Background: In September of 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, enlisted in the United States Army. He was in the 20th Engineers whose primary purpose was to mill lumber and build the wooden structures needed by the soldiers. In November he sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship. He is assigned to the headquarters unit of Company A and is based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.
From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson
Sunday June 16, 1918 – Rain all day. Doing nothing but reading papers and magazines. Aeroplanes still here. One will have to be shipped.
Monday June 17– Helped load aeroplane on truck today to be shipped to Pau. Both planes were loaded on cars.
Tuesday June 18– Four aeroplanes flew over today. One did several stunts for us -it seemed- directly over our heads. Working on maps
Wednesday June 19– Tom left today for England with three other fellows. All are to work in Excelsior factory. May return later but probably will remain in that country.
Thursday June 20– My brother’s birthday. Here’s to him. I wish him many more happy birthdays and trust that we may spend them together.
Friday June 21– We are building hospital now. Have a good force and hope to get it up soon.
Saturday June 22– Have a new job for a few days. “Mailman” while Kraft is away. This in connection with hospital keeps me busy.
Aeroplanes
June 15th, 1918 Poppa wrote in his journal: “Two aeroplanes flew over today one having engine trouble both landed. One did not have room to land, running into hedge, overturning and smashing machine badly. No one hurt badly, one slightly.”
This week he wrote that he helped load the planes onto “cars” for a trip to Pau which is about 60 miles southeast of Dax, where they landed. Presumably the planes were transferred by rail. Pau was the site of an aviator training center.
“June 15, 1918 : Two airplanes from Pau attempt landing near les Arènes [the bull ring]. One monoplane successful but biplane crashes a small ditch and noses over. Aviator slightly bruised and shocked.”
The physician mentions that there were 2 different types of planes. The first planes such as the ones invented by the Wright brothers were biplanes which had one wing above another. However, by 1918 monoplanes were coming into more common use as they could fly faster than biplanes.
Excelsior Motorcycles
Wednesday June 19– Tom left today for England with three other fellows. All are to work in Excelsior factory. May return later but probably will remain in that country.
During World War I The Excelsior company had a contract to make motorcycles for the U.S. army. Apparently four soldiers from Poppa’s unit were transferred to work at the factory. Did the production of motorcycles in England take precedence over milling lumber in France in 1918?
Hugh Clancy Jamieson
Thursday June 20– My brother’s birthday. Here’s to him. I wish him many more happy birthdays and trust that we may spend them together.
Poppa was thinking of his older brother Hugh Clancy Jamieson on what was his 30th birthday. “Uncle Clancy”, as we knew him, was also in the army in 1918. It appears that he served in the states as the only address for his brother in his journal is Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois . An article published in the (Madison) Wisconsin State Journal on Oct 15, 1917 indicated that “the Madison Boys in Company I want a Victrola to pass the time…” According to the article the Victrola should be sent to Uncle Clancy at Camp Grant.
Next Week: The Newspapers are Very Encouraging
Sources:
Surgeon’s Diary, Michel Boquet
McGrath, Bob, et al. “100 Years Ago Excelsior in 1918.” The Vintagent, 14 Mar. 2018, thevintagent.com/2018/03/14/100-years-ago-excelsiors-in-1918/. Accessed 16 June 2018.