100 Years Ago This Week: Broadway on a 24 Hour Pass

Background:   My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, had been stationed in France during WWI with the 20th Engineers.  They have just sailed back to America aboard the USS Roanoke and are now stationed at Camp Upton, Long Island, New York awaiting discharge from the army.  Here are the journal entries he wrote one hundred years ago this week.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday April 20,  1919 – Spent Easter Sunday very quietly.  Reading, writing letters, visiting pie and ice cream parlors, etc.  Saw Jane Cowl in “The Crowded Hour” at Liberty Theater tonight. Have a good camp.  Better than any place I have been in yet but am anxious to get away. Big detail from companies today for Easter.  A fine way to treat A.E.F. troops of 17 months service.

Monday April 21– Going to New York this evening.  Marshall, Shorty and myself on 24 hour pass. Later:- Arrived at Penn Station about 7:30.  Went to Knickerbocker theatre seeing “Listen Lester”. Awfully good show. Afterward saw Broadway at midnight with great white way.  Stayed at York Hotel for the night.

Tuesday April 22– By means of Salvation Army sight seeing bus which we accidentally stumbled onto saw Wall Street, Stock exchange, Millionaire Row, Fifth Avenue and many interesting and important centers of New York.  Got back to camp about eight o’clock.

Wednesday April 23 – Very warm day.  Just “hung around” barracks today reading, writing and resting.  Went to vaudeville show at Liberty Theater. Wish some mail would come for me.  Bought a liberty bond from Joe.

Thursday April 24 – N.Y boys were transferred today to Camp Upton to be discharged soon.  Three letters received today. Two from Marion, one from home. Awfully glad to get all of them, long time since I have heard from them.  Went to “The Kiss Burglar” but were so far in theatre that we couldn’t hear so left.

Friday April 25 – Four detachments, ones from Camps Bliss, Meade Taylor and Pike are to leave tomorrow.  Gosney Stratton and Christensen go with them. Smull was mustered out this a.m.

Saturday April 26 – The four detachments left today.  Also ones for Camp Dix and Devans (?). Most of others including Grant received orders today to leave next Wednesday.  Went to show tonight but was pas-bon.


Camp Upton

The Liberty Theatre. Camp Upton. Long Island New York. Circa 1917

Poppa and other soldiers are temporarily stationed at Fort Upton in Long Island, New York.  They have little work to do as they wait to be discharged from the army.   Poppa took in some culture as he toured New York City and saw three Broadway plays.

“The Crowded Hour”, with Jane Cowl was on Broadway for 139 performances before closing in March of 1919.  Apparently the play was then performed for soldiers at the Liberty Theatre which was on the grounds of Camp Upton .  Jane Cowl (1883-1950) starred in over 30 plays between 1904 and 1947.  She also wrote some plays and appeared in 6 films.

Jane Cowl Circa 1915.

The next day Poppa and two of his friends got passes to leave the camp and went to New York City for 24 hours.  While there they enjoyed  the musical “Listen Lester” at the Knickerbocker Theater on Broadway.

This picture of Broadway from December of 1918 shows the Knickerbocker theater advertising “Listen Lester”: the musical that Poppa saw there will touring New York City

By Thursday Poppa had returned from their busy sight seeing tour of New York City and that night attended the musical “The Kiss Burglar” at the Liberty Theatre.  This play had recently completed a run of 100 performances on Broadway.  Poppa was disappointed because they sat so far back in the Liberty Theatre that could not hear well.

During the week Camp Upton was the site of much activity.  Soldiers from New York were arriving at Camp Upton to be discharged while detachments from other states were leaving for their home bases to be “mustered out”.

As the week ends soldiers from the midwest have just received orders to prepare for the next leg of their journey home.  They expect to leave for Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois the following Wednesday.

Next Week: Tomorrow, on my 28th birthday, I will start life again as a civilian in God’s own country!

Sources:

“Camp Upton.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Upton. Accessed 19 Apr. 2019.

“Jane Cowl.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Feb. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Cowl. Accessed 19 Apr. 2019.

100 Years Ago This Week: Each Company Gets a Victrola

Background: In September of 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the United States Army.  He was a private in the 20th Engineers whose primary purpose was to mill lumber and build the wooden structures needed by the soldiers. After training at Camp American University  he sailed in November to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  He is assigned to the headquarters unit of Company A and is now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.


From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Feb 24, 1918– Field meet tonight.  Nearly  5000 people saw Co. A win the meet.  It reminds me of meets in the U.S.A.  Hdq won second in relay race. Supper at White Horse.

Monday Feb 25– Drew plan of garage and machine shop today.  Minstrel (?) show practice tonight.

Tuesday Feb 26– Mrs. Hartwick(?) has given a Victrola  to each company and one to hdq.  Ours was handed over to us tonight.

Wednesday Feb 27– Received a package of candy from Marion today.  I was wishing for some when it came.  Some candy too.

Thursday Feb 28– This is my father’s birthday.  Good luck to you dad and lets hope that your next birthday we will spend together.

Friday March 1– Joe and I claim the billiard championship.

Saturday March 2 – Shorty and Brundage with men from companies go after trucks and automobiles. Rainy season is on now with snow today.  


The White Horse Restaurant

Sunday Feb 24, 1918– “Supper at White Horse.”  

