Lot 732

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Description:

WORLD WAR I SOLDIER''S DIARY MENTIONS SHELLING, GASSING
Brief diary of American doughboy Henry M. Cross, Co. G, 334th Infantry, 84th Division. The diary is penned within a 1918 commercially printed "Army and Navy Diary" which also contains personal details, illustrations of insignia, French phrases, etc. There are only about 20 pages of terse entries, starting Aug. 21, 1918 and ending Apr. 16, 1919. In part: "...2nd largest & fastest ship, almost 10,000 aboard, aeroplane overhead..arrive in port 2 PM south Hampton...on Narraganset arrived Havre...on bar during night almost lost...left Havre...32 in box car 48 hours...43 in 20 ton box car...Arrived back of Verdun front...cannon firing heard...stood with packs seven hours...At front Oct. 14...shelled around us bad and balloons up...all timber shot off of hills, thousands of graves. Shelled us with gas Oct. 28 evening...About 20 Fritz planes went over today. Germans dropping propaganda...Gas shells each evening...Slept on floor under hammock of French marine...Gassed taking rations to kitchen...20 mile hike through Fleury...Peace news Nov. 11 at 11:30 AM Major etc. parades lockstep in honor of the occasion..." The balance of Cross'' diary concerns bad weather, marches, billets, etc. Overall very good.

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December 19, 2017 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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