In England •••••••••• 6/8/18

We anchored in the Mersey last night at 10:00pm. After a little sleep we were roused at 2:30am for breakfast. By 8:00am we were embarked in fine compartment coaches on the Midland Railway. We travelled all day thru wonderful English country, which I admired extremely. Towards evening we arrived in Southampton, where we spent an extremely uncomfortable night. The rations which were issued to us were very poor and I became rather sick. But our sea journey is over and gone, which is a great comfort. First lap is finished.

In England•••••••••• 6/9/18

We loafed around the rest camp all this Sunday morning. It is a very nice city (Southampton). We left after dinner and embarked on a Channel steamer which pulled out at 8:00pm. I slept very comfortably in an aisle, knowing nothing of the trip.

In France- Havre••.••••••• 6/10/18

France gave us a very cold, dismal reception. We marched five (5) miles to another rest camp, thru a cold, steady rain. We were a very wretched lot on arrival. But the sun came out shortly and we spent a comfortably and happy afternoon.

In France- Le Havre•••••••••• 6/11/18

Loafed around the rest camp all morning. After dinner we marched to

the railroad station and entrained in the famous "Hommes 36 - Chevaux 8" troop trains of France. We travelled very uncomfortably all thru the night.

France••••••••• 6/12/18

Travelled all day thru France which is a country much like our own. The forests are different - the trees high and slender, but the fields are much the same. Reached city of Vannes, province of Morbihan, about 7:00pm where we took a branch line up into the hills about eight ( 8)· miles to Canp Meucon, an American artillery camp. It is not yet finished, but I expect to spend a comfortable and interesting period of several months here.

Camp Meucon •••••.•••• 6/13/18

Spent day in our barracks getting settled. Took a much needed bath and changed. Feel fine. France is more like our own country than England. The hills here are furry and of scant vegetation. The people about are of the true peasant type, living in very interesting stone houses which must accommodate a good many. They all have wine and beer which I have sampled, but do not like very much. We start training on Monday, 6/17/18. I hear that equipment is coming in every day.

Camp de Meueon.•••••••• 6/17/18

Started gun- drill on our French 75's today.. They seem to be, as they are, finer guns than our 3 in. They are simpler and more efficient. The work is quite different, too, and, I think, more efficient.

Camp de, Meucon ••••..•• .6/26/18

Reorganization of the battery, today •. ·The B.C. detail is started off with me on it. Was appointed first-class private - 4 months after I entered the army. Small honor tho, as some also were appointed who don't know a squad movement. Have received 10 letters from Rufus!!!

camp de Meucon ••….••..7/l/18

Six months of this tragic year have gone. Who can tell what. the next six will hold for me. I am now safely embarked on B.C. Detail work, being styled an orientationist. I only hope the army can teach me enough in the time given to enable me to acquit myself worthily.

Camp de Meucon ••••••••.• July 4, 1918

Spent a quiet morning, but things livened up considerably from mess-time at noon. We entertained a bunch of French non-Coms or, rather, they entertained us. We watched a review of the 53d. F.A. Bgde., a baseball game, potato races, etc. The day was quite an affair. There were many visitors to camp, male and female. Aside from the peasants of the countryside,. the people dress and look much 1ike.our own and ·are the· same, I guess, in spirit and sympathy, too. Altogether, it was a very pleasant day.

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Camp de Meucon…..•.••• 7/7/18

The regiment was paid today. In the afternoon, perhaps because of this, Barney Martin and I took a walk out to the town, sat on the side of hill, the steeple of its gothic church showing for many kilometers. We walked · around a little and then entered a wine shop on the main street. Found many of the boys there. We had a couple of bottles of wine. It made me kind of sick - it was so very hot outside - that I quit and went outside to look around. We had to hurry back for retreat. About twenty fellows were drunk. ·

Camp de Meucon ..•••••…7/8/18

Jackie gave us a heart-to-heart talk tonight, telling us the short-comings of the battery and what we must do. Also told us that we were scheduled to leave in exactly three (3) weeks for the front. Got settled in orientation work today. Hope it continues this time.

Camp de Meucon -·••••••••7/13/18

Went to signal school· in the morning, to the range in the afternoon, where I sensed the firing of our battery. 155 's directly in front nearly split my head open. Received five (5) letters tonight. - Mother's was fine, Rufus' no good.

Camp de Meucon ••••••••• - Aug. 1, 1918

Since I last wrote· in this diary things have gone on about as usual except' that a noticeable "speeding up" of our training is taking place. We go out on hikes or fire on the range quite often. Sergeant Gens,- the instrument sergeant, has left for the O.T. C. and I am about the only one in the battery to take his place. But know from experience how a battery is run and expect to stay a private for a long time to come. Am beginning to think the war will last long.

Camp de-Meucon ••••••••• 8/11/18

Have taken our three day hike and came back successfully. The battery in fair_ shape. B.C.-made me a cpl. on the 8th with the hint that I was shortly- to become instrument sergeant. Speed the day. We leave here very shortly for the front.

On route to Western Front •••••••••• 8/19/18

We, the battery, pulled. out of the gun park at Camp de Meucon at 4:30am for- Vannes, where we entrained in "le train unique"; our destination is Toul. We passed thru many large cities on our way, among them Saumur where P. Wolrath and E. Gens- are stationed in S.A.S.-A.P.O•. #708. Travelled for two nights and three days, much more comfortably than here to fore, "fetching up" to Toul from the South, a course due to railroad congestion, I imagine. The country grew more and more attractive as we go eastward and about Toul and beyond it is beautiful. We disembarked at Toul 8/21/18 and hiked to Chandenay, some five kilos away, where we billeted. The hike was at night. In the distance toward the front, we saw star shells, projector signaling, and other light. Occasionally, we could hear the batteries working and see shrapnel burst. Above our .heads was often the hum of an aero plane. I guess we are in it now for sure. "Bonne chance."

