The diamond drill., 1919-04-05
lust d rth OF Epieds where the Bat
terry iemained preparatory to going

tolls farm August oths 1913 anu went
into position at Cherry Chartreuye.
where il received its baptism OF fire
and fired its first shot on the after
aeon OF August 10th, 1918. The sec
tor covered was the north bank OF the
vesle east of'Fismes. The stay on
the vesle was marked by no unusual
occurrances and the Battery was re-
lioved on the night of August 10th,
1913 by ''F" Battery OF the 304th Field
Artillery.
This short stay on the Vesle sector
had the great advantage OF accustom-
Inc the men to actual conditions on
the front and in giving them self-con-
ildence and assurance and instructing
! them in the arduous task OF occupncy
and preparation OF Battery positions.
No casualties were suffered and the
battery started It's march south and
east TO a new sector on the night of
August 18th, 1918. Arrived at Roches-
sur-Rognon for a six days rest on
August 22nd to 2Sth, 1918. The Bat
terry left Roches-sur-Ro Rognon for an
unknown destination on the night ol
August 29th. 1918. Arrived at Les
Machines Farm September 1st, 1918
where another brief halt was made
from September 1st to September 7th,
1918, awaiting orders. The Battery
left Les Machines Farm on the night
OF September 7th. 1918. and, proceed
ed TO Rupt sur Void not far from
Moully and the following night went
into position southwest OF Moully.
The Battery opened fire at 100 a.
m, September 18th, 1918, with har-
RAISING fire followed by rolling bar
rage in support OF the advance OF the
10th Division which went forward on
the morning Of the 18th in an attack
which was later to be known as the
"St. Mihiel offensive" The Battery
moved forward supporting the infant
ry on the afternoon OF the 18th and
took up a position near Dommartin
on the evening of September 18th.
IL was relieved there on the night of
September 14th by Battery of the
lOlst Field Artillery and returned 10
its old echelon at Rupt sur Void TO
move on the following night to a
woods near Ancemont after a brief
halt there the Battery moved north !
and west to the ancient battle ground |
before Verdun and went into position |
near Hill 3O4, September 2Srd, 1918.
The Battery fired rolling barrage |
from $500 TO $3.50 a. m, September &c, |
in support OF the attack which was |
later TO be known as the Meuse-Ar- |
gonne offensive. Immediately after
the completion of the barrage the Bat !
tery moved forward behind the ad-
vancing infantry and took up a posi-
tion on the night OF the 26th, west OF
Cuisy, being the first Battery to push
10 this advance position. The
battery fred all day September 9th
and rs, and at l a. m, September 29th,
a day which will always be remember
ed by the members OF Battery "F".
moved forward to new position on
the outskirts Of the Bois-de-Septsar-
ges. II was here that the Battery first
concentrated fire from
the enemy which was unmistakably di-
rected at the Battery Bombardment
OF high explosives and gas was kept
up the entire day, and became SO
severe that the gun squads were fore
ed to seek cover TO the flank.
II was about 4:3O in the afternoon
that the bombardment reached It's
greatest height and the Battery suf- :,
fered severely. Captain Charles b.
Duncan, Battery commander, who
had been with the Battery since its
organization, was wounded by shell /
fragment which later caused his death
in a field hospital at Cuisy September
30, 1918. First Lieut.. Herbert ]
Burke was severely gassed and was
later evacuated To a base hospital; |
Chief Mechanic Leonard f. Thoma |
was severely wounded; Private First
Glass Harry G. Nord; Privates Chas. /
+. Mccain. and George westland
were slightly wounded; Corporal Gil
bert r. Gunnett and Private Alfred |
Lozier were slightly gassed.
II was at this position that Captain
Duncan, shortly before he was wound
ed, displayed extraordinary heroism
in extinguishlng a fire which threaten
ed the ammunition dump and was as