HISTORY
OF THE 305th FIELD ARTILLERY
by
Charles Wadsworth Camp
1919
THE DUD
By COLONEL FRED CHARLES DOYLE
On Aug. 22, after an all night engagement during which no
one had slept, Col. F. C. Doyle went to his bunk about
8.00 A. M. for the purpose of laying down for ten or
fifteen minutes. He however changed his mind and decided
first to talk over some matters in general with the Infty
Brigade Comdr. Within 5 minutes after quitting his
quarters a 105 shell ripped through the wall, passed
through his mattress and dropped on the floor of his
room. It failed to explode. Lieuts Willis, Klots and Capt
Fox were in an adjoining room through which the
projectile had also passed. Had the projectile exploded
during its passage through this room all would
undoubtedly have been killed.
THE DUD AGAIN
By SOME EAR-WITNESSES OF THE HEADQUARTERS
COMPANY ORDERLY Room
THE following in a verbatim report submitted by Tailor
Smith, Hq. Co., 305 F.A., of an incident at La Tuilerie.
A shell passed through two rooms of the officers'
quarters above Regimental Headquarters, landing in the
second room-a dud. While a fair measure of success was
attained in reproducing the pronunciation and accent of
the narrator it is with exceeding regret that it is
impossible even to indicate the dramatic delivery with
which the story was told.
DE BIG EXCITEMENTS FON DE DET (DUD)
In a nice mornink I don't rember it de day, before Duffy
vent aveg, in a nice Mornink standink in the Kroinel's
(Colonel's) room vaz located five officers; two rooms ind
five officers. One mornink vaz hot German shellinks; ven
de shellink landit all vaz in de house and all big
excitements. Understand it, all big excitements, 'n I vas
in a little house vere de Kroinel's officers' quarters
leaves. Ven de big shellink started de Kroinel vent out
fon dis house, ind he vent aveg 'n I don't know vere.
After ten minutes ago, der comes arahn Capt. Whelpley,
ven de big shellink fall near de house, 'n Pvt Smith vaz
in de house, ven Capt. Whelpley come in in de house,'n he
grabbit his gez mesk 'n helmet; 'n Pvt. Smith vaz in de
house ven he qvick he grabbit 'n run out 'n run out. 'N
de excitements ven he got out 'n grabbit it, he don't
know vat to do; 'n I vas stock in de same house, in de
big excitements.
In de moments fon excitements it takes him about tree
minutes ind he heard it a shelf vaz comink 'n hit de hill
ind soon de shelf hit. De vile I vaz so excited I dug
dalm, ~n I gorrup a minute later 'n I start to run; I
start to run ~n I vaz tinkink, ind I run to de dughouse,
'n I run in de dughouse, 'n I come in; I come in de
dughouse 'n I couldn't speak aus, 'n eferybody tells me:
"vat is de matter," 'n I couldn't tell me vat
is de matter. After I vaz run in de dughouse ind I could
not nobody answer, as de whole Regimental Headquarters,
dat's Capt. Gammell, all de cloiks 'n de rest of de
officers vot's dere, I couldn't remem-ber, dey run after
me in de big excitements. Dey vaz take dahn de telephone
in dis dughouse ind it vaz in dis dug-house; de telephone
vaz standink for five minutes later. Dey couldn't get any
answer from Pvt. Smith vat vaz happink for de big
excitement, Pvt. Smith couldn't speak for de last ten
minutes.
Ten minutes, you know after de ten minutes, dere come Lt.
Mots, Lt. Willis 'n Capt. Fox mit de big excitements
vot's happink in dis sleepink quarters. Dat's de same
room vere vas Kroinel located in dis two rooms, ind oder
officers, ind vaz start to tell it how de shellink landet
in dis room. You couldn't believe me; you know in de same
moment vat's all vaz big excitement; (here the narrator
carried away by his own dramatic delivery of "de big
excitements," becomes rather involved), dere vaz
very big excitements in de same moment; in de moment ven
ve vaz excitement, I vaz you know like some of dem, could
not believe it in anytink you know, ind a minute after ve
vaz standink dere, ~n all odder officers, I mean it Lt.
