Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-12-25
TROOP|NG WITH CO. +.
KENNETH OYER TELLS OVERSEAS
HISTORY OF PLATTEVILLE co.
MANY MIGRATIONS.
Bots du Camps. Nov. "a.

Bots du Camps, Nov. "a.
Dear Brother:
Here we are in camp just south of
Verlun. This is a small camp situat-
ed IN the Bots Woods. We have been
here since the armistice was signed.
| will write you of our life since we
left New York harbor on Feb. /. 1917
We sailed north to Halifax. Nova
Scotia where we stayed two days and
nights waiting for our convoy to as
semble there. On the morning of the
third day we steamed out of the har-
Dor and met our convoy out at sea.
me second day out was rough and
we all took sea sick so that the first
OF our voyage was not pleasant.
On the morning of the 18th day out
from New York we landed in Liver
pool, England. At Liverpool we got
on board those curious little English
trains and were transported to Camp
Winchester, England.
We visited the old cathedral built
IN the 18th century, also saw the
throne and palace of King George. In
the cathedral were buried many great
men such as the old Saxon kings.
sculptOrs and writer's.
We stayed in England about ten
days and boarded train for South
amptOn, where we -oOk the boat at 7
in the evening.
That night we had our first glimpse
OF real war, as there were hundreds
OF large searchlights working in the
air and on the water.
On the front of our boat was an ar
rangement for cutting mine cables.
The English Channel is very rough.
SO that we had our second siege of
sea sickness. The following morning
we landed at La Havre, France.
FROM rest camp we went to Guerre,
a small village near our training
camp, which was Camp Coetqudon,
where we landed Feb. oath. Here we
remained and trained through all the
branches of an artillery camp.
June 10th we left for the front and
travelled southeast through the prin-
clple cities of France to Belfast. ar
irving there on June 18th. From Bel
fast we went overland to Rappe.
Here we saw the second stages of war
which were numerous aeroplane
fights and artillery fire. This front
in Alsace was very quiet at this time.
From Rape to Vauthemout near the
line of Alsace and Lorraine. Here
we were near dumps and the artil-
lery. Our next move was to Montru.
At Montru on July Is we boarded the
train for our next destination about
Ito kilometers from Chateau Thierry.
We travelled day and night arriving
there July 31st in the evening. The
next day we moved up to the lines
at LaChamel to take our place to
start the turning point of the war.
OF course we started the Germans
on their homeward journey. Next we
went to Reddy's Farm. Here I helped
bury six Huns before we could set
our little kitchen up
The Infantry was advancing so fast
we could not keep up with them so
we were detailed to bury the dead
Aug. 20 we moved to French sec
tor near Scissors We were the only
division 1927 there with the French.
We were right in the fray all the time.
One evening | was sent over to Di-
vision Headquarters with a report.
When | was returning an occasional
shell fell over my head and landed on
the ridge | had to cross. | started
out The shells were going over and
one landed about ten rods ahead of
me right in the middle of the road.
| had to get back, so | decided |
could beat one of those beans. |
jumped on my bike, it was down grade
and believe me | think | should have
left one Of those shells a long way
if they had tried to follow me. | got
back all right. At scissors a Dutch
shell hit near Division Headquarters
aud killed a number of prisoners and
also wounded Andrew Jerrett and
killed two NJ. Ps.
From scissors we moved back to
Massey for a short rest and then back
on the front, near Mountforeon Well
here | shall not say much but l know
that we fellows that are here are
d lucky. We were on the front
until the armistice was signed and
then to this little camp and no furth-
er.
We have been in five battles. Al
SAGE sector June IL to July 13. Sec
Ond battle of the Marine, Chateau
Thierry sector, Battle of Juvigny, Re-
serve Battle of ST. Michel and the
Battle of Argonne and Muesse.
Kenneth Oyer.
107 Am Train 90nd Div