For the past several months we have been posting, day by day, Porter's transcription of the World War I diary kept by Hezekiah Scovil Porter of the United States Army's 101st Machine Gun Battalion, chronicling his days from October 9, 1917 until his death at Chateau Thierry on July 22, 1918. In this post I've collected the entire diary transcription in order, with page numbers and occasional explanatory comments. You can see images of the pages themselves here: Hezekiah Scovil Porter's WWI Diary.

Introduction

Hezekiah Scovil Porter was the youngest of Wallace and Florence Gesner (Wells) Porter's seven children, born into the tiny town of Higganum, Connecticut on June 4, 1896. He attended The Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut. Choate is now known as the school that "has educated generations of the upper-class New England establishment and the American political elite," but at the time it was only as old as Hezekiah himself. Twenty years later, John F. Kennedy would graduate from Choate, having been chosen by his class as the person "most likely to succeed." About Hezekiah, the Headmaster wrote:

Hezzie was always a man of deeds rather than of words. And his influence either on the field, or in the classroom, or about School in general, was of the kind that very definitely made us a better School for his being part of it. In his Sixth Form year Hezzie was President of his class, and in the vote which was taken toward the close of the year, he was almost unanimously chosen as the member of his Form who had "done most for Choate." He was also voted—and there were no near competitors— the "most popular," as well as the man in his class "most to be admired."

But Hez never had his chance to become President. As with many of his generation, his service ended on the battlefields of France. After graduating from Choate, Hezekiah attended Yale University. But he left during the fall of his sophomore year to join the Army. After four months he was at the front, and five months later he was killed in action near Chatêau-Thierry.

The following quote, and the one above, are taken from Yale in the World War, by George Henry Nettleton (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1925). You can read a somewhat fuzzy but still legible copy of the article on Hezekiah Scovil Porter by clicking on the images in the middle of my Memorial Day, 2009 post.

On the morning of July 22, 1918, in the course of an American attack on Epieds, north of Château-Thierry, Hezekiah Scovil Porter, Private in the 101st Machine Gun Battalion, was killed in action. His diary closes abruptly with an entry recorded the night before while his company was awaiting the dawn which was to bring the expected advance. Next morning in the midst of the attack he met instant death in the open field as he was hurrying forward with ammunition for a machine gun.

Hezekiah Scovil Porter is my husband's granduncle. That diary the article mentions? Porter has it. He labored much to photograph and transcribe the pages of the diary, in honor of the 100th anniversary this year of Hez's death. The images can be viewed here; the transcription follows. (The original is in black; annotations are in red.)

Family note: In the pages below, you will see references to mail Hez received from family members. Conspicuously absent are communications from his father, mother, and one of his brothers, who had all predeceased him: his mother in 1910, his father in 1912, and his oldest brother, Ralph Wallace Porter, in 1915.

Hez's Diary
October 9, 1917 - July 21, 1918

Page 1

H. S. Porter
101st Machine G. Bat. (Machine Gun Battalion)
U.S.A.

(places he went)

Niantic Conn.
Montreal, Canada
Halifax "
Liverpool, England
Borden "
Southampton "
Le Havre, France
Mont les Neufchateaux "
Lifol le Grand "
Vrigny "
Pinon "
Soissons "
Brienne le Chateau
Bar sur Aube

Page 2

Fontaine Fr. (This seems out of place as it is in southwest France, near Grenoble; could it be Hontaine?)
Colomby "
Vignory "
St. Blin "
St. Agnan "
Liouville " (It exists on Google, after you scroll down some from the famous person of the same name.)
Jouy " (Jouy is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France)
Menil la Tour "
Bois de Hazelle
near Fleury (During the Battle of Verdun in 1916 Fleury was captured and recaptured by the Germans and French sixteen times. Since then, it has been unoccupied. During the war, the town was completely destroyed and the land was made uninhabitable to such an extent that a decision was made not to rebuild it. The area around the municipality was contaminated by corpses, explosives and poisonous gas, so no farmers could take up their work. The site of the commune is maintained as a testimony to war and is officially designated as a "village that died for France." It is managed by a municipal council of three members appointed by the prefect of the Meuse department.)
Foug "
Void "
Vitrey le François " (Vitry-le-François is a commune in the Marne department.)
Coulommes "
La Ferte " (La Ferté-sous-Jouarre is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne département in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located at a crossing point over the River Marne between Meaux and Château-Thierry.)
Montreul ? (Could not find in Google)
Bejou ?
Belleau Woods (Actually spelled Belleau Wood)

Page 3

(first entry)

Oct. 9th 1917
(Leaving Connecticut for Canada)

Left camp at Niantic at about 8 A.M. Train late at station. Started about 10 A.M. Went north via Saybrook Junction. Through Hig. (Higganum, Connecticut) Lyndonville Vt. last town went through while awake. Good reception there.

Oct. 10th Wednesday
(Canada)

Arrived at Montreal about 6 A.M. at docks. Boarded boat by 7:00 A.M. got 3rd class quarters – Rotten -. Set sail about 10 o’clock. Up St. Lawrence R. Pretty scenery. Poor grub. Arrived in Quebec about 8 P.M. Took on some Servians. (Servian is an archaic word for Serbian.) Saw rats around bunks when went to bed.

Oct. 11th Thursday
(Canada, on the St. Lawrence River)

Still going up river.

Page 4

No excitement. Have to wear life belts at all times now. Felt as though had wash board around neck. Lots of snow on hills. Cold, getting rough to-night.

Friday Oct 12th
(Canada, at sea)

Rough & rocking.

Everybody sea sick. Stayed up on deck nearly all day & tried to sleep when not sick. Didn’t eat all day.

Saturday Oct 13th
(Canada, at sea)

Felt fine this A.M. Pulled into Halifax about 9:30 A.M. Other transports besides ours loaded with American troops. Took on some Canadians. Loaded on provisions this P.M. Nothing doing this evening.

Page 5

Sunday Oct. 14th
(At sea)

Fine day. Set sail this P.M. at 3:30. Nine ships with us. All going together.

Monday Oct. 15th

Fine day. On guard this A.M. No excitement.

Tuesday, Oct. 16th

Very foggy. Boats going straight ahead today. No excitement.

Wednesday Oct. 17

Foggy this A.M. Clear this P.M. Concert by fellows this evening.

Thursday Oct 18

Cold this A.M. Hail storm in morning. Cloudy all day. Nothing doing.

Page 6

Friday Oct. 19th

Colder. Same sort of weather. Sighted a ship this P.M. which proved to be a freighter.

Saturday Oct. 20th

Cold to-day. Have got a cold. Nothing doing all day. Rather rough this evening.

Sunday Oct 21st

Raining, rather windy. Met our convoys this P.M.

Monday Oct. 22st

Raining. Very stormy & rough.

Tuesday Oct 23rd
(At sea, then England)

Saw land for first time since left this A.M.

Page 7

Left two or three freighters at Glascow (sic) I guess. Going around northern coast of Ireland. Can see Irish coast very plainly this P.M. Going faster. Arrived in Liverpool about 6 P.M. Off the boat & right onto the train. On train all night. Queer trains. Small, jerky. Didn’t sleep much. 8 of us in one (24th Oct.) compartment. Arrived at Borden about 5:30 A.M. About 2 mile hike to camp with packs. Got straightened out this A.M. Pretty cold. Fine country. Large encampments here. Lots of other Americans. Rain & blowing. Mud.

Page 8

Oct. 25th Thursday
(October 24 is part of previous entry.)
(England)

On Kitchen. Up at 4 A.M. Still lots of mud. Broke camp after breakfast + to station + boarded. Arrived in Southampton about 11 A.M. 3 mile walk to camp. Fine country. Mud. Lots of Americans downtown tonight + had a good feed.

Oct. 26th Friday

Fine day. Nothing doing in particular. Quite cold. Downtown this evening and had a feed.

Oct. 27th Saturday

On detail to unload provisions at freight yards. Downtown tonight . Feed + bath.

Oct. 28th Sunday

Wrote letters this A.M. Went on a short hike this P.M. Downtown this evening and had a feed.

Page 9

Monday Oct. 29th
(crossing the English Channel; France)

Up early this A.M. Rolled packs to go away. Left about 1 P.M. Down to boat + waited till about 5 before off. Left Southampton + went across to Havre (sic) France. Awful trip across. Very rough + no place to sleep. Oct. 30th Arrived about 10 A.M. long hike to camp. All up hill. In tents again on board floors. Raining + muddy. Lots of Canadians here. 7/8 of them are Americans. Good night’s sleep.

Wed Oct 31st
(October 30 is part of previous entry.)
(France)

Rolled packs this A.M. Late mess. Left this P.M. for R.R. station. Long and hard hike. 2 hrs. About 7 miles. Had to wait 6 hrs. for train. Boarded train about

Page 10

12:15 this evening. Rotten sleep. 8 in small compartment. Like Eng. Trains.

Thurs Nov 1st

Rode all day. Slowly. Broke coupling. No other excitement. Bully beef + hard tack for grub. Another night of bum sleep.

Friday Nov. 2nd

Arrived In Neuf Chateau (sic) about 9 A.M. Hiked over to Mont Neuf Chateau this A.M. Other American troops. Saw lots of them on way today. Put in small new Barracks with headquarters. Pretty good quarters.

Sat. Nov. 3rd

Up late. Had good sleep. Breakfast at 9. Nothing doing all day.

Page 11

Sunday Nov. 4th

Went for short hike this A.M. Filled beds with straw. Nothing much doing.

Monday Nov. 5th

Up early. Went on about 6 mile hike this A.M. Sitting up exercises afterward then double time back to camp. Drill this P.M. then another hike mostly up hill. Letter from Polly this evening. (Polly was his sister, Florence Adeline Porter.)

Tuesday Nov 6th.

Walked to town this A.M. All got steel helmets. Back late. Dinner late. Hungry. Little talk by Hartford pastor this P.M. then hiked to woods for firewood. Tired + sore feet tonight.

Wednesday Nov 7th

Laid up today with bum feet. Didn’t

Page 12

do anything much.

Thursday Nov. 8th

Raining. Went after wood up in woods after wood this A.M. Went again this P.M. Tried to clean off some of mud on mess strut this P.M. Stoves installed in our barracks this P.M.