It appears that the White Horse ( Cheval Blanc in French) was a popular place for Poppa and his buddies to have dinner as he mentions it frequently in his journal entries.

A circa early 1900s picture of the White Horse restaurant in Dax, France.

Victrolas

Tuesday Feb 26– “Mrs. Hartwick (?) has given a Victrola  to each company and one to hdq.  Ours was handed over to us tonight. “

A pre-1920 model Victrola

Thomas Edison invented the Phonograph in 1877.  Victrola was a brand of phonograph manufactured by the Victor Talking Machine Company.  By 1915 many average Americans could afford to have one in their homes.

Sometimes Poppa’s handwriting isn’t legible.  It’s not clear in his journal who was making the Victrola’s available to the soldiers but it appears to be Mrs. Hartwick.  Edward E. Hartwick was Poppa’s commanding officer so maybe his wife provided the phonographs?   I have uploaded a picture of the journal page here.  Can you decipher the name?

In 1915, after a year of war in Europe, the phonograph was pressed into military service.   They could be used to provide entertainment for soldiers.  Apparently they were also used as an instructional tool.

 

Poppa’s older brother Hugh Clancy Jamieson (Great-Uncle Clancy) was also in the army in 1917.  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.

October 15, 1917 article from Wisconsin State Journal Journal
Camp Grant, Rockford Il, Early 20th century

Thursday Feb 28– “This is my father’s birthday.  Good luck to you dad and lets hope that your next birthday we will spend together.” 

Poppa’s father was Addison Jackson Jamieson (28 feb 1858- 22 April 1943). 

Addison Jackson Jamieson in undated photo

According to the “History of Columbia County Wisconsin” Addison’s older brother (Poppa’s uncle) Hugh Pierce Jamieson was said to be  “the first white chid born in Columbia County WI” in 1852.  HP also served in the Wisconsin State assembly in 1893.  Note that Poppa’s grandparents gave their sons middle names after US presidents that they liked.  

Poppa’s parents Eliza Duff Jamieson and Addison Jackson Jamieson circa 1921.

 

Saturday March 2 – “Shorty and Brundage with men from companies go after trucks and automobiles.”

Poppa mentions Shorty and Brundage frequently in in his journal.  It appears that they were friends.  Shorty is obviously a nickname for an unknown soldier.  In his address book Poppa wrote “M.R. Brundage, Sonora, California”.

Thanks to Michel Boquet for finding this picture of M.R. Brundage

Next Week:  A Lecture on “German Kultur”

Sources:

Schlenoff, Dan. “The Phonograph Goes to War, 1915.” Scientific American Blog Network. N.p., 06 Nov. 2015. Web. 21 Feb. 2018.

“The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, Containing an Account of Its Settlement … Its War Record, Biographical Sketches … the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, Statistics of the State, and an Abstract of Its Laws and Constitution and of the Constitution of the United States.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2018

100 Year ago this week: A Visit from General Scott

Background:  In September of 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the United States Army.  He was a private 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 now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Feb 17– A day of rest- the only thing of excitement was a football game which was not much good.

Monday Feb 18– General Scott visited our camp today.  As far as mess is concerned I would be fine to have a general visit camp everyday.

Tuesday Feb 19– I walked many miles around Mees today trying to locate route for telephone line.  Letter dated Jan 28 from Marion today.

Wednesday Feb 20 – Went to Casino today and saw a French show.  This show would hardly go in U.S. from a moral stand point.

Thursday Feb 21– Slightly indisposed today.  I do not feel like writing.

Friday Feb 22– Much better today.  One more letter today dated Jan. from Tampa.  One from home dated Jan 22.

Saturday Feb 23– Out to Co. A today.  10th engineers beat 20th today 1 to 0 at baseball.  14 innings.  Two bands with regular music from U.S.A.  Bands at casino tonight.


Monday Feb 18General Scott visited our camp today”.  General Hugh L. Scott had a long history of service by the time WWI started.  After graduation from West Point he joined the US calvary and server in the western US.  Early in his military career he was assigned to go to the Little Big Horn battle site to mark the graves of General Custer’s soldiers and was assigned the same living quarters most recently used by the Custers. 

General Hugh L. Scott

General Hugh L. Scott

He served as interim Secretary of War in 1916 and helped prepare the country for possible involvement in World War I.  He officially retired from the army in 1917 but He was recalled to active duty to tour the battlefields of Europe and to command the 78th Division at Fort Dix in 1918. He retired again in 1919.  Apparently between visiting battlefields he also looked in on the 20th engineers in Dax, France.

A less formal picture of General Scott

Wednesday Feb 20 – “Went to Casino today and saw a French show”

The uncertainty of war and what the future had in store made escapist entertainments such as the theatre popular in France during the war.   Nostalgic farces and outdated comedies showing the “good old times”  were popular. The gap between the reality of warfare and the world of make-believe on stage made the theatre attractive for new audiences such as working women as well as soldiers on leave and war refugees.  With the shortage of necessities such as fuel the theatre also offered a way to gather and to warm up again in winter.

Thursday Feb 21– “Slightly indisposed today.”  Did Poppa feel “indisposed” because he went to the casino the previous day?  Maybe he had one too many to drink during the show?

This 1917 image depicts a French soldier saluting a barrel of “father Pinard,” the wine issued to French soldiers throughout the war.

