A Diary from World War I
This is the Part 2 of the diary of Nate Arnot, a 26-year-old American stationed in France with the Meteorological Section of the Signal Corps for the American Expeditionary Forces. To read Part 1 of the diary, click here.
Sept 25, 1918 Wed. Considerable artillery action all last night. Slept till noon. Fixed up our shack some more today. About 6 pm the Germans put considerable shrapnel over our heads. We got under our 6” I Beams for protection. The shrapnel has a wicked crack followed by the whistling of the slugs. Very entertaining to say the least. Took the observation outside in spite of the fire nevertheless. Duty first?! Cheers. Am writing this at midnight. At 11:30 a heavy cannonading started from our side. The big guns are pounding the Dutch all along the line.
Sept 26, 1918 – Thurs. 1:00 am. The guns are still firing fast and furious. The sky is cloudy and is all lighted up red from the flashes of the guns. Sounds like thunder. Bang!! Then the rush of air behind the shell well on its way to Germany. It’s great stuff. In the direction of Metz the sky is very red as if a big fire were burning.
Later. The road nearby was heavily shelled this morning as a detachment of Engineers moved up the line. No damage except at Essey where a shell hitting a field kitchen killed three men. A report at 9:30 is to the effect that an advance was made in the Champagne country to a depth of 4 to 5 kilometers. In the evening our truck arrived from Colombey-les-Belles – with another man and a cook stove to take the place of our conquered Dutch range which is slightly dented up etc. Little or no shell fire up to midnight.
Sept 27, 1916 [1918] – Friday 4:00 am. Germans have been putting up numerous flares which light the whole sky up a deep red. They are evidently expecting something to come their way. Later: Little shelling the rest of the night but at noon things were quite lively on both sides. We got a quarter of fresh beef today, the first in weeks. Abe and I cut it up and put out some good steaks for supper. We are doing the cooking at present for the 16 men here. The Americans shelled the Dutch quite heavily up to midnight with large calibre guns.
Sept 28 1918 – Sat. 1:15 am. Considerable shelling going on at present, mostly going over. In the afternoon we were shelled again. Most of the HE’s burst in the air over the road nearby. Abe and I cooked a roast for supper which was excellent. The field stove just received from Headquarters is a dandy.
Sept 29, 1918 – Sunday. Things were quiet up to 4:00pm when the Dutch put over some good-sized ones. Too rainy for much air work today.
Sept 30, 1918 – Monday. Rained today and the wind is high. At night the Dutch threw over their H.E.’s and shrapnel. Shelling was extra severe tonight. Gas was put over but the wind kept things clear here. Good news from other fronts continues to come in. Looks like Bulgaria and Turkey are about finished.
Oct. 1, 1918 – Tues. Very cold last night. -1 degree C. Ice froze on our wheelbarrow full of water. Got little sleep last night between the Hun shells, fleas, and the cold. We heard today that Bulgaria had surrendered and that Cambrai had fallen. Abe went to Headquarters today with Bill and brought back lots of mail and dope to exist on.
Oct 2, 1918. Nothing unusual today. Got shelled as usual. Last night lots of gas was put over by the Boche.
Oct 3, 1918 – Thurs. Got shelled today. 15 horses and 4 men in one battery of artillery were killed by an 8” shell. Knott went to the Hospital today with a bad ankle.
Oct 4, 1918 – Friday – Lt. Green and Cpt. Tiesen arrived from H.Q. with a cook and the payroll. Thank Heavens Abe and I won’t have to cook any more. Some shelling last night by Huns.
Oct 5, 1918 – Sat – Lots of Air activity today. Some Huns came over and the air was full of antiaircraft shell. The Boche accomplished nothing. A large calibre gun or battery shelled Essey this evening. Bill and Lieut. Scott went to H.Q. and Toul today to see Knott in the Hospital.
Oct 6, 1918. More air activity today. Rained today. 15th Balloon Co. moved in near us today. Good deal of shelling and flares tonight.
Oct 7, 1918 Mon. We made over our kitchen today, discovering numerous bags of powder in the walls etc. We have a regular dump now. Not much war activity until night when the Artillery turned loose.
Oct 8, 1918 – Tues. Rained like h—l today. Beaucoup mud. Boche balloons are up again today looking us over. A few shells are coming over. At night there was lots of artillery action. Shells lit pretty close to our post. Had a narrow escape from falling shell fragments from antiaircraft shell today. They have a wicked whistle when they fall.
Oct 9, 1918 – Wed. Drew rations today including another quarter of beef. Very quiet all along the line today due to the rain.
Oct 10, 1918 – Thurs. More avions today. Took another walk to the trenches and found lots of trench mortar shells, grenades, and a dead German. Not many shells today but the Americans strafed the Dutch at night.
