The 302nd
ENGINEERS
by,
Gilbert H. Crawford
Thomas H. Ellett
John J. Hyland
CHAPTER III.
FRANCE AT LAST!

FRANCE at last! With what mingled
feelings did we first see the land of history and battle,
of beauty and destruction; of courage and suffering!
Calais was reached on the afternoon of the 14th April,
1918. The 302nd Engineers, being the first regiment of
the 77th Division to sail overseas, has thus the honor of
being the first National Army regiment to reach France.
Calais, the forlorn, at that time but recently relieved f
or a brief spell from the menace of capture by the Hun;
nightly bombed by the most powerful infernal machines of
the air; peopled by the soldiers of a dozen nations;
presented a sorry appearance to us as we marched through.
Ruined houses, ruined industry, stared at us from all
sides; anxiety was on every face. The only life seemed to
be in the little band of old French territorials, who
bugled the Regiment to a British "rest camp."
Their bugling was continuous, and one marveled how they
found breath to blow, until it was seen that the ranks of
buglers alternated -only the drummers were steadily at
work.
"Rest camp" sounded like a haven of rest to us
after the ocean voyage, the railroad trip across England,
a cheerless night at Dover and a rough channel passage.
Later, we found that the only rest in British rest camp
lies in the name itself. But of them all, "Rest Camp
No. 6 East" of Calais was the most dispiriting. It
was a camp of small conical tents, pitched in the
shifting sand on the outskirts of Calais. Compared with
it, Camp Upton was a Paris. However, we were not to
remain there long, for within thirty-six hours the
British had issued to each man a gas mask, which he
tested himself in a chamber of tear gas; a steel helmet
(thereafter his constant companion), and a British rifle
in exchange for his American rifle.
It may be well here to explain the particular mission of the 77th
Division: In order to obtain British shipping for the transport of
United States troops to France, our War department had agreed to place
and train behind the British lines in Flanders, nine American divisions. The
British were to act as advisers in the training of these
divisions; were to supply and arm them with British
rifles, and in turn could use these troops as a strategic
reserve. Once trained, these divisions were to be at the
disposal of the American high command (G. H. Q.), but if
withdrawn from Flanders, were to be replaced by other
divisions arriving in France. The 77th Division was the
first American division to be so trained (as a division)
behind the British front.
It is also interesting to note that at this time (April,
1918) it was proposed that the 77th Division should be
made a "replacement division"; i. e., its
organization as a single fighting unit was to be
destroyed, and its officers and men used merely to
replace losses in other divisions. Happily, fortune had
in store for us a nobler fate, for had this plan been
executed, our Regiment would doubtless have become a
corps engineer regiment, and as such, would have missed
its great opportunity to serve as an integral part of the
combat branch of the American Army.
On the 16th April, 1918, the Regiment marched from the
rest camp to entrain for its first trip on a French
railroad. Those of us who had read Ian Hay's "The
First Hundred Thousand", knew in imagination what we
might expect to find in French troop trains. True to our
anticipations, there were the little box cars, about half
as long as an American box car, each marked "Hommes
40, Chevaux 8", which means that, for military
travel, the cars are to be filled, nay, crammed, either
with forty men or eight horses. Later we managed to get
additional cars, so that it was necessary to carry only
thirty men or six animals per car. But at first, lacking
experience and "savoir faire", we followed the
rule strictly, and suffered accordingly.
The first rail journey of the Regiment in France ended at
Audruicq (Pas de Calais). Audruicq was a British
rail-head (supply point) about seventeen kilometers
southeast of Calais. From it the Regiment marched to its
first French billets. It was a weary journey. Our men
were not accustomed to long marches, because the extreme
winter and the late spring at Camp Upton had offered no
opportunity for such exercise.
The regimental headquarters staff and the First Battalion marched to Ruminghem, and the Second Battalion
to Muncq-Nieur-let.
The incomparable British system was every-where apparent.
