After the Armistice (Nov. 1918-April 1919)

“Well Em and the rest, by this letter you will see that this second Christmas in France is being spent a great deal better than it might be. Far from what it would be if the war was still on. It is a very Happy Christmas for me and I hope that it is with you. Ive said very little about the war for at that time the censor was rigid but when I get home (which is soon now I think) I will have a lot to say.” -Letter from Sam Avery, 12/25/18

Following the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the 26th Division was in such bad shape that rather than join the Army of Occupation which entered Germany it was returned to the rear. On the march, it passed through the area between Gondrecourt and Neufchateau, stopping on November 23 at Montigny-le-Roi (Point A) where Division HQ was established. The 103rd Regimental HQ was located at Chauffort.

As the Armistice was not a formal peace treaty, the men continued to maintain their training although leaves were now permitted (the Armistice originally ran for 30 days and was regularly renewed until the final signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June, 1919. In the interim, the Germans were on notice that any deviation from the terms of the Armistice would cause a resumption of hostilities within 48 hours). Military censorship of the mail was lifted, enabling the troops to more clearly reveal the nature of their whereabouts and activities. Prisoners were returned by both sides in early December. At Christmas, the 26th Division was honored both as the Division with whom President Woodrow Wilson shared Christmas dinner, and that which furnished the Presidential Honor Guard at AEF General Headquarters in Chaumont.

Christmas Day with Pres. Wilson & Gen. Pershing, Chaumont 1918

On January 8, 1919 orders were received for the 26th Division to begin preparations for return to the United States. Movement orders were received on January 17, but the day prior to the 103rd Infantry’s scheduled departure their commander Col. Percy W. Arnold was tragically killed in an accident. After burying their Colonel with full military honors and much sadness, by January 21 the troops were marching to the trains which carried them to the embarkation area near Le Mans (Point B). Division HQ was opened at Ecommoy on February 4 with the 103rd Regimental HQ located at Laigne.

Two events of note during this period included the Division review by General John J. Pershing and the Division Athletic and Military Tournament. The Division review mustered over 25,000 men on a single field where they were inspected and then passed in review before Gen. Pershing with fixed bayonets, helmets and light packs. The Division Tournament was held at Ecommoy in mid-March and lasted for three days, consisting of competitive military and athletic contests with the 103rd Infantry winning second place.

26th Div. Mail Drop at Ecommoy, 1919

At this point the men with good conduct records were granted generous 10-day leaves to sight-see around France and even London. Post schools were also established to further the education of the troops in reading, writing, mathematics and history. Selected officers and men possessing at least a high-school education also had the opportunity to attend classes at the AEF “University” in Beaune.

Waiting to Embark at Brest, 1919

In late March the 26th Division proceeded to Camp Pontanezen at Brest (Point C), where the men boarded troop transports and finally sailed for home.

THE VOYAGE HOME

26th Div. Troops Arriving in Boston on U.S.S. America, 1919

On March 28, 1919 Private First Class Sam Avery made passage from Brest, France back to the United States with 7,200 other officers and men of the 101st and 103rd Regiments aboard the U.S. Navy’s troop transport USS America (ID-3006), returning to Boston on April 6 after a speedy 9-day voyage without the threat of U-boats.

ORIGINAL FILM OF AMERICAN TROOPS SAILING FROM BREST FOR HOME, 1919.

Arriving at Camp Devens, Ayer Mass., 1919

Hay Pallets for Beds at Camp Devens, Ayer Mass. 1919

After arriving in Boston, Sam traveled 3 hours by train to Camp Devens in Ayer, Mass. where he was billeted with the rest of the 26th Division pending discharge from service. The train ride from the Boston pier to Camp Devens traveled the New Haven & Hartford line to Concord where it then followed the Boston & Maine line to Ayer.  Along the way, Sam could see the street in Framingham down which he had marched with the 8th Mass. Infantry in June, 1916 to entrain for the Mexican Border.

Framingham Station

At every station along the route, crowds of well-wishers welcomed the doughboys home with cheers, flags, bands and baked treats. Following a Division Review by the New England Governors at Camp Devens on April 22 and a grand Divisional Parade in Boston on April 25, the officers and men of the 26th Division received their discharges on April 28-30, 1919.

Along with their discharge certificates, Sam and all other members of the 26th Division honorably discharged from service received a Discharge Bonus of $60.00 per man regardless of rank. Each soldier was issued three scarlet Discharge Chevrons to be worn midway between the elbow and shoulder on the left sleeve of the overcoat, service coat and olive drab uniform shirt which distinguished the honorably discharged status of the wearer (it was unlawful under the National Defense Act for discharged troops to wear the uniform without this distinctive mark). Sam also displayed three gold War Service Chevrons above the left sleeve cuff representing 18 months of overseas service (1 for every 6 months Over There). Those who had served among the original 100,000 volunteer troops who were first deployed with the AEF (both Regular Army and National Guard) could also display a “Sammy Star” over their Service Chevrons to indicate they had been the “first in the fight” rather than having been drafted into service.

The Last March Home from Devens, 1919

Railroad tickets were provided to discharged soldiers at a reduced rate of $.02 per mile from the place of discharge to their homes. A Travel Allowance of $.05 per mile was also paid from the place of discharge to the place of original enlistment or induction, which for Sam was from Camp Devens in Ayer back to Somerville, Mass.

Approximately only 57% of the officers and men who originally went overseas with the 26th “Yankee” Division returned home with it…

Read Soldier’s Mail after the Armistice here: December, 1918; January, 1919; February, 1919; March, 1919.

ORIGINAL FILM OF 26TH DIV. TROOPS RECEIVING PAY AND DISCHARGES

AEF Discharge Pin