The relationship of American soldiers and Marines to alcohol on the Western Front was different than that of their allies from France, and  Britian. Unlike the French and British armies, the men of the American Expeditionary Forces were not issued alcohol in the trenches. This would have made for bad press considering that there was a  powerful temperance movement on the home front. Prohibition was about to start back in the states.  Behind the lines, YMCA camps offered “wholesome” entertainment for American troops free from alcohol and other vices. However, the temperance movement and YMCA ultimately failed to prevent American troops from consuming alcohol during the war.

“This show would hardly go in U.S. from a moral stand point.”-  Apparently Poppa is making an observation that French entertainment was more risque  than what he was accustomed to in America.

Saturday Feb 23- “10th engineers beat 20th today 1 to 0 at baseball.  14 innings.”  

The baseball team of the 20th Engineers second battalion, Company F.  Note the goat in the front row. Maybe their mascot?

Next Week:  Each Company Gets a Victrola

Sources:

“Hugh L. Scott.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Feb. 2018. Web. 11 Feb. 2018.

“Staging War. Theatre 1914-1918.” New Articles RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2018.

ohnson, Nicholas K. “World War I, Part 3: The American Expeditionary Forces and Prohibition.” Points: The Blog of the Alcohol & Drugs History Society. N.p., 19 June 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2018.

Johnson, Nicholas K. “World War I, Part 1: The French Army and Wine.” Points: The Blog of the Alcohol & Drugs History Society. N.p., 28 May 2014. Web. 15 Feb. 2018.

100 Years ago this Week: John and Shorty Cannot Play Billiards

Background:  In September of 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the United States Army.  He is a private 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 now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Feb 10, 1918 – Rather of a quiet day.  Took bath and a walk this A.M.  Going to civilization tonight.

Monday Feb 11– Out to Co. A after telephone poles.  The mornings are very foggy clearing up about noon.

Tuesday Feb 12– To Co. C today after more poles.  Received more letters today from home.  This is a holiday in France Mardigras.

Wednesday Feb 13– Not much to do today.  Bought some things to send back to the states today.  Two handkerchiefs and a collar of (?) patterns.

Thursday Feb 14Nothing in particular today except that John and Shorty cannot play billiards.

Friday Feb 15– All drove to Co C’s YMCA tonight in Joe’s truck and heard a very interesting lecture on why we are at war by Dr. Shanklin Pres of Weslyan University.

Saturday Feb 16 – Made several blueprints today.  The weather is very fine except foggy and damp during nights and nearly all A.M.s


Feb 10, 1918– Poppa mentioned getting a bath.  In a previous journal entry he wrote that he often had a bath on Saturdays.  Apparently he decided on a Sunday morning bath because he was “Going to civilization tonight”. The city of Dax, France where he was stationed had been famous since roman times for it’s hot springs.  Here is a picture from the early 20th century of the Dax baths:

The caption translated from French: Establishment of Saline Baths

Here is an aerial view of Dax, France taken in the 1960s that shows some of the locations that Poppa referred to in his journal:

Thank you very much to Michel Boquet for creating this picture and allowing me to use it!

Poppa lived and worked in and around the bull ring.  Presumably he got his baths at the Casino and Baths building.  He mentioned often that he and his buddies liked to go to dinner at the ‘White Horse’ Restaurant (‘Cheval Blanc’ in French).

February 12– “This is a holiday in France Mardi gras.  Mardi Gras is traditionally the last day Christians could eat fatty foods before spending 40 days of prayer and meat abstinence, until Easter. The day announces the beginning of Lent. The Nice Carnival in France is one of the world’s largest Mardi Gras celebrations. The earliest records establish its existence in 1294. This may make the Nice Carnival the original carnival celebration. Today the event attracts over a million visitors to Nice every year. The Carnival celebrations in Nice span a two-week period.

Feb 14– Poppa mentioned that “John and Shorty cannot play billiards”.  I have found pictures and addresses for some of his soldier colleagues but I don’t yet know anything about  the identities of John and Shorty.  

A Google search found this picture of a WWI soldier playing billiards who had lost both of his legs in the war.

February 15– “All drove to Co C’s YMCA tonight in Joe’s truck and heard a very interesting lecture on why we are at war by Dr. Shanklin Pres of Weslyan University”.

William A. Shanklin

William A. Shanklin was the president of Wesleyan University of Middleton, Connecticut from 1909-1923. He served with the YMCA in France with the American Expeditionary Forces from January to June 1918.

The Mill at Candale

Company C of the 20th engineers were stationed at the saw mill in Candale, which is 10.5 miles from Dax.

Next Week: A visit from General Scott

Sources:

“Mardi Gras.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Jan. 2018. Web. 04 Feb. 2018.

“Wesleyan’s Ninth President.” William A. Shanklin, Office of the President – Wesleyan University. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2018.

“Mardi Gras in France.” Living Language. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2018.

 

100 Years ago This Week: Thirty Cents for a Bath!

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the United States Army.  He was in the forestry unit of the 20th Engineers whose primary purpose was to mill lumber and build the wooden structures needed by the soldiers. In November, 1917 he sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  He is assigned to the headquarters unit of Company A and is now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Jan 27, 1918– A morning walk, writing letters, attending football game, and a good supper and pleasant evening at White Horse.