Mots came it dahn vit all suits covered like tree
painters. Dey tell us how de shelf landit in de room.
Vell ve standink few minutes ind vere listenink; ve
standink in de room ind listen maybe come more firing
aralind here.
Ve passed de time by ten minutes ind he is gettink quiet.
Den de excitement vaz over dey vent out lookink on dis
excitement, ind dis is vat vaz happink mit our
excitements. Comink near de house, de door vaz opink ind
laining up vaz bik 155 shelfs ind not esplozhit
(exploded), Den, de whole Regimental Headquarters
togedder in dey come togedder look on it, how de shelf
vaz comink in de house. (Here follows description of
course of shell) De shelf hits first de vall outside; den
de shelf vas hittink in de first room vere vaz Lt. Willis
shavink 'n Lt. Mots vaz shavink. 'N Capt. Fox vaz
sleepink on his rolling bed on de gralind ind de shelf
vaz hittink, ind hit tru de vall near his facet, ind hit
Kroinel's bed in de odder room, ind smashed de bet, 'n
turned aralind de bet; ind de shelf hit in de end of de
vall fon de bet; de shelf hit ind of de vall fon de bet
ind jumped back; de shelf jumped back , n he landit in de
gramid tree feet aveg fon de door (very dramatically) 'n
Pvt Smith vaz standink by de door; dat's only tree feet,
one yard American langvage; tree feet aveg vaz Pvt.
Smith. You can immeasure how happink he vaz de shelf vaz
not esplozhit.
'N de same time Sgt. Gruber came up to see Capt.
Whelpley, ind he started to tell vat a shelf landet in de
room; in de same moment he couldn't believe it for big
excitements; de von tink, he goes over vit me 'n dere vaz
de bik long shelf vaz laining in dere in de room. In de
big excitements fon de officers, dey vaz afrait to touch
it; even to get five feet nearer. den dey order Lt.
Willis take de shelf fon dis house. Sgt. Gruber take, how
you say it, grabs dat's courage, 'n a vire 'n a pail, I
meam to say he's not afrait, for it fealressle, you know
fealressle, like he vaz not afrait you know; he take de
vire ind hook it dahn in de shelf, in de bik Germish
shelf, 'n he pull it out fon dis room. 'N dey make a bik
whole'n dey bury it him.
Ven de Kroinel comes back he vas bik excitements, very
bik excitements. You immeasure how he happink he vaz, he
vaz not dere. Sure he vaz glat he didn't hit him. Capt
Whelpley come back in an hour later, 'n dey tell him de
whole story 'n he couldn't believe it till he's going see
it. Ven de saw it, he believe it. Dis Kroinel ind dis
Captain dey vaz not afrait, 'n de same day ven de shelf
hit, dey vaz sleepink in de same house. For de last veek,
till ve left dis place, dey vasn't afrait to leave in dis
house in de same room in de same spot.
PRAISE AND ADVICE
By PAPER WORK
Headquarters 154th Inf. Brigade,
American E. F., October 18th, 1918. From: Commanding
General 154th Infantry Brigade. To: Commanding General
152nd Field Artillery Brigade. (Thru Division Commander)
Subject: Use of Artillery during recent operations.
1. 1 desire to express to you and through you to the
officers of your command, my appreciation of the
assistance which was rendered during the recent
operations of this brigade by your artillery,
particularly during the last few days, where there was
possibility of observation and where artillery assistance
was of the highest value. I may say in fact that had it
not been for the effective and efficient support which
was given to me by both the heavy and light artillery,
placed at my disposition by the Division Commander, the
taking of Grand Pre by the troops of my command, under
the conditions as they existed, would have been an
impossibility, and that the success of the operation was
due in large measure to the effective artillery support.