Friday Nov. 9th

Hiked over to a town this. Raining + got soaked. Raining too hard for doing anything this P.M.

Saturday Nov. 10th

Rain hard this A.M. No calls. Went on guard this P.M. at 1:30. On 1st relief 1:30 to 5:30. Quite comfortable in guard house by fire. Got feet warm + dry for 1st time in about a week. One fellow came down with measles tonight + all in our barracks

Page 13

are quarantined.

Sunday Nov. 11th

Cold. Nothing doing. Can’t go out around anywhere. Turned in early tonight.

Monday Nov 12th

Saw sun for 1st time since we’ve been here this A.M. Played cards. hike after wood.

Tuesday Nov 13th

Cards this A.M. hike after wood this P.M.

Thursday Nov 14th (sic; this may be Wednesday, Nov. 14 or Thursday, Nov. 15 - the next entry is Friday, Nov. 16)

Cards this A.M. hike + wood this P.M. Fine day.

Friday Nov. 16th

Cards this A.M. Wood + drill (cal) (calisthenics) this P.M. Mail this evening (Choate News).

Saturday Nov. 17th

Cards this A.M. Examined practice trenches + bombs this P.M. + got wood. Mail this evening. Letter from Louise (his oldest sister, Harriet Louise (Porter) Walker).

Page 14

Sunday Nov. 18th

Played cards + wrote letters. Went for walk this P.M.

Monday Nov. 19th

Lecture this A.M. Wood, hike.

Tuesday Nov. 20th

Lecture this A.M. Wood this P.M.

Wednesday. Nov. 21st

Lecture this A.M. M.G. (machine gun) instruction. Hike + calisthenics this P.M.

Thursday Nov. 22nd

Lecture this A.M. Wood this P.M. Mail tonight. Testament from Polly (his sister).

Friday Nov. 23rd

Lecture this A.M. Long hike this P.M. to + around Neuf Chateau.

Saturday Nov. 24th

Wood this A.M + Lecture. M.G. instruction this P.M.

Sunday Nov. 25th

Nothing doing today.

Monday Nov. 26th

Out of quarantine today. After wood.

Page 15

Tuesday Nov. 27th

Wood this A.M. Took down guns today + cleaned them up. Hike this P.M. to Neuf Chateau.

Wednesday Nov. 28th

Wood this A.M. On guard at 1:30. Rest of bunch get ½ holiday.

Thursday Nov. 29th

Off guard at 1:30. Big Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, cranberry sauce, apple sauce, crullers. After dinner walked to Neuf Chateau with Rogers + Day. Came back with Tracy + Dennis, stopped at Café Menager.

Friday Nov. 30th

Hiked over to range beyond Pargny. Firing in A.M. D. Co. with us. Dinner from field kitchen. Cleaned guns after dinner + came back without a halt. Mustered for pay when back. Big “red dog” game this P.M.

Page 16

Saturday Dec. 1st

Signed the pay roll this A.M. After a load of wood. Headquarters went after wood this P.M. Wasted all P.M. trying to find wood. Walked all over hell + brought back a small load just before supper. Worked down at Y.M.C.A. after supper.

Sunday Dec 2nd

Cold. Snow squalls. Church + communion at Y.M.C.A. this A.M. Dr. Miel. Lecture this A.M. there by William Irwin on Italian situation. Very good. Worked at Y.M.C.A. after supper.

Monday Dec 3rd

Drill all day long with guns out in lots. Wet feet, pretty cold. Down at Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Tuesday Dec. 4th

On K.P. today. Lots of work. Took out insurance of 6,000 today.

Page 17

Wednesday Dec. 5th

After 2 loads of wood this A.M. M.G. practice this P.M. Down to Y.M.C.A. this evening. Mail – letter from Phil (his brother, Philip Wells Porter, who was also serving overseas).

Thursday Dec. 6th

Over to range all day long. Mail tonight – letter from Louise (his sister).

Friday Dec. 7th

Drill with M. Guns all day out in fields. Down at YMCA tonight.

Saturday Dec 8th

After wood this A.M. Nothing much doing this P.M. Mail tonight Package from Louise (his sister).

Sunday Dec 9th

Wrote letters this A.M. Down to Neuf Chateau this P.M. Cabled to Whit (Whitney Scovil Porter, his oldest living brother and Porter's grandfather).

Monday Dec. 10th

Over to range today. Mail tonight – letter from Louise (his sister).

Page 18

Tuesday Dec 11th

Paid this A.M. – first time since enlisted. Wood this A.M. M.G. drill this P.M. Down to Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Wednesday Dec. 12th

Over to range all day. General Edwards came around.

Thursday Dec 13th

After wood this A.M. Went on guard at 1:20 P.M. Good bunch on. Mail – Bill (his brother Phil’s wife; her given name was Orvilla), Polly (his sister)

Friday Dec. 14th

Off guard at 1:20 P.M. Down town for supper with Tracy Goodwin, Matthews.

Saturday Dec 15th

Cleaned up the town this A.M. On detail this P.M. to fix up new orderly room. Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Sunday Dec 16th

Fooled around all A.M. Wrote letters this P.M. Down to Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Page 19

Monday Dec. 17th

Snowing. On detail to unload lumber. All day.

Tuesday Dec. 18th

Over to range all day. Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Wednesday Dec. 19th

Over to range again today. Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Thursday Dec. 20th

On building detail all day. Y.M.C.A. this evening.

Friday Dec. 21st

On building detail this A.M. Gas masks issued today. Lots of 1st class mail. – Polly (his middle sister) 2 – Bill (his brother Phil's wife) – Esther (his youngest sister, Esther Caroline Porter) – Louise (his oldest sister) – Mabel (Mabel (Davis) Porter, his brother Whitney’s wife and Porter's grandmother).

Saturday Dec. 22nd

Gas mask drill this A.M. Fooled around this P.M.

Sunday Dec. 23rd

Day Beach + I walked to Domremy (Domrémy-la-Pucelle). Visited home of Joan of Arc, Church where baptized, place where saw vision basilique (basilica). Great place.

Page 20

Dec. 24th Monday

Fine day. On special detail this A.M. Went to Neufchateau this P.M. Little celebration at mess hall. Young show, present to officers, feed, giving out of packages. I was S.O.L. Big time the old shack tonight.

Dec. 25th Tuesday

Xmas tree + combined young festival with people of town. Presents for kids. Package from Mabel + Whit (his sister-in-law and his brother)Down at Y.M.C.A. this evening. Favors, free sandwiches, cocoa. Talk by Mr. Kearney (Kenney? Kerney? Kinney?) ambulance driver.

Dec. 26th Wednesday

On special carpenters’ detail all day. Y.M.C.A. this eve.

Dec 27th Thursday

Detail with carpenters again this A.M. + P.M.

Dec 28th Friday

Snowing hard. Nothing doing this A.M. On

Page 21

guard at 1:10 P.M. Cold night.

Dec. 29th Saturday

Cold. Off guard this P.M. Wrote letters.

Sunday Dec. 30th

Great day. Fooled around.

Monday Dec. 31st

Went to range – lot of snow d- cold. Big time this eve in the shack.

Tuesday Jan 1st 1918

Holiday. Fooled around all day. Down to Mlle. Alice this eve for tea. Another big time in the shack this evening.

Wednesday Jan. 2nd

Pistol practice this A.M. 

Afternoon off.

Thursday Jan 3rd

Change of company. Cold. Nothing doing.

Friday Jan 4th

On K.P. all day

Page 22
(There's a large space left before the next entry, as if he meant to go back and add something later, but did not.)

Saturday Jan 5th

Inspection this A.M. This P.M. off. Mail tonight.

Sunday Jan 6th

Fooled around all day.

Page 23

Monday Jan 7th

M.G. drill this A.M. + P.M. Also this P.M.

Tuesday Jan 8th

Sighting practice this A.M. Dentist this P.M.

Wednesday Jan 9th

Snowing. Target practice this A.M. M.G. instruction this P.M.

Thursday Jan 10th

Snow. No drill. Target practice this P.M. Box from Polly (his sister).

Friday Jan 11th

On special detail this A.M. Sighting practice this P.M.

Saturday Jan 12th

Target practice this A.M. On guard at 1:30. Punk night.

Sunday 13th

Rain + snow. Off guard at 1:30. Y.M.C.A. this eve.

Monday Jan 14th

Drill this A.M. Target practice this P.M.

Tuesday Jan 15th

Pistol instruction. Rain M.G. instruction.

Page 24

Wednesday Jan 16th

Pistol instruction. M.G. also. Rain + warm.

Thursday Jan 17th

Gas drill this A.M. Falling snow + stayed in quarters this P.M.

Friday Jan 18th

Warm. In quarters all day.

Saturday Jan 19th

In infirmary today another fellow with me.

Sunday Jan 20th

Still in (the infirmary)

Monday Jan 21st

Still in

Tuesday Jan 22nd

Still in – Bill Famely was let out today. Mail tonight – box from Polly (his sister).

Wednesday Jan 23rd

Out (of the infirmary) this A.M. but in quarters.

Thursday Jan 24th

Were paid this A.M. On 500 range this P.M. Was in

Page 25

target trenches under fire.

Friday Jan 25th

M. G. drill this A.M and P.M. too. Warm + fine day.

Saturday Jan 26th

On kitchen all day.

Sunday Jan 27th

Over to range at Concourt all day. All M. guns in 26th div. on one range. Great sight. Home late. Talk by Col. Parker

Monday Jan 28th

Same thing today. Home a little earlier

Tuesday Jan 29th

Same thing again.

Wednesday Jan 30th

Pistol practice this A.M. Drill this P.M.

Thursday Jan 31st

On our range all day with M. Gs.

Friday Feb 1st

Drill this A.M. On range this P.M. digging

Page 26

implacements (sic) for guns.

Saturday Feb. 2nd

Co. went to range. Was supernumerary of guard so stayed home. Fire this evening about 1 A.M. Called to go on guard at 3:30 A.M.

Sunday Feb. 3rd

Great day. Off guard at 8 A.M. Wrote letters + read all day. Letter from Bill (Orvilla, his brother Phil's wife) this eve.

Monday Feb. 4th

Inspection + cleaning up this A.M. Cleaning and lecture this P.M.