Monday Jan 28– This is a city of about 20,000 people.  I think they are getting more cordial to US soldiers.

Tuesday Jan 29Some mail at last.  One letter and book from Marion.  1 letter from Will Mair.  Was mighty glad to get them.

Wednesday Jan 30 – Spent day waiting for gravel in sunshine sitting on stone wall reading and writing very warm in sun

Thursday Jan 31– The last day in this book.  Never before have I spent as warm as January.  If I had been home I might have been playing in the “International” this week.

Friday Feb 1 (New Book)-The new book and new month started well for me the mail bringing a long waited for letter from Tampa and one from Loretta and a package from home.

Saturday Feb 2– Every Saturday (at least) I get a hot water bath at the bath house.  The bains Publick and “Bains Salins” 30 cents.  Plenty of hot water and towels.  

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Note:  I have added another page to this blog.  It contains pictures from posts cards that I found with Poppa’s journal.  Although most are not identified they likely show the work of the forestry unit in France during WWI.

I Just found this picture online of Forestry Headquarters in “the only bull ring in France”.  Since Poppa was assigned to a forestry unit headquarters in a bull ring this must be his camp.  It’s interesting to think about how the internet has changed things.  When Poppa died in 1981 there was no internet.  I now have access to pictures and information about his experience in France that he probably didn’t even know existed.

According to the Military Archive this is: Headquarters Forestry Department in the only bull ring in France. Camp Cannondale, Bordeaux, France. Aug. 27, 1918. Thank you to Michel Boquet for finding this picture.
Outside view of Dax bull ring. Taken about the time it was built in 1913.

Sunday, January 27, 1918– Poppa mentioned several times in his journal that he had supper and/or a pleasant evening at the White Horse.

The Cheval Blanc (White Horse) restaurant. Date of picture unknown. Thank you to Michel Boquet for the picture

Thursday, January 31–  With Ancestors from Scotland the Jamiesons have been participating in the sport of curling for many years.   Poppa indicated that if he had been home he might be “playing in the International this week”.  I remember him telling about how he and his curling teammates would ride on the train to distant competitions.  These days curling stones are always provided by the club hosting the event.  However, Poppa curled in a time when curlers brought their own stones to a competition.  Imagine having 2 forty pound stones and a broom in your luggage when traveling on a train!  The Duluth Curling Club has  an event they call the “International Bonspiel”.  This picture was likely taken in January of 1917,  8 months before Poppa joined the U.S. army.

Poppa and his teammates pose for a team picture at the Duluth Northwest Bonspiel in 1917. Thanks to Terry Thompson of the Poynette Area Historical Society and the Poynette Curling Club for this picture.

Friday, February 1–  Poppa indicated that he was starting a new book. He is referring to the fact that he started writing in a new journal.  Prior to this date he made an entry for every day in a pocket size calendar which was intended for use in 1913.  One mystery is why he chose to use this for his 1917 entries.  When I first discovered the journals if was confusing.  What I eventually determined was that he started his journal 3/4 of the way into the 1913 calendar when he enlisted on September 24th, 1917.  On January 1st, 1918 he began making his entries at the beginning of the same book.  These pages were blank since he had only written in the Sept- Dec. section.  On February 1st of 1918 he switched to a new book.  All of his journals seem to be in very good shape considering he lived in tents in France through all types of weather.  I wonder if he mailed home the 1917 journal (labeled 1913 on the cover) when he switched to his new book for 1918?

Poppa’s 1917 and 1918 journals. Why did he use a pocket calendar intended for 1913 for 1917 and the first month of 1918?

Also on February 1st he received a “long waited for letter from Tampa”.  In a previous entry I noted that he had started courting Marion Clarkson Brown, who would become by grandmother.  The Brown family was from St. Louis, Missouri but apparently also had a home in Florida.  In the beginning pages of his new book he has 2 addresses for Marion, one in the St Louis area and one in Tampa Florida.  Here is a Google Maps picture of current day 2207 1/2 Ola Avenue, Tampa Florida.

2207 Ola Avenue, Tampa Florida

Saturday, February 2– Poppa indicated that at least every Saturday he gets a bath.  The Town of Dax, France where he was stationed had been known for it’s hot springs since ancient times.  Apparently Poppa took advantage of this feature of his temporary home.  ‘Bains Publick” translates to public baths.  “Bains Salins” means saline baths.  Apparently he thought a 30 cent bath was a good deal!

Next Week:  A German sub sinks the Tuscania

 

Sources: 

National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, catalog.archives.gov/search?q=111-SC-23269. Accessed 25 Jan. 2018.

? “Sud-Ouest Généalogie.” Dax – Carte Photo – Restaurant Du Cheval Blanc Et Imprimerie Jean Mauriet, www.so-genealogie.fr/photo-ancienne/40/dax/restaurant-cheval-blanc-et-imprimerie-jean-mauriet/1465.html. Accessed 25 Jan. 2018.

100 Years Ago this Week: Some Think We Have No Business Here

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the United States Army.  He was assigned to 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 now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Jan 13, 1918– Blue rainy day.  I marked much this A.M. and wrote letters in the P.M.  Took ride with Brundage to Co. C in the evening.  

Monday Jan 14– Made some blue prints today.  Rainy spells, usually at night are very frequent, rainy season on.

