YMCA | Poppa's WWI Journal

March 23, 2019March 23, 2019

100 Years Ago This Week: I’m the most disappointed fellow in the A.E.F. today!

Background: WWI has been over for over 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 moved with his buddies to a camp in Bordeaux. He is anxiously awaiting his orders to head home. 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 March 23, 1919 – The most disappointed fellow in the A.E.F. today. Have not been able to get more information yet. Do not want commission or to stay over here. Have hopes that it can be fixed up some way so that I may yet go back with the boys. Arm very sore from shot. Nearly sick. Saw “Let’s Go” tonight.

Monday March 24 – Still hoping that something can be arranged so that I can go home with the bunch. Not much to eat in this camp and we are quartered in different barracks all over camp. Gilcrest, who was left behind in the hospital with the flu caught up to us today.

Tuesday March 25– Nothing definite today, looks very doubtful that I can go with the 20th. Rec’d a note from D.J. Robertson at Bassens with Q.M.C. Hope to see him tomorrow.

Wednesday March 26– Went to Bassens today for some canteen supplies and called on Dave Roberson. When I returned found that I was detached from 20th and attached to Hdq of embarkation camp. Moved to other camp. Found 70 others in the same fix that I am in. Good quarters here however. Hope the commission will come soon.

Thursday March 27– We are quarantined in a good barracks with floor here. Have a good place to eat with nothing to do but wait. Went to other camp this P.M. Visited with the old bunch all afternoon and evening.

Friday March 28 – Doing nothing- It’s very tiresome- wrote a few letters this A.M. Spent P.M. in Bordeaux. Good supper at Y with real ice cream. We are allowed passes everyday when not on duty from 2 to 9 P.M.

Saturday March 29 – Moved this A.M. to a dirty, old, casual barracks. Hope to move again soon as every other one is better than this place. Visited the old gang at other camp this P.M. Stayed there for supper and until 8 P.M.

Stuck in Bordeaux

For the first leg of their trip home Company A of the 20th engineers have left their camp of over a year and traveled by train to Bordeaux. They have been there over a week awaiting orders to go home. But there is a complication. Because he is a candidate for an officers commission Poppa had recently been told that he would have to remain in France. Given the choice, he would gladly forget the commission and head for home. But it’s not up to him. On March 26th Poppa was detached from his unit and assigned to the headquarters unit of his new camp. With little work to be done he spends his days with his old unit but sleeps in his new camp with “70 others in the same fix that I am in”. It appears now that his buddies will soon be returning to America without him.

Let’s Go

On March 23rd Poppa saw “Let’s Go” which was a short film from 1918 starring Harold Lloyd.

Harold Lloyd (1893-1971) appeared in dozens of films. He was 2 years younger than Poppa.

Bassens

On March 26th Poppa drove to Bassens, which is less than 10 miles north of Bordeaux, for supplies. Like Bordeaux, Bassens is a port community. While there he visited with Dave Robertson who I believe is a relative. Poppa had an aunt whose family name was Robertson.

Two weeks after leaving their home camp in Dax Poppa and his unit are only 90 miles closer to home.

Next week: I hate to see the 20th boys go without me

January 19, 2019January 18, 2019

100 Years Ago This Week: Back to work

Background: WWI has been over for more than 2 months. It has been more than one year since my grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, enlisted in the United States Army’s 20th Engineers. He has been in France since September of 1917. He was assigned to the headquarters unit of Company A based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France. 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, January 19, 1919– No Entry

Monday January 20– Started work today, making table survey of present narrow gauge track in place at abandoned 1st. Co. operation. 2nd Co. (Det) ? is now at this camp while 1st Co is at Pontex helping to get out the burned timber there that the U.S. has on its hands.

Tuesday January 21– Finished up the outside work this A.M. Started the map this P.M. Am to go back to my old job, relieving the fellow now at it. Not much to do it appears but I would much prefer more work on an outside job.

Wednesday January 22– The river is again very high, not as high as last spring but it may reach that point soon. Gave us shorter hours today – eight hours is now the official times of labor.

