The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-27
GREELYVILLE MAN
WRITES OF 3OTH
EXTRACTS FROM DAIRY vi
sERGT. THOMAS P. HOGAN.
Over Top Many Times
How the Thirtieth Set Out to Make
Glorious Name and Succeeded.
in Doing So.

q Mrs. T. J. Hogan, of Greelseyvllle'
sends The Sunday news letter from
her son. Sergt. Thomas P. Hogan
, Company D, Hath M. G. Bn., Fifty
ninth brigade, Thirtieth division, for
publication. In his letter Sergt. Ho-
gan saws: CAS- I have never given
Jou much idea of my travels, will 90
90 today. If you can get large map
OF France you, can follow me. VIII
xive it as it appears in my diary, or
the most interesting part of same. "
After detailing his trip across the
Atlantic and the first few days over
seas, Sergt. Hogan gives the follow
ing interesting record, day By day, OF
the great part played by the glorious
Thirtieth:
.sTorce, France, January 10, 1919.
June /, 191S-We have started In
4 on our final training, which is ten
hours Of good work each day. Was
made corporal this afternoon.
July 10-Our training being over
the Thirtieth division started out to
make a glorious name for itself.
"July 1--we went into a reserve
camp at Watou, Belgium. Seemed
somewhat like an American town as
nearly everyone could speak English.
Had a pay day here and the boys all
had good time.
s.July 16-Started for the front,
{ took up reserve gun positions in the
lire. / was put in charge of the Sec
ond section of the second platoon.
aJuly 21-sunday night we left
for the front-line trenches, arriving
there and taking up gun positions
ebout 2 O'Clock next morning. About
3 3 o'clock we received our first real
baptism of fire. The boys seemed to
Ike it fine, but lonely when the guns
were quiet.
Celebrates Birthday in Trenches.
:ss "July 25-My birthday, certainly
lis fine place to celebrate ones birth
day. We witnessed our first air bat
tie. between a British plane and four
German planes. The British was
finally brough down after putting up
q plucky fight.
.tJuly 27-At IL O'Clock tonight
we started out for our.rest camp, af-
ter being in the lines for twelve days.
At s O'Clock. the next morning we
{ had walked twelve miles with full
field equipment, back to our rest
camp; sure felt fine to be out of the
lines, where we could get hot bath,
clean clothes and go to the village
and get something to eat.
August Made sergeant today.
August I've left for the lines
again, this suited us fine as we would
rather be, up where the shells hum
7. than to drill and hike so much.
Twelve o'clock, noon: We have arriv-
ed and taken over our gun positions.
A British airplane fell by one OF my
gun positions this p. m. Made my
first. examination of plane, sure
fixed up fine.
Inspected by King Albert of Belgium.
august 9-A great day! Our
company was selected from the bat
talon and with a company of British
Tommies was inspected by the King
and Queen of Belgium. I think if
had to live under the rule of king
would choose King Albert of Bel
gium. He paid us a great compli-
ment: Said we were the finest bunch
of fellows he ever saw. We left the
( lines after we were inspected and re-
turned to our rest camp. This is our
second trip to the lines, hope I will
always be as lucky.
September 6-We packed up and
loaded on a train. Where we were
going no one knew. We left Bel
GUM and are now again in Sunny
France
"September I've arrived at HUI
cler, France, where we stayed for a
few days, long enough for
Bennett and myself to go A. W. o,
L. and get confined for a few days.
September 1S-Well, we are on
the move again. We have now been
made into.a shock division. Guess
this means we will be moving all OF
the time now.
"September 22-Moved again, this
time it was to the front again. We
were loaded on motor lories this
time and did not have so much hik-
ing today. We unloaded near. Lin
court, about eight miles behind the
front line. This is the Somme front
ho&-oo, N,,or{;D on5