The 2nd Division A.E.F.

Herley W. Wilson's Great War Experience June 1—13, 1918.

The 2nd Engineers, under the command of Colonel McIndoe, debussed at 5:00 a.m., June 1, 1918 on the road south of May-en-Multien, after 20 hours in their camions. Tired, hungry and sleepless, but ready. Roughly 15,000 2nd Division infantry men began to arrive there before sunrise. They would all be there before midnight. Any civilians remaining in the village would likely have departed quickly at the sight and sound of the commotion. Twelve thousand more men with all the tools of war—artillery, rifles, bayonets, ammunitions, hand guns, grenades, trench knives, etc.—would arrive within the next day or so. Twenty-seven thousand 'soft American cowboys' thought Germany with disregard. The 2nd Division had just one job. Prevent the Paris-Metz highway from being used by the invader to take Paris. Over the ensuing five weeks Germany got a different opinion of cowboys. The Paris-Metz highway was not available under any circumstances. The Allies gained renewed strength when they heard the news of the success of the Americans at Belleau Wood!

1. General Harbord commanding the 4th Brigade, Marines, sent the following message at 4:10 PM, June 1 illustrating the confusion of the day. He didn't know the Engrs. were marching from May-en-Multien.

"Have reported to C.G. 43 Div. (French) and established liaison. Troops arriving by camion going in between Thiolet and Lucy. Important that available Engineers with plenty of tools come as soon as infantry finish with camions. Should de-buss at Ferme Paris and march in small columns about evenly distributed from Thiolet to Lucy. Hurry them."

2. Captain Snow, commanding 2nd Bn. 2nd Engrs replied to Gen. Harbord at 7:40 PM. He clearly knew where 2nd Bn. was at that time. He had eye contact with them.

"Companies D, E and F, 2nd Engineers will arrive la Ferme Paris 8:20 P. M. Will hold companies there until receipt of order from Brigade Headquarters.

Snow, Captain."

3. Colonel McIndoe, commanding the 2nd Engr. regiment recorded in the War Diary at midnight, June 1 that 2nd Bn. had left Montreuil on the march at 4PM and arrived at Lucy at 7PM.

Montreuil-aux-Lions I took this photo in 2008 of the building used as both the 2nd Div. and 2nd Engr. headquarters during the entire battle of BW. In 2015 I located a 1918 photo of the same scene. What a surprise it was to learn I had chosen to photograph it from pretty close to the same spot as the original photographer.

La Ferme de Paris This Goggle street view is present day Paris Farm. I enjoyed moving along the perimeter in street view seeing the place and knowing for a fact that grandpa Wilson was there the evening of June 1 as they approached the wood. Other Idaho men were there as well, most notably Ralph Huit in Co. E. Ralph was from Caldwell, Idaho. His brother, Clifford, was married to Greta Allen, a first cousin of grandpa. Ralph was severely wounded at Vierzy and was out of the war for good.

Lucy-le-Bocage This street view is where 2nd Bn. was ordered to the same night by Gen. Harbord. The island at the road junction has a 2nd Division boulder marking the site as a jump off line. Bronze plaque on top names the division and the date. Made of concrete by the 2nd Div. Association in the early 1920s. The church behind the tree was almost completely destroyed by shells. I have pictures of it that include a shot of the cross still hanging above the altar. No doubt the cross is still inside. The structure on the right with two large vases in front is an underground spring built in 1887. Grandpa wrote in his 2nd Engr. book that he walked two miles to get water at one point during the battle. He said he was shot at and gassed on the way. It is a fact that this spring is the very place he got the water. Germany had poisoned all water supply in the area but could do nothing about the spring. He could never have imagined that 90 years later his own grandson would be along to have a look. That was 95 pounds ago ...