Thursday January 23– About 40 M.P.s are now located here. They are to be stationed here permanently, at present eat with us but will later have their own mess. Y.M.C.A. concert tonight at Y. Two girls with Red who has been here several times before. One girl sings very well, The other a dancer who makes one think himself at a cabaret show somewhere. Had a little dance afterwards.

Friday January 24– More mail today. Did not expect any so soon so this was a pleasant surprise.

Saturday January 25– Not a thing to do all day. Spent all my time in office writing letters, reading, etc. Will probably have several of these kind of day.

On January 20, 1919 Poppa started writing in a new pocket diary. The title on the front is “Agenda” and it is printed in French, suggesting that, unlike the journals he used for 1917 and 1918, he acquired this journal in France.

Poppa’s Journals. For some reason he used one labeled ‘1913’ for the year 1917, and one printed in France for 1919.

Peace Conference

The Paris Peace Conference started on January 18, 1919 in Versaille, France. It was held to negotiate peace treaties which ended WWI.

The Burned Area

After leaving Engineers Training School Poppa has re-joined his unit in Dax, France. Throughout France the American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) was beginning the massive logistical effort of returning its soldiers to America. Camps were closed or consolidated and soldiers moved to new temporary locations until they could be sent home. As a result Poppa’s camp in Dax is now home to the M.P.s (military police ?) and the 2nd Company. Poppa wrote that the 1st Co, which was the original unit in this camp, has been sent to the ‘burned area’ in Pontenx (often misspelled Pontex) to help with clean up.

The burned area refers to the remains of a forest fire that occurred in early September, 1918. The fire was intentionally started by local residents who were unhappy with the sale of the forest to the Canadian and U.S. militaries. The fires they started would eventually burn 30,000 acres and 180,000 trees as well as three camps set up by the Canadian armed forces and some small French villages. Local residents, Canadian soldiers and American military personnel worked to extinguish the fire. Despite their best efforts the fire continued until it reached the shore of Gastes-Parentis Lake were it burned itself out. (per Michel Boquet)

Some of the burned timber could still be salvaged and used if milled soon. However, if left untouched, by the spring it would no longer have value. So the French Government asked for the American and Canadian forces to help clean the burn area before they returned to North America.

This picture, from U.S. Government Archives is labelled “American Sawmill in Potenx April 1918.

New railroad tracks were run to the burned area, new barracks, headquarters and ‘Y’ huts were built. Several of the lumber mills that had been set up around France were moved to the burned area and used in the salvage operation which continued through the winter of 1918-19. At one point it became the largest lumber mill in Europe and produced more than half a million board feet of lumber per day.

Therefore, with their services no longer needed for the war effort, the soldiers of Poppa’s unit were sent to the burn area. Poppa, as part of the Company A headquarters staff remained in Dax, for the time being.

The Y.M.C.A

On January 23rd Poppa attended a concert at the YMCA. “Two Girls with Red” performed.

When the U.S. declared war in 1917 the military was inexperienced with meeting the needs of a large army. The Red Cross provided nurses and ambulances and the YMCA stepped in to meet the social and emotional needs. YMCA huts manned by volunteers were put up all over France.

YMCA ‘Huts’ sprung up all aver France during WWI.

Next Week: We Expect to Give Another Show

Sources:

American Lumberman, Chicago . April 5, 1919

Email from Michel Boquet, 10 December 2018

November 24, 2018November 23, 2018

100 Years ago this Week: Thanksgiving Dinner in Rolampont.

Background: It is November of 1918 and two weeks after the end of WWI. It has been more than one year since my grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, enlisted in the United States Army’s 20th Engineers. In November, 1917 he sailed to France aboard a troop transport ship. He was assigned to the headquarters unit of Company A based at a camp set up inside a bull ring in Dax, France. However, on November 7, 1918 he travelled to Langres France and enrolled in Army Candidate School (A.C.S.). 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 November 24, 1918– Hung around camp today. Thought ?? might come over but has not as yet. Spent today writing letter and studying.

Monday November 25- No mail for a month. Must be lots “somewhere in France” for this soldier.

