This post is a transcription of Irv's WWI diary. The diary covers only June 29,1918 through Sept. 26, 1918, when he was injured. His entries, or lack of, show how boring/mundane the first six weeks must have been. I sometimes had trouble reading his writing, so place misspellings may be my error.
My comments are in italics.
The first time I read this diary, I realized where my (sometimes inappropriate) sense of humor, and that of my siblings, originated. It's genetic!! Not my fault!
Property of Crpl. Irvin H. Martin
5th Trench Mortar Battery
American Expeditionary Forces
France
DIARY OF THE WORLD WAR
1917-1918
Romsey, England
June 29, 1918 Received orders to leave today. Arrived at South Amptoy 3pm.
June 30, 1918 On ship 6am. Woke up of the French Coast after sleeping on hard boards. Clothes white washed.
July 1, 1918, Mon. We are in LeHavre. Last night we were awakened by an air raid.
July 2, 1918, Tues. Left LeHavre 8:30am.
July 3, 1918 We stopped two miles out of Paris. We passed the Marne battlefield of 1914.
July 4, 1918, Thurs. Stopped at Chaumont. Had to push our train uphill.
July 5, 1918 Left Besancon and arrived at Valdahon Artillery Training Camp.
July 6 Drilled half day. Nothing more of interest.
July 21, 1918 Sgt. Bradley shop by private.
July 22, 1918 Left Valdahon for front. Slept on train.
July 23, 1918 Arrived at place called Laveline. Left tonight for the front.
July 24, 1918 At the front. A place called LaPaire.
Aug. 15, 1918 We are digging gun positions.
Aug. 16, 1918 Still digging. Germans have not located us yet so we are safe.
Aug. 17, 1918 4:40am We fired at 4:00am. 7:00am Germans trying to stop our advance. We were fired upon heavily by Boche machine guns in the attack. We are still going. Have captured Frappel-Saale.
Aug. 25, 1918 Were relieved last night by 92nd division. Leaving tonight. Our trucks were shelled while leaving and I thought my time had come.
Aug 26, 1918 We are in Epinal. Very nice city. Was arrested for being in city without pass.
Aug. 27, 1918 Was released today by our Capt. Was paid today and had lots to eat.
Aug. 28, 1918 Left today for some other front.
Aug. 29, 1918 Had trouble with one of the sgts. and had to put him out of action.
Sept. 1, 1918 Was made corporal today. Have been in Baineville two or three days now.
Sept. 9, 1918 We are at the Metz Front ready for the drive. More artillery here than I ever saw before. 19th, 20th & 21st F.A. setting hub to hub on one of other roads.
Sept. 11, 1918 Going into the trenches tonight. Well we are here & things are rather quiet. Well it is 1:00am & we are off.
Sept. 12, 1918 Will have to stop until we are through firing. 6:00am We have started to advance & we need motor cars to keep up with the Boche. They are some travelers. 3:00pm The 5th F.A. Brigade was complimented by Gen. Pershing for their fast work.
Sept. 13, 1918 We are moving up to Thiaucourt tonight. Germans are shelling the roads & it is hard to get through.
Sept. 18, 1918 Leaving Thiaucourt this a.m. It sure is hell the way they shell the roads & our artillery positions. A wireless operator of the 21st F.A. was killed this am as we were passing. The Germans shelled an ammunition dump that had formerly been held by them before the big drive, but our engineers had removed all ammunition. Some 14 inch Howitzer Battery digging in where we were located. Last night I & Sgt. Raymond Palmer made high steps for an old rock quarry when the Germans shelled our positions. Ray & I were standing in the road by the quarry when Atkins passed us headed for it. Big shell just struck kitchen. Atkins said he was just starting to shave & when he heard the shell coming, finished with one stroke of his razor. More rain. Dismal weather. It is reported we are going Hell, Heaven or Hoboken before Christmas. Probably Hell. Were relieved by 78th division. 10 o'clock...night. Are moving back to same positions as Germans are causing uproar among new troops. (Raymond Palmer is the person who Uncle Bus was named for.)
Sept. 19th Same old story. We were going to rest camp & ended at another place called Monteauville on front.
Sept. 20th We have established two gun positions about 6 miles from here. The positions are about 3 miles apart. Writing conditions are bad so you must excuse it.
Sept. 21st Saw a train loaded with ammunition go by today on one of those toy narrow gauge tracks, and who got off to throw a switch, but Joe Riley. It certainly did me good to meet someone from home.
Sept. 22nd Moved two guns to new positions & fired this a.m. Had a hole dug & 8ft. long by 4ft. wide by 4 ft. deep to put wounded in. The Germans rushed up with trench mortars to destroy our mortars, but we beat them to it. They used 1 pounders on us too. Willie Moore & I were in the hole first. Were not wounded either. You know, "Safety First."
Sept. 23rd Moved the two guns back to former positions. Got work just now that the Boche are coming over. Are all set to receive them. Two hours later--Well we received them and instead of being a big advance it was a raiding party, but we were doing the raiding before they had gone 500 yds.
Sept. 24th Have started to the other position to establish telephone communications with our echelon. Nothing more of interest today except that they (the Germans) blew up our beans and coffee so won't eat until tomorrow.
Sept. 25th Lots of rain, but drinking water hard to get. Had to shave with coffee today. Have not had bath since we struck the front. Won't need one if they keep shelling like this.
Sept. 26th Wounded south of Thiaucourt. Back and head badly torn by shrapnel. Treated by doctor at some infantry outpost field hospital of 7 division. Looks like they will have to make a new smeller for me. My face is swollen so bad my eyes are almost closed.
The story Irv told, and my mother has passed on, is that the doctors made him a new nose from the knuckle of a thumb of a German. I always thought that was cool (and true) until I realized, "a transplant in 1918? Really?"