Tuesday Jan 15– Started table survey today for telephone line.  Very interesting and enjoyable work.

Wednesday Jan 16– Walked about 10 mi. In country on survey.  Picked some wild flowers marguerites  Different from Wis

Thursday Jan 17– We are having beautiful weather.  About the same as Wisconsin May weather.  This used to be a winter resort.

Friday Jan 18– A small dog arrived in camp today. Very thin and Skinny.  Resembling a dog.

Saturday Jan 19– Some of the French people are very cordial and welcome us here.  Others think we have no business here.


I appreciate everyone who reads my blog.  Writing this has been an interesting adventure for me. I learn many things every week simply by researching topics mentioned 100 years ago by my grandfather.  This week is a good example.  I never knew the role that the telephone technology played in the ‘Great War’ and I certainly had never heard of the ‘Hello Girls’.  Thanks for sticking with me! 

Tuesday, January 15– Started table survey today for telephone line.

WWI era soldier using plane table to conduct survey.

Telephone use by the armies of the world was quite common by the start of the first world war.  Radio was not practical for military use because it still used morse code, was heavy and hard to move and could easily be intercepted by the enemy.  Telephones were relatively light, dependable and wires could be strung near battlefields relatively easily.  Although America’s civilian phone system was more advanced than some other countries the system was not yet mechanized and depended on human operators sitting at switches to route calls.  Shortly before the United States declared war in 1917 the army realized that it need telephone operators quickly.  It was especially short of operators who were bilingual.  At the time AT&T officials reported that they believed women were better suited to be operators than men because they could handle the stress better. They reported that in the time it took a man to handle one call an experienced woman operator could handle 5 calls.

So, when General Pershing asked for help in setting up a telephone system for military use in France AT&T strongly suggested that it be run by female operators. Desperately behind in setting up communications at the front General Pershing agreed.  Once word got out thousands of American women applied for a few hundred operator jobs.  Some spoke French well but had little or no operator experience.  Others were experienced operators who may have embellished their ability to speak French.  At any rate, telephone operators were hired, assigned to the Signal Corps,  and sent to France even before a contact for their services could be devised by the military.  The army had never allowed females to enlist and had no women outside of clerical positions (Except nurses who technically weren’t in the army even though they worked within range of enemy fire). So the women operators, who were required to  military-like uniforms and worked for the U.S. army near battlefield conditions were not considered members of the army.  (They, like nurses, were paid less than men).  Officially classified as operators the women called themselves the “Hello Girls”.

According to the book “Hello Girls” by Elizabeth Cobbs (2017) during World War I the US Army sent 223 women to France to serve as telephone operators.  They were the masters of the latest technology of the times- the telephone switch board.

The caption says “The women of the Signal Corps prepare to depart for the war”.
The caption says “Women of the Signal Corps run General Pershing’s switchboard at the First Army Headquarters”. Note the helmets (and maybe gas masks) hanging on the chairs.

The U.S. ultimately ran an entirely new telephone system throughout France that would allow operators to talk with English-speaking operators. But when they first got there they were interacting with French lines and French women. These were generals and operators who had to communicate across lines with their counterpart in other cultures. An American officer might not speak French, and a French officer might not speak English, so the women also acted as simultaneous translation. They were not only constantly fielding simultaneous calls, they were translating, too. It was this extremely high-paced operation that involved a variety of tasks. They were sweeping the boards, translating, even doing things like giving the time. (Smithsonian.com)

It’s possible that the war would not have been won without the hello girls and other women who took on many of the tasks at home that men left behind when they went to war.  Their work also likely helped women earn the right to vote in 1919.

Monday January 16– Marquerite is the French name for the oxeye daisy.   By the way, the iris, or Fleur-de-lis is the national flower of France.

Poppa said that the flowers he picked were different than Wisconsin daisies but this picture of the French Marguerite looks exactly like daisies I have seen all over Wisconsin.

Saturday January 19, 1918Some of the French people are very cordial and welcome us here.  Others think we have no business here.

We don’t know the context of that reference but I’m sure that having soldiers take up residence in your previously quiet town could upset some of the residents.  In general however, the arrival of the fresh American soldiers in 1917 had an amazing effect on French morale.  The French were very happy and hopeful when Americas finally decided to join the war on their side and send soldiers to fight along side them. After years of devastating war and it’s associated hardships the French were hopeful that the tide would change in their favor with the help of the Americans.

The men who went to France were part of the  American Expeditonary Forces (AEF) under the command of General John J. Pershing.

General John J. Pershing

January 18th, 1918–  Poppa joined the US Army and the 20th Engineers in September or 1917.  Four months later the army advertised that it was still looking for men with lumber related skills.  Here is an article from the New York Lumber Trade Journal from this date.

Next Week: Working on the Roads and Missing Reveille

Sources:

Boissoneault, Lorraine. “Women On the Frontlines of WWI Came to Operate Telephones.” Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 04 Apr. 2017. Web. 06 Jan. 2018.

“American Expeditionary Forces.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Dec. 2017. Web. 05 Jan. 2018.

Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2018.

 

100 Years ago This Week: President Wilson’s Conditions of Peace

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the 20th Engineers regiment of the United States Army.  In November he sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  They are now based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.