Tuesday November 26– The Y.M.C.A. has started a canteen here, the line is miles in length every night. Buy lots of cakes, keeps me from near starvation. One year in France today. Won’t be another, now.

Wednesday November 27– Mud and rain every day. Today especially bad, wet all day but work goes on just the same.

Thursday November 28– Thanksgiving dinner in Rolampont. Bought pork chops, bread, jams ole and French fried(?). Certainly got filled up with this very unique dinner.

Friday November 29– Wet feet all the time, this is an endurance test more than anything else, little to eat with poor living conditions, wet feet and much work. Can you beat that.

Saturday November 30– Two examinations and inspection today. Afternoon off. More rumors again. Hope some of them are true and this closes soon.

On Tuesday November 26th Poppa wrote that he had been in France for one full year. He had arrived on the troop ship Madawaska and until recently was living and working as a member of the 20th Engineers in Dax France. Since November 7th he had been at the A.C.S. or Candidates School, presumably working toward a commission as a Second Lieutenant.

The army worked frantically beginning in 1917 to set up this and other training schools in France. Only months after opening, with the end of the war, Poppa wrote that there are many rumors that the school will be closing soon.

Poppa has not written about the specific location of the camp where he is living and training. On November 17th he wrote that he went to Langres to look for his barracks bag. On November 28th he wrote that he went into Rolampont for Thanksgiving dinner. Records mention both of these towns as well as several others nearby as settings for the army’s training centers. The 2 communities are about 7 miles apart. Perhaps Poppa is living somewhere between the 2.

On Monday November 26th Poppa used the phrase “somewhere in France” and put it in quotes. Due to censorship soldiers were not supposed to identify their locations when writing home. Soldiers commonly used the phrase “somewhere in France” when writing home to friends and family.

According to a book called “The American Spirit” the Candidates School was in the Turenne Barracks which are located in or near Langres.

Turenne Barracks

On November 27th Poppa wrote that “The Y.M.C.A. has started a canteen here, the line is miles in length every night”. Hopefully he is exaggerating when he wrote that the YMCA hut “keeps me from near starvation”.

Throughout World War I, the YMCA provided morale and welfare services for the military. By war’s end, the YMCA, had set up 1,500 canteens in the United States and France; and 4,000 YMCA huts for recreation and religious services.

The YMCA ‘Hut’ in Langres France

Here is a video of U.S. soldiers training in Rolampont during 1917-18.

Next Week: Still Walking in Mud…With Wet Feet

Sources:

Historical report of the Chief Engineers 1917-1919. Washinton Govern,ment Printing Office. 1919

History -1900 to 1950s. “The Y: YMCA of the USA, 12 June 2018, www.ymca.net/history/1900-1950

“The American Spirit.” Google Books, books.google.com/books

Scribner’s Magazine.” Google Books, books.google.com

October 27, 2018October 26, 2018

100 Years ago This Week: Letters are the greatest means of encouragement these days.

Background: It is October 1918 and more than one year since my grandfather, John Rodney Jamieson, who we later called ‘Poppa’, enlisted in the United States Army’s 20th Engineers. In November, 1917 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.

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From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday October 27, 1918 –We had a basketball game today with “C” company. We won 16 to 10. Very stiff and tired tonight as I am not used to so much exercise.

Monday October 28– We were re-classified last week. Am afraid it will do no good but maybe, possibly, perhaps something might happen.

Tuesday October 29– British “Royal Blue Horse Guards Band” played here yesterday. Good music but not enough “Pep” for outdoor military concert.

Wednesday October 30– Another nice bunch of mail today. Letters are the one big event and greatest means of encouragement these days.

Thursday October 31 – News came this P.M. (Unofficial) that Turkey quits. Hope so. Entertainment by American girls at the new ‘Y’ tonight. Guess we will all be there.

Friday November 1– Good news today. Major B______ told me he would send in my name for me in answer to a telegram for two men for Engineers Army candidate school.

Saturday November 2– Expect to go to Pau with Captain Elam for weekend this P.M. returning Monday morning.