We never ceased to marvel at the efficiency of the
British rear organization. No matter what the fortune of
battle at the front, the British service of supply (in
the American Army called the "S. 0. S.") never
failed. So it happened that, although the combat troops
of many British divisions had been practically wiped out
by the German offensive in Picardy during March, 1918,
the British transport system had escaped practically
intact. This fact was of particular interest to American
troops, because our incoming troops depended upon this
transport service for much of their fighting equipment.
The 77th Division Headquarters were
at Eperlecques (Pas de Calais) as were also the
headquarters of the 39th Division (British). This latter
division had suffered very greatly in the March (1918)
German offensive in Picardy, and its staff was placed at
the disposal of the Americans for training the 77th
Division. To each regiment of the 77th were attached
several experienced British officers. The 302nd Engineers
were fortunate in having assigned to them, as
instructors, several splendid officers from the 13th
Gloucestershire Regiment (Pioneers) and from the Royal
-Engineers. These officers gave freely of their
experience and skill, and were of the greatest assistance
in bridging the difficult period of transition during the
first few weeks after the Regiment's arrival in France.
It must always be remembered that the American soldier in
France faced many new situations. Not only was there the
difference in language, but even more strange was the
difference in customs and habits. In the United States,
soldiers are habitually quartered in barracks or, when in
the field, under canvas. In France, law and custom place
the soldier in "billets" except when very close
to the enemy. There are many good reasons for this, and
the Americans soon learned to make themselves comfortable
in barns and outhouses, and when within a few kilometers
of the front, in the wine cellars which are invariably to
be found in every French house. At the beginning of their
French service, however, the American soldier did not
enjoy an ordinary billet.
The Regiment, after settling down and resting for one day
(17th April, 1918), commenced its last course of
intensive training for active service. The area in which
the 77th Division was billeted was about twenty miles
behind the British front in Flanders. The sound of the
big guns was easily heard, and the night raids of the
Boche airplanes were common enough. Practically every
fair night, one could hear the buzz of the heavy-laden
bombing planes, headed for Calais or Boulogne, or
perchance the bombs were intended for Watten or St. Omer,
which were much nearer our billets. When one of the 2,000
pound bombs exploded within ten miles, the concussion was
so terrific that we felt we had just escaped destruction.
The regulations required everyone to seek shelter during
air raids, not so much because of the bombs as because of
the quantity of shrapnel and high explosive shell which
the British anti-aircraft guns (so-called
"Archies") poured forth. However, curiosity
generally got the better of prudence-the accompanying
display of searchlights-some-times as many as fifty at
once looked for the plane-was a sight never to be
forgotten. Throughout the war, it was always fascinating
to watch the air. Whatever went on there was a free
exhibition and helped to drive away dull care and ennui!
At the time of the Regiment's arrival in France in the
middle of April, 1918, the military situation in Flanders
was very precarious for the Allies. On 9th of April, the
Germans had launched a surprise attack between Ypres and
Arras, which was unexpectedly successful for the enemy. A
deep salient was driven into the British line.
Armentieres, Bailleul and Merville had been taken and
136thune was seriously threatened. If the latter city and
environs had fallen, France's last great coal field would
have been in the hands of the enemy. It was at this time
(11th April, 1918) that Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, the British
Commander-in-Chief, issued his famous order of the day, declaring that
the British had their "backs to the wall." Because of its historic
importance and the remarkable effect it had in a great
crisis in the history of the world, this order, addressed
to "all ranks of the British Army in France and
Flanders", is quoted in full:
"Three weeks ago today the enemy began his terrific
attacks against us on a fifty-mile front. His objects are
to separate us from the French, to take the Channel
ports, and to destroy the British Army.
"In spite of throwing already
106 divisions in the battle, and enduring the most
reckless sacrifice of human life, he has yet made little
progress toward his goals.
"We owe this to the determined
fighting and self-sacrifice of our troops. Words fail me
to express the admiration, which I feel for the splendid
resistance, offered by all ranks of our army under the
most trying circumstances.