Tuesday Feb. 5th

More cleaning and inspection this A.M. Went to Neufchateau this P.M. + brought up Fords for Co. Supper at Mlle. Alice’s this evening.

Wednesday Feb. 6th

Another trip to Neufchateau for Fords this A.M. Worked on cars this P.M.

Page 27

Thursday Feb. 7th

More cleaning up. Worked on cars all rest of day. Mine is fine shape now. Supper at Mlle. Alice’s this P.M.

Friday Feb 8th

On K.P. Up at 4 A.M. Company left for Lifol le Grand at 3 P.M. Went with the kitchen. Arrived there at about 6:30. Had to get supper, pack stuff on cars. Off at 9:30 – some day. Tried to sleep in barracks with no blankets, etc.

Saturday Feb. 9th

Up at 3:30 A.M. Marched to station with junk & loaded it on cars. Were off after breakfast at 6:30 A.M. On box cars – 37 in ours. Some crowd. Rode all day. Slept but little

Page 28

Sunday Feb. 10th

Detrained at about 4 A.M. at Braisne. Unloaded our Fords etc. Had breakfast + started out in Flivers. Ate dinner at a town all shot to pieces. Continued in afternoon thru wrecked towns + landed at CheVregny. Town completely wrecked – not a house left. I Live in barracks – some in dugouts. Got a better sleep.

Monday Feb. 11th

Fine Day. Went around town exploring trenches + dugouts.

Tuesday Feb. 12th

Fine day. Drill this A.M. Moved into different barracks this P.M. Saw a Boch (a slang term, of various spellings, for German) airplane bring down an observation balloon.

Wednesday Feb. 13th

Drill for gas this A.M. + with guns. Drill + short hike this P.M.

Thursday Feb. 14th

Gas drill + short hike this A.M. Drill with guns

Page 29

This P.M.

Friday Feb. 15th

Gas drill + gun drill this A.M. Went on guard at 4:30 P.M. Cold tonight

Saturday Feb. 16th

Cold. Off guard at 4:30 this P.M. Appointed a driver again. The Company went to trenches tonight. Bob Skinner drove my car up.

Sunday Feb. 17th

Fine day. Took an all day walk + went nearly to 3rd lines. Saw a German plane brought down this A.M.

Monday Feb. 18th

Worked on cars all day. Fooled around.

Tuesday Feb. 19th

Fussed with Flivers all day. Nothing much doing for us.

Wednesday Feb. 20th

On K.P. all day. Mail tonight – 3 letters.

Page 30

Thursday Feb. 21st

Worked on cars this A.M.

Worked in kitchen grinding coffee this P.M.

Friday Feb. 22nd

Fussed on cars. Nothing much doing.

Saturday Feb 23rd

Same old stunt. No excitement.

Sunday Feb. 24th

Worked on cars this A.M.

On guard this P.M.

Monday Feb. 25th

Off guard at 5 P.M.

Tuesday Feb. 26th

Worked on cars all day. The Bosch (slang for Germans, same as "Boch" above) shot down a balloon that was up over our heads here this P.M. Some noise.

Wednesday Feb 27th

On K.P. all day. Drove up to front this eve – took some “C” men up + brought back some of our fellows – they returned tonight. Awful night. Dark as pitch – raining hard.

Page 31

Thursday Feb. 28th

Nothing much doing today. Worked on cars some this P.M. Got orders tonight to be ready to go to Front tomorrow.

Friday March 1st

Spent most of day getting ready + packing up to go. Order came about 6 P.M. that they didn’t need me. Heard Dr. Shankin of Wesleyan speak this eve over in dug out. Snowing + cold – not so sorry I’m not going.

Saturday March 2nd

Snowing + blowing + cold. Short drill this A.M. Nothing doing this P.M.

Sunday March 3rd

Punk day – nothing doing.

Monday Mar. 4th

Drill this A.M. Snow. Short hike this P.M.

Page 32

Tuesday Mar. 5th

Drill this A.M. On guard at 1:30.

Wednesday Mar. 6th

Fine day – warm

Off guard at 1:30

Thursday Mar 7th

Fine day. Drill this A.M. Hike this P.M.

Friday Mar. 8th

Warm + like spring. Drill this A.M. Played ball + quakes this P.M. (Quakes may be a form of craps.)

Saturday Mar 9th.

Calisthenics this A.M. General clean up. Inspection this P.M.

Sunday Mar. 10th

Packing + cleaning up. Getting ready to go to trenches again. Company left this P.M. Drove up one car, came back with some “C” men. Was driven back again. Meantime guns set up. On gun guard soon as back. Quietly off at 12:30 A.M. Up again at 4:45 A.M. to

Page 33

Monday Mar. 11th

stand to. Breakfast + to bed. Gun guard + digging at 11:30 A.M. Relieved at 4:30 P.M. Not much excitement.

Tuesday Mar. 12th

Gun guards at 1:30 A.M. off at 7:00 A.M. Gas guard at (12 overwritten 4 or 4 overwritten 12) 30 A.M.

Wednesday Mar. 13th

Some gas + a few shells this A.M. Off guard at 4:30 P.M. Out at 7:00 – find (sic) until 9:30. On gun guard at 1:30 – off at 7:00 A.M.

Thursday Mar. 14th

Guard again at 4:30 off at 8 P.M. On again at 1:30 A.M. off at 7 A.M.

Friday Mar. 15th

On guard from 12:30 – 4:30 and from 8 – 1:30 P.M.

Mar. 16th 1918

On again from 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. heavy gas shelling. Packed up + left for Vregny

Page 34

Sunday Mar. 17th

On K.P. all day. Worked hard.

Monday Mar. 18th

Rolled packs – in cars + off at 9 A.M. Drove to one station beyond Soissons – dinner – loaded cars + luggage on train. Off at about 4:30 P.M. In box cars – no sleep.

Tuesday Mar. 19th

Up at 7 A.M. Unloaded cars + luggage – breakfast – off again overland at 9 A.M. Brienne le Chateau to Fontaine. Nice little town. On guard + drew “orderly.” Couple of luxurious chateaus – officers quarters. Whole bunch of us quartered in a big old mill.

Wednesday Mar. 20th

Off guard at 1:00 P.M. Went to Bar sur Aube – great town. Good feed etc.

Page 35

Thursday Mar. 21st

Inspection this A.M.

Hike up a mountain here this P.M. Went to town – had a good feed and went to “movies”

Friday Mar. 22nd

Short drill this A.M. Played ball. Spent rest of day packing up. Swim.

Saturday Mar. 23rd

Fine day. Up at 5:15 rolled packs and off at 8 A.M. Rode about 10 miles. Beautiful country. Stopped at Colombey (Colomby) – slept in a regular bed with “Bob” + “Dock”. Great sleep.

Sunday Mar 24th

Moved out at about 10 A.M. Stopped at Vignory – all put up in a big barn. Downtown in evening. Took a walk – Old

Page 36

Castle on hill. Slept in hay.

Monday Mar. 25th

Up early and off at 7 A.M. Stopped at St. Blin. Expect to stay here a while. Spent day in straightening out.

Tuesday Mar. 26th

Cleaned up this A.M. for inspection. Took a bath this P.M.

Wednesday Mar. 27th

Cleaned up billets + guns + pistols for inspection. Dental inspection this P.M.

Thursday Mar. 28th

General show down inspection lasting all day. Ball game with 104th this P.M. Went over to see Ken Page at Manois this evening. Also saw Hersey from Kent. Had a good time.

Friday Mar. 29th

Rain. Did some packing this A.M.

Page 37

Nothing much doing.

Saturday Mar. 30th

Rain. Nothing much doing. Got day off. Went over to Manois but 104th had gone.

Sunday Mar. 31st Easter.

Rain. Went to services at Y.M.C.A. Read this P.M. Went to Y.M. this eve.

Monday April 1st

Rain. Up at 3:45 A.M. Packed + ready to start at 5:50 A.M. 1st platoon off in Fr. Trucks. Rode all day through Neuf-Chateau + Toul. Hiked about 2 ½ miles to camp at Menil la Tour. Mud a foot deep all around. On guard worst luck. Punk night. Borden was a picnic side of this place.

Tuesday April 2nd

Rain but clearing at noon. Off guard at 11:30 A.M. American Sector here. Regulars. Balloon. Menil la Tour

Page 38

Wednesday April 3rd

Cloudy. Nothing much doing. Down to Menil this P.M. with Bill Hart + had supper – eggs + wine.

Thursday Apr. 4th

Cloudy + rain. Played cards all day.

Friday Apr. 5th

Fine day. Played cards.

Cleaned guns + pistols.

Saturday April 6th

Cloudy Nothing much doing.

Sunday Apr. 7th

Rain + cloudy. On K.P. all day.

Monday Apr. 8th

Rain hard. Played cards + read all day.

Tuesday Apr. 9th

Rain. Cards this A.M. Worked this P.M. on road.

Wednesday Apr. 10th

On guard at 1:00 P.M.

Thursday Apr. 11th

Off guard at

Page 39

At 1 P.M. Gas scare last night. Slept + took bath this afternoon. Went to “movies” at Y.M. in evening.

Friday Apr. 12th

Orderly today. Nothing much doing. Bunch off on hurry call.

Saturday Apr. 13th

Worked on incinerator today. Short drill this P.M. Cards.

Sunday Apr. 14th

On K.P. all day

Monday Apr. 15th

Rainy. Cleaned guns. Cards. Read. Report that boys got two guns from Bosch (Germans).

Tuesday Apr. 16th

Rain. Gas drill. Read Cards Wrote.

Wednesday Apr. 17th

Cards + read this A.M. On guard at 1 P.M. Bunch came back this evening. Were in a hot place

Page 40

lots of exciting stories. Brought back all sorts of German souvenirs.

Thursday Apr. 18th

Off guard at 1 P.M. Took bath this P.M. Read + wrote.

Friday Apr. 19th

Rainy. Orderly today. Nothing much doing. Inspection.

Saturday Apr. 20th

Quite noisy. Gas this A.M. at 5 o’clock. All prepared to go at any minute. Cleaned ammunition this P.M. Slept alert this evening.

Sunday Apr. 21st

Rainy. Church this A.M. Read. Mail from home.

Monday Apr. 22nd

Big attack on this front 102 + 104 lost lot of men. All packed + ready any time to move. Expected a call last night. Have to sleep with clothes

Page 41

on now. Rainy.