From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Jan 6, 1918 – Attended football game today, much different than U.S. games.  Went to casino, pictures show also.

Monday Jan 7– It’s very easy to do our laundry with plenty of hot water.  Women will do it very cheaply for me.

Tuesday Jan 8– Have been working for the last week with ‘Shorty” on posting books in the supply room.

Wednesday Jan 9– On clear days we can see Pyrenees Mountains about 35 miles distant.  Very pretty sight.

Thursday Jan 10– Mail today.  Five letters from home, all of them six weeks old.  Mail service is not very good.

Friday Jan 11– Hope to get through of this job in supply room soon, book work is rotten.

Saturday Jan 12– Every Sat at 1 p.m. we have inspection.  Did some tracing today  Better job.  Fine feed tonight.


 

A contemporary view of the Pyrenees Mountains

Jan 9, 1918– Poppa mentions that he could see the Pyrenees Mountains.   A blog describes them this way: The Pyrenees are a magnificent mountain range in the southwest of France that form a natural border between Spain in France.  These mountains span over 300 miles and reach heights over 11,000 ft. 

This  travel site has a more detailed description of the mountains.

January 8th, 1918-Back in the USA on  President Wilson gave a speech to a joint session of Congress on ‘Conditions of Peace’.

Major Edward E. Hartwick was Poppa’s commanding officer.  His biography by Gordon K. Miller contained the text of a letter Hartwick wrote to his family in January of 1918.  Here is what he said about President Wilson’s speech:

Yesterday the French on the train were all enthusiastic over Mr Wilson’s address to our Congress, wherein he enumerated the fourteen conditions for peace.  Of course, the condition calling for the return of Alsace and Lorraine pleases them- and also the reference to Belgium.  Quite often I am asked by them:  “How long do you the war will last?”  and “How many soldiers will America have over here this spring?” and they are disappointed when I shrug my shoulders and answer “Je ne sais pas” [I do not know].   It is a gigantic job and we are preparing it on a huge scale.  At a supply camp that is now built where I was yesterday the main side track is eight miles long and we are building a huge ice plant there, etc.  My hands are so cold I can hardly write- no heat in this room – I must get ready for the train.\

President Woodrow Wilson Addresses Congress in 1916.

Next Week: Some Think we Have No Business Here

Sources:

“Why You Should Visit the Pyrenees in France.” RoarLoud. N.p., 13 May 2017. Web. 27 Dec. 2017.
“The Pyrenees Mountain Range Divides France and Spain.” TripSavvy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Dec. 2017.
Bethune, Brian. “How 1916 Set the Stage for America to Enter WWI.” Macleans.ca. N.p., 22 Nov. 2016. Web. 27 Dec. 2017.
“A Biographical Sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2017.

 

100 Years ago this Week: Starting the New Year in France

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the 20th Engineers regiment of the United States Army.  In November they sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  After spending some time at a camp outside St. Nazaire they observed Christmas at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France.


From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Dec 30, 1917– First Sunday in sometime.  Made a few blue-prints.  Balance of day rest.  Mail today 2 packages, and papers.  No letters.

Monday Dec 31– New Years Eve Party.  Supper for 10 of six courses.  Great feed. Later  joined by Canadian and French solider.  Hope to be in USA in 1919.

Tuesday Jan 1, 1918– Some of the boys had bad hangovers today.  Snowing all day but weather is not cold.

Wednesday Jan 2– We are told this is the worst cold spell Dax has ever seen.  3 Christmas packages today.

Thursday Jan 3– Packages came from 1-home 1 Aunt may and 1 Ora.  Pair of mittens are great.

Friday Jan 4– Nights are very cold sleeping in tents.  Keep warm during day by fire.

Saturday Jan 5– Present allowance of bread per capita in France is about 10 ounce per day.  Sugar allowance about 1 lb per month

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January 5, 1917 – Poppa commented on food rationing for the citizens of France. According to an article on the internet  the previous winter of 1916-17 was harsh and resulted in shortages of food available for the French citizens.  Ironically, the  meat rationing cards, meant to distribute available meat fairly resulted in the poorest Frenchmen having access to types of food they couldn’t afford before the war.

A French propaganda poster from WWI. Rough translation: “Save the Bread. Cut it thin. Use the crusts”

Here is a translation from French describing food rationing in France during and after WWI.

“So terrible had the food shortage there become that the daily rations had been cut to the minimum that would sustain life and strength. The peasant population of continental Europe, which means a large part of the people, lives principally upon wheat in one form or another. In France bread is literally the staff of life, normally constituting 52 per cent. of the Frenchman’s food. Yet the French bread ration was successively lowered until at one time it reached seven ounces a day per capita…. even the bread ration of the soldier was sharply reduced – a measure to which resort it had only in situations of direst necessity. Indeed, many well-informed persons attribute the disaster of 1917 on the Italian front to the lowering of morale consequent upon the cutting of the bread ration. The soldier well knew that if his food was cut his family must be well-nigh starving to death.”