(signed) EVAN M. JOHNSON, Brigadier General, N. A.
Commanding Brigade.
1st Ind. Hq. 305 F. A., American Ex. Forces, 23rd Oct.
1918.-
To Organization Commanders.
1. The foregoing letter is published to the command for
the information of all concerned.
2. Each officer must feel a sense of gratification to
learn that the efforts of this command during the past
operations have been successful and effective and will
inspire all to further continued efforts and sacrifices
with the same aims in view.
3. It is directed that this letter be read to all members
of this command.
By order of Major Easterday:
C. VONE. MITCHELL Captain, 305 F. A.,
Acting Adjutant
Headquarters, 305 F. A. N. A., 1st Bn.
American Ex. Forces,
July 29, 1918. MEMORANDUM: For Organization Commanders.
The Regtl. Commander, after the past 3 weeks observation
of the work of this regiment, desires to call the
attention of all concerned to the point that the entire
command, from the most newly arrived private, to include
all officers, must realize the stern obligations imposed
on all by our present calling. Initiative, that means
grabbing any and all situations by the scruff of the neck
and jamming it forcefully through to a quick and
successful conclusion is the first duty of all; this
means putting a punch into your work, and applies to
enlisted men as well as officers. If officers, for any
reason, are not present, and N. C. O.s understand the
idea to be carried out, let us make it an artillery
standard to get the work done, in all cases of emergency,
and done quickly.
All work of the gun crews must be done with life and
perfect team work. The crews have had sufficient drill by
now to make this possible, It is earnestly advised that
every enlisted man think carefully of his particular
work. Run over your work in your mind, when not at drill,
and fully master same. All cannoneers by now should know
all the duties of other cannoneers. Slowness on part of
gun crews is the greatest crime they can commit. It means
the loss of lives by our infantry, and what is worse, the
loss of standing of the artillery in the eyes of all, and
loss of confidence to attack by the infantry. Officers
will make a special propaganda of this issue with the
men.
The New York papers, in front page letters, are spreading
broadcast to the country the pride taken by the City of
New York in the 77 Division. The city is thrilled to the
depths by the information that we are on the front line.
The articles fairly glitter with comments of our highly
trained condition. All papers exult in stating that the
77 Division has earned the distinction of being the first
N. A. Division to appear on the front. We have done this,
because we were the most proficient and highly trained.
This fact will go down in American History, and you
cannot realize the pride our friends, relatives and
families must have in us to know that we, each one of us,
earned our place of distinction by hard, patriotic work.
It is now up to each member of this command to maintain
this high standard. Let every one of us get the jump into
our work to such an extent as to give our families
additional cause to be proud of us. They are proud of
you, you will never know how pathetically proud.
Every regiment on the battlefront is striving to outdo
others. Remember we are doing the same.
F. C. DOYLE,
Col., 305 F. A. N. A.
DOING SCOUT DUTY FOR THE ARTILLERY
By PRIVATE EVERTS
AROUND noon hour, a call came in from Headquarters for
Battery E to send a scout as guard for an advanced gun
position. It happened at Perles and I have the honor of
being selected to pack my duds, stow away a day's rations
and report to the P. C. in fifteen minutes notice. When a
pirate hammers away at your position, it's immediately
decided upon to bring the bandit to a lamb like
disposition. This particular "kiss thrower" was
annoying us when the time came for my departure for a
night's sojourn to unknown parts. Being on familiar terms
with the cook (mess was always attractive to me) I told
him of my intentions to locate the siesta disturber and
also to remain as a squatter for the battery's future
rendezvous. He, la chef des armes, broiled me a steak,
evidently deciding I was dead already. (I'll admit I
thought I must have been in heaven as " cornwilly,
" predominated my digestive organs for weeks). As a
farewell gift, I was allowed a can of " gold fish
" and a litter of beans, accompanied by a half-loaf
of bread. I was soon on my way and by evening, located
the claim and prepared to guard. The location selected
was just beyond a slope and must have been an old French
gun position. It had two dugouts with a trench leading
between, scantily camouflaged and muddy. After striking a
few matches, I saw a German helmet protruding through
sort of a barricade that "made up" the dug out.