Tuesday Ap. 23rd

Sun for short time now rain. Short drill this A.M. Nothing much doing. Couple fellows from 102nd told of experiences this P.M.

Wednesday Apr. 24th

Rain. Short drill this A.M. Nothing doing.

Thursday Apr. 25th

Sun. Short drill. Hard rain this P.M.

Friday Apr. 26th

Nothing doing this A.M. Short drill this P.M.

Ball game. Hurry call about 6 P.M. Off in a short time + had long ride. Landed at a place near St. Agnan + after walk of about 3 miles with equipment Set up guns in woods. Went back to P. C. on ration detail. Early morning when

Page 42

back to Positions.

Saturday Apr. 27th

Slept little last night. Have to stay in open trenches – no shelter or dugouts. Sun shone all day + we slept.

Sunday Apr. 28th

On guard and at 3 A.M. we got S. O. S. signal. We fired a 11 minute barrage and they say it was good. Cloudy and started to rain this P.M. Raining hard, all soaked, mud. Awful night. Another S.O.S. at 11 P.M. and we fired another barrage – short one. Lot of artillery action.

Monday Apr 29th

All look like drowned rats this A.M. Rain still. Wet, hungry, cold. Sneaked down to infantry dugout this A.M. + got warm. Cleared off. Half of crowd went to dugouts in

Page 43

rear. We were relieved at 8 P.M. Went on food detail this P.M. Awful long + rough walk. 2 miles. Dugout pretty good. Fire in it. Turned in about 12 o’clock – dead tired.

Tuesday Apr. 30th

Pretty good sleep. Up to guns at 8 A.M. Weather clear. Slept a little this P.M. All pulled out of this hole at 9 P.M. Left six guns in new posts with four men on each. Rest of us went on to Liouville. Quarters good – good supplies. Staying in old wine cellar underground. One + ½ mi. to lines. Town not hurt much – some people here – pro-Germans. On guard to 11 P.M. Our bunch carry food to men on outposts.

Wednesday May 1st

Rain. Nothing much doing. Off guard

Page 44

at 11 P.M.

Thursday May 2

Fine day. Sunshine – quite warm. On food detail this A.M. Went in old church here. Very pretty for little town. Rolled packs this P.M. 102nd relieved us this evening. Left here about 12 o’clock and went to (left blank).

Friday May 3rd

Got up late. Feeling punk. Nothing doing all day. Moved into private billet this evening. 6 of us in one room good beds.

Saturday May 4th

Weather still good. Pretty town. Paid today. On guard at 1 P.M. Feed tonight.

Sunday May 5th

Off guard this A.M. Went over to Aulnois to Yale Mobile Hosp. Unit this P.M. Saw Len Beadle +

Page 45

Jes Willard. Bud Clark wasn’t in. Rained this P.M. Had supper with Pete Sargent.

Monday May 6th

Fine day. On fatigue. Nothing much doing. Feed this evening.

Tuesday May 7th

On K.P. all day. Letter from Irene Plige from Merrifield. Co. B played ball with 103rd Eng. after supper, beat them 5-0.

Wednesday May 8th

Rain. Wrote letters + played cards. Feed tonight.

Thursday May 9th

Inspected this A.M. Lot of fellows had to go to hospital + get a scrub + a rub.

Friday Mar 10th (May 10)

Pretty good day. Nothing much doing. Ike had to leave us today. Ben Baum

Page 46

is up with us now. Feed tonight.

Saturday Mar. 11th (May 11)

Warm day. Nothing much doing. In P.M. went to Yale Unit, saw Bud Clark, Ken + Jess. Storm came up + I stayed to supper.

Sunday Mar. 12th (May 12)

Went to communion service held by Dr. Miel + later to mass meeting. Ball game this P.M. Tie score in 7th + had to call game because of rain. Band of 103 + YMCA girls there

Monday May 13th

Wrote letters. Walk this P.M. Played cards all evening.

Tuesday May 14th

Nothing much doing this A.M. Cleaned guns this P.M. Practice game of ball.

Page 47

Wednesday. May 15

Wrote letters. Went in gas house this A.M. Bath this P.M.

Thursday May 16th

Warm day. Walked up on hill this A.M. Played ball this afternoon with 102nd. Ball game this evening with Yale Mobile Unit score 6-2 our favor. Rode over in cars.

Friday May 17th

Nothing doing this A.M. Warm day.

Saturday May 18th

Fine day. Ball game this P.M. with 103rd. Won again. 101st Band.

Sunday May 19th

On K.P. all day. Ball game with 101st eng. got trimmed. Rain.

Monday May 20th

Warm day. Ball game 2nd team U.S. 103rd. Won again. Good game.

Page 48

Tuesday May 21st

Fine day. News of moving. On guard Pack up this P.M. Farewell supper at Rose’s. Out at 7 P.M. Beautiful ride thru woods. Warm, still, moonlight. Off at Ausonville. Part of Co. took up positions. Rest of us back to the old swamp again. Slept in car.

Wednesday May 22nd

Beautiful weather. Pitched pup tents in woods. Went over to see Elsie Janis in outdoor entertainment by Y. M. She sure did give us all a great time. Northy and Stan went up to front this evening.

Thursday May23rd

On K.P. all day. Hard day – lots of work.

Friday May 24th

Colder. Rainy. On guard at 1:00 P.M. Corp. (corporal) of guard. Nothing much doing.

Page 49

Saturday May 25th

Nothing doing this P.M. Off guard at 1.0 P.M. Took bath. Walk to Sanzy.

Sunday May 26th

Down to Menil la Tour this P.M. Ball game with 101st Eng. Boxing, band. On guard this evening.

Monday May 27th

Off guard at 1:00 P.M. Nothing doing.

Tuesday May 28th

Saw Wood – Olive Wood’s brother from E. City. On guard at 1. P.M.

Wednesday May 29th

Off guard at 1. P.M. Down to Menil la Tour after supper. Minstrel show, band. Dixie + I went to Royaumix to see couple Lieutenants. Fine time.

Thursday May. 30th

Went to Bouque this P.M. in Trucks. Punk

Page 50

ball game and punk boxing bouts.

May 31st Friday

On K.P. all day.

June 1st Saturday

Nothing much doing all day. Ball game this evening with engineers.

June 2nd Sunday

Paid this A.M. Took walk this P.M. Saw ball game. Went to concert this evening. Miss Kerne – Metropolitan soprano. 101st band.

June 3rd Monday

Played cards this P.M. Down to Menil la Tour + Rayoumix. Over to Lieut. Kramer’s place.

June 4th Tuesday

On K.P. all day. Feel pretty punk.

June 5th Wednesday

Down to Y.M. this A.M. Played cards this afternoon.

Page 51

Ball game + show this evening at camp Snelling.

June 6th Thursday

Sick. In bed all day.

Friday June 7th

In bed this A.M. Up a short time this afternoon. Back to bed early.

Saturday June 8th

Loafed around most of day. Ball game this P.M. with old Co. A.

Sunday June 9th

Hung around. Walked to Royaumix this A.M. Ball game this P.M. concert band + speaker after supper.

Monday June 10th

Came up to front tonight + took Morril’s place. In big woods.

Tuesday June 11th

Played cards. Pretty good place up here.

Page 52

mail tonight.

Wednesday June 12th

All had to “stand to” from 2 A.M. on. Some big shells dropped very close. Slept all morning. Came home this evening. Shelled road while we were walking down to Bernicourt. One darn close call.

Thursday June 13th

Up rather late. Took baths this P.M. + got clothes. Down to show this evening.

Friday June 14th

To Y.M.C.A. this A.M. Had pictures taken this P.M.

Saturday June 15th

3rd platoon came back last night. Band concert at 51st brigade hdq (headquarters).

Sunday June 16th

Shelled Royaumix this A.M. Church service

Page 53

Y.M. this P.M.

Monday June 17th

Rain. On working detail beyond Mandrais. Nothing doing this P.M.

Tuesday June 18th

On K.P. all day. S.A. this evening Pie + coffee.

Wednesday June 19th

Shelled Royaumix again this A.M. Short order drill.

Thursday June 20th

Rainy. Short drill. Got pictures this eve. Stopped at S.A. and got pie and coffee.

Friday June 21st

Cleaned guns. Short drill. Inspection of guns + exercises this P.M.

Saturday June 22nd

Rainy. On working detail near Mandrais this A.M. Took

Page 54

baths over near Bouque this P.M.

Sunday June 23rd

Church this A.M.

On guard at 1 P.M.

Monday June 24th

Off guard at 1 P.M. Short drill. On working detail all afternoon. Ball game

Tuesday June 25th

Packed up and cleaned up whole camp this A.M. Left this P.M. for Foug. Nice town – quite large. In good barracks.

Wednesday June 26th

Went to Toul (Dommartin-les-Toul) – walked in. Great dinner – nice town – wonderful feed at Y.M.C.A. for supper. Stopped on way back to see 82nd Div. 5 miles over. Pretty tired but had great time. Good bath here in morning. Went thru ammunition factory here.

Page 55

Thursday June 27

Took walk this A.M. + P.M. Thru factories. K. Page came over this evening.

Friday June 28

Walked around all day – beaucoup de bus.

Saturday June 29th

Packed up this A.M. + rode short dist. to Void. Large town but nothing doing. Had swim. Prommenade (sic) ce soir.

Sunday June 30th

Up early for breakfast. Started on journey at 6:30 stopped at Vitrey le François. Good ride was lot of country. Large town – pretty – good time ce soir.

Monday July 1

Up early + early start – long ride to Coulommes. Saw lot of country – farming

Page 56

aviation – camps. In late. Good supper at one of houses. Pup tent camp.

Tuesday July 2nd

Walk this A.M. After wood with truck. Great dusty ride. 18 miles from Paris.

Wednesday July 3rd

Moved tents. Nothing much doing all day.

Thursday July 4th

On K.P. no rations till 3 P.M. Only coffee for dinner. Paid at 5:30. Great feed at house with couple fellows. Everybody happy ce soir.

Friday July 5th

Nothing doing all day. Had a wonderful feed this eve at 5:30 P.M. at farmhouse. Broke camp + loaded on cars at 8 P.M. On trucks. Rode till 10:30 P.M. Held up in La Ferte until 5:30 A.M. Met 59th going in.