French bread and sugar rationing tickets. Courtesy of www.314th.org

 

Instructions on use of the bread and sugar rationing tickets. French bread and sugar rationing tickets. Courtesy of www.314th.org

A portion of the rationing instruction sheet above was translated by Google to –

“each ticket corresponds to 100 grams of bread and presents it sheet is established for daily consumption of 500 grams, or 5 tickets for a day. Each slice of 5 bread coupons has, at the left end, a ticket valid for 25 grams of sugar, which corresponds to the daily ration of this commodity. The soldier on leave of absence of 10 days will have the Faculte, by vertically cutting all the sugar tickets to obtain in one go the 250 grams of this commodity represented by 10 tickets of 25 grams each.”

The cover of a French ration ticket book.

Posters were also distributed here at home to encourage Americans to support the effort to feed the French population.

At the bottom of this poster it says “They are struggling against starvation and trying to feed not only themselves and children but their husbands and sons who are fighting in the trenches.”

Next Week: President Wilson’s Conditions of Peace 

Sources:

Log Cabin Memorial – Veterans 314th Infantry Regiment A.E.F. – French Bread and Sugar Ration Tickets. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2017.

“World War 1 Propaganda Posters.” Examples of Propaganda from WW1 | Will You Help the Women of France? Save Wheat. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Dec. 2017.

 

100 Years ago this week: Christmas in the Bull pen

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the 20th Engineers regiment of the United States Army.  After training at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and on the grounds of the American University in Washington, D.C. he sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  After spending some time at a camp outside St. Nazaire they have now set up camp inside a bull ring in Dax, France.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Dec 23, 1917Very busy day getting supplies from Depot.  Building tent floors and erecting tents.  Have two tents with stoves.

Monday Dec 24 – Working hard to get tents up and arranged.  Spent Christmas eve in city at picture show and in seeing town.

Tuesday Dec 25– “Christmas day in the “Bull Pen”  Had a fine dinner of turkey, dates, nuts.  No work today.

Wednesday Dec 26– Mail today 1-home 1-Marion 2-Uncle Will 1 Ora.  Had travellers checks cashed at Banque de Franca.

Thursday Dec 27– Today was payday.  Nearly everyone has been broke for some time.

Friday Dec 28 – There is plenty of hot water here as hot springs are found all over town.  Big night tonight.

Saturday Dec 29 – Ground covered with snow. Very cold (about 23 degrees above)  for this place.  Dinner party this night  First “grand eats” for some time


Here is a description of contemporary Dax, France from the editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica:

“Dax is in the Landes District of southwestern France. It lies on the left bank of the Adour River, 88 miles (142 km) southwest of Bordeaux and 50 miles (80 km) north of the Pyrenees frontier with Spain. The town is a spa resort whose thermal springs and mud baths have been noted for the cure of rheumatism since Roman times, when it was known as Aquae Tarbellicae. Situated on the edge of the Landes Forest, it is also a tourist centre. The remains of its Gallo-Roman walls have been made into a promenade. At the Place de la Fontaine Chaude, near the Roman wall, there are hot springs, the waters of which gush out at a temperature of 147 °F (64 °C). Near the river is a park with a bull ring. Small-scale woodworking and leatherworking are local industries. Pop. (1999) 19,515; (2014 est.) 20,485.”

Sunday, December 23, 1917- As the week begins Poppa and the other soldiers of the Headquarters unit have been in Dax, France for only 36 hours and they are working to set up camp inside a bull fighting ring.  I don’t think many veterans can say they were stationed in a bull ring!

The existence of a bull ring, not a typical feature in France, was due to the close proximity of Dax to the Spanish border.

Major Edward Hartwick was Poppa’s commanding officer.  Here is how he described the bull ring camp in a letter to his family in Michigan:

“The headquarters detachment about forty men are encamped- where do you think- well I got permission to pitch our tents in the Arena a Spanish bull ring surrounded with raised seats all constructed of concrete similar to our ball park except the diameter of the ring is only about 150 feet but is the best camping place we will ever get.  Under the concrete raised benches are rooms where we store our baggage.  Also toilet rooms and where they kept the bulls and horses we are going to keep our horses, pigs, auto trucks, automobile and the best of all one of the hot springs is but a few feet from the entrance.  A circular concrete wall with only two entrances encloses the place. A most admirable place for a little camp. When we shut the big door we are hidden from the curious though friendly public which has been flocking to look at us so much that I had the mayor put up a notice that it was forbidden to enter the arena without permission from him.  Soon we shall have the arena connected with electric light and our own telephone to the two camps and then we will be settled.”

The Dax bullring was built in 1913.

 

In his photo album this picture is labelled: John Rodney Jamieson Dax, France 1917.

20th Engineers– The 20th Engineers battalion was established to mill and provide lumber products for the army’s use in building bridges, roads buildings, etc.  Poppa, like most of the other soldiers of the 20th had experience in the lumber business.  Before (and after) his service in the army he worked for his father and uncles at Jamieson Brothers lumber yard in Poynette, Wisconsin.

Dax was chosen as one of the camps of the 20th Engineers because of the areas abundance of forests.  Major Hartwick wrote the following about the trees in the area:

“One hundred or so years ago this country was a wide expanse of sand and sandy moraiss a desert but about that time experiments were made with a view of growing a forest of pine and after years of trial and discouragement the successful methods were found so that the woods are of trees from fifty to seventy years a species of pine resembling in appearance our jack pine but growing fifty to sixty feet high and with limbs about thirty feet from the ground.”

Christmas Day 1917– Poppa reported that he had the day off and had a nice meal.