Tuesday October 29– British “Royal Blue Horse Guards Band” played here yesterday. Good music but not enough “Pep” for outdoor military concert.

The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards (The Blues) (RHG) was part of the British Army. It was formed in 1650 and its coat of arms was blue. The regiment served in many wars including WWI.

Thursday October 31 – Entertainment by American girls at the new ‘Y’ tonight Guess we will all be there.

Poster designed by N. McMein, 1918, “One of the Thousand Y.M.C.A. Girls in France.” 1986.3051.04. Recto. | After conservation treatment.

During WWI the YMCA was a different organization than we think of today. According to The History of the YMCA in WWI the ‘Y’ provided 90% of the welfare services available to the military both at home and overseas. The Red Cross and USO were not yet the organizations we think of today and when American needed to quickly build an army to fight overseas the YMCA also mobilized. During the ‘Great War’ 35,000 YMCA volunteers worked to meet the welfare of our forces overseas. Of the men and women working with the YMCA there were 286 casualties during the war.

Saturday November 2– Expect to go to Pau with Captain Elam for weekend this P.M. returning Monday morning.

Pau is a city in southwestern France, set along the Pyrenees mountains’ northern edge approximately 50 miles from the Spanish border. Pau is about 55 miles from Dax where Poppa’s company is located. Poppa didn’t say whether the trip to Pau would be for work or pleasure.

Meanwhile, on the front lines

The war was nearing its end. The Germans and allies lack men and resources and the civilians were protesting the war. The head of the German Navy decided to stage a major naval battle against the British. However, on October 29, 1918 German sailors refused their orders to attack the British and began a revolt which began the German Revolution. On October 30th Turkey signed an armistice with the Allies.

On the Home Front

During the last week of October, 1918 21,000 Americans died from the Spanish Flu epidemic.

Next Week: Poppa Arrives at Army Candidate School

August 11, 2018August 10, 2018

100 Years ago this week: I am getting very tired of my job

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.

We need your help!

Michel Boquet is a retired French engineer who has provided a lot of information used in this blog. He has acquired a picture of Poppa’s battalion and is trying to identify the soldiers pictured.

A picture of the 20th Engineers before they left America for France. Secretary of War Baker is bottom row second from right. The commanding officer Major Hartwick is next to Baker (third from right).

Mr. Boquet is suggesting that Poppa is at the far left of the bottom row.

Here is a comparison picture.

The picture on the left is known to be Poppa. Is he also pictured on the right?

What do you think? Feel free to post a comment here or on the Facebook page.

Here are Poppa’s Journal entries for this week in 1918.

Sunday August 11, 1918– Twentieth defeated the Tenth today in baseball at city park 12 to 6. Not nearly so good a game as that played on February 22.

Monday August 12– Mac, Schroeder and I took a walk this evening and while in suburbs of Dax an old man called us in to drink some wine with him. He was old and crippled and had not seen many Americans. He was very happy to have us and we felt the evening well spent.

Tuesday August 13– Good lecture tonight by some Y.M. C. A. man.

Wednesday August 14– Am working on maps everyday. Getting very tired of my job as draftsman and would welcome a change. Letter from Jamie today.

Thursday August 15– Moore gives supper tonight to (?) squad on his retiring from club. Now four members is full membership of club.

Friday August 16– The Y.M.C.A. give a picture show each Friday night in the camp. Sometimes in arena. Sometimes in arena.

Saturday August 17– Rather great day. Went to casino in evening. Inspection in the P.M.

Wednesday August 14-… “Letter from Jamie today.”

Presumably Poppa is referring to his older brother Hugh Clancy Jamieson who was called Jamie. we knew him as great uncle Clancy. Clancy also served in the U.S. Army during WWI. It appears that he served in the states as the only address for Clancy in Poppa’s 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 which was on the outskirts ofRockford Illinois until, 1946.

Brothers Hugh Clancy (upper left) and John Rodney Jamieson (upper right) pictured with some of their Jamieson cousins. Circa mid 1890s

Next week: Band Practice Every Monday and Friday

May 5, 2018May 1, 2018

100 Years ago This Week: The River is Very High

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. Poppa has just celebrated his 27th birthday.