To be sure, I fired two shots at the
"intruder." Satisfying myself it was finis, I
sheepishly advanced rather ashamed of my cowardice. But
being a New Yorker you soon learn that "Safety
First" is a pretty good motto to follow. On close
inspection, I noticed one hole clear through the top of
the "cranium protector" but to my disgust,
blood trickled through the aperture. I was certain I had
little intention of sleeping in that particular dugout so
moved to what must have been some Hun generals'. All
conveniences were to be had, such as straw for a bed,
half empty cans of solidified alcohol, two chairs, and in
the evening, rats for company "It's only for a
night" I said, so prepared for a sleep. I believe I
slept for an hour or so, but that was brought to an
abrupt end by a shell falling uncomfortably close to my
private residence. I said shell but can easily make that
plural. At that moment I thought I was the whole American
Army consolidated, as I swore enough for a regiment. Even
that was cut short, by a shower of dirt thrown rudely in
my direction by an insulting direct hit. Our artillery
must have heard my mixture of prayers and slaughter of
the English language because a barrage began that
continued for a good five hours. I smiled contentedly and
continued to show my appreciation to
"Morpheus." When the daylight came, I awoke
lazy and hungry (as usual) Partaking of beans and bread,
isn't very encouraging for one who has slept uneasily but
eating is essential, regardless of the condition of your
feelings. After saving half a can of "fruit"
for dinner, I pulled in a hitch on my belt and prepared
for the day. A half hour later found me in the infantry
trenches with machine gunners. They had heard the pirate
German gun but couldn't locate it. When I saw coffee
coming down the narrow lane, I decided then and there,
that if they couldn't find an enemy gun-neither could I.
After a gulp of "java" I felt better and went
to my home to await my relief. When it became night
again, I figured they had either forgotten me, or left me
for "the army of occupation." I still had a can
of salmon to take out my vengeance on but discovered on
opening same it was ancient and beyond eating. The next
best thing to do was to impose upon my soldier brothers a
kilo away. Arrived with greetings and after explaining my
predicament, was rewarded with a whole box of hard tack
and a canteen of water. On my way back rejoicing, I was
cut off from my "home" by a succession of
one-pounders coming in close proximity to my person. Lying flat in a
shell hole with a foot of dirt higher than your head, is much more
comforting than being the
same distance, above. Figuring, they -the Huns, had
discontinued the barricading barrage, I "rabbited
" to my hovel with enough prayers said and saying,
to save my soul from hades twenty times over. The
question of slumber was far away so I layed counting
shell bursts until I finally "passed out of the
picture of light." I received word next day to
return, as our battery had decided to move to another
front. Two days later the Italians, who took the same
positions, were driven back. The dugout, forty eight
hours ago my shelter, was now in the hands of the Bosche.
And to think how fussy I am about having a German "
P. G. " on my spinal column.
RUSTLING SUPPLIES
By CORPORAL Louis A. COHEN
The greater part of the personnel of a Supply Company
being "mule skinners, " this story will
necessarily-if the real work of the company is to be
described-have to centre around mules, horses and wagons,
not forgetting the men who handle them and who, in the
army, are officially known and rank as " wagoners.
" As is probably known, the Supply Company escort
wagon is the means of bringing rations and ammunition to
the Batteries at the front. Since this is true, it can
readily be appreciated that the escort wagon to the
Supply Company is as important as the gun is to the
Battery.
Of what use is a gun unless you have the animals to pull
it into position for you; on the same basis of what good
is an escort wagon unless your animals stand up and help
you? It follows, therefore, that you must be good to your
mule if you want her to be good to you. Nearly all our
"mule skinners" named their mules and the names
ran from "Jennie" to the names of Queens. One
man in particular named his mule after his intended wife;
THEIR name was Nora Bayes. This particular mule had the
distinction of driving the water cart.
