Friday, September 30, 2016

Ervin Earl Putnam's World War I Diary January-April 1919

The notebook he had only went through December, so he started writing where ever he could find space.  This also caused him to change the way he noted things down.  This post will cover January through April.


  • Friday January 10, 1919:
Bois de Beleau




German Shell Dump, Chateau Thierry, Soissons Road
Avenue Des Longchamps, Bois de Belleau


  • Friday February 7th, 1919:
    • Going home in two weeks Cummings
    • Some more Hot Dope.
  • Friday March 7th, 1919:
    • Hanker 13, Shirt 2, Draw. 2, Towel 1, Union suit 1, stock. 6, wool 2, 1 Outside shirt

  • Tuesday April 8th, 1919:
    • Leaft Paris April 8th to convoy car to Mais-Sur-Arilleir, Arrived in Bueil----- stopped 1st night at la Croix St. Leufroy. Some place

  • Thursday April 10th, 1919:
    • Leaft St. Leufroy at 2-April 10 for Chatres, then Oleans + Nevers



  • Sunday April 13th, 1919:
    • Arrived at Mais April 13, stopped all night + Sunday 
  • Monday April 14th, 1919:
    • Caught 11 o'clock train for Paris
I haven't been able to locate Mais Sur Arillier, so don't have a map.  We have a number of photos that we don't know exactly when they were taken, but suspect that it was in the first half of 1919 so I will include some here.

Gierres, France 1919

Ft. DeBrimont 1919

German Dougouts on the road to Brimont, 1919



Slacking

I know, I've been slacking.  Between work and summer this project got the short end of the stick.  I'll be getting back into it now and try and do a better job of getting information to you.  I just returned from trip home to see the family and have a lot of new content to share.  I'll finish Ervin Earl's World War One diary and start into all the new items, so keep an eye out!