Marion Clarkson Brown | Poppa's WWI Journal

April 20, 2019April 19, 2019

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.

———————————————————————————-

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

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.

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.

March 2, 2019March 3, 2019

100 Years ago this Week: Made THE purchase!

Background: WWI has been over for almost 4 months and the soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force are being sent home from France. My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, has been stationed with the United States Army’s 20th Engineers at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France. He is anxiously awaiting his orders to head home. Here are the journal entries he wrote one hundred years ago this week.

———————————————————————————-

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday March 2, 1919– Had inspection of packs and equipment in park outside of arena today. Reminds one of days when we were getting ready to come over. Hope to hear some definite date this week.

Monday March 3– Medical inspection at the companies today. Drove all A.M. Band practice in the P.M. is every days routine. Forgot to mention on Feb 28th Major Brookings left for Paris there to start for Finland to work for the Hurd (?) commission.

Tuesday March 4– French holiday this. Lieut. Ward leaves tomorrow to join the major for his work in Finland. Captain Wilson transferred to one of the later battalions. Capt Elam C.O. of this district as he will not go home with us. Tom Coleman has gone to Poland..

Wednesday March 5– Rec’d a letter from Marion today which made me very very happy. My truck was sent to Arengosse today so now I am out of a job in the A.M.s . Band concert at 2nd CO. tonight.

Thursday march 6– Started on 3 day leave today. Went to Pau in the A.M. Saw the sights of Pau in the rain all P.M. Visited the Chateau of Henry IV which was very interesting. Slept in nice warm room in good soft bed.

Friday March 7– Made the purchase this A.M. Hope it pleases you Marion and that when you accept it you will never have cause to regret it. I shall do my best. Visited Lourdes this P.M. A beautiful spot in the mountains. My thoughts are also with you today my mother, your birthday. May you have many more to come.

Saturday March 8– Spent the A.M. in Lourdes most of the time hunting for entrance to the old castle which we never found. Went back to Pau in the P.M. Again it rained the remainder of the day so at 5 o’clock departed for Dax. Found some nice mail waiting for me there.

Romance is in the air!

Poppa’s job changed again when the truck he had been using to make deliveries all over southern France was assigned to another unit. The next day he went to Pau, which is a town in southern France, about 55 miles from Dax, for a three day leave. It seems like was romance was on his mind and he made a big decision about his future!

Wednesday March 5– “Rec’d a letter from Marion today which made me very very happy…”

Friday March 7– “Made the purchase this A.M. Hope it pleases you Marion and that when you accept it you will never have cause to regret it.”

Poppa never mentions exactly what he purchased in France but the context suggests that it is an engagement ring. Don’t you agree?

This is a picture of Marion Brown Jamieson’s ring resting on a rose petal. We don’t know for sure that Poppa purchased this in Pau, France but a jeweler who recently appraised it said that it is made in the 1920’s style and that the diamond is of the “European cut”.

Pau is a city in The south of France near the Pyrenees Mountains. Records indicate that Pau has existed at least as far back as the middle ages. It has been a resort center since at least the 1800’s and during WWI it was a very popular destination for American soldiers on leave.

A post card view of Pau, France in the early 20th century.

In 1909 the Wright brothers set up a pilot training school near Pau. During the year that Poppa was stationed in Dax he saw ‘aeroplanes’ fly over and even land. Is it possible that those planes were from the pilot training school in Pau?

This is said to be a picture of Wilbur Wright flying his airplane over Pau France in 1909.

Poppa wrote that while on leave he also visited the Chateau of Henry IV and Lourdes.

Lourdes is a small town at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France and about 20 miles south of Pau. According to Poppa it was a popular location to visit for soldiers on leave in 1919.

Soldiers assignments change

Walter DuBois Brookings was Poppa’s commander. On February 27th, 1919 Poppa wrote that Brookings was leaving camp to work on the (illegible) commission. Although Poppa initially said Brookings was going to Paris, this week he wrote that Brookings was headed to Finland. That makes mores sense because Brookings obituary says that after leaving France, “as a representative of Herbert Hoover he took the first shipload of relief food to the Baltic Region, landing in Libau Latvia” in March of 1919. Ten years before he was president of the United States, Herbert Hoover led the commission for Relief in Belgium. According the Wikipedia the commission’s purpose was to supply food to German occupied France and Belgium during WWI.

Eliza Duff Jamieson

On March 7th Poppa wrote “My thoughts are also with you today my mother , your birthday. May you have many more to come.”