December 26– Poppa received mail from Marion Brown (who would become his wife and my grandmother) and Ora Hopkins, who was his cousin, daughter of his aunt Samantha Janet (Jamieson) and Uncle Edgar Hinkson.

The grave marker of Ora Hinkson Hopkins in the Hillside Cemetery, Poynette, WI

Next Week:  Starting the New Year in France

Sources:

“A Biographical Sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2017.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Dax.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 09 June 2017. Web. 20 Dec. 2017.

 

100 Years ago this Week: Moving to a New Camp

Background:  In September 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, joined the 20th Engineers regiment of the United States Army.  After training at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and on the grounds of the American University in Washington, D.C. he sailed to St. Nazaire, France aboard a troop transport ship.  Some soldiers have recently been sent to northeastern France near the front line.  However, Poppa and other soldiers of the first battalion of the 20th Engineers remain at the American camp 2 miles outside of St. Nazaire.


From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Dec 16, 1917 – Have not had a Sunday for a long time.  Every day is the same in the army.  Spent day at warehouse in St. Nazaire

Monday Dec 17– Nearly every day the band of the 116th Engineers at neighboring  camp plays “On Wisconsin”.

Tuesday Dec 18– Through Hourgines (?) good work I succeeded in Getting a pass up town and “took in” St. Nazaire. Sent souvenirs to family.

Wednesday Dec 19- Very quiet day but mighty noisy night.   Hill and Lloyd have much wedding and raise h-l till Midnight.  (?)

Thursday Dec 20– Arose at 4:00 A.M. packed and left St. Nazaire at noon.  Rode in box car with no heat.  Very crowded night.

Friday Dec 21– Rode South all day in boxcar.  Arrived at 4:00 PM Dax all marched out but slept in car.

Saturday Dec 22– We are assigned quarters in an arena previously used for bull fighting.  Spent night under grandstand.


Dax France –  At the start of the week Poppa and the rest of the first battalion of the 20th engineers were living and working  in the US Army camp outside of St. Nazaire, France.  By the end of the week they had travelled about 350 miles south by train to Dax.  They must have been surprised to find that their new living quarters were inside a bull ring.

Modern picture of the Dax Bull Ring

 

The bull ring was built in 1913.

A picture postcard of the Dax bull ring from the early part of the 20th century.

According to the internet bull fighting is not a common activity in France.  However,  Dax, France is only about 50 miles from the border with Spain so it appears that the bullfighting tradition spills over the Spanish border.

Major Edward E. Hartwick was Poppa’s commanding officer.  According to Gordon K. Miller, author of a biography of Hartwick here is what Hartwick wrote to his family regarding their new camp:

I have my headquarters in the town and one company on one side about four miles away and the other on another side about five miles distant The headquarters detachment about forty men are encamped- where do you think- well I got permission to pitch our tents in the “Arena”- a Spanish bull ring surrounded with raised seats all constructed of concrete similar to our ball park except the diameter of the ring is only about 150 feet but is the best camping place we will ever get.  Under the concrete raised benches are rooms where we store our baggage, also toilet rooms; and where they kept the bulls and horses we are going to keep our horses, pigs, auto, trucks automobile and the best of all- one of the hot springs is but a few feet from the entrance. A circular concrete wall with only two entrances encloses the place – a most admirable place for a little camp. When we shut the big door we are hidden from the curious, though friendly, public which has been flocking to look at us so much that I had the mayor put up a notice that it was forbidden to enter the arena without permission from him. Soon we shall have the arena connected with electric light and our own telephone to the two camps and then we will be settled.

December 17th, 1917  – “On Wisconsin” was written in 1909 and is both the state song of Wisconsin and the fight song for the University of Wisconsin.  For a young American man stationed in a country at war hearing the song of his alma mater must have provided some comfort.

The cover of “On Wisconsin” second edition from the archives of the University of Wisconsin

 

Meanwhile, back in America–  On December 18, 1917 The United States congress passed the ‘Prohibition amendment’ It was then sent to the states for ratification.  In a previous episode of this blog Poppa reported that he had experienced the beginning of prohibition in Washington, D.C.  Prohibition was implemented as a result of the 18th amendment which didn’t pass until 1919.  However, state governments were encouraged to implement their own laws outlawing alcohol prior to the amendment passing.  Washington, D.C, was not a state and was governed by Congress.  So Congress decided that the city would be dry choosing November, 1st 1917 as the day that alcohol became illegal.

December 19th- Sometimes I have trouble reading Poppa’s handwritten journal.  I don’t understand what he meant by Hill and Lloyd have much wedding and raise h-l till Midnight.  What do you think he actually wrote for December 19th, 1917? 

Remember, Poppa used a pocket calendar from 1913 as his 1917 journal. He just changed the day of the week!

In the back of Poppa’s journal there is a list of names with dollar amounts after them.  One entry said Lloyd $10.00.  Poppa’s father and grandfather were bankers.  Do you think this is how Poppa kept track of who he lent money to?  Or maybe who he borrowed money from?  Is the Lloyd listed here the same one who, along with Hill “raised h–l all night”?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Week: Christmas in the Bull Pen!

Sources:

“The Song and Controversies.” UW Archives and Records Management. N.p., 23 June 2015. Web. 13 Dec. 2017.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Dax

“A Biographical Sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2017.