Oct 11, 1918 – Went to a new section of no man’s land today and found a bunch of small grenades among other things. Discovered 2 mine craters 100 feet across and 30’ deep. Whole dugouts were blown clear out. Found several human bones and a shoe with a foot in it, blown off at the ankle. The ground is one mass of trenches, shell holes, barbed wire, duds, shell fragments, old gas tanks, air bombs, sand bags, 6” I Beams, rails, clothing and equipment. Dugouts were blown to pieces, others had been buried completely. Those that remain are nearly full of water. The allied trenches are a quarter of a mile away or less and trenches actually join the two systems together. The Germans had filled these trenches with dense masses of barbed wire. A very dense line of wire entanglements marks the approximate front line of the Germans and also similar ones can be seen in front of the allied lines. A fine view of the surrounding country can be seen from the hill crest which was no man’s land. Fleury is not far away, all shot to pieces. A railroad bridge with one end down is just beyond. It was blown up by the French in 1914. Seichaprey, where the Americans fought their first battle, is in the distance. Montsec the famous stronghold looms up in the rear. For miles back, all the open fields are covered with lines of barbed wire and pill boxes command all possible passages through the country.
Oct 12, 1918 – Sat. Nothing today except rain.
Oct 13, 1918 – Sun. – A battery of 6 guns shelled us at 4:00 am. Rumors of peace are coming out at frequent intervals, but when we hear the guns going we put them down as bilk. Our guns are shooting some over now. Dutch are returning a few. At night the Americans put up a heavy bombardment intermittently for 6 hrs.
Oct 14. Nothing much doing today. Visibility very poor.
Oct 15, Tues. Rain all day. everything very quiet. Bill & Lt. Scott went to Colombey les belles and brought back cigars and mail.
Oct 16, Wed. More rain. Tore down an old dugout to get material for a new shack which McCulla [McCullough] and I have started.
Oct 17 – Thurs – Nothing stirring today.
Oct 18 – Searched some more German dugouts today for furniture. Found plenty of tables, chairs, etc. Mac & I have found a good dugout and stove and will move in tomorrow. Too cold and wet on the surface.
Oct 19 – Sat – Moved into the dugout today and all ready for winter. Got shelled last night but no material damage. Cleared up enough for sausage balloons to fly.
Oct 20. Sun – Rained all day. Put out a wash. Chopped wood for night crew. 3 new men arrive – Botts and Bill leave for Hdqtrs. Rotten day.
Oct 21 – Mon. Got shelled again last night for about 2 hrs. Otherwise quiet. Cleared up enough to allow the balloons to fly.
Oct 22 – Tues. Last night one brigade of the 28th Div. raided the German trenched [trenches] in order to secure a few prisoners. The barrage started at 1:30 sharp and lasted for about 3 hours. They got 38 prisoners from whom to gather information. Today was cloudy again. Nothing much doing.
Oct 23 – Wed. Cleared up today. Lots of airplane work. Air full of anti-aircraft puffs all day long. Considerable shelling from this side at night. Lt. Scott went to H.Q. and brought back mail and smokes.
Oct 24. Thurs. Too cloudy for the planes or sausages today. A little artillery at night from the Dutch.
Oct 25 – Friday – Gas attack a little further up the line last night.
Oct 25 – Sat. Nothing today.
Oct 27 – Sun. A large number of shell came over last night. Cleared up today allowing much air activity. At night the Americans put over a terrific bombardment for about an hour. It continued further up the line. The radio generator went on the blink. Fixed same.
Oct 28 – Mon. Was awakened this morning by anti aircraft shell bursting low overhead. The Boche plane beat it. Has been considerable air activity all day. A few minutes ago the Balloon of the 15th Co. was attacked by 7 Boche planes which dived in turn from a great height and fired at the bag. The observers jumped and landed O.K. The balloon was not set on fire. A poor showing for 7 planes. One bullet just missed Peterman and I.
Oct 29, Tues. More air activity today. Air full of A.A.A. puffs.
Oct 30, Wed. Balloon of 19th Co. was burned today by Boche aviator. Took 3 trys getting it on the 3rd. Observers jumped and landed O.K. Dozens of planes over today.
Oct. 31 – Thurs. More planes today. Schedule of obs changed. Got shelled tonight. Wisdom tooth pulled at Ersey.
Nov 1 – Friday – Moved into another dugout today. Put a door in the kitchen. News of Turkey quitting today.
Nov 2 – Artillery of 85 Div. moving in. We quarter 4 officers and numerous men in all sorts of dugouts, in the kitchen and under A Board. Rain today.
Nov 3 – Sun. – Artillery still here. Will bunk here again tonight. Balloon were up again today, it clearing up. Some Boche came over and dropped lots of propaganda.