Next Week: My bag is packed!

Sources:

Note: In the first version of this week’s blog post I wrote that Poppa went to Paris to make THE purchase. Thanks to Michel Boquet for pointing out that it was more likely Poppa made his purchase in Pau, France, as it is much closer to Dax. I checked the journal entry more closely and clearly Poppa wrote ‘Pau’ not ‘Paris’. This makes much more since since it is near Lourdes and the Chateau of Henry IV.

Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Jan. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau,_Pyr%C3%A9n%C3%A9es-Atlantiques. Accessed 4 Mar. 2019.

“Aviation History Wing/Aviation’s Attic/Charles Fint Remembers From the Memoirs of Charles Flint, the American Tycoon Who Backed the Wright Brothers.” History of the Airplane, www.wright-brothers.org/History_Wing/Aviations_Attic/Charles_Flint/Charles_Flint.htm. Accessed 4 Mar. 2019.

September 15, 2018September 14, 2018

100 Years ago this week: Marion. She is the true girl alright!

Background: In September of 1917 My grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, enlisted in the United States Army’s 20th Engineers whose primary purpose was to mill lumber and build the wooden structures needed by the soldiers. In November he sailed to 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. Many of the soldiers around him have come down with the Spanish flu. Here are the journal entries he wrote one hundred years ago this week.

———————————————————————————————–

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday September 15, 1918– Very warm today. Nothing doing. All of us are resting, reading and writing.

Monday September 16– Nothing today.

Tuesday September 17– Mac says just six more months to St. Patricks day

Wednesday September 18– This seemed the longest day in France. Hot, sutry, time hanging heavy. Everyone has complained today.

Thursday September 19– Capt. Campbell arrived in camp today for a seven day leave. Has written that I will be sent to the next training camp and assigned to his company. It is O.K. with me.

Friday September 20– Lots of mail today (11 letters). Three from Marion. She is the true girl alright.

Saturday September 21– Doing a little work-mapping- today with Lieut Jameyson. He is from U. of C. Berkley. Knows Wiskvert(?)

Marion Clarkson Brown- The future Mrs. Jamieson

Friday September 20– Lots of mail today (11 letters). Three from Marion. She is the true girl alright.

Marion was born in the St; Louis area and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1916. Presumably that is where she and Poppa met. Based on Poppa’s journal entries it seems that their relationship became more serious while Poppa was overseas in France.

This picture of Marion Clarkson Brown can be found in the class of 1916 year book of the University of Wisconsin.

Marion was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority while at the UW.

2nd Lieutenant Bruce Jameyson (1891-1978)

Saturday September 21– ‘Doing a little work-mapping- today with Lieut Jameyson. He is from U. of C. Berkley.’

The website of the University of California-Berkley contains a memorial page to Bruce Jameyson who obtained a degree in engineering from that institution in 1917 and immediately joined the U.S. army. After the end of WWI he returned to U. of C.-B and worked as an professor of engineering until he retired in 1956. He was also associated with the public works Department where he made engineering decisions for about 100 bridges in the area.

Poppa did not clearly identify the ‘Lieut Jameyson’ he worked with. However, it is likely that the link to UC- Berkley and the common theme of engineering means that the distinguished professor was one and the same.

Meanwhile, on the front lines

The Americans and their allies continue to make significant gains and are now winning battles. The enemies armies are in retreat and their morale is low,

Next Week: This Little Diary is Over a Year Old!

Sources:

“The History Place – World War I Timeline – 1918 – A Fateful Ending.” The History Place – World War II in Europe Timeline, www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/index-1918.html. Accessed 15 Sept. 2018.

June 23, 2018June 19, 2018

100 Years ago This Week: The Newspapers are Very Encouraging

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday June 23, 1918– Rather quiet day. The past two weeks have been wet and rather cool. Today is again warmer.

Monday June 24– Some mail today. Two wonderful letters from Marion. I am very happy today and henceforth. Also letters from home.

Tuesday June 25– The newspapers are very encouraging. Austrias failure of her offensive timed to Italy’s victory.

Wednesday June 26– The hospital is rapidly getting into shape. Have a good crew of carpenters who should not take long to build it.

Thursday June 27– Not very busy today. Weather warm. A few more letters from home.

Friday June 28– All quiet on the Dax sector today.

Saturday June 29– Took supper at Cheval Blanc. Went to picture show in evening.

