes overhead- saw one shot and men escape with parachutes

4- started the cars in the morning; sat by the fire for the rest of the day; had a call from Mark Skinner- but he managed to fix his car

5- lots of car trouble in the morning; got a haircut for 10 cents; started back for Rougemont-le-Chateau; stopped at Hartman's; Johnson and Baker have left for Paris

6- went from Belfort to Lachapelle-sous-Rougemont to Rougemont-le-Chateau fixing cars all day

7- had to work on Bill Jones' car; got package from Thanksgiving; wrote letters home; Pete Muir stuck in the road so had to borrow Leathem's car

8- worked on cars in the morning; had to drive to Masevaux to fix Bill Jones' car; Leathem felt bad

9- Leathem sick so Duke took his place at Guewenheim; worked on Hathaway's and Fee's cars; feeling sick and tired

10- 25 inches of snow; trouble starting the cars; Jim Moore got a Croix de Guerre

11- first time in two weeks that all the cars started; called to help a car that was 200 yards from the German lines- shot at with machine guns; had to lay in the ditch until dark

12- many airplanes; went to Masevaux to work on a few cars; Johnnie Woods out of the hospital and acting as cook; wants to transfer away

13- French fired hundreds of shots at airplanes- but didn't hit one of them; worked on cars in afternoon; many of friends were drinking red wine- but had to take Lieutenant Dobes to Rougemont-le-Chateau

14- picked up Lieutenant Dobes from Rougemont-le-Chateau; Sheild said that the Germans were shelling Sentheim- may leave soon

15- went to hospital- feet are frostbitten and had a bad cold; given 36 pills and order to soak feet for three hours a day; friends came to visit at the hospital

16- still in the hospital; almost every boy in the section has stopped in to visit; raid on the French trenches

17- depressed after reading letters from home- Mother is lending out his Cadillac; cold

18- felt better so left hospital a little bit to work on cars; played cards with the French

19- very warm at night; hoping for a discharge from the hospital soon; some in the hospital are sick, but most are just lazy; likes the Medecin Chef

20- watching airplanes and piece of shrapnel landed 10 feet away- scared it was a gas bomb; French are terrible at aviation

21- watched airplanes at camp; French need much better airplanes in order to fight the Germans; Lieutenant Dobes left from Remiremont

22- slept in the barn with the boys; leaving hospital; cars are not clean so lots of work ahead

23- still sick; Bishop has taken place in the shop

24- warm weather- helped out with some of the cars; went with Charlies Fox to Masevaux- air raid, but had gas masks

25- went out to repair Doc's car- shot at by machine guns and had to pretend to be dead

26- had to wear gas mask because of numerous bombs; felt so sick- back in the infirm

27- laid in bed without sleeping; still planning on getting a commission in another department

28- Lieutenant Dobes came to visit; diagnosed with trench itch from un sanitary conditions; has to bathe two times a day

29- scratched all night; lots of sick people

30- losing Mechanics rating- hard getting it back; asked to move to headquarters

31- waiting for Jack Leathem to return; Vaughn and Fenwick leaving; learned a little more French

February 1918

1- no word from Jack Leathem; French are not good fighters

2- had rating officially reduced; played cards with the Frenchmen

3- asked Lieutenant Dobes for a transfer- choked him; played cards with Jim Moore, Duke, and Baker; still no word from Leathem

4- very worried about Leathem- still no news; deserters are punished with ten years of hard labor

5- no word from Leathem; treated very nicely in the infirm- but itch is getting better

6- word that Jack Leathem is in American Hospital #2; given new uniforms- much needed; bought some good medicine in Masevaux

7- his itch is better; will be out in one week; watched good airplane fight

8- Pete Muir to get Croix de Guerre; inspection soon

9- 3 new boys for section; wants to leave ambulance corps; new trenches- barbed wire everywhere

10- went to Masevaux for writing paper and figs; met Marguerite- date next Sunday

11- nice weather; only a few cars at Masevaux now; lots of artillery

12- captured German officer and stripped him of his buttons; bought dates and had film developed in Masevaux; helped Johnson fix his car after dinner

13- shells falling so can't use roads; will move soon for car safety

14- captured a bunch of Germans; waiting for his pictures to be developed

15- talked to Lieutenant Dobes about transferring and promotions; had a "gunning" session with Jim Moore

16- felt sick; lots of shells; Vaughn left- sorry to see him go

17- Bishop was annoying and bossy; size of army is getting smaller but will not give up

18- Bishop leaving many cars in bad shape; still lots of firing

19- worked on Charlie Tompkins' car; played a game of 500 with Rust, Tompkins, and Fox

20- worked on Fee's car; still has to report to infirmary for baths; had "gunning" session around the fire

21- got 500 dollars worth of insurance; Frenchmen gave them pointers on battle

22- making final preparations to leave- checked tires and spark plugs

23- got up early to leave- went to Guewenheim, Roderen, and Sentheim; one car that Bishop supposedly fixed broke down (continued in Memoranda)