Nov 4, 1918 – Mon. Heard of Austria’s surrender today. Part of 329th Artillery goes into position.
Barrage and Bombardment started at 5 am and Americans go over top and take 7 kilometers on short front – many prisoners. Got shelled today. Slept most of day, being on night shift again. Capt. of Bat. A – 329th Artillery used my bed last night. The officers of this organization are a good bunch.
Nov 5. Tues. – Slept till 3:30 pm and was awakened by machine gun fire. Came out of dugout in time to see Boche plane shoot the balloon of the 15th Co. and set it on fire. Observers jumped and landed O.K. Another Boche plane was shot down nearby today.
Nov 6 – Wed. Slept all day – Nothing much stirring out of the ordinary.
Nov 7 – Thurs. – Heard that Germany is crying for peace again. No activity here. Lots of crabbing about the Meteor [unit] these days. Poker in evening with Wells, Nielan, Peterman, Blakslee, Povriance and self. Lost 1 franc only –
Nov 8 – Friday. Going to bed at 7 am after night’s work. Nothing much doing all day.
Nov 9 – Sat – German Envoy on way to Foch to conclude armistice. Heavy shelling in this region. Learned of Kaiser’s abdication tonight.
Nov 10, 1918 – Sunday – Americans went over the top this morning and took all objectives in a few hours. Many German prisoners and dead. Heard that the messenger from the German Envoy was on his way back to the French lines. Later – Germany instructs the Envoy to accept Allied terms.
Nov 11, 1918 – Germany agrees to all of Foch’s terms and signs armistice. The Artillery put up a tremendous bombardment all morning as a parting swat at the Dutch. A few minutes before 11:00 am the firing was terrific and at 11:00 sharp all suddenly ceased. The war is all over except the shouting. The French are wild with joy – Beaucoup hugs etc. Church bells in the villages are ringing and whistles are blowing. It’s a great day for everybody. All is now quiet on the front – Not a sound except the immense amount of traffic upon the road. Took a walk up towards the lines to see the finish. Expect orders to stop some of our work any time now.
Nov 12 – Tuesday – Everybody happy and drunk. Work goes on as usual.
Nov 13, 1918 – Wed. Took a long walk with Wells and Nielan today up to Mon Plaisir Farm which the doughboys captured from the Dutch the last day of fighting. Several dead still lying about. Went thru Bullionucle, Janvry – Throucourt, etc. Country is thickly wooded and very hilly. Only a few outposts hold the line. Saw Germans on outpost duty at the Farm. Everyone is preparing to follow the Huns into Germny.
Nov 14, 1918 – Thurs. Very cold today. Work as usual – Got promoted to corporal beginning on Nov 1. Talk of MSL [possibly his Meteor unit] moving to the Rhine with the 4th Army Corps.
Nov 15, 1918 – Friday – Truckload of sightseers arrive from Colombey-les-Belles. Knott comes back to stay. More talk of joining the grand procession to the Rhine.
Nov 16, 1918 – Sat. Walked thru the woods again today. Preparing to send extra baggage back to H.Q. Scott goes to Columbey les Belles. Radio men leave.
Nov 17, 1918 – Sunday – Plugged up some of the numerous holes in the office walls to keep out zero weather. Packed excess dope for H.Q. Go on night shift tonight. Everything very quiet now on front. Frankenfield is visiting us.
Nov 18, 1918 – Mon. – Truck arrives from H.Q. with rations. Takes back excess luggage, etc. Went thru some more trenches.
Nov 19, 1918 – Tues. Another walk today. Learned that we are not to go to Germany but to return to Headqtrs on Thursday. Sent up lots of rockets and flares tonight.
Nov 20, 1918, Wed. – Another walk into the trenches – Blew up instrument shelter with grenade – More fireworks tonight. Packed up station preparatory to moving back tomorrow.
Nov 21, 1918 – Thurs – Moved to Headquarters today at Columbey les Belles – A small town in center of numerous aviation fields. In barracks [half a] kilo from H.Q. Beer in eve.
Nov 22, 1918 – Friday – Loafed around today. Nothing much doing. Packing up equipment preparatory to moving home.
Nov 23, 1918 – Sat. – On duty today as guard of barracks. Last night MSL sent up numerous rockets and flares which we brought in from the front.
Nov 24, 1918 – Sun. Went to Neufchateau today with Knott and Waller – riding on trucks. Had a good visit. Rained at night.
Nov 25, 1918 – Mon. Everybody kicking today as usual.
Nov 26, 1918 – Tues. – Took a trip to Voucoulere and Domremy and Neufchateau today with Walter and Knott – Fine trip.
[Diary will continue in Part 3.]
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*Published courtesy of the Alpine County Historical Society, which owns the diary of Nate Arnot.