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday May 5, 1918– Hdq Det baseball team played the first B/n officers at Co A today. We won by score of 8 to 4 and I sure had a good time.

Monday May 6–No fun when you are broke. Some nice mail today.

Tuesday May 7– The Canadian Y.M.C.A. gave a free entertainment at the casino tonight. Very Good . Singing and dancing and minstrel jokes was given by a troop of negro soldiers.

Wednesday May 8– Weather has cleared after several days of rain. Glad to see the sun for a change.

Thursday May 9– French holiday. We moved today to new tents outside of the arena as the officers are to take our old ones. Our new tents are built very comfortable.

Friday- May 10– Had nice trip, about 45 km to Arengosse where I made survey of R.R. yard and property. River (Adour) is very high may get up to 5 M during night.

Saturday May 11– River reached 4.90 M during night and then continued lowering during day. Made the Arengosse map today.

African Americans in WWI

Tuesday May 7– The Canadian Y.M.C.A. gave a free entertainment at the casino tonight. Very Good . Singing and dancing and minstrel jokes was given by a troop of negro soldiers.

For the first few years of WWI manyAmericans, including African Americans did not think that America should get involved in the war. However, as time passed and America seemed about to enter the war many African Americans saw the war as an opportunity to demonstrate their patriotism and their place as equal citizens in the nation. Black political leaders believed that if the race sacrificed for the war effort, the government would reward them with greater civil rights. About 370,000 black men were inducted into the army.

Over 200,000 served in France. The majority worked in service units. They dug ditches, cleaned latrines, transported supplies, cleared debris, and buried rotting corpses. The largest number of African-American SOS troops served as stevedores, working on the docks of Brest, St. Nazaire, Bordeaux, and other French port cities to load and unload crucial supplies. It was hard work, made worse by racial discrimination, but nevertheless essential to the success of the war effort.

The two black combat divisions, the 92nd and 93rd, made up of approximately 40,000 troops, did see battle. Unsure how to use black national guardsmen, the American army “loaned” the 93rd Division to the French army. It was the only American division to serve exclusively under French command. The division’s four regiments performed bravely and received numerous commendations.

The 93rd Division’s 369th Infantry Regiment from New York became the most famous fighting unit of African-American troops. Nicknamed the “Harlem Hellfighters,” the regiment was first known for it’s band. The 369th received equal acclaim for its combat performance. Two soldiers of the 369th, Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts, were the first American soldiers to receive the French Croix de Guerre (War Cross). The regiment gave up no ground to German forces. They were the first American regiment to reach the Rhine River in Germany following the armistice and returned to the United States national heroes.

Arengosse

Friday- May 10– Had nice trip, about 45 km to Arengosse where I made survey of R.R. yard and property.

The River Adour

Saturday May 11– River reached 4.90 M during night and then continued lowering during day.

The River Adour starts in the Pyrénées mountains and flows into the Atlantic ocean. It is about 220 miles long.

Next Week: Spending Mother’s Day in France

Sources:

African Americans and World War I. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2018.

“Adour.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 May 2018. Web. 01 May 2018.

April 14, 2018April 13, 2018

100 Years Ago This Week: Camp Tuscania

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday April 14, 1918 – The name of their camp being “Camp Tuscania” they have a very interesting story to tell of their trip on the ill fated ship.

Monday April 15– The river is rising rapidly due to so much rain. The ground around the arena is all under water. Pay day today. Have been broke for some time.

Tuesday April 16– Joe Laid off today coming in slightly worse for wear in the evening.

Wednesday April 17– We are now putting in 10 hours per day work. 7:20 to 6:00. I am sure getting tired of this daily grind.

Thursday April 18– A fine little supper party at ‘Cheval Blanc’ this evening. Gil, Tom, Brundage and myself. A good feed sure is appreciated.

Friday April 19– Wed night we had some more Y.M.C.A. entertainers at Co. C. Four young ladies one American gave some real music.