24- attack on Germans failed- will not get their Croix de Guerres; heavy bombing and fire- lots of wounded; talked to Marguerite for a while

25- Germans bombed and gassed a camp at Mortzwiller; lots of work at the Front; mail

26- air raid; worked on cars all day; poker game at night

27- fixed tires; went out with Lieutenant Dobes to Niederbruck on motorcycle; played cards with some of the Frenchmen

28- snow-disgusted; picked up motorcycle with Bill Jones; Shack, Hathaway, and Doc Belle started on their permission

March 1918

1- worked on motorcycle; had to get wood- hard because the roads are closed

2- air fights this morning- German planes in flames; lots of work to be done on cars

3- have to keep moving the garage because of bombs

4- Charlie Jenkins, Heath, and Maclin were at S.P.A. 46; a bunch of boys from the States are joining; played cards in the evening

5- saw Italian troops; works on cars and the motorcycle; went to Belfort

6- patched tires and worked on motorcycle; went to Masevaux and found a place to bathe for one franc; went for a walk to Sentheim with Duke and Jimmy Moore

7- put in new brake bands and radiators; 4 planes fell; went for a walk

8- went over Masevaux to visit Docs; climbed tress with Duke; fixed Jim Moore's car; poker game in the evening

9- skipped morning exercises; visited Masevaux; played baseball; more action each day

10- worked on cars because inspecting officer was coming; had to rescue Fenwick; Germans stealing cars

11- got some letters from November; stayed in Masevaux for the night- but didn't get in trouble

12- worked in garage in the morning; then went out with Vaughn, looking for pigs

13- had to make a schedule of repairs for Lieutenant Dobes; went to Masevaux with the Lieutenant and got a shave; kicked football with the boys

14- lots of work on cars; dusk came early- very dark; worked on Bill Jones' car a little; went for a walk with Duke

15- went to exercises for the first time in two weeks; worked on Bill Jones' car; lots of shooting; Leathem wrote to say he was coming back

16- took M. de Redon to Masevaux and Rougemont-le-Chateau; worked with Bill Jones' on his car; walked out for coffee in the evening

17- finally finished Bill Jones' car; drove out to the highest point in the Alsace region with Astor, Bishop, and Jones; went for a walk with Duke Fenwick in the evening

18- more testing of Bill Jones' car; Jack Leathem returned- visited Auguste Myers with Duke and stayed up quite late

19- clutch is burning in Bill Jones' car because there is not enough oil; patched tires; French raided the German lines; Leathem left again this morning

20- went to Belfort for parts- saw Germaine Hubert; J. Jones, Astor, and Tilghman left on their permission; went to Masevaux with Duke

21- fixed motors in the morning- but had a headache; new boy from Section 16; took lots of pictures of the moon

22- got up for morning exercises; tested finished cars

23- news of a German offensive; went to Belfort with Skinner- air raid and people went crazy running for shelter

24- slept in until 11; worked in the garage; took and walk to take pictures; went to Belfort

25- orders came sending them to an English camp- later cancelled; worked on Tompkins' car

27- Lieutenant Dobes went to Roderen and found that the Bourbach-le-Bas to Rodern Road was shelled badly; Lachapelle-sous-Rougemont being evacuated; John Wood, Charles Tompkins, Richard Baker, and Jimmy Jones received their Croix de Guerres

28- French division is leaving but ambulance corps must stay; drove to Lachapelle-sous-Rougemont, Rougemont, and Masevaux; confined to quarters for a week for leaving without a pass

29- worked on Bill Jones' car; lots of shells

30- worked in the garage; ran a couple errands

April 1918

3- on the road- passed through Rougemont-le-Chateau and Lure; Rogers and Fee had flat tires; arrived at camp in Fayl-Billot- good quarters; had to tow the staff car with Charlie Tompkins

4- got up early to work on the staff car and motorcycle; drove to Langres to get clutch repaired; had lots of car problems on the road- blow out, no gas; got lost in Chaumont; finally arrived in camp at Vendeuvre-sur-Barse

5- very long day; drove through Troyes, Mery-sur-Seine, Granges-sur-Aube, Anglure, Sezanne, and Montmirail; in territory that was occupied by the Germans; saw an American division; had two quarts of milk

6- lots of punctures on the road; drove to Meaux to fix cars; continued a bit further to stop just outside Paris- right near an American aviation school

7- up early to finish the trip at Beuavais; lots of trouble with cars along the way

8- worked on Hudson Rogers and Joe Fee's cars; living in a chateau built in the thirteenth century and owned by Rothschild; most people in the area speak English

9- worked on Phil Sheild's car; got spare parts from Beauvais; met up with boys from Section 92 and partied together at a nearby café