"Many among us now are tired. To
those I would say that victory will belong to the side
which holds out the longest. The French Army is moving
rapidly and in great force to our support. There is no
other course open to us but to flight it out.
"Every position must be held to the last man. There
must be no retirement. With our backs to the wall, and
believing in the justice of our cause, each one of us
must fight to the end. The safety of our homes and the
freedom of mankind depend alike upon the conduct of each
one of us at this critical moment."
The Germans, for their part, were not
in a comfortable situation. The salient they had driven
in the lines was not broad enough for safety, and
everywhere the British held the heights. It was obvious
that the enemy must either attack or withdraw. Flushed
with victory, it did not seem likely that they would
withdraw.
During this period the British Army was bending every
effort to build additional positions of defense in the
rear of their front. So it happened that the 302nd
Engineers were hardly settled in their new quarters, and
had hardly started their last training, when an order
came detaching them from the 77th Division and sending
them to the area east of Watten to help construct the
British "G. H. Q." positions.
The regimental headquarters staff and first battalion
moved on 29th April, 1918, to Volkerinckhove, and the
second battalion to Merckeghem. Immediately the Regiment
commenced work on the positions of defense in front of
Watten. This work consisted of digging trenches and
constructing wire entanglements. In the digging, a large
number of Chinese coolies were used under the direction
of officers and non-commissioned officers of the
Regiment. Aside from its military importance, the
construction of this defense position was splendid
training for the Regiment.

Lieutenants Headman and Booth of Co. "E"
Early in May, 1918, the Germans
attacked and captured Kemmel Hill in their endeavor to
widen the Flanders salient. Very severe fighting took
place, and at one time the Regiment heard in the distance
the unceasing artillery fire for Over 72 hours. It was
feared that another attempt to capture the Channel ports
was about to be made by the Germans, and several French
divisions were brought into this area as a reserve.
The month of May, 1918, was spent at Volkerinclikhove and
Merckeghem. Much work was done, despite a lack of
engineer equipment. All the tools and apparatus of an
engineer regiment which had been gathered together so
carefully at Camp Upton, had been left behind when the
Regiment sailed overseas. The British supplied wagon
transport and animals, but could not supply the technical
equipment required for the proper functioning of an
engineer regiment.
Part of the training of the Regiment at this time consisted in testing gas masks in a cloud of real
chlorine gas. This test gave the men confidence in the
mask, that could not be obtained in any other way. Also,
each man had an opportunity of throwing "live"
hand grenades at dummy Boches.
During the month of May, many officers and
non-commissioned officers had an opportunity to visit the
British front south of Arras. The purpose of these visits
was to get first-hand knowledge of the actual conditions
of trench warfare, and this knowledge was of great value.
The Colonel, his staff, majors, all company commanders
and first sergeants were absent at the front at one time.
During their absence, a divisional maneuver (May 17-19)
was held. Although lacking most of its commanding
officers, the Regiment performed its part in the maneuver
efficiently, and was commended by the judges. Other
maneuvers were held later, which gave our troops valuable
practical experience in the problems of mobile warfare.
Little did anyone realize then, how soon this training
would be put to use, for all fronts by this time had
become stabilized again after the first 1918 attacks of
the Germans.
At four o'clock of the afternoon of 30th May, 1918, the
Regiment received orders to march out at seven o'clock.
In spite of this short notice, officers and men were
ready promptly at the appointed hour, and marched about
seven miles to bivouac near Hellebroucq. The following
day a march of over 17 miles brought us to a bivouac in
the Bois de Bomquehault. On 1st of June the Regiment
marched to billets, with regimental and second battalion
headquarters at Locquinghen, and the first battalion at
Belle. The six weeks' training in France showed its
results plainly, for the Regiment marched splendidly and
was complimented by Major-General Blacklock of the 39th
(British) Division.