Saturday April 20– Usual Saturday work until 3 P.M. Clean up for inspection then take a bath. Went to picture show this evening at casino.

Camp Tuscania

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

Sunday April 14, 1918 – The name of their camp being “Camp Tuscania” they have a very interesting story to tell of their trip on the ill fated ship.

Here Poppa is referring to the 6th Battalion of the 20th Engineers who experienced disaster on their trip from America to France.

On January 23, 1918, the 6^th Bn. 20^th Engrs. were among about 2,300 soldiers to board the troopship “Tuscania” in New York harbor. On February 5th the Tuscania, traveling as part of a British convoy was torpedoed and sank off the coast of Ireland by the German submarine U-77. About 200 men were lost. Two months later, on April 13, 1918 Poppa and another soldier, Joe, traveled to the 6th battalion’s new camp to help the survivors move in.

The camp of Company D of the 6th Battalion of the 20th Engineers.

In 1920 a monument to those lost on the Tucania was built on the Irish coast.

The monument to those lost in the torpedoing of the Tuscania.

A view of the Irish coast where the monument to those lost on the Tuscania was built.

I wrote about the sinking of the Tuscania previously here.

High Water

Monday April 15– The river is rising rapidly due to so much rain. The ground around the arena is all under water.

Apparently, 1918 was not the only year that flooding was an issue in Dax.

This picture shows flood conditions in Dax France in 2014, 96 years after Poppa wrote about high water near his camp in Dax.

Supper Party

Thursday April 18– A fine little supper party at ‘Cheval Blanc’ this evening. Gil, Tom, Brundage and myself. A good feed sure is appreciated.

The Cheval Blanc (White Horse) Restaurant in Dax, France Circa 1920?

Y.M.C.A. entertainers

Friday April 19– Wed night we had some more Y.M.C.A. entertainers at Co. C. Four young ladies one American gave some real music.

YMCA Hut and Office building 3rd Co., Candale where Poppa was entertained on the Evening of April 17th, 1918.

As I wrote previously, the YMCA took on the role of looking after the soldiers in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) during WWI. The USO did not yet exist. They provided wholesome entertainment and tried to keep up the soldiers’ morale.

Next Week: Seven Months a Soldier

Sources:

Vents, Une Picorreuse à Tous. “Articles à Propos De 1914-1918 Sur La Biblogotheque.” 1914-1918 – Page 4 – La Biblogotheque. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2018.

Steamship Tuscania Is Torpedoed and Sinks.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2018.

“SS Tuscania (1914).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Jan. 2018. Web. 28 Jan. 2018.

March 24, 2018March 31, 2018

100 Years Ago This Week: We are Due for a Furlough

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday Mar 24, 1918– A very beautiful Sunday. Weather for last few days has been hot during middle of day. Very wonderful nights.

Monday Mar 25– Reg. Headquarters arrived today, 36 in all. Pass privilege has been much restricted. Mail today only about two weeks in route.

Tuesday Mar 26 –Major H– taken sick last night. This life is getting to be a grind and would welcome a change. Hope to hear some news to go soon.

Wednesday Mar 27–Some back mail today. All dated around Feb 1st. Have run out of American ink.

Thursday Mar 28– Have been in France four months today. We are due for a furlough now but no one seems anxious to go at present.

Friday Mar 29– Major is very sick. All are wishing for is recovery to good health.

Saturday Mar 30– Half a days work today. Are building a garage now. About the same job I had two years ago this spring.

Thursday Mar 28– “Have been in France four months today. We are due for a furlough now but no seems anxious to go at present.”

At the beginning of the WWI the commanders of the countries involved expected that the war would be short and did not consider letting soldiers have have time off. However, as the war dragged on the morale of the soldiers became more of a factor and those in charge began to experiment with short periods of leave for the soldiers. Originally the British decided that soldiers were entitled to a leave after 15 months.

However, by the time America entered the war in 1917 it was general practice for soldiers to receive 3 short leaves per year.