Page 57

Saturday July 6th

Slept in Fr. taxis parked in square. Started off at 5:30 + went about 2 mi. to next town. Stayed here all day. Slept – only cup of coffee to eat. Pulled out at 5 P.M. Stayed up in patch of wood till dark – then came up here to woods on road to Chateau Thierry. Supper at 12 o’clock. Slept in shallow pits in ground.

Sunday July 7th

Spent morning improving our holes to sleep in. Dr Hesselgrave came up this P.M.

Monday July 8th

Nothing much doing all day. Played cards.

Tuesday July 9th

Made our dugout bomb-proof. Played cards.

Page 58

Wednesday July 10th

Nothing doing in particular. Played cards. Rainy.

Thursday June (sic) 11th

Rainy. Nothing doing.

Friday July 12th

No excitement. Rainy, muddy.

Saturday July 13th

Rainy. Went into Montreul this A.M. to infirmary. Saw kitchen. Packed up this eve and moved about mile farther toward line in another woods. Hiked. Had to “stand to” all night with rest of division in expectation of attack. Nothing doing. Cold.

Sunday July 14th

Got settled in new place this A.M. Pup tents in wood. Slept most all day

Monday July 15th

Cleaned up the place.

Page 59

Gas mask inspection and drill this P.M. Went after straw after supper. Hell broke loose soon after in bed. All up + had to roll rolls in the dark. Hell of a time. Stand to all night + then nothing doing.

Tuesday July 16th

Slept most of day. Rain. Pistol inspection + drill. M.G. inspection.

Wednesday July 17th

Rain. Nothing much doing all day. Most of crowd left for front tonight. Corporal + 3 men from each squad. Thunder showers most of night. Say they had a tough night of it.

Thursday July 18th

Nothing doing all day. Rest of us got orders to move up to-night. Carried grub from cars to bunch with full

Page 60

pack. Hell of a racket. Laying around in woods.

Friday July 19th

Sat around all day in same place. Moved out tonight. Back in trucks to same old place. Late supper.

Saturday July 20th

Pitched shelter halfs this A.M. Nothing doing all day. Good reports from front. All got baths this P.M. We needed them.

Sunday July 21st

Up + rolled packs before breakfast.

 


And that is the end. There is no more to Hezekiah Scovil Porter's diary, save some brief notes on where he served, in someone else's handwriting.

On Monday, July 22, 1918, his unit went into battle, and Hez was killed.

From Yale in the World War (George Henry Nettleton, Yale University Press, 1925; pages 324-325), quoting a letter written shortly afterwards by a "Yale classmate and comrade-in-arms," comes this description of his death:

Two guns had been placed in a wood, and ammunition was needed. "Hez" was one of the detail to take it up. They had to cross a wheat field, and a splinter [shrapnel] caught him square in the chest.

History of the 101st Machine Gun Battalion has a longer description of the action from the "War Diary of a Machine Gunner," compiled from the field diaries of several of the soldiers by the Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, a Congregational minister serving overseas with the YMCA.

JULY 22. At daybreak both companies were sent out into some woods overlooking Trugny to assist the attack of Major Rau's battalion against the town. We could not locate any enemy to fire at, and the best we could do was to wait to protect Rau's left against possible counter-attack. We were shelled and M. G. bullets flew pretty thick. Bristol of C Co. was wounded. After a while the attack crumbled in spite of Rau's gallant efforts against impossible odds, and the troops were withdrawn to the old positions. A little later C Co. was sent over to the right to join Rau. There they found him with only a few of his men left. The guns were set up on the edge of the wood in a defensive position. B Co. got orders to support an attack of the 102d Inf. on the town of Epieds over on the left flank. The company formed a fourth wave behind the infantry, and spread out into a long skirmish line. The advance started over the open wheat field at a slow walk, with frequent halts during which each man flattened out so tliat no moving thing was visible in the field. M. G. bullets began to kick up little puffs of dust all around us, and the enemy artillery barrage came down fiercely just ahead. We knew we would have to go through this, and every nerve was tense. We soon found ourselves in the midst of it—direct fire at that, mostly from one pounders, and 105's and Austrian 88's which come with the shriek of a thousand devils. The fumes choked us and the concussions half stunned us. It was here that Hez Porter, following his platoon leader, was instantly killed. Corcoran, Dick and Wendt were wounded. An infantry captain just ahead called frantically to us to put an enemy M. G. out of business. He pointed out a pile of barrels where the gun was supposed to be hidden, and two guns of Lt. Sandberg's platoon, Sgt. Hart's section, went into action in the edge of some woods and peppered the spot for some time. It was here that the whole attack was checked, and we got word from the infantry that it was pulling back and that we should do the same on our own hook. The company was drawn to the left into cover of woods, reformed, and sent back, skirting around a rise for concealment. We assembled in a patch of wood a little way back and waited for possible counter-attack and to cover the withdrawal of the doughboys if necessary. They came filtering back, bringing their wounded with them, and soon we were also returned to our old place where the guns were set up to repel any attack that might come from the left. Dr. Hesselgrave appeared with cigarettes and chocolate which was indeed welcome, as we had nothing to eat. This was not a healthy place for the Doctor to be in, but we knew he would come to us when we needed him most. There was a dressing-station near us, and it was awful to see the wounded and shell-shocked fellows brought in. About 6 p. m. the Boche put down a fearful artillery barrage close in front of us, and we were pulled back a hundred yards to escape the effects of this fire. A detail had been digging a grave for Porter, but were unable to finish. A bit later, orders came from Division that we would go back into reserve for a time. We thought our troubles were about over for that day, but were mistaken. Down on the road near Champluisant Farm, just east of Sacerie, our machines were lined up, waiting to take us out, and as we were loading up there came the familiar shriek and two shell burst in the field close by. A moment later there came a deafening blast—all was confusion. Two more shell had exploded together right among our cars. Two of them were overturned. We got the wounded into cars as quickly as possible but, to make matters worse, a mule-cart had become wedged in the road ahead and blocked all traffic, so we could not move out. Finally the way was cleared and the cars with the wounded made for the first-aid station at Sacerie Farm. Harold Smith and Ralph Henry of B Co. died. Brackett, Weld, Olschefskie, Hampson, Haskins, Barber, Maun, Rogers, Burden, Fothergill, Mercer, Burnham, Sancyzk of B Co. and Fabryk of C Co. wounded. Robinson and Gunning of B Co. shell-shocked. Our cars had been doing fine service most all day in taking out wounded. Two of C Co's cars were hit and one wrecked. At last we found ourselves in bivouac in the woods.

JULY 25. ... A detail went back and buried Porter.

More details about his burial are from the Geni genealogical website entry for Hezekiah Scovil Porter, compiled, I believe, by Charles E. Rounds, Jr., grandson of Hezekiah's brother, Philip Wells Porter.

A photograph of the temporary gravesite is in the possession of Charles E. Rounds, Jr., 107 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA 02108 (2013). In the photograph are two of his comrades who had survived the battle. One is from Wethersfield, Connecticut (State Street) and one is from Waterbury, Vermont. The Vermonter is Wagoner Arthur A Barlow, a farmer, who was born Aug. 10, 1895. The Connecticut man is Sergeant Everett H. Hart, born July 10, 1894, who in civilian life had been a "member" of the Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. Bordering the field, just beyond the grave-site, is a thick forest of mostly birch saplings. The underbrush is heavy.

In a letter. dated July 27, 1918, more details of the initial "make-shift" interment of the remains of Hezekiah Scovil Porter are communicated in a letter from his commanding officer (Philip S. Wainwright) to Whitney Scovil Porter (one of Hezekiah's brothers): "...The grave is marked near the head by a cross-shaped blaze on a tree with "Hezekiah S. Porter--101st. M.G.B. U.S.A.--July 22d, 1918" carved into the wood. His helmet is also placed at the head on a bayonet with his name scratched on it. I removed his wallet which contained a small sum of French money and his diamond ring, which was all the personal property we could find." [The referenced wallet, which is bloodstained, is in the possession of William Porter Wightman, grandson of the said Whitney Scovil Porter (2017)].

Hez's remains were later retrieved and given a permanent resting place in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois (Aisne), France: Plot A, Row 4, Grave 18.

Requiescat in pace, Hezekiah Scovil Porter.

This is the conclusion of the World War I Diary of Hezekiah Scovil Porter, begun in the previous post: The Complete World War I Diary of Hezekiah Scovil Porter - Part I, 1917. You can see images of the pages here: Hezekiah Scovil Porter's WWI Diary.

 

Hez's Diary
January 1, 1918 - July 22, 1918

Continuation of Page 21

Tuesday Jan 1st 1918
(in France)

Holiday. Fooled around all day. Down to Mlle. Alice this eve for tea. Another big time in the shack this evening.

Wednesday Jan. 2nd

Pistol practice this A.M. 

Afternoon off.

Thursday Jan 3rd

Change of company. Cold. Nothing doing.

Friday Jan 4th

On K.P. all day

Page 22
(There's a large space left before the next entry, as if he meant to go back and add something later, but did not.)

Saturday Jan 5th

Inspection this A.M. This P.M. off. Mail tonight.

Sunday Jan 6th

Fooled around all day.

Page 23

Monday Jan 7th

M.G. drill this A.M. + P.M. Also this P.M.

Tuesday Jan 8th

Sighting practice this A.M. Dentist this P.M.

Wednesday Jan 9th

Snowing. Target practice this A.M. M.G. instruction this P.M.

Thursday Jan 10th

Snow. No drill. Target practice this P.M. Box from Polly (his sister).

Friday Jan 11th

On special detail this A.M. Sighting practice this P.M.

Saturday Jan 12th

Target practice this A.M. On guard at 1:30. Punk night.

Sunday 13th

Rain + snow. Off guard at 1:30. Y.M.C.A. this eve.

Monday Jan 14th

Drill this A.M. Target practice this P.M.

Tuesday Jan 15th

Pistol instruction. Rain M.G. instruction.

Page 24

Wednesday Jan 16th

Pistol instruction. M.G. also. Rain + warm.

Thursday Jan 17th

Gas drill this A.M. Falling snow + stayed in quarters this P.M.

Friday Jan 18th

Warm. In quarters all day.