This change of station of the Regiment was preliminary to
its departure from the British sector. For a few days,
the Regiment busied itself in preparing the area
surrounding it for the reception of incoming American
troops. These preparations consisted of the construction
of rifle ranges and bayonet assault courses.
On the 7th of June the Regiment entrained at Rinxent and
was transported to Anvin (Pas de Calais), where it
arrived the same day. The regimental transport and 302nd
Engineer Train proceeded by march route to the same
place, via St. Pol, arriving on the evening of the 8th of
June. The regimental headquarters staff was at Monchy
Cayeaux, while the regiment was billetted between Anvin
and Wavrans.
From Wavrans on 10th of June the entire Regiment
entrained on three French military trains. This trip was
the longest of any taken in France. The route lay through
Abbeville-sur-Somme, Versailles, Sens, Wassy and Nancy,
south to the detraining station at Thaon, Vosges.
This route illustrates well the precarious state of
communications between the French and British armies in
the early summer of 1918. The only useable railroad
connection between the north and south of the Somme
River, which roughly divided the British and the French,
was at Abbeville. Due to the March advances of the
Germans in Picardy, the important railroad center of
Amiens was under such bombardment that its railroad lines
could not be used. Also the direct rail route from Paris
to Nancy had been cut at Château-Thierry by the German
advance of 27th of May. This necessitated a long detour
for troops who were being transferred from one front to
the other.
The train trip from Flanders to Nancy took three days.
The weather was ideal and the countryside very beautiful.
The men of the Regiment knew that every mile took them
nearer to their first real test. There was no depression
-only a determination not to be found wanting.
It was during this trip that Capt. F. S. Greene was
formally placed in command of the 1st Battalion.
Thaon was reached on the night of the 12th-13th June,
1918. The Regiment took station as follows:
Domevre-sur-Durbion-Regt. HQ and HQ 1st Bn., Cos.
"A" and "B".
Bayecourt-HQ 2nd Bn. and Cos. "E" and
"F".
Pallegney-Company "C"
Villoncourt-Company "D
These stations were, however, but temporary. Almost immediately upon
arrival, Colonel Sherrill, with the company commanders, proceeded to the front to become
familiar with the work which was to be taken over. It was
at this time that there was attached to the Regiment
Lieut. Gilbert ,Macqueron, of the French Army. Lieutenant
Macqueron accompanied the Regiment as liaison officer
through all its operations in the field, and became
actually, if not technically, a member of the Regiment.
The 77th Division was to relieve the 42nd, popularly
known as the "Rainbow Division". The 42nd
Division then held the quiet Portion of the Lorraine
front known as the "Baccarat Sector", because
headquarters were located at Baccarat,
Meurthe-et-Moselle.
On 16th of June, Company "F" and Headquarters
Company, 302nd Engineers, marched from their billets to
Rambervillers. The following day these two companies
marched to Baccarat and relieved the corresponding
companies of the 117th Engineers of the 42nd Division. So
far as we are informed, these two companies were the
first companies of the National Army to be assigned to
duties in a front-line sector. They were billetted first
in the old "Crystallerie", and later in the
Haxo Barracks.
On the 19th of June, the remainder of
the Regiment followed and relieved corresponding
organizations of the 117th Engineers, being stationed as
follows:
Regt. HQ, HQ Co., Co. "F", and Engineer Train
at Baccarat, Meurthe-et-Moselle.
One-half of Company "A" at Reherrey.
One-half of Company "A" at Vaxainville.
Company "B" at New Barbett Camp.
Company "C" at Vacqueville.
Headquarters 1st Bn. at Merviller.
Headquarters 2nd Bn. at Neuf-Maison.
Company "D" at Pexonne.
Company "E" at Neuf-Maison (later moved to Ker
Avor).
The men of the Regiment will not soon forget this-their
first "relief ". The unknown is always
formidable! To make it worse, the weather was miserable.
Cold, cutting rains drenched the men on the marches,
which were made at night.
Thus it was that, in June, 1918, the 302nd Engineers
first assumed duties in a front-line sector.