According to the book “World War I” by Jennifer D. Keene wrote the army preferred that soldiers spend their leave in YMCA run resorts instead of cities where they would be harder to recall in an emergency and where they were more likely to be faced with temptations such as liquor and/or women.

Poppa’s statement that after 4 months in France he was due for a furlough seems consistent with the practice of 3 leaves a year.

Friday Mar 29– “Major is very sick. All are wishing for is recovery to good health.”

Poppa is referring to his commanding officer Major Edward Hartwick. Based on previous entries it appears that Poppa and his colleagues respected the Major. Now it appears that they are concerned about his health.

Although he did not name Major Hartwick’s diagnosis, the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 was just starting to be identified. Only 3 weeks earlier, on March 8th the first case of soldier with the flu was diagnosed in Fort Riley, Kansas. Of course as soldiers were transported overseas the flu travelled with them. Within a year over 20 million people world wide would die from the flu.

Next Week: An Easter Tragedy

Sources:

“Soldiers on Leave.” New Articles RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2018.

“World War I.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2018.

March 3, 2018March 7, 2018

100 Years Ago This Week: A Lecture on “German Kultur”

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.

From the Journal of John Rodney Jamieson

Sunday March 3– Spent A.M. working also part of P.M. Then took about a 6 mile walk in the country. Spent evening in camp as it is raining.

Monday Mar 4– This evening I went to Co. A and heard Mr. Doney lecture for Y.M.C.A. Very interesting talk on “German Kultur”.

Tuesday Mar 5– Everything quiet today. Nothing of interest.

Wednesday Mar 6– Just the same as yesterday

Thursday Mar 7– Day before the minstrel show. Rehearsal tonight. Mother’s birthday

Friday Mar 8– Minstrel show tonight. Nuff Said.

Saturday Mar 9– Day after. I will say nothing about the show except we had a good time if nobody else did. Package from Marion also uncle Will. Several old letters from home.

German Kultur lecture at Y.M.C.A

Monday Mar 4– This evening I went to Co. A and heard Mr. Doney Lecture for Y.M.C.A. Very interesting talk on “German Kultur”.

( Kultur is German for culture).

Carl Gregg Doney, Ph. D. was born in 1867. He was president of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon from 1915-1934. He died in 1955.

A 1921 book entitled “Harvard’s Record in the World War” lists information about over 11,000 Harvard trained men who served their country in World War I. The following record is included in the book:

“Doney, Carl Greg Divinity School ’91-’92. Lecturer Y.M.C.A. service, France January-July 1918. Attached to French army for April and May for Liaison duty.”

Article from 1st battalion newspaper about Dr. Doney’s lecture to Company A. Thanks to Michel Boquet for finding this article.

During WWI the YMCA was a different organization than we think of today. According to The History of the YMCA in WWI the ‘Y’ provided 90% of the welfare services available to the military both at home and overseas. The Red Cross and USO were not yet the organizations we think of today During the ‘Great War’ 35,000 YMCA volunteers worked to meet the welfare of our forces overseas. Of the men and women working with the YMCA there were 286 casualties during the first world war.

Thursday Mar 7-” … Mother’s birthday”

Poppa was thinking of his mother on her 54th birthday. His mother was Eliza Duff Jamieson (3/7/1864- 1/30/1943).

Poppa’s parents Eliza and Addison Jamieson in their wedding photo. Nov 17, 1886.

Friday Mar 8– “Minstrel show tonight. Nuff Said.”

Poster advertising a minstrel show staged by American soldiers in WWI. Note the handwritten addition indicating that it would be held at the Y.M.C.A.

Update from last week’s blog entry: Poppa’s handwriting made it difficult to tell who donated Victrola phonographs to the soldiers. This article from the 20th Engineers First Battalion newspaper dated March 10, 1918 confirms that it was Mrs. Hartwick, wife of their commanding officer.

An article from the 1st Battalion newspaper published March 10, 1918. Thanks to Michel Boquet for finding this.

Next Week: A Visitor Arrives by Aeroplane

Sources:

The History of the YMCA in World War I. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2017.

“Optimism at Armageddon.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2018.

“Harvard’s Military Record in the World War.” Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2018.