More diary entries -

May 24, 1918, Friday, Fair. Cooler. On French soil.

Still aboard ship. Loafed all day until supper. Went off at 5:30 on big freighter - formed up & hiked through the quaint old city's outskirts. It's most picturesque - nature's welcomed us most impressively - then through a colorful country side - unforgettable - to a grassy field some 5 miles from Brest. Turner & I pitched pup tents together. Cold night. Stepped on French soil about 6 p.m.

May 25, 1918, Sat., Fair. Warm. In France. Near Brest.

Beautiful day! Bkfst. at 10 a.m. Fair. Cleaned up, changed clothes, loafed - managed details - had lecture on orders & rules of law. This is a temporary rest camp. Out for 2 hour hike this p.m. Field Range of officers' tents here. Orders came later ordering (?) baggage all sent out again. We slept under thr stars with our packs as pillows. Cold as hell!

May 26, 1918, Sunday. Rain in a.m. Cleared up. France.

Up at 1:00 a.m. Reveille at 3. Had coffee served and hiked to Brest (Brittany). Saw a different part of the city. Saw Boche prisoners. [Boche - a demeaning term used by the French for Germans] On board trains at 7. In tiny box cars. 40 men per car - reg. troop cars here. Went east thru beautiful country - most picturesque I ever saw with its stone towns, (?), etc. Devil of a job sleeping, too crowded. Fed ourselves in each car from rations in (?).

May 27, 1918, Monday. Fair. France. On train.

Moving toward front. More crops, less towns today. Coffee served at several stations - very picturesque country. We arrived at Noyelles about 9 p.m. In rest(?) camp. Saw our first air raid. Several Boche planes came over - trying to destroy supply stations near us. Some shells burst very near us. Anti - aircraft guns finally drove them back. Some exciting - our first taste of war! Slept in tents just returned from the Holy Land campaign.

May 28, 1918, Tues. Fair. At Noyelles. France.

Up at 7. Washed & shaved. Made packs. Loafed all day. Left at 5 for the country - farther from front. Reached a town about 9. In billets. [a place, usually a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility, where soldiers are lodged temporarily] I am in charge of one billet. Have 22 pvts., 3 corps., & I in a barn - straw to sleep on. Native farmer a fine fellow - however. Went to estaminet [ A small café where alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.] - wine, candy & smokes sold. Bed at 11

May 29, 1918, Wed., Fair. France (at Favieres).

Woke up at 10:30. Had bkfst. sent from Co. Hq. Had meeting of billet Commanders. Lunch at 2 p.m. Loafed, washed clothes & cleaned up. Co. meeting at 3. Dinner at 7 p.m. Taps at 9:30. Wonderful little town - farming section. Big air raid over on the Somme front, near us, around 12 p.m. On journey - passed thru Morlaly [Morlaix], Guingamp, Lamballe, Rennes, Laval, Rouen (near Abbeville & Rue) - to Noyelles.

May 30, 1918, Thurs. Fair. Warm. France

Reveille 6:30. Drilled by platoon from 9:30 - 11:00. Then policed HQ. My platoon pretty d-----d scrappy today! Fine! Good luncheon. Drill in p.m. in (?), etc. Lots of aeroplane activity all day. Cool at night. Bed early. Gen. Palmer Pierce insp. my billet today.

[Palmer Eddy Pierce (October 23, 1865 – January 17, 1940) was a United States Army brigadier general who commanded the 54th Infantry Regiment on the Western Front of World War I.]

Next up - Clyde's first letter from France to Aunt Nell.