W.J. Warner letter to Frank M. Rumbold - October 20, 1918

Transcript

Camp near Sommedieau October 20 1918 My dear Colonel- Your letter of the 4th and Wire of the 17th received, We have been in camp at this place since the 16th after having been jockyed around from one place to another after having been relieved from the line; We have a mission not unlike that which we took over in the Vosges, and are rendered rather immobile by reason of the depletion of our mobile power, Ihave been greatly in hopes that your physical condition would improve to a point where yu could resume your command, and only realized that such would not be the case on the receipt of the order ordering you back for reclassification. Mr Cristler transmitted to me the information that you gave him at Cheppey, I regret that you were not able to at least get up to my P.C. which was established at Very, with Danny on my right and Horace about 3 Km in advance, It would have done your heart good to have seen the accurate and prompt response that was given by all of the organizations to all the missions that were given to them, at all hours of the day and night. We were relieved on the morning of the 3rd and went back to rest but before we had established ourselves, orders came for us to again take our position on the line, and we were moved up here. Horace occupied a position that was subjected to quite an intens shell fire which resulted in a number of casualties in both the personnel and horses, The last night he was in the position they were subjected to mustard gas whic put out of business quite a number among whom were Horace, Zumwalt and Thomas, they are at present at Base Hospital No 31, as a letter from Horace informs me, He got quite a bad bdose of it in his throat and lungs, his eyes were also affected He is getting along finely but will not be in sape for service againn for amonth or so, the others are doing well and will probably make an earlier recovery. Mallonee was badly burned by the gas and has also been sent to a Hospital, just where he is I have noinformation, Our total casualties were ten killed by shell fire and somewhere around thirty wounded and gassed, Dinkins was wounded by a shell splinter on the first day and was sent to the Hospital, location unknown, McCarthy of [South Carolina] fame was the first one killed in the 1st, a shell fragment removing the entire top of his head while asleep, so he never knew what struck him, You probably know that Alex Skinker, Sauerwein, and Sodeman were killed on the advance into Cheppey, where they were caught under a hell of shell and M.G. fire. Barngrove was seriously injured at Neuville and Iunderstand thst Stepp was killed sometime during the action. A pretty heavy toll of personal friends for the initial battle. Christmann reported back for duty today, looking very good. Danny and his outfit escapedwith slight lossesand a few wounded, and myself and my official family got through unhurt, though there were a number ofBclose escapes Letter just handed me from Dinkins locates him at No 3, he is getting along all right, although his wound, which was in the back was a serious one. he expects to be back in service within sixty days. Have orders to submit recommendations at once for promotion to fill all vacancies existing below my own grade. Dont know how I stand wiht the powers that be, so all I can do is sit tight and hope, Klemm is, I understand, also in a Hospital sick, just how bad off I do not know, Shall be glad to hear from you at any time and wil endevor to keep you posted as to our progress and whereabouts, Hope you land something suited to your administrative ability, though Im inclined to think that good old U.S.A. would offer an irristable appeal to me undervthe circumstances, All hands and the cook send their best wishes and kindest regards. Sincerely yours, W.J.W W.J. Warner [ms illegible: 1 wd] f.a. A.E.F.