Lot 1115

Previous image preload Next image preload

Description:

WORLD WAR I ARCHIVE OF TELEGRAPHER CPL. HORACE B. WELK
A very large archive of letters, documents, uniform article, souvenirs, flags, and other items belonging to Cpl. Horace B. Welk of Co. D., 406th Telegraph Battalion who served in France from September, 1917 until mid-1919. The battalion was engaged in laying telegraph and telephone lines under heavy fire in some of the fiercest battles of the war, including Chateau Thierry, in the Champagne-Marne region, at Toul, St, St. Mihiel, Verdun, the Meuse, and the Argonne offensive. Welk enlisted on July 13, 1917 and shipped-out on the transport ANTILLES on Aug. 7. Most notable in the collections is Welk's diary and four pages of handwritten notes which he commenced while actually on the troop ship bound for France, writing on the verso of sheets of morale-building song lyrics. The vessel, along with several other troop transports, is escorted by two torpedo destroyers and a cruiser. His battle experience commences almost immediately when, only hours from arrival, the convoy is attacked by U-boats. In part: "...bugle sounded for all men to come on deck and ready to abandon ship...about 7 or 8 submarines had surrounded us. One of the destroyers sighted them first and he wheeled and fired a shot...shots and guns firing all around...all the transports scattering all directions......two aeroplanes could be seen coming from the direction of France...we could see the whole machine [airplane] and the men in it, who waved...when they saw one, the destroyers would go for the sub...One of the subs was bold enough to raise and sent a torpedo right for the transport that I...was on, and also the ammunition [ammunition was stored on Welk's vessel]...I suppose they knew we had the ammunition...The transport I was on shot at one with one of her big 6" guns...it is claimed he hit the mark...about 4 submarines were sunk...about 200 shots were fired, one mine dropped from an airplane...". Welk's bound diary starts on Aug. 22, 1917 and continues until Nov. 12, 1918 when the armistice was signed. His entries are sporadic, often written some time after the events due to his intense efforts at the front. Entries prior to Nov. 14, 1917 are in pencil, the first few pages heavily rubbed and some unreadable, yet overall the content is superb. In part: "...there are a number of German prisoners in camp, all doing laboring work. They are all behaving very well...we were told about spy system and told not to write any letters or keep diaries...our tents have been painted the color of trees...the gun fired at Verdun is terrible at times...the sky is illuminated nearly every night...we get used to hearing the rolling thunder of heavy guns...walking my post, responsible for 104 men...I have a club about 12 inches long...if ever it lands on any German spy will scatter his brains all over France...French troops, thousands, have been passing in a continual stream., back towards rear...I got a tiny can, punched holes in it and made a fire...I must destroy this book if I ever get captured by a German...we arrived in Neuchateau...in wooden barracks...the rain came through the roof like a sieve...the transport we came on was sunk October 17 1917 by a torpedo [with] prisoners of war...a big zeppelin was brought down 25 miles from us. There was two of the big zeps hovering over our men...brought down...by artillery and flying machines...twelve of our men were captured by the Germans...several times I had to run the wire in darkness...I saw the first French airplane drop. There were eight planes flying over our heads as we watched the maneuver about one was seen to give a puff of smoke and come down very quickly, dropping about 1/4 mile from our barracks smashing the motor & plane...they had just returned from raiding German positions...our men went over the top on March 1st at 4 AM. There were about 40 killed and scores wounded...There is a German airplane coming over now & I must put light out...heavy bombardment 1 mile from us...air bombs all around us...completely demolished R.R. station...1,000 German prisoners passed us, didn't eat for 3 days walked over 15 miles. So tired looking would drop...enemy shelled the town all afternoon and evening...bombardment all night...men in trenches, some in caves...killed artillery man head & legs off...we gave 6 to their 1...still going 6,000 prisoners - French 5,000 prisoners...reached town just vacated by Germans..burying dead when I arrived...string lines all over town to front...I saw a German plane brought down in P.M. after trying to get an observ. balloon. Observ. jumped out of balloon - parachute...up the line going through shells, gas and terrible scenery...blood all over & ruins...men gathered iron beds from all over...a number of German iron hospital cots which they found in a church which was in ruins...church was covered with bloody mattresses...bombed by German airplanes, 3 killed, many wounded...10,000 German prisoners...drive in the Argonne started...sent detachments of line gangs to make the advance...to put a line through on poles...climbed the poles in front of where the French observers were crawling with periscopes...French artillery was pounding away in back of them and the shells were clearing the poles by only 2 feet...Americans killed and lying all over the field. Some with heads blown off, legs off, legs crushed, mangled, etc...75 Americans dead, every 10 feet and only 2 dead Germans in a machine gun nest...we were told by the tele. opr. on phone that the armistice was signed...we had a piano that the Bosch stole, in the stable of our billet and we made it hum. Imagine a piano in no-man's land...". Also included are over 85 A.L.S.'s and twenty postcards, all written by Welk to his girlfriend Ethel Nash in Philadelphia, the vast majority war-date with covers, nearly all censored. As a telegrapher, Welk knew the restrictions on what he could write, so the content is mundane, mostly professing his love, speaking of sending money home, and so on. He does mention the armistice, and once peace is made, a few letters describe some of the horrors he had seen in battle. Welk also mentions souvenirs he has sent home, some of which are also included in this lot. Among the personal items and souvenirs belonging to Welk is: his green wool cap, four semaphore flags, leather leggings, leather dispatch case, leather strap, two with wooden handles, Welk's pay book, buttons from his uniform, his shat cord, a signal mirror, brass rifle casings and bullets, .45 caliber shell casings, two pieces of shrapnel, a shell (disarmed) painted with semaphore flags and sent home to Ethel, train tickets, toilet paper (!), a jerry-rigged cloth mailing envelope, with stamps, three French postcard photo books, a captured German map and postcard he re-used and sent to Ethel, a photo of Welk in uniform, various passes, General Orders, congratulatory telegrams, a few reports, correspondence. etc., a 1921 hardbound history of the 406th, and Welk's copy of his 46th Reunion Program of the 406th, June 17, 1963! An outstand archive of material, untouched, and in overall fine condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipment is sent priority or equivalent by courier, signature required, unless otherwise instructed. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice.

May 14, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 21.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 + $1,000