Anecdotes of the 12th Engineers - November 20, 1917 - March 1918
Transcript
General Biddle came around to inspect the troops at Montigny one day. Up on the hill the Mump squad was lined up and after Colonel Townsend and the General had inspected the companies they climbed up to the mump squad. I think it was Babb. Do you remember Sgt. Babb of E Company. Real short fellow; bent over. Very hard of hearing. He was on the right end of the line and commanded the squad. Colonel Townsend and the General approached from the left side. That was just like the old Colonel. He always was coming up from the wrong side. When they came on a line with the left file they halted and the Colonel ordered
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How many members of the 12th Engineers have war souvenirs of sentimental value such as mine. I have a photograph, a clipping, and memories. It was a moonlit night in March 1918 on the Somme. Boche bombers were over. Grass cutters were sowing death near Roisel. Fritz had his end gates kicked loose and that oppressive um-um-um came nearer-now menacingly over me, then whump-flash-crash, and a cry of anguish. Another Tommy bumped off I thought as I ran to a wrecked dugout nearby. Well, he wasn
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They were out on an ammunition spur just before the S. Mihiel Push. The Bosche were cuttin
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A solicitous old lady was making her rounds in an army hospital when she came upon a rather dejected looking soldier from the so-called
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The Cambrai drive of [November] 20, 1917 was the first occasion on which an opportunity was given to see a field hospital working at top speed, and to the men of the 12th, accustomed as they were to the slow and methodical methods used in peace time hospitals, the speed and dispatch with which even major operations were carried out were a source of much wonder. Sergeant Harper was describing this one day to a bunch of men and they all seemed very deeply moved until finally, with an air of unconcern and with a grim humor, which only a soldier can appreciate, he said
Transcript
The daily comedy (or was it tragedy) enacted on the muddy parade grounds of Sorcy and known in regimental orders as Formal Guard Mount, had proceeded smoothly and with nary a slip and the disappointed spectators began to fear that it would really be pulled off as per the blue book, when the following dialogue occurred. Adjutant (glancing toward the band) Sound Off. Pvt. Lyndell (No. 1 in front rank) One. Montigny Advice. Capt. Dunaway.
Details
| Title | Anecdotes of the 12th Engineers - November 20, 1917 - March 1918 |
| Creator | Unknown |
| Source | Unknown. Anecdotes of the 12th Engineers. 20 November 1917- March 1918. World War I Collection. A1771. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | These anecdotes detailed the 12th Engineers role in the German bombings on the Somme, the battle of Cambrai as well as military life in general. Two of the anecdotes were about |
| Subject LCSH | United States. Army. 12th Engineers; Bombing, Aerial; Saint-Mihiel, Battle of, Saint-Mihiel, France, 1918; Cambrai, Battle of, 1917; Gas masks |
| Subject Local | World War I; WWI |
| Site Accession Number | A1771 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | November 20, 1917- March 1918 |
| Language | English |