Chandenay- West Front••.••••••.B/28/18

A Boche plane came over this morning and was merrily popped away at by our "Archies". Then about a dozen of our planes went in pursuit and Herr Bache went back in a hurry. Kaiser and I slid out of formations this. Morning and went for a swim. Fine!!

Martincourt•••••••••• 9/3/18-

At last the regiment is on the front, tho only, so far, in army reserve. We noved ·up at night from Chandenay and took up this position. It has not been too exciting, but we have- had a slight taste of gas. There are air fights every day. This morning a Boche very calmly clicked off (2) of our captive balloons. He' had guts. He sailed right over our position at about 800m height so we may·be "strafed" a little tonight. Fairly accurate rumor has it that we are shortly to move about four (4) kms. forward which will put us about 1 km. behind the very front lines. So it seems that the 30th fatigue artillery regiment is at last to try its mettle. Wrote to Rufus last night - a short letter.

Sezerais Sector..••..•••• 9/9/18

We had quite a day today. - Pvt. Day and I walked up to our forward position to wrap up our stuff and bring it back. We were all finished and were hurrying back for supper; we saw shells (H.E.) exploding on the road ahead of us that we had to travel, but they slackened up quite a bit as we got up there; we stopped at a French anti-aircraft gun mounted on an automobile chassis and asked a Poilu there if "les Boches" were "fini". He did not· understand at first, but then a comprehending smile lit up his countenance and "Oh, oui, oui", he said. We started on up the hill. Just as we reached the crest we heard a shell whistling toward us. There was nothing to do; it seemed as if it was coming for at least five (5) minutes. At last it hit with a thud about 12 meters away and exploded with a great bang. Needless to say we hurried on, then. When the next one came over we were at least a hundred meters away. It was my first experience under shell fire and not very pleasant. It was great luck that a shell fragment didn't plough thru one or the other of us.

First Forward Strike.••••…•• 9/8/18

Was working in my little dug-out where I do the battery's map work when "Kid" Martin brought me a letter from Rufus. How overjoyed I was. It was a fine, beautiful, strong-hearted letter, tho, as several written earlier have not come to me yet, there were several things I could not understand in it. But I guess I read it fifty (50) times in the first hour. Won't it be nice when I am back home with you, mine own little girl? I do. I do.

Le Puits Ferme….•.•.•• Sept. 11, 1918

We moved into this position for action today. All the guns are in the pits and ammunition in the racks. We know a drive is impending, feel that it is to be "made in America", and hope confidently for its success. Our mission has come in and. Lieut. Calley and I were figuring it in our little dugout when a messenger from B.N.l-A.H.6 came in, panting, and informed us that h-4 meant four (4) hours before· the zero hour instead of four ( 4) minutes. We looked at our watches. We had exactly thirteen minutes to begin firing and no preparations made!

Ie Puits Feme ••••••••••Sept. 12, 1918

Somehow or other we got started. It· seemed as if. Hell had- broke loose then. Every battery Was firing furiously, continuously. For two hours we did counter-battery· work with gas; of what variety, we knew not. For the next hours we cut, barbed wire in front of the trenches in "No Man's Land''. Then the real thing - the BARRAGE started. ·It was wonderfully inspiring, to know t our dough-boys were going over the top - into· a hail of shot and shell - into death and torture - while we were helping them as best we could by pumping all sorts of shells into the Boches - “walking thru" their territory, as we call it. The barrage lasted for us for one (1) hour and (12) minutes, tho other guns fired for many hours longer, particularly the "heavies". I controlled one gun, as we did not have sufficient officers, and- ceased firing exactly on the minute.

Sept. 13, '18

Today is Friday, and the 13th! We have moved forward and are waiting to go further. I'm picked to be killed or something, on such a day, but instead I received about fourteen (14) letters from Rufus, the family, my new sister-in-law, Lance, Bobbie Watson. Who can say the day is unlucky? We moved out about 4:00 to our new position. It is plumb on the edge of "No Man's Land" and our guns are right in the open for anyone to see who wishes. I, needless to say, hunted up the only dugout available and set my detail to work getting comfortable. Several dough-boys are lying out in the field - No Man's Land. They never got there. I kind of wish somebody would remove them. We fired several barrages.

No Man's Land- Fey-en-Hey ……••.• Sept. 14, '18

We fired. several barrages today, but otherwise, made ourselves comfortable. Except for a little gas last night, I find this war quite comfortable. I would like to have a bath, tho, to remove some three weeks' crust.

Fey-en-Hey••.•••••.• Sept. 15, 1918

This is one of the most beautiful Sabbaths I have spent in France. We did not fire a shot. I went forward and saw several dead Boches. A Boche aviator calmly shot down three of our balloons directly in back of us. But I have seen several airplanes go down and know that some of them were

German, tho some were Allies, too. I received a fine letter from Rufus. I had to smile, tho, when she spoke of an excursion to the shore with two "poor sozer-men" and a dinner at Price's where the poor half-starved dears ate to their hearts' content. It was a splurge in honor of Mrs. Connolly's birthday. I only …ash those poor dears could eat some cold , canned Willie, go .thru teeming rain with soaking feet for four days - and in a drive, too - avec tres moutarde and just a bit of shell fragments.

Robert L Voorhees