William Miller's WWI Diary-Part 5

This portion of William Miller’s diary covers his time at the front before and during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive until Armistice Day. He was at and near the front for the duration of the war supplying ammunition to the field artillery units. His unit, the 305 Ammunition Train, remained with the 80th Division until October 14, 1918 when most of the Division was rotated out from the front. As was typical, the field artillery and supporting ammunition train units, of which there were insufficient units, were not relieved. William’s unit and the 155th Field Artillery Brigade remained at the front, apparently with the 90th Division.

This map provides an overview of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. William’s unit was part of the III Corps, First Army. A few of the places mentioned in the diary are marked.

See below for a more extensive listing of towns associated with his ammunition hauling.

William Miller Diary, September 17-November 11, 1918.

Sept. 17 Left with 5 trucks for other camp about blank K.M. arrived about

[Based on Oct 3 entry, this camp was at Baleycourt near Verdun]

Sept. 18 Loafed around camp untill about 4 P.M. Was then assigned a truck No. 410473 and went on Detail all night got back to Camp at 4 A.M. of 19th Rained some

Sept. 19 Rained quite hard all day I worked on truck Went on Tr. detail at about 5 (?) P.M. was out untill about 10 A.M. of 20 Rained hard all night

Sept. 20 Still raining. Went on Tr. Detail at about 4 P.M. arrived back in camp at 5-30 A.M. of 21st.

Sept. 21 Still raining Went on Detail Stand-by in Trucks at 7 P.M. Were not called out so returned to Camp at 6 A.M. of 22nd

Sept. 22 Sunday. All Drivers and helpers worked on trucks all day Rained hard. All available trucks (19) went on amm. Detail at about 5 P.M. and Hauled amm. all night

Sept. 23 Hauled amm. all day and untill about 10 P.M. I hauled first load right up to Batteries Huns tried hard to get us with shells and shrapnel

Sept. 24 Arrived back in Camp at about 1 A.M. Left 5 trucks at dump. Left Camp about 5 P.M. hauled 1 load each of powder fuses etc. to battery positions. Arrived in Camp about 1-30 A.M. of 25

Sept. 25 I worked all day on My truck so did not go out

Sept. 26 Left about 1 P.M. on amm. detail. hauled powder charges and fuses to artillery positions which started fierce cannonade at about 11 Oclock P.M. arrived in camp about 4 A.M. of 27th

[The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began on this date]

Sept. 27 Left at about noon Hauled shells up to artillery positions Rained hard very muddy I got stuck but

Sept. 28 delivered shells at about 7 P.M. of 28th. arrived in camp at 11 A.M. of 29th.

Sept. 29 Did not go out.

Sept. 30 I took My truck to M.O. shop at Homerville arrived at about 11-30 A.M.

[I could find no French town named Homerville. Probably an American pronunciation of Fromerville]

Oct. 1 Helped put in new bearing in truck at M.O. finished about 4-30 P.M. arrived back in Camp at 5 P.M. and went on Amm. Detail

Oct. 2 On amm. detail untill about 2 A.M. Did not go out again

Oct. 3 Moved from Camp Baleycourt at 6 A.M. Went in Camp near Esne. I went on detail at 12-30 P.M. on all night

Oct. 4 On some detail hauling amm. to 315 Art.

Oct. 5 Busy day and night hauling amm. 5th to 8th

Oct. 5th to 30 Liveing in dug-outs trenches etc also dug in shelter-halves rain every day very disagreeable Wagonors and helpers staying at Dumps Company in Camp further back. Dump and quarters shelled with high-explosive shells and gas almost every day
(following written in margin) Camp shelled Oct. 23, at 6 P.M. and Otto Shramm killed.

[The first few days of the offensive made relatively easy progress as the Germans withdrew to a secondary line of defense. After October 5, progress was more difficult and deadly. While one wishes for a detailed account, the absence of entries indicates how difficult a time this was. Family lore says that Grandpa Miller was asleep without a mask when a gas attack occurred. Presumably that occurred during this period.]

Oct. 30 Amm. Tr. moved up to new dump at Cunal Shelled by Jerry hard in afternoon and at night Our Artillery started big barrage at 3 A.M. of 31

Oct. 31 Con. Barr. Untill 6 P.M. Infantry advanced 8 K.M.

Nov. 1 Nice day but very cold at night. Infantry still advanceing

Nov. 2 Very wet, disagreeable day.

Nov. 3 Moved from Cunal to Villiars

Nov. 4 to 11 Busy every day and night hauling amm. Hostilities ceased at 11 O’clock of Nov. 11 I hauled last two loads to 314 and 315th on 11th and 12th

[A separate listing is given of the towns in his sector. These are marked on a modern map below.]

Click on map to enlarge