Monday June 24– Some mail today. Two wonderful letters from Marion. I am very happy today and henceforth.

What was it about his latest letters from Marion Clarkson Brown that made him “very happy today and henceforth”? Have they some how taken their relationship to a new level through the mail?

Italy Pushes Back

Tuesday June 25– The newspapers are very encouraging. Austria’s failure of her offensive timed to Italy’s victory.

In 1915 Italy joined Britain as one of the Allied Powers. Austria was on the German side. On June 15th, 1918 Austrian troops began an offensive along the Piave River in Italy, at the urging of the Germans. Although suffering from a lack of food, horses and supplies, they crossed the river and established a 12-mile front, but then realize they can not hold it against the Italian Army and withdraw after suffering 150,000 casualties. Following this, Austrian soldiers in Italy begin deserting. This Second Battle of the Piave River, which ended on June 23rd, was a decisive victory for the Italian Army. It would later become clear that the battle was in fact the beginning of the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Regimental Hospital

Wednesday June 26– The hospital is rapidly getting into shape. Have a good crew of carpenters who should not take long to build it.

In a previous entry (Friday April 26, 1918) Poppa wrote– “Started survey for hospital site down the river around the hotel and seminary. Many very interesting things around these places and have met several English speaking people.” And, on Wednesday June 5, “Grading and setting sills for regimental hospital which will be located here. Consisting of 5 large tents, five small and two buildings.”

Poppa refers to the ‘seminary’ in Dax, France. The seminary was named for St. Vincent de Paul who was born in Pouy, near Dax, France in 1581. In the later half of the 19th century his followers built the seminary near the birthplace of Vincent. The bull ring where Poppa served as part of Company A of the 20th Engineers is nearby. During the WWI, the Great Seminary of Pouy was used as a civilian Hospital from September, 1st 1914 to January 27, 1919.

Apparently Poppa and the other engineers were engaged in building an American Army hospital near the existing civilian hospital which was housed in the seminary built to honor St. Vincent de Paul. This hospital had been authorized by Poppa’s commanding officer Major Edward E. Hartwick prior to his death on March 31, 1918. (Thank you to Michel Boquet for providing information about the seminary and hospital).

Next Week: Dominion Day and A July Fourth Fire

Sources:

“Second Battle of the Piave River.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 June 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_the_Piave_River. Accessed 19 June 2018.

April 7, 2018April 7, 2018

100 Years ago this week: We all Hope That the French and English Will Hold Them

Background: In September of 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. The company has been recently struck by the sudden death of their commanding officer Major Edward E. Hartwick, of meningitis On March 31st.

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday April 7, 1918– Spent day in camp, rainy season is now on, sky clear one minute next minute it is raining. Tom took physical examination for commission in 20th today.

Monday April 8– Working on the garage. Nothing New.

Tuesday April 9– Received a new book “Carry On” from Marion today. Hope we can “carry on” hard for awhile then carry back ourselves intact and safe.

Wednesday April 10– The big drive is still on. We all hope that the French and English will hold them then then we can get a chance later.

Thursday April 11– Very much mail today. Eleven very nice letters from U.S. today. Will not get many more packages as law has just been passed limiting them very much.

Friday April 12– Captain Pill called out the detachment early this morning and bid each one good bye. We are very, very sorry to lose him but we still have a good adjutant as Freedman will take his place.

Saturday April 13– Today I went with Joe to help move in the 6th Bn. They are about 20 Km from us.

Sunday April 7, 1918– … Tom took physical examination for commission in 20th today.

A commission is a formal document issued to appoint a named person to high office or as a commissioned officer in the armed forces.

Carry On

Tuesday April 9– Received a new book “Carry On” from Marion today. Hope we can “carry on” hard for awhile then carry back ourselves intact and safe.

The book “Carry On” was written in 1917 by Coningsby Dawson, an Englishman who served as an officer in the Canadian Army from 1916 through the end of WWI. He went on to author many more works and died in 1958. According to Amazon.com “Carry On” was a best seller in 1917.

The book was sent to Poppa by Marion Clarkson Brown who would later become his wife (and my grandmother). Marion was a 1916 graduate of the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor of arts degree.

Earliest know photo of Marion Clarkson Brown (1892-1983)

The German Spring Offensive

Wednesday April 10– The big drive is still on. We all hope that the French and English will hold them then we can get a chance later.