Saturday Jan 19th

In infirmary today another fellow with me.

Sunday Jan 20th

Still in (the infirmary)

Monday Jan 21st

Still in

Tuesday Jan 22nd

Still in – Bill Famely was let out today. Mail tonight – box from Polly (his sister).

Wednesday Jan 23rd

Out (of the infirmary) this A.M. but in quarters.

Thursday Jan 24th

Were paid this A.M. On 500 range this P.M. Was in

Page 25

target trenches under fire.

Friday Jan 25th

M. G. drill this A.M and P.M. too. Warm + fine day.

Saturday Jan 26th

On kitchen all day.

Sunday Jan 27th

Over to range at Concourt all day. All M. guns in 26th div. on one range. Great sight. Home late. Talk by Col. Parker

Monday Jan 28th

Same thing today. Home a little earlier

Tuesday Jan 29th

Same thing again.

Wednesday Jan 30th

Pistol practice this A.M. Drill this P.M.

Thursday Jan 31st

On our range all day with M. Gs.

Friday Feb 1st

Drill this A.M. On range this P.M. digging

Page 26

implacements (sic) for guns.

Saturday Feb. 2nd

Co. went to range. Was supernumerary of guard so stayed home. Fire this evening about 1 A.M. Called to go on guard at 3:30 A.M.

Sunday Feb. 3rd

Great day. Off guard at 8 A.M. Wrote letters + read all day. Letter from Bill (Orvilla, his brother Phil's wife) this eve.

Monday Feb. 4th

Inspection + cleaning up this A.M. Cleaning and lecture this P.M.

Tuesday Feb. 5th

More cleaning and inspection this A.M. Went to Neufchateau this P.M. + brought up Fords for Co. Supper at Mlle. Alice’s this evening.

Wednesday Feb. 6th

Another trip to Neufchateau for Fords this A.M. Worked on cars this P.M.

Page 27

Thursday Feb. 7th

More cleaning up. Worked on cars all rest of day. Mine is fine shape now. Supper at Mlle. Alice’s this P.M.

Friday Feb 8th

On K.P. Up at 4 A.M. Company left for Lifol le Grand at 3 P.M. Went with the kitchen. Arrived there at about 6:30. Had to get supper, pack stuff on cars. Off at 9:30 – some day. Tried to sleep in barracks with no blankets, etc.

Saturday Feb. 9th

Up at 3:30 A.M. Marched to station with junk & loaded it on cars. Were off after breakfast at 6:30 A.M. On box cars – 37 in ours. Some crowd. Rode all day. Slept but little

Page 28

Sunday Feb. 10th

Detrained at about 4 A.M. at Braisne. Unloaded our Fords etc. Had breakfast + started out in Flivers. Ate dinner at a town all shot to pieces. Continued in afternoon thru wrecked towns + landed at CheVregny. Town completely wrecked – not a house left. I Live in barracks – some in dugouts. Got a better sleep.

Monday Feb. 11th

Fine Day. Went around town exploring trenches + dugouts.

Tuesday Feb. 12th

Fine day. Drill this A.M. Moved into different barracks this P.M. Saw a Boch (a slang term, of various spellings, for German) airplane bring down an observation balloon.

Wednesday Feb. 13th

Drill for gas this A.M. + with guns. Drill + short hike this P.M.

Thursday Feb. 14th

Gas drill + short hike this A.M. Drill with guns

Page 29

This P.M.

Friday Feb. 15th

Gas drill + gun drill this A.M. Went on guard at 4:30 P.M. Cold tonight

Saturday Feb. 16th

Cold. Off guard at 4:30 this P.M. Appointed a driver again. The Company went to trenches tonight. Bob Skinner drove my car up.

Sunday Feb. 17th

Fine day. Took an all day walk + went nearly to 3rd lines. Saw a German plane brought down this A.M.

Monday Feb. 18th

Worked on cars all day. Fooled around.

Tuesday Feb. 19th

Fussed with Flivers all day. Nothing much doing for us.

Wednesday Feb. 20th

On K.P. all day. Mail tonight – 3 letters.

Page 30

Thursday Feb. 21st

Worked on cars this A.M.

Worked in kitchen grinding coffee this P.M.

Friday Feb. 22nd

Fussed on cars. Nothing much doing.

Saturday Feb 23rd

Same old stunt. No excitement.

Sunday Feb. 24th

Worked on cars this A.M.

On guard this P.M.

Monday Feb. 25th

Off guard at 5 P.M.

Tuesday Feb. 26th

Worked on cars all day. The Bosch (slang for Germans, same as "Boch" above) shot down a balloon that was up over our heads here this P.M. Some noise.

Wednesday Feb 27th

On K.P. all day. Drove up to front this eve – took some “C” men up + brought back some of our fellows – they returned tonight. Awful night. Dark as pitch – raining hard.

Page 31

Thursday Feb. 28th

Nothing much doing today. Worked on cars some this P.M. Got orders tonight to be ready to go to Front tomorrow.

Friday March 1st

Spent most of day getting ready + packing up to go. Order came about 6 P.M. that they didn’t need me. Heard Dr. Shankin of Wesleyan speak this eve over in dug out. Snowing + cold – not so sorry I’m not going.

Saturday March 2nd

Snowing + blowing + cold. Short drill this A.M. Nothing doing this P.M.

Sunday March 3rd

Punk day – nothing doing.

Monday Mar. 4th

Drill this A.M. Snow. Short hike this P.M.

Page 32:

Tuesday Mar. 5th

Drill this A.M. On guard at 1:30.

Wednesday Mar. 6th

Fine day – warm

Off guard at 1:30

Thursday Mar 7th

Fine day. Drill this A.M. Hike this P.M.

Friday Mar. 8th

Warm + like spring. Drill this A.M. Played ball + quakes this P.M. (Quakes may be a form of craps.)

Saturday Mar 9th.

Calisthenics this A.M. General clean up. Inspection this P.M.

Sunday Mar. 10th

Packing + cleaning up. Getting ready to go to trenches again. Company left this P.M. Drove up one car, came back with some “C” men. Was driven back again. Meantime guns set up. On gun guard soon as back. Quietly off at 12:30 A.M. Up again at 4:45 A.M. to

Page 33

Monday Mar. 11th

stand to. Breakfast + to bed. Gun guard + digging at 11:30 A.M. Relieved at 4:30 P.M. Not much excitement.

Tuesday Mar. 12th

Gun guards at 1:30 A.M. off at 7:00 A.M. Gas guard at (12 over 4 or 4 over 12) 30 A.M.

Wednesday Mar. 13th

Some gas + a few shells this A.M. Off guard at 4:30 P.M. Out at 7:00 – find (sic) until 9:30. On gun guard at 1:30 – off at 7:00 A.M.

Thursday Mar. 14th

Guard again at 4:30 off at 8 P.M. On again at 1:30 A.M. off at 7 A.M.

Friday Mar. 15th

On guard from 12:30 – 4:30 and from 8 – 1:30 P.M.

Mar. 16th 1918

On again from 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. heavy gas shelling. Packed up + left for Vregny

Page 34

Sunday Mar. 17th

On K.P. all day. Worked hard.

Monday Mar. 18th

Rolled packs – in cars + off at 9 A.M. Drove to one station beyond Soissons – dinner – loaded cars + luggage on train. Off at about 4:30 P.M. In box cars – no sleep.

Tuesday Mar. 19th

Up at 7 A.M. Unloaded cars + luggage – breakfast – off again overland at 9 A.M. Brienne le Chateau to Fontaine. Nice little town. On guard + drew “orderly.” Couple of luxurious chateaus – officers quarters. Whole bunch of us quartered in a big old mill.

Wednesday Mar. 20th

Off guard at 1:00 P.M. Went to Bar sur Aube – great town. Good feed etc.

Page 35

Thursday Mar. 21st

Inspection this A.M.

Hike up a mountain here this P.M. Went to town – had a good feed and went to “movies”

Friday Mar. 22nd

Short drill this A.M. Played ball. Spent rest of day packing up. Swim.

Saturday Mar. 23rd

Fine day. Up at 5:15 rolled packs and off at 8 A.M. Rode about 10 miles. Beautiful country. Stopped at Colombey (Colomby) – slept in a regular bed with “Bob” + “Dock”. Great sleep.

Sunday Mar 24th

Moved out at about 10 A.M. Stopped at Vignory – all put up in a big barn. Downtown in evening. Took a walk – Old

Page 36

Castle on hill. Slept in hay.

Monday Mar. 25th

Up early and off at 7 A.M. Stopped at St. Blin. Expect to stay here a while. Spent day in straightening out.

Tuesday Mar. 26th

Cleaned up this A.M. for inspection. Took a bath this P.M.

Wednesday Mar. 27th

Cleaned up billets + guns + pistols for inspection. Dental inspection this P.M.

Thursday Mar. 28th

General show down inspection lasting all day. Ball game with 104th this P.M. Went over to see Ken Page at Manois this evening. Also saw Hersey from Kent. Had a good time.

Friday Mar. 29th

Rain. Did some packing this A.M.

Page 37

Nothing much doing.

Saturday Mar. 30th

Rain. Nothing much doing. Got day off. Went over to Manois but 104th had gone.

Sunday Mar. 31st Easter.

Rain. Went to services at Y.M.C.A. Read this P.M. Went to Y.M. this eve.

Monday April 1st

Rain. Up at 3:45 A.M. Packed + ready to start at 5:50 A.M. 1st platoon off in Fr. Trucks. Rode all day through Neuf-Chateau + Toul. Hiked about 2 ½ miles to camp at Menil la Tour. Mud a foot deep all around. On guard worst luck. Punk night. Borden was a picnic side of this place.

Tuesday April 2nd

Rain but clearing at noon. Off guard at 11:30 A.M. American Sector here. Regulars. Balloon. Menil la Tour

Page 38

Wednesday April 3rd

Cloudy. Nothing much doing. Down to Menil this P.M. with Bill Hart + had supper – eggs + wine.

Thursday Apr. 4th

Cloudy + rain. Played cards all day.

Friday Apr. 5th

Fine day. Played cards.

Cleaned guns + pistols.

Saturday April 6th

Cloudy Nothing much doing.

Sunday Apr. 7th

Rain + cloudy. On K.P. all day.