10- worked on cars with Willis; went for a walk with Duke; raining hard

12- orders to leave Beauvais; drove to Goincourt; developed a very bad cold

13- drove into Beauvais; lost convoy- but finally managed to get to Fourdrinoy, near Amiens?; slept in a barn with mice

14- left in the afternoon for a British hanger- sleeping the in open; went over to the British Y.M.C.A. but they won't sell Americans candy

15- helped cook breakfast- cut off a nail; worked on Duke's car; may travel to Ypres to meet up with French division again

16- Amiens was on fire; worked on Jones' car; drove to Picquigny; bought food at the Y.M.C.A.; talked about fighting experiences with a Canadian

17- moved to Picquigny- good sleeping quarters; fixed a man's car for five francs; bought chocolate and cigarette

18- moved a little north to a small town- most building made of mud; rain/hail all day- miserable

19- orders to move to Ivergny-car and map trouble; quarters filled with rats; all French town- but Canadian lumber camp nearby

20- cleaned motor heads and tested all motors; bombardment at Arras

21- warmer day so all men cleaned and shaved; tried to steal chickens; at dark, Germans started bombing

22- man broke arm at the lumber camp- so stayed and bathed while Jim Moore helped him; collected wood

23- more order to move to Buneville; Pete Muir's car had three broken bolts; went with Charlie Tompkins to Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise- but had to leave quickly because of bombs

24- work on cars; had to wear gas masks because of German tear gas

25- tried to make a gasket for Pete Muir's car- had to tow; not many planes

26- went for a walk near Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise; there is a cave where all the villagers sleep because of the bombs

27- orders to move but Pete Muir's car kept breaking down; arrived in Renty late

28- moving again; passed through Cassel; truck broke down; lots of bombs

29- hit traffic ("a regular 5th Avenue'); terrible bombardment

30- hard to sleep because of all the bombs; went with Lieutenant Dobes to a Parc at Dunkerque; saw prisoners- looked very sick; also saw bad car accident

May 1918

1- talked to Jim Moore; went to Y.M.C.A.; so much artillery it was deafening and the ground shook

2- guns all night long; orders to move to Remy; really irritated by noise from bombs

3- bought candy, cigarettes, and food; going to evacuate to Mount Kimmel- the worst place on the Front

4- drove to the Front- men, horse, cars, building lying everywhere; very forlorn and sad trip

5- fixed up cars all day; one day is blending into the next; shrapnel is terrible

6- worked on Pete Muir and Rust's cars; bomb hit camp- but no one was hurt; boys in other sections are wounded though

7- up early fixing cars; took apart two broken ones to make one new car; stayed up through the night fixing cars; lots of tear gas; had to drive out to help Vaughn; Charlie Tompkins' car was smashed by a shell; Jimmy Howell and Fee both crashed

8- bombardment at its worst; Charlie Fox was gassed and had to go to the hospital; no sleep for over 24 hours; fully expect to be killed

9- woke up early to go help Wood, Fee, and Howell at the Front; worked on Baker and Willis' cars; drove through Poperinge- used to have over 20,000 people but now not a soul in sight; bombs and shells will make a man go crazy

10- quieting down; got spare parts from Dunkerque with Lieutenant Dobes; French captures 200 men

11- had to tow Howell- "shells were dropping and gas was thick;" lots of planes; went through Poperinge again- terrible sight

12- average day on the Front- but lots more noise than in Alsace region; lots of work to do

13- went to Dunkerque for a new car; heavy bombardment for a few hours; more divisions arriving to help

14- little to do because other divisions took over; terrible barrage; caught Flemish fever

15- sick; lots of shells

16- left camp after breakfast; drove through Poperinge- cars had a bit of trouble; stopped near Dunkerque- lots of air craft fire

17- started overhauling Jimmy Jones' car; tried to get a new car- failed; English airplane bombed the camp by accident

18- up very early to finish Jones' car because had new orders to leave; drove to Loon-Plage; set to work on building a camp; went downtown for food

19- church bells rang for a while in the morning- wants to go to church but all are Catholic; put new bands on Fenwick and Moore's cars; two new boys joined- Cohen and Clark; went downtown for beer

20- German propaganda on the radio announced 200 planes and lots of bombing- no one believed it; needed more spare parts to work on cars

21- told Lieutenant Dobes about plans to leave- must wait until the section gets a new mechanic; wants to go back to school and see Mother

24- went to the Parc for the new car- very stiff wheel; also brought back Baker and Fee's cars in "A condition"

25- went to a farm and bought milk; drove to Cassel and Saint-Omer-Capelle and then back to camp

27- received Croix de Guerre

Memoranda

Page 184- Copy of Speech by Medicine Chief Divisionnaire on January 9th, 1918- about James Moore receiving his Croix de Guerre

Page 186- Entry from February 23rd, 1918 continued

Page 192- Description of Peter Lawrance