The French and English had been at war with Germany since 1914. They had so far battled to a stalemate with an enormous loss of life by both sides. After 2 days of artillery bombardment the Germans attacked the British and French in Belgium on April 9th. The Germans pushed the British back three miles. However, the arrival of British, French and Australian reinforcements broke the German momentum and the offensive halted. The German offensive was only a partial success. Additionally, the Germans suffered 330,000 casualties and now lack sufficient reserve troops.

Although Poppa and his unit were stationed far from the front and were not expected to be involved in combat they must have worried that the Germans would break through and over run France.

British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops blinded by poison gas during the battle, 10 April 1918

According to the book “Railway Track and Structures” Captain L.M. Pill had been a valuation engineer on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad of Mobile, Alabama before being commissioned as a major of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Captain Pill had been the roommate of the late Major Edward Hartwick.

Lt. Freedman (of Maine) was a friend of Major Hartwick.

Next Week: Camp Tuscania

Sources:

“A Biographical Sketch of Major Edward E. Hartwick.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2018.

The History Place – World War I Timeline – 1918 – A Fateful Ending. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2018.

“Battle of the Lys (1918).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Apr. 2018. Web. 06 Apr. 2018.

“Railway Track and Structures.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2018.

January 27, 2018January 26, 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.

—————————————————–

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 29–Some 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.

————————————-

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.

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.

December 9, 2017December 6, 2017

100 Years ago this Week: Some soldiers leave for the front

Background: December 1917: The soldiers of the 20th Engineers including my grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, have traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and are staying temporarily at the American camp 2 miles outside of St. Nazaire France.

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Dec 9- A case of scarlet fever developed yesterday in Co. C. If nothing more develops we may get out of quarantine soon.

Monday Dec 10- Some of the boys went to town today as a result the night was rather noisy.

Tuesday Dec 11– About 8000 more troops arrived today. I am very busy at supply house. Tonight “Mock Trial” (?)

Wednesday Dec 12 – Co D, of HG 2nd/Bn (?) and ½ of ba F left today for near the front.

Thursday Dec 13– CO B & ½ bo H (?) left today. Have been in town all day working.

Friday Dec 14 –The weather has been very good since we have been here . Humidity is so great clothes all moldy.

Saturday Dec 15– This has been a very happy day. Mail came last night bringing me 7 letters. 2-Marion 2-home (?) & Uncle Will.

Note: My grandfather wrote his daily entries in pencil in a small pocket journal. When I was unable to decipher what he wrote I entered a (?) in my transcription of his writing. This is a picture of his diary for this week. On Tuesday December 11 it appears that he wrote Tonight “Mock Trial”. I don’t know what that refers to. Any ideas?

John Rodney Jamieson’s Journal entry for December 8-13, 1917

Wednesday Dec 12, 1917- In his journal Poppa noted that some units were sent to other locations. Here is a map of where in France the different battalions and companies of the 20th engineers were eventually stationed.

Poppa wrote that among the units going to a location near the front was the Second battalion Headquarters. Battalion headquarters are identified with a diamond shape. Note the diamond with the number 2 in it in the upper right (Northeast) section of the map. It appears to be very near the border with Germany. According to the 20th Engineers website this is the Vosges area of France. Many WWI battles had already been fought in this area of the Border of France and Belgium before America joined the war. Although the main purpose of the 20th Engineers was to produce lumber and timber for Allied forces the 2nd battalion would find itself immediately behind the front lines of battle.

On Saturday, Dec 15th Poppa indicated that mail arrived and he received 7 letters. Two of those letters were from Marion Clarkson Brown who had recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Here is a page from her yearbook. Although they were just courting in 1917 (Spoiler alert) Marion was my grandmother. Marion grew up in Webster Groves MO. It appears that she attended a year of college at University of Washington in St. Louis before transferring to the University of Wisconsin. Family legend says that Marion wanted to go to medical school but in those days women were not encouraged to be physicians. Apparently after graduation Marion was qualified to teach high school science. In his journal Poppa had a mailing address for Marion which was in Webster Groves. Apparently Marion returned there to live with her family after college graduation in 1917.

He also received mail from ‘Uncle Will’. William Wallace Jamieson was his uncle and would have been about 62 years old in 1917.

Next week: Moving to a New Camp

Sources:

20thEngineers.com – World War 1 – 2nd Battalion. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2017.The University of Wisconsin Collection: The Badger (Volume XXXI): Classes. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2017.