Monday Apr. 8th

Rain hard. Played cards + read all day.

Tuesday Apr. 9th

Rain. Cards this A.M. Worked this P.M. on road.

Wednesday Apr. 10th

On guard at 1:00 P.M.

Thursday Apr. 11th

Off guard at

Page 39

At 1 P.M. Gas scare last night. Slept + took bath this afternoon. Went to “movies” at Y.M. in evening.

Friday Apr. 12th

Orderly today. Nothing much doing. Bunch off on hurry call.

Saturday Apr. 13th

Worked on incinerator today. Short drill this P.M. Cards.

Sunday Apr. 14th

On K.P. all day

Monday Apr. 15th

Rainy. Cleaned guns. Cards. Read. Report that boys got two guns from Bosch (Germans).

Tuesday Apr. 16th

Rain. Gas drill. Read Cards Wrote.

Wednesday Apr. 17th

Cards + read this A.M. On guard at 1 P.M. Bunch came back this evening. Were in a hot place

Page 40

lots of exciting stories. Brought back all sorts of German souvenirs.

Thursday Apr. 18th

Off guard at 1 P.M. Took bath this P.M. Read + wrote.

Friday Apr. 19th

Rainy. Orderly today. Nothing much doing. Inspection.

Saturday Apr. 20th

Quite noisy. Gas this A.M. at 5 o’clock. All prepared to go at any minute. Cleaned ammunition this P.M. Slept alert this evening.

Sunday Apr. 21st

Rainy. Church this A.M. Read. Mail from home.

Monday Apr. 22nd

Big attack on this front 102 + 104 lost lot of men. All packed + ready any time to move. Expected a call last night. Have to sleep with clothes

Page 41

on now. Rainy.

Tuesday Ap. 23rd

Sun for short time now rain. Short drill this A.M. Nothing much doing. Couple fellows from 102nd told of experiences this P.M.

Wednesday Apr. 24th

Rain. Short drill this A.M. Nothing doing.

Thursday Apr. 25th

Sun. Short drill. Hard rain this P.M.

Friday Apr. 26th

Nothing doing this A.M. Short drill this P.M.

Ball game. Hurry call about 6 P.M. Off in a short time + had long ride. Landed at a place near St. Agnan + after walk of about 3 miles with equipment Set up guns in woods. Went back to P. C. on ration detail. Early morning when

Page 42

back to Positions.

Saturday Apr. 27th

Slept little last night. Have to stay in open trenches – no shelter or dugouts. Sun shone all day + we slept.

Sunday Apr. 28th

On guard and at 3 A.M. we got S. O. S. signal. We fired a 11 minute barrage and they say it was good. Cloudy and started to rain this P.M. Raining hard, all soaked , mud. Awful night. Another S.O.S. at 11 P.M. and we fired another barrage – short one. Lot of artillery action.

Monday Apr 29th

All look like drowned rats this A.M. Rain still. Wet, hungry, cold. Sneaked down to infantry dugout this A.M. + got warm. Cleared off. Half of crowd went to dugouts in

Page 43

rear. We were relieved at 8 P.M. Went on food detail this P.M. Awful long + rough walk. 2 miles. Dugout pretty good. Fire in it. Turned in about 12 o’clock – dead tired.

Tuesday Apr. 30th

Pretty good sleep. Up to guns at 8 A.M. Weather clear. Slept a little this P.M. All pulled out of this hole at 9 P.M. Left six guns in new posts with four men on each. Rest of us went on to Liouville. Quarters good – good supplies. Staying in old wine cellar underground. One + ½ mi. to lines. Town not hurt much – some people here – pro-Germans. On guard to 11 P.M. Our bunch carry food to men on outposts.

Wednesday May 1st

Rain. Nothing much doing. Off guard

Page 44

at 11 P.M.

Thursday May 2

Fine day. Sunshine – quite warm. On food detail this A.M. Went in old church here. Very pretty for little town. Rolled packs this P.M. 102nd relieved us this evening. Left here about 12 o’clock and went to (left blank).

Friday May 3rd

Got up late. Feeling punk. Nothing doing all day. Moved into private billet this evening. 6 of us in one room good beds.

Saturday May 4th

Weather still good. Pretty town. Paid today. On guard at 1 P.M. Feed tonight.

Sunday May 5th

Off guard this A.M. Went over to Aulnois to Yale Mobile Hosp. Unit this P.M. Saw Len Beadle +

Page 45

Jes Willard. Bud Clark wasn’t in. Rained this P.M. Had supper with Pete Sargent.

Monday May 6th

Fine day. On fatigue. Nothing much doing. Feed this evening.

Tuesday May 7th

On K.P. all day. Letter from Irene Plige from Merrifield. Co. B played ball with 103rd Eng. after supper, beat them 5-0.

Wednesday May 8th

Rain. Wrote letters + played cards. Feed tonight.

Thursday May 9th

Inspected this A.M. Lot of fellows had to go to hospital + get a scrub + a rub.

Friday Mar 10th (May 10)

Pretty good day. Nothing much doing. Ike had to leave us today. Ben Baum

Page 46

is up with us now. Feed tonight.

Saturday Mar. 11th (May 11)

Warm day. Nothing much doing. In P.M. went to Yale Unit, saw Bud Clark, Ken + Jess. Storm came up + I stayed to supper.

Sunday Mar. 12th (May 12)

Went to communion service held by Dr. Miel + later to mass meeting. Ball game this P.M. Tie score in 7th + had to call game because of rain. Band of 103 + YMCA girls there

Monday May 13th

Wrote letters. Walk this P.M. Played cards all evening.

Tuesday May 14th

Nothing much doing this A.M. Cleaned guns this P.M. Practice game of ball.

Page 47

Wednesday. May 15

Wrote letters. Went in gas house this A.M. Bath this P.M.

Thursday May 16th

Warm day. Walked up on hill this A.M. Played ball this afternoon with 102nd. Ball game this evening with Yale Mobile Unit score 6-2 our favor. Rode over in cars.

Friday May 17th

Nothing doing this A.M. Warm day.

Saturday May 18th

Fine day. Ball game this P.M. with 103rd. Won again. 101st Band.

Sunday May 19th

On K.P. all day. Ball game with 101st eng. got trimmed. Rain.

Monday May 20th

Warm day. Ball game 2nd team U.S. 103rd. Won again. Good game.

Page 48

Tuesday May 21st

Fine day. News of moving. On guard Pack up this P.M. Farewell supper at Rose’s. Out at 7 P.M. Beautiful ride thru woods. Warm, still, moonlight. Off at Ausonville. Part of Co. took up positions. Rest of us back to the old swamp again. Slept in car.

Wednesday May 22nd

Beautiful weather. Pitched pup tents in woods. Went over to see Elsie Janis in outdoor entertainment by Y. M. She sure did give us all a great time. Northy and Stan went up to front this evening.

Thursday May23rd

On K.P. all day. Hard day – lots of work.

Friday May 24th

Colder. Rainy. On guard at 1:00 P.M. Corp. (corporal) of guard. Nothing much doing.

Page 49

Saturday May 25th

Nothing doing this P.M. Off guard at 1.0 P.M. Took bath. Walk to Sanzy.

Sunday May 26th

Down to Menil la Tour this P.M. Ball game with 101st Eng. Boxing, band. On guard this evening.

Monday May 27th

Off guard at 1:00 P.M. Nothing doing.

Tuesday May 28th

Saw Wood – Olive Wood’s brother from E. City. On guard at 1. P.M.

Wednesday May 29th

Off guard at 1. P.M. Down to Menil la Tour after supper. Minstrel show, band. Dixie + I went to Royaumix to see couple Lieutenants. Fine time.

Thursday May. 30th

Went to Bouque this P.M. in Trucks. Punk

Page 50

ball game and punk boxing bouts.

May 31st Friday

On K.P. all day.

June 1st Saturday

Nothing much doing all day. Ball game this evening with engineers.

June 2nd Sunday

Paid this A.M. Took walk this P.M. Saw ball game. Went to concert this evening. Miss Kerne – Metropolitan soprano. 101st band.

June 3rd Monday

Played cards this P.M. Down to Menil la Tour + Rayoumix. Over to Lieut. Kramer’s place.

June 4th Tuesday

On K.P. all day. Feel pretty punk.

June 5th Wednesday

Down to Y.M. this A.M. Played cards this afternoon.

Page 51

Ball game + show this evening at camp Snelling.

June 6th Thursday

Sick. In bed all day.

Friday June 7th

In bed this A.M. Up a short time this afternoon. Back to bed early.

Saturday June 8th

Loafed around most of day. Ball game this P.M. with old Co. A.

Sunday June 9th

Hung around. Walked to Royaumix this A.M. Ball game this P.M. concert band + speaker after supper.

Monday June 10th

Came up to front tonight + took Morril’s place. In big woods.

Tuesday June 11th

Played cards. Pretty good place up here.

Page 52

mail tonight.

Wednesday June 12th

All had to “stand to” from 2 A.M. on. Some big shells dropped very close. Slept all morning. Came home this evening. Shelled road while we were walking down to Bernicourt. One darn close call.

Thursday June 13th

Up rather late. Took baths this P.M. + got cloths. Down to show this evening.

Friday June 14th

To Y.M.C.A. this A.M. Had pictures taken this P.M.

Saturday June 15th

3rd platoon came back last night. Band concert at 51st brigade hdq.

Sunday June 16th

Shelled Royaumix this A.M. Church service

Page 53

Y.M. this P.M.

Monday June 17th

Rain. On working detail beyond Mandrais. Nothing doing this P.M.

Tuesday June 18th

On K.P. all day. S.A. this evening Pie + coffee.

Wednesday June 19th

Shelled Royaumix again this A.M. Short order drill.

Thursday June 20th

Rainy. Short drill. Got pictures this eve. Stopped at S.A. and got pie and coffee.

Friday June 21st

Cleaned guns. Short drill. Inspection of guns + exercises this P.M.

Saturday June 22nd

Rainy. On working detail near Mandrais this A.M. Took

Page 54

baths over near Bouque this P.M.

Sunday June 23rd

Church this A.M.

On guard at 1 P.M.

Monday June 24th

Off guard at 1 P.M. Short drill. On working detail all afternoon. Ball game

Tuesday June 25th

Packed up and cleaned up whole camp this A.M. Left this P.M. for Foug. Nice town – quite large. In good barracks.

