Thursday August 22nd, 1918
Better again. Medical Officer says I can get up for two hours today. Hope to get away tomorrow. Wrote home.
Americans in Action
General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force, did not want his troops to be used to fill in gaps in the British and French forces. However, his Allies were concerned that the AEF was untested in battle.
This issue was somewhat resolved in the desperate days of Germany’s Spring Offensive, when Pershing allowed his troops to come under the command of the British and French. As such, the four available American divisions gained combat experience on the Western Front.
By the end of May, the American-led 1st Division of the AEF achieved victory in its first offensive action at the Battle of Catigny. This was quickly followed by the action of the 2nd Division at Belleau Wood early in June. These victories encouraged Pershing to push for the deployment of an independent US field army.
On July 4th, about 1,000 American troops were incorporated into Australian formations to fight in the innovative and successful Battle of Hamel.
The photograph shows American gunners preparing a 155mm gun for action near Chery-Chartreuve on August 10th, 1918.
From these early beginnings, the American Expeditionary Force will go on to play a significant part in the closing months of the war.
Curiosity
In August, The Guardian reported the following, under the heading ‘American Battle Eagerness’.
The decoration by King George of four American lieutenants and fifteen soldiers who helped the British forces in the capture of Hamel (south of the Somme) on July 4 has brought to light a dramatic story for which Mr Baker, the [US] Secretary of War, vouches. According to Mr Baker, some American troops brigaded with the British were ordered to the rear after the orders came for the British to go to the front line, it being considered not advisable to expose the Americans to battle because of their incomplete training. The order was a terrible disappointment to the Americans who pleaded in vain to be given a chance to get at the enemy. After the Germans had been thrown out of the village, there were found among the casualties a number of Americans from Chicago and other places in the Middle West who had borrowed Australian uniforms and in this disguise join in the battle.
Mr Baker, in telling the story, admitted that the Americans who thus camouflaged themselves in Australian uniforms were guilty of a breach of discipline, but, as they were brigaded with the British it was for the British to deal with their offence. King George appears, said Mr Baker, to have dealt with these irrepressible fighters by decorating them for bravery.’²
This puts a slightly different slant on the Battle of Hamel. Certainly some American troops were released from the action to meld better with the Australian units. Perhaps some of them didn’t like to be left out.
9th Battalion / Manchester Regiment War Diary – 22nd August 1918 – Haudricourt
Training and work as per programme. Capt the Reverend EP Raithby CE is attached for duty. 2Lt AV Hedges MC proceeded on leave to UK. Programme of Training and Work for 23rd & 24th inst issued (Appendix No 7).
References & Further Reading
¹ AEF on Wikipedia
² The Guardian, August 17th, 1918, page 6
^ Q 58206, copyright Imperial War Museums