It is also interesting to note that one entire battery
might be wiped out and yet the regiment would be able to
hold its ground while, if the Supply Company was
destroyed the entire regiment would cease functioning.
The task of feeding and supplying an Artillery regiment
is not an easy one, and as for the Commanding Officer of
the Supply Company who is also the Regimental Supply
Officer he is responsible that the men and officers are
fed, supplied with clothing and otherwise equipped. In a
sense, he is father and mother to nearly 1,500 officers
and men always worrying about the condition of the men's
shoes, clothing and other equipment. So is he always
concerned about the rations of the men, being on the
alert to see that the components of the ration, are such
as to give the men the necessary variety. Of course, this
is the most difficult part of the Supply Officer's task
since the army menu is so limited. If bacon happens to be
issued one day the entire regiment wants to know why hash
wasn't issued instead, and if hash should be in order the
cry is "why can't we get bacon?"
The Supply Company had its first casualties at Fismes.
While at Chery, 2 men were killed and 3 were gassed.
Wagoner Jackob Jackson was one of the men killed. About five minutes
before he was hit he was cleaning his harness in front of his wagon. The
Company Clerk who was passing was stopped and shown a letter which Jackson had
just received from his wife. The glad tidings that he was
the father of a little boy was conveyed in the letter.
Jackson asked the clerk to get him the additional
allowance from the Government because of the birth of the
child, adding 49 my wife says that things are very high
in the States and she needs the money." The clerk
promised to attend to it immediately and then jumped into
Jackson's wagon to look for some candy that the K of C
had distributed the day before. It wasn't a minute after
that that the Hun commenced shelling again, the second
one hitting and breaking within five feet of the wagon.
On investigation it was found that Jackson was hit in the
back of the head. He died on his way to the hospital.
In the last months of the campaign, the rout of the Hun
having been so complete, they were forced to retreat so
fast that our Infantry and Artillery experienced
difficulty in keeping up with them, the roads and bridges
being destroyed after the enemy had vacated. We were hot
on the trail always keeping within a few hours of the
Batteries.
In addition, the roads were almost impassable, the heavy
traffic and the continued rain having helped to make
matters worse. Not only were these conditions to be met
with; at several places between Thenorgues and Raucourt
the road was mined by the retreating enemy each explosion
having torn up the road for about 25 yards and each
excavation being 40 feet deep. This, of course, prevented
the movement of the long supply trains and even the guns.
Troops on foot had only to walk around these holes but
vehicles could not do this. The engineers were early on
the job and built roads around the torn up places; to
attempt to fill in the roads would require days of hard
work, the holes being so large. These were not the only
troubles of a Supply Company. We could only move at
night. The mules were exhausted after the continuous
advance and it was not unusual for 10 or 15 of us, with
heavy packs on our backs, to help the mules out of a bad
spot. Some of the men would get on the wheels while
others would push from the rear. Of course the men were
just as tired and exhausted as the mules but the
difference was that American soldiers can understand why
they must go on while the mules had not the intelligence
to know. It does seem strange for the very same mules
always knew when it was time for them to be fed, watered
or groomed and if by chance they were not fed on time
every men within a radius of miles knew what the trouble
was.
The composition of the personnel of the Supply Company
was quite varied. It ranged from cobblers to poets. It
can truly be called a melting pot. The following was
written by the company poet one afternoon while all
traffic was held up for about an hour due to breaks in
the road:
The old Supply is lumbering,
Along the muddy road;
The Guns up there are slumbering,
They want this heavy load.
No glory in this hovering,
In shell-torn village streets,
No glory in the covering,
From hostile airship fleets.
The boys up there are hungering,
We must push on-that's all;
There's no use in our buggering,
We've got to heed their call.
The drivers now are whispering,
They urge and cuss the mules,
The hubs are all ablistering,
But who cares for the rules.