Wednesday June 26th

Went to Toul (Dommartin-les-Toul) – walked in. Great dinner – nice town – wonderful feed at Y.M.C.A. for supper. Stopped on way back to see 82nd Div. 5 miles over. Pretty tired but had great time. Good bath here in morning. Went thru ammunition factory here.

Page 55

Thursday June 27

Took walk this A.M. + P.M. Thru factories. K. Page came over this evening.

Friday June 28

Walked around all day – beaucoup de bus.

Saturday June 29th

Packed up this A.M. + rode short dist. to Void. Large town but nothing doing. Had swim. Prommenade (sic) ce soir.

Sunday June 30th

Up early for breakfast. Started on journey at 6:30 stopped at Vitrey le François. Good ride was lot of country. Large town – pretty – good time ce soir.

Monday July 1

Up early + early start – long ride to Coulommes. Saw lot of country – farming

Page 56

aviation – camps. In late. Good supper at one of houses. Pup tent camp.

Tuesday July 2nd

Walk this A.M. After wood with truck. Great dusty ride. 18 miles from Paris.

Wednesday July 3rd

Moved tents. Nothing much doing all day.

Thursday July 4th

On K.P. no rations till 3 P.M. Only coffee for dinner. Paid at 5:30. Great feed at house with couple fellows. Everybody happy ce soir.

Friday July 5th

Nothing doing all day. Had a wonderful feed this eve at 5:30 P.M. at farmhouse. Broke camp + loaded on cars at 8 P.M. On trucks. Rode till 10:30 P.M. Held up in La Ferte until 5:30 A.M. Met 59th going in.

Page 57

Saturday July 6th

Slept in Fr. taxis parked in square. Started off at 5:30 + went about 2 mi. to next town. Stayed here all day. Slept – only cup of coffee to eat. Pulled out at 5 P.M. Stayed up in patch of wood till dark – then came up here to woods on road to Chateau Thierry. Supper at 12 o’clock. Slept in shallow pits in ground.

Sunday July 7th

Spent morning improving our holes to sleep in. Dr Hesselgrave came up this P.M.

Monday July 8th

Nothing much doing all day. Played cards.

Tuesday July 9th

Made our dugout bomb-proof. Played cards.

Page 58

Wednesday July 10th

Nothing doing in particular. Played cards. Rainy.

Thursday June 11th

Rainy. Nothing doing.

Friday July 12th

No excitement. Rainy, muddy.

Saturday July 13th

Rainy. Went into Montreul this A.M. to infirmary. Saw kitchen. Packed up this eve and moved about mile farther toward line in another woods. Hiked. Had to “stand to” all night with rest of division in expectation of attack. Nothing doing. Cold.

Sunday July 14th

Got settled in new place this A.M. Pup tents in wood. Slept most all day

Monday July 15th

Cleaned up the place.

Page 59

Gas mask inspection and drill this P.M. Went after straw after supper. Hell broke loose soon after in bed. All up + had to roll rolls in the dark. Hell of a time. Stand to all night + then nothing doing.

Tuesday July 16th

Slept most of day. Rain. Pistol inspection + drill. M.G. inspection.

Wednesday July 17th

Rain. Nothing much doing all day. Most of crowd left for front tonight. Corporal + 3 men from each squad. Thunder showers most of night. Say they had a tough night of it.

Thursday July 18th

Nothing doing all day. Rest of us got orders to move up to-night. Carried grub from cars to bunch with full

Page 60

pack. Hell of a racket. Laying around in woods.

Friday July 19th

Sat around all day in same place. Moved out tonight. Back in trucks to same old place. Late supper.

Saturday July 20th

Pitched shelter halfs this A.M. Nothing doing all day. Good reports from front. All got baths this P.M. We needed them.

Sunday July 21st

Up + rolled packs before breakfast.

 


And that is the end. There is no more to Hezekiah Scovil Porter's diary, save some brief notes on where he served, in someone else's handwriting.

On Monday, July 22, 1918, his unit went into battle, and Hez was killed.

From Yale in the World War (George Henry Nettleton, Yale University Press, 1925; pages 324-325), quoting a letter written shortly afterwards by a "Yale classmate and comrade-in-arms," comes this description of his death:

Two guns had been placed in a wood, and ammunition was needed. "Hez" was one of the detail to take it up. They had to cross a wheat field, and a splinter [shrapnel] caught him square in the chest.

History of the 101st Machine Gun Battalion has a longer description of the action from the "War Diary of a Machine Gunner," compiled from the field diaries of several of the soldiers by the Rev. Charles E. Hesselgrave, a Congregational minister serving overseas with the YMCA.

JULY 22. At daybreak both companies were sent out into some woods overlooking Trugny to assist the attack of Major Rau's battalion against the town. We could not locate any enemy to fire at, and the best we could do was to wait to protect Rau's left against possible counter- attack. We were shelled and M. G. bullets flew pretty thick. Bristol of C Co. was wounded. After a while the attack crumbled in spite of Rau's gallant efforts against impossible odds, and the troops were withdrawn to the old positions. A little later C Co. was sent over to the right to join Rau. There they found him with only a few of his men left. The guns were set up on the edge of the wood in a defensive position. B Co. got orders to support an attack of the 102d Inf. on the town of Epieds over on the left flank. The company formed a fourth wave behind the infantry, and spread out into a long skirmish line. The advance started over the open wheat field at a slow walk, with frequent halts during which each man flattened out so tliat no moving thing was visible in the field. M. G. bullets began to kick u]) little puffs of dust all around us, and the enemy artillery barrage came down fiercely just ahead. We knew we would have to go through this, and every nerve was tense. We soon found ourselves in the midst of it—direct fire at that, mostly from one pounders, and 105's and Austrian 88's which come with the shriek of a thousand devils. The fumes choked us and the concussions half stunned us. It was here that Hez Porter, following his platoon leader, was instantly killed. Corcoran, Dick and Wendt were wounded. An infantry captain just ahead called frantically to us to put an enemy M. G. out of business. He pointed out a pile of barrels where the gun was supposed to be hidden, and two guns of Lt. Sandberg's platoon, Sgt. Hart's section, went into action in the edge of some woods and peppered the spot for some time. It was here that the whole attack was checked, and we got word from the infantry that it was pulling back and that we should do the same on our own hook. The company was drawn to the left into cover of woods, reformed, and sent back, skirting around a rise for concealment. We assembled in a patch of wood a little way back and waited for possible counter-attack and to cover the withdrawal of the doughboys if necessary. They came filtering back, bringing their wounded with them, and soon we were also returned to our old place where the guns were set up to repel any attack that might come from the left. Dr. Hesselgrave appeared with cigarettes and chocolate which was indeed welcome, as we had nothing to eat. This was not a healthy place for the Doctor to be in, but we knew he would come to us when we needed him most. There was a dressing-station near us, and it was awful to see the wounded and shell-shocked fellows brought in. About 6 p. m. the Boche put down a fearful artillery barrage close in front of us, and we were pulled back a hundred yards to escape the effects of this fire. A detail had been digging a grave for Porter, but were unable to finish. A bit later, orders came from Division that we would go back into reserve for a time. We thought our troubles were about over for that day, but were mistaken. Down on the road near Champluisant Farm, just east of Sacerie, our ma- chines were lined up, waiting to take us out, and as we were loading up there came the familiar shriek and two shell burst in the field close by. A moment later there came a deafening blast — all was confusion. Two more shell had exploded together right among our cars. Two of them were overturned. We got the wounded into cars as quickly as possible but, to make matters worse, a mule-cart had become wedged in the road ahead and blocked all traffic, so we could not move out. Finally the way was cleared and the cars with the wounded made for the first-aid station at Sacerie Farm. Harold Smith and Ralph Henry of B Co. died. Brackett, Weld, Olschefskie, Hampson, Haskins, Barber, Maun, Rogers, Burden, Fothergill, Mercer, Burnham, Sancyzk of B Co. and Fabryk of C Co. wounded. Robinson and Gunning of B Co. shell-shocked. Our cars had been doing fine service most all day in taking out wounded. Two of C Co's cars were hit and one wrecked. At last we found ourselves in bivouac in the woods.

JULY 25. ... A detail went back and buried Porter.

More details about his burial are from the Geni genealogical website entry for Hezekiah Scovil Porter, compiled, I believe, by Charles E. Rounds, Jr., grandson of Hezekiah's brother, Philip Wells Porter.

A photograph of the temporary gravesite is in the possession of Charles E. Rounds, Jr., 107 Mt. Vernon St., Boston, MA 02108 (2013). In the photograph are two of his comrades who had survived the battle. One is from Wethersfield, Connecticut (State Street) and one is from Waterbury, Vermont. The Vermonter is Wagoner Arthur A Barlow, a farmer, who was born Aug. 10, 1895. The Connecticut man is Sergeant Everett H. Hart, born July 10, 1894, who in civilian life had been a "member" of the Chas. C. Hart Seed Co. Bordering the field, just beyond the grave-site, is a thick forest of mostly birch saplings. The underbrush is heavy.

In a letter. dated July 27, 1918, more details of the initial "make-shift" interment of the remains of Hezekiah Scovil Porter are communicated in a letter from his commanding officer (Philip S. Wainwright) to Whitney Scovil Porter (one of Hezekiah's brothers): "...The grave is marked near the head by a cross-shaped blaze on a tree with "Hezekiah S. Porter--101st. M.G.B. U.S.A.--July 22d, 1918" carved into the wood. His helmet is also placed at the head on a bayonet with his name scratched on it. I removed his wallet which contained a small sum of French money and his diamond ring, which was all the personal property we could find." [The referenced wallet, which is bloodstained, is in the possession of William Porter Wightman, grandson of the said Whitney Scovil Porter (2017)].

Hez's remains were later retrieved and given a permanent resting place in the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois (Aisne), France: Plot A, Row 4, Grave 18.

Requiescat in pace, Hezekiah Scovil Porter.

Posted by sursumcorda on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 8:10 am | Edit
Permalink | Read 1443 times
Category Genealogy: [first] [previous] [next] [newest] Porter's Turn: [first] [previous]
Comments
Add comment

(Comments may be delayed by moderation.)