Description:

JEWISH U.S. AMBULANCE DRIVER'S WORLD WAR I DIARY
War-date diary compiled by Maurice N. Ruskin of Medford, Mass., a member of the A.E.F. serving with the 103rd Ambulance Co. who arrived in France in October, 1917. The diary, about 90pp. of text, 8vo., opens on Sep. 15, 1917, as Ruskin and his comrades in Mass. Ambulance Co. 2 break camp near Boston en route for their departure port of Montreal. Ruskin's entries are all entirely legible and well-written with substantial detail. A Jew, Ruskin mentions asking his commanding officer for an accommodation for himself and his fellow Jews to celebrate Rosh Hashanah while aboard ship. They sail to Halifax and then on to Liverpool in convoy, all the while training for a possible hostile attack by sea, exercising, and attempting to overcome seasickness brought on by heavy seas. They arrived in Liverpool on Oct. 2, 1917 and in France three days later, settling in camp at Neufchateau. During this period, Ruskin drives his ambulance over 100 miles per day and works very long shifts delivering sick and diseased soldiers to a German-built hospital of 300 beds, attending medical lectures, exercising, and catching up on news: '...Saw one article where German soldiers going through a captured town had taken infants from mothers arms and nailed them to the doors...' His unit is sent to Vittel, closer to the front, where he encounters masses of French troops headed for the front, and German prisoners 'from 16 years to 40 years old. They all seem joyous in being prisoners. One of them remarked that the kaiser is no good...' They transport huge numbers of patients between hospitals, and are soon sent to 'St. Vol', near the Belgian border. Ruskin is afflicted with 'trench fever' and remains bedridden for days, receiving a transfusion and inoculations. Recovered, he rejoined his unit early in July near Chateau Thierry. He writes, in part: '...Marines have done their work...Many refuse to be sent to the rear for treatment...Many German prisoners and Germans also found chained to their machine guns...Germans are throwing over gas...air raid & bosh fired [at] balloon...500 gas cases came through in 20 hours...[July 16] La Ferte shelled, station blown up. 700 patients for chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas came through, mostly 101st Infantry. Seven bombardments by Allies...[July 20] much mustard gas being thrown over by enemy...[July 21] captured 40,000 prisoners, gained 15 miles...[Germans] even helped in litter bearing...' He notes that his hospital had cared for over 2,400 patients, the majority being gas victims or those suffering from exhaustion. They then joined the 33rd Division near Ligny to evacuate patients from the St. Mihail sector. He describes Allied victories, including an incredible account of a 14-year-old soldier capturing a German division (!), and mentions the rescue of 800 French refugees. On Sep. 15, he describes more combat, including an aerial battle, German bombing and artillery attacks on aero facilities, and a German machine gun attack on troops marching near his hospital. One dogfight, in particular, is described, taking place 1,000 yards from the hospital in which the German pilot is riddled with bullets and the observer had his head blown off. As the end of the war is days away, Ruskin is in Verdun and describes the various enemy powers surrendering, while at the same time describing ongoing attacks and the deaths of two of his old comrades. With the armistice in place, Ruskin sails for home, arriving in the U.S. on Dec. 17, 1918. He signs his last entry, noting: '...I have suffered many hardships and sicknesses, but it is through...sickness and sorrow that we learn to love...' Throughout the diary, Ruskin also had his fellow drivers, doctors, and others he met add their names and addresses. The back of the diary was used as a scrapbook of sorts, and includes train ticket stubs, receipts, passes, poems, anecdotes, etc. Included also are two photos of Ruskin, a postcard photo while in camp in El Paso, and a civilian portrait. Contents are very good, with only a few pages disbound, leather covers are poor, one detached.

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November 30, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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