This is no time for faltering,
The boys must have their chow;
Drive on, though all are sweltering,
We must get there somehow.
You may not call this soldiering,
I know they have the stuff.
Within no fear is smouldering,
They all are brave but gruff.
And when there is a reckoning,
Back home where all is fair,
From those who do the beckoning,
I know they'll get their share.
A GOOD DINNER SHOT TO H-
. By CORPORAL HENRY GOLDBERG
Don't ask me the date, for when we were at the front, and
we were seldom away from it, that was the last thing we
thought of. I remember it was a Sunday and sometime in
August. Sunday I am sure, for Mike, who was our cook,
said, "Boys, a good Sunday dinner and no Corned
Willy."
The place where we were to have this feast, was near
Chery Chartreuve, and anyone who was in that sector knew
how Jerry would shell it, especially around meal times.
But for the benefit of those who were not there, let me
say that there was hardly a square yard of open country
that did not bear evidence of Hun artillery.
Well, the rations had come up and Mike and his able
assistants were busy preparing, what we thought, was to
be a good meal. Not that our meals were bad, but after
eating corned beef straight, camouflaged and otherwise
for almost a week, I assure you that Roast Beef, Mashed
Potatoes and Rice Pudding was a feast. They were
progressing wonderfully well, when about 5 P.m. Jerry
started his customary shelling. One hit near the kitchen,
which by the way was in a direct line of fire, which
caused Mike and the K. P's to "Partee tout de
suite." Not that I blame them the least bit for
doing that, for the farther you were away from the
shells, the better you felt. They were about to go back
and get the meal ready for serving, when Zowie, along
comes a Hun 150, crashes right through the wall in back
of the stove, and spreads dinner, in fact our next two
meals, all over the walls.
Our Major came running out of the P. C., which was in the
same building, to see what had happened, and the first
one he should meet was Mike. All Mike could say, was,
"Major, they shoota de hell out of the kitch."
That's all there is to it, except that it was Corned
Willy again for supper and, well I guess you imagine what
we wished the Hun.
THE FIRST AND LAST SHOTS
The First shot fired by the 305th Regiment, F. A., was,
(1) July 1 1th 1918, 3:10 P. m. (2) Battery "A"
305th F. A. (3) One kilo. east of Neuf Maisons (4) Gun
Crew:
Sgt. Wallace
Corp. Anselowicz Pvts. Elsnik Lundy Berg
Christy Zuccola (5) Remarks: The gun was laid for
registration on an angle of a German communicating
trench. The first shot was lost. The change was then made
from high explosive to shrapnel and the second round,
with the same data, showed the burst about three mils off
the target. Not only was this the first shot of the
Brigade, but it also was the first shot fired by any
National Army Artillery in the war.
The last shot fired by the 305th Regiment, F. A. was (i)
November 10th, 1918 Sunday 4:10 P. m.
(91) Battery "B " 305th F. A.
(3) Harraveourt Dept. Ardennes
Approximately 19. kilometers south of Sedan dept. of
Ardennes; 4 kilometers north of Raucourt dept. of
Ar-dennes and 27 kilometers northwest of Montmedy dept.
of Meuse.
Battery position on a high hill to the east of the town
of Haraucourt at a distance of y' Km. from the center of
the town and the main road to Sedan.
Co-ordinates of the Battery position:
X-300,450
Y-317,300
(4) Gun Crew:
Sgt Geo. Foose, Chief of Section
Acting Corp. Hunt, Gunner
Pvts. Burgeron, No. I
J. Stavish, No. 9.
Tom Moore, No. 3
E. A. Olsen, No. 4
J. Brennen, No. 5
(5) Remarks: Fire for registration.
Target, Farm house to the north.
Total number of rounds, 38.
Last shell, cleaned by No. 5, Pvt. Brennen. fused by No.
4, Pvt. Olsen. fuse set by No. 3, Pvt. Moore. loaded by
No. 2, Pvt. Stavish. fired by No. 1, Pvt. Burgeron.