Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-07-23

boIkGES, FRANCE, July ;, ISAN.
To the Editor Of the ELLSWORTH American
Thinking that perhaps it might be Of
interest to your readers, am giving you
a short description OF the work still being
done in the Central Records Office at
Bourges, France.
The Central Records Office is a branch
OF the army service corps, and deals with
the history OF each individual soldier in
the American Expeditionary Forces from
the time he leaves the States for foreign
service until he is returned and receives
his discharge. This Office was first started
at Tours, France, certain men being
assigned to this organization, Shortly
after il WAS moved here to Bourges, the
armistice was signed. This greatly IN
creased the work and more help was
needed. Consequently, as each division
sailed for the States, men who had little
clerical experience were picked from their
organization and sent here for duty. This
Is my particular case. as well as about
three or four thousand others. For the
past SIX month"; we have had force Of
six thousand soldiers and five TO six hun
dred girls from Great Britain of Queen
Mary auxiliary army corps.
The records office is divided INTO many
departments. The service record is one
of the important ones. To this office was
sent every record OF each man who was
killed in action, wounded, sent 10 a hos
pital, or in any other way was separated
from his organization; also, each man
who became casual. These records we're
then properly written Up and filed. Then,
as each man returned to the States. his
record was forwarded to that particular
organization with which he sailed.
Records Of those men who were killed in
action or died from other causes were
returned to the adjutant general of the
army. 1t was with this department that
/ worked for five and one-half months.
The locator card depart ment is said to
be one of the largest single file systems
under our government. This contains the
address OF each soldier in the A. E. f.
Each time ne changes his organization
these cards, too, must be changed, and
when he finally returns to the States, it is
thus marked and his card is completed.
The hospital department is a very i'm
portant one. On the fifteenth OF Nav
there remained 900, entries to be made.
Yesterday there were but los, 600. Then
these have to be filed. This is the de-
partment that am now working in, and
we expect this TO be our last job. An
other big department is the master card
section. This contains the record OF each
soldier from the time he enlisted until he
is discharged. 1t is a summary OF all
other entries. at present writing, this is
not to be completed on this side OF the
ocean.
There are many smaller departments, bat
equally as important; namely, the mail
and telegraph; the welfare and inves .iga-
ton department. The Red Cross also has
a welfare depart ment here.
This gives a little idea of the work we
are trying to finish over here. 1t certainly
is big job, but lately the boys are quite
And why should they not
be2 After working hard for many
months, Strengthening out matters so all
our comrades might go home, it seems as
though our turn must come very soon.
FRANK